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| Open AccessC5aR1 inhibition reprograms tumor associated macrophages and reverses PARP inhibitor resistance in breast cancer
PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have been approved for the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (BC), however resistance and recurrence are often observed. Here, in preclinical models of BRCA1/2 wild type and homologous recombination competent BC, the authors show that C5aR1-positive tumor associated macrophages are associated with PARPi-resistance, suggesting targeting C5aR1 as a therapeutic option.
- Xi Li
- , Alfonso Poire
- & Gordon B. Mills
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Article
| Open AccessImmune features are associated with response to neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer
In the phase 2 study LCCC1520 (NCT02690558), clinical activity of pembrolizumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer has been reported. Here the authors present molecular and immune cellular features associated with response to neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy.
- Wolfgang Beckabir
- , Mi Zhou
- & Benjamin G. Vincent
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Article
| Open AccessSingle-cell and spatial transcriptomics analysis of non-small cell lung cancer
Myeloid cell populations play a critical role in lung cancer progression. Here, the authors use scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics to identify changes in the phenotype of macrophages within the tumour microenvironment.
- Marco De Zuani
- , Haoliang Xue
- & Ana Cvejic
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Article
| Open AccessPriming with LSD1 inhibitors promotes the persistence and antitumor effect of adoptively transferred T cells
Phenotypic changes in exhausted T cells are linked to chromatin remodeling. Here the authors show that pharmacological inhibition of the H3K4me1/2 demethylase LSD1 promotes the persistence and enhances the therapeutic activity of adoptively transferred T cells for cancer therapy.
- Fengqi Qiu
- , Peishan Jiang
- & Wanqiang Sheng
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Article
| Open AccessHsc70 promotes anti-tumor immunity by targeting PD-L1 for lysosomal degradation
Hsc70 (heat shock protein family A member 8) is a cytoplasmic chaperone protein involved in endosomal micro-autophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy. Here the authors report that Hsc70 promotes lysosomal degradation of PD-L1 and that its overexpression promotes anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical cancer models.
- Xiaoyan Xu
- , Tingxue Xie
- & Hongguang Xia
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Article
| Open AccessSystematic dissection of tumor-normal single-cell ecosystems across a thousand tumors of 30 cancer types
Single-cell sequencing has enabled detailed analyses of the tumour microenvironment (TME). Here, the authors perform an integrative analysis of the TME using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data from over a thousand tumours across thirty cancer types, identifying interferon-enriched community states predictive of immunotherapeutic responses.
- Junho Kang
- , Jun Hyeong Lee
- & Jong-Eun Park
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Article
| Open AccessDiscovery of immunotherapy targets for pediatric solid and brain tumors by exon-level expression
CAR T cell immunotherapy for paediatric solid and brain tumours is constrained by the availability of targetable antigens. Here, the authors investigate the landscape of cancer-specific exons as potential targets by analysing 1,532 RNAseq datasets from 16 types of paediatric solid and brain tumours.
- Timothy I. Shaw
- , Jessica Wagner
- & Stephen Gottschalk
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Article
| Open AccessCD74 supports accumulation and function of regulatory T cells in tumors
CD74, the MHC class II invariant chain, was thought to be mainly expressed by antigen presenting cells. Here the authors report that CD74 is overexpressed by human tumor infiltrating regulatory T cells (Tregs) and that its loss affects Treg accumulation and function in tumors.
- Elisa Bonnin
- , Maria Rodrigo Riestra
- & Eliane Piaggio
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Article
| Open AccessLoss of NEDD8 in cancer cells causes vulnerability to immune checkpoint blockade in triple-negative breast cancer
NEDD8 is a ubiquitin-like protein that governs protein neddylation, previously demonstrated to be essential for cell survival. Here the authors show that NEDD8 loss in breast cancer cells is associated with enhanced immunogenicity and increased sensitivity to PD-1 blockade in preclinical cancer models.
- Irineos Papakyriacou
- , Ginte Kutkaite
- & Yumeng Mao
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Article
| Open AccessUveal melanoma immunogenomics predict immunotherapy resistance and susceptibility
Metastatic uveal melanoma is poorly responsive to immune checkpoint inhibition. Here, the authors analyse 100 uveal melanoma metastases using bulk and single cell RNA-seq, TCR analysis, and immune reactivity to show potent, yet, quiescent tumour infiltrating lymphocytes that can be harnessed by adoptive transfer to confer tumour immunity.
- Shravan Leonard-Murali
- , Chetana Bhaskarla
- & Udai S. Kammula
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Article
| Open AccessSystematic investigation of chemo-immunotherapy synergism to shift anti-PD-1 resistance in cancer
The design of new combinatorial regimens represents an opportunity to improve response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancer. Here the authors computationally model the interaction between chemotherapy and immunotherapy by studying treatment-induced expression changes associated with response to anti-PD-1, identifying chemotherapeutic drugs or small molecule inhibitors that can overcome resistance to anti-PD-1.
- Yue Wang
- , Dhamotharan Pattarayan
- & Da Yang
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Article
| Open AccessSemaphorin 3A causes immune suppression by inducing cytoskeletal paralysis in tumour-specific CD8+ T cells
Interactions between Semaphorin-3A (SEMA3A) and Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and Plexin-A1 and Plexin-A4 have been shown to affect T cell development. Here the authors investigate how these interactions affect CD8+ T cells in tumour immunity, showing that NRP-1, Plexin-A1 and Plexin-A4 are upregulated on T cells allowing tumour derived SEMA3A to inhibit CD8+ T cell migration and function.
- Mike B. Barnkob
- , Yale S. Michaels
- & Vincenzo Cerundolo
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular patterns of resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in melanoma
A large fraction of patients with melanoma still does not benefit from immune checkpoint blockade, associated with both primary and acquired resistance. Here the authors report genetic and immunological patterns of resistance in patients with melanoma after progression on anti-CTLA4 or anti-PD1 monotherapy.
- Martin Lauss
- , Bengt Phung
- & Göran Jönsson
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Article
| Open AccessTargeting branched N-glycans and fucosylation sensitizes ovarian tumors to immune checkpoint blockade
Cancer cells can employ aberrant glycosylation patterns to evade the host immune response. Here the authors report that inhibition of branched N-glycans sensitizes homologous recombination (HR)-proficient, but not HR-deficient, epithelial ovarian cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
- Hao Nie
- , Pratima Saini
- & Rugang Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessObesity-related T cell dysfunction impairs immunosurveillance and increases cancer risk
Obesity represents a risk factor for cancer and compromises immune function, however the mechanisms linking the two together are not fully known. Here authors show in a mouse sarcoma model that obesity increases tumour incidence, impairs intra-tumoral T cell immunity but paradoxically increases sensitivity to immune therapy via impairing immunoediting.
- Alexander Piening
- , Emily Ebert
- & Ryan M. Teague
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Article
| Open AccessCholesterol-binding motifs in STING that control endoplasmic reticulum retention mediate anti-tumoral activity of cholesterol-lowering compounds
Cholesterol lowering medication positively affects anti-cancer immune response, but the underpinning mechanism is not fully known. Here authors show that the effect is mediated by specific cholesterol binding motifs in STING, a key mediator of inflammation, via regulating its trafficking to Golgi.
- Bao-cun Zhang
- , Marlene F. Laursen
- & Martin R. Jakobsen
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Article
| Open AccessCancer cell genetics shaping of the tumor microenvironment reveals myeloid cell-centric exploitable vulnerabilities in hepatocellular carcinoma
Distinct genetic mutations can shape the tumor immune microenvironment. Here the authors generate preclinical mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma bearing clinically-relevant oncogenic driver combinations, identifying myeloid cell-centric exploitable therapeutic vulnerabilities.
- Christel F. A. Ramirez
- , Daniel Taranto
- & Leila Akkari
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Article
| Open AccessMultipeptide vaccines for melanoma in the adjuvant setting: long-term survival outcomes and post-hoc analysis of a randomized phase II trial
Peptide-based cancer vaccines require epitopes for both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Here the authors report the long-term outcomes of a randomized phase II trial (NCT00118274) in patients with melanoma designed to evaluate a class I MHC-restricted peptide vaccine plus one of two “helper” peptide preparations to stimulate CD4+ T cells, either non-specific help or melanoma-specific help.
- Emily K. Ninmer
- , Hong Zhu
- & Craig L. Slingluff Jr
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Article
| Open AccessBET inhibitors drive Natural Killer activation in non-small cell lung cancer via BRD4 and SMAD3
Combination of BET inhibitors (BETi) with immunotherapy has been reported to be synergic for the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Here, the authors show that BETi-induced epigenetic reprogramming downregulates the expression of NK cell inhibitory receptors on NK cells, increasing their activation and cytotoxicity against NSCLC.
- Francesca Reggiani
- , Giovanna Talarico
- & Valentina Sancisi
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Article
| Open AccessTertiary lymphoid structures and B cells determine clinically relevant T cell phenotypes in ovarian cancer
Intratumoral tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) density has been associated with better prognosis in several cancer types. Here the authors provide a comprehensive characterization of TLSs in patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma.
- Lenka Kasikova
- , Jana Rakova
- & Jitka Fucikova
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Article
| Open AccessReciprocal inhibition between TP63 and STAT1 regulates anti-tumor immune response through interferon-γ signaling in squamous cancer
TP63 is a master regulator transcription factor in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Here the authors report that TP63 suppresses IFNγ signaling in SCC tumors and that its inhibition is associated with enhanced anti-tumor immunity and response to anti-PD1.
- Yuan Jiang
- , Yueyuan Zheng
- & Yan-Yi Jiang
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Article
| Open AccessMetabolic targeting of cancer associated fibroblasts overcomes T-cell exclusion and chemoresistance in soft-tissue sarcomas
Cancer associated fibroblasts can shape the tumor microenvironment (TME) and modulate immune infiltration. Here the authors characterize the TME in preclinical models of softtissue sarcomas, identifying a subset of “glycolytic” cancer-associated fibroblasts that inhibit cytotoxic T cell infiltration into the tumor parenchyma.
- Marina T. Broz
- , Emily Y. Ko
- & Jlenia Guarnerio
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Article
| Open AccessSenescence drives immunotherapy resistance by inducing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment
Recent evidence suggests that senescence can negatively affect immune cell function. Here the authors show that accumulation of senescent cells in tumor-bearing mice previously exposed to irradiation or chemotherapy is associated with resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors, associated with an exacerbated immunosuppressive profile of tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells.
- Damien Maggiorani
- , Oanh Le
- & Christian Beauséjour
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Article
| Open AccessImmunopeptidomics-based identification of naturally presented non-canonical circRNA-derived peptides
Abnormally expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent an unexplored source of tumor-specific antigens in cancer. Here, the authors developed an immunopeptidomics workflow to identify human leukocyte antigen bound peptides specifically derived from the potential translation of these transcripts.
- Humberto J. Ferreira
- , Brian J. Stevenson
- & Michal Bassani-Sternberg
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Article
| Open AccessDendritic cell-targeted therapy expands CD8 T cell responses to bona-fide neoantigens in lung tumors
Response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains suboptimal, even for tumors with elevated tumor mutational burden. Here the authors generate a model of NSCLC with enhanced mutational load, showing that, while still resistant to ICIs, hypermutated tumors become sensitive to dendritic cell-targeted therapy.
- Lucía López
- , Luciano Gastón Morosi
- & Federica Benvenuti
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Article
| Open AccessMitochondrial metabolism sustains CD8+ T cell migration for an efficient infiltration into solid tumors
The migration of T cells into tumours and how this is regulated by metabolic pathways is not completely understood. Here the authors use human and xenograft mouse models to explore the functional changes in T cells during migration in tumours and how glycolytic and TCA cycle metabolism is involved.
- Luca Simula
- , Mattia Fumagalli
- & Emmanuel Donnadieu
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Article
| Open AccessMi-2β promotes immune evasion in melanoma by activating EZH2 methylation
Mi-2β is an enzyme of the chromodomain helicase DNA family with roles in chromatin assembly, genomic stability and gene repression. Here the authors report that Mi-2β promotes immune evasion by activating EZH2 methylation and that loss of Mi-2β or its inhibition promote anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical melanoma models.
- Cang Li
- , Zhengyu Wang
- & Rutao Cui
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Article
| Open AccessSpatially-resolved transcriptomics reveal macrophage heterogeneity and prognostic significance in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Macrophages are abundant in the microenvironment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Here, the authors use spatial transcriptomics to characterize macrophages in DLBCL and reactive lymphoid tissues, and propose six spatially-derived macrophage signatures that are associated with features like cell of origin and clinical outcomes.
- Min Liu
- , Giorgio Bertolazzi
- & Anand D. Jeyasekharan
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Article
| Open AccessStructural basis for self-discrimination by neoantigen-specific TCRs
Neoantigen-specific T cells recognise neoantigen-MHC complexes on target tumour cells. Here, the authors describe a molecular mechanism by which the neoantigen Hsf2 p.K72N is recognised by a corresponding high affinity Hsf2 p.K72N-reactive T cell receptor, 47BE7, from the mouse melanoma line B16F10.
- John P. Finnigan
- , Jenna H. Newman
- & Nina Bhardwaj
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Article
| Open AccessComparative transcriptomics coupled to developmental grading via transgenic zebrafish reporter strains identifies conserved features in neutrophil maturation
Maturation of innate immune cells is a graded stereotypic process which is often conserved across species. Here authors label distinct neutrophil leukocyte developmental stages via generating combinations of transgenic zebrafish reporter strains, followed by transcriptome analysis of different neutrophil maturation stages and comparison to the gene expression profile of developing neutrophils from humans and mice.
- Stefanie Kirchberger
- , Mohamed R. Shoeb
- & Martin Distel
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Article
| Open AccessThe ATR inhibitor ceralasertib potentiates cancer checkpoint immunotherapy by regulating the tumor microenvironment
The ATR inhibitor ceralasertib has shown clinical activity in combination with immune-checkpoint inhibitors in several cancer types. Here the authors report the anti-tumor activity and the immunomodulatory changes, dependent on up-regulation of type I interferon pathway, following intermittent ATR inhibition in preclinical cancer models.
- Elizabeth L. Hardaker
- , Emilio Sanseviero
- & Simon T. Barry
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Article
| Open AccessTumor histoculture captures the dynamic interactions between tumor and immune components in response to anti-PD1 in head and neck cancer
Tumor histocultures have been exploited as tools to predict response to cancer therapy. Here the authors report the development and testing of a tumor histoculture platform to study response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
- Nandini Pal Basak
- , Kowshik Jaganathan
- & Satish Sankaran
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Article
| Open AccessPlasticity-induced repression of Irf6 underlies acquired resistance to cancer immunotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors represents an important clinical challenge. Here, in a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma model of acquired resistance to immunotherapy, the authors show that plasticity-induced repression of Irf6 is associated with tumor cell-intrinsic resistance to cytotoxic T-cell activity.
- Il-Kyu Kim
- , Mark S. Diamond
- & Ben Z. Stanger
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Article
| Open AccessProteomic characterization identifies clinically relevant subgroups of soft tissue sarcoma
The molecular characterisation of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) across diverse populations remains crucial. Here, the authors perform a proteomics and phosphoproteomics analysis of 272 Chinese STS patients across 12 subtypes, and obtain insights related to progression, metastasis, and immune signatures.
- Shaoshuai Tang
- , Yunzhi Wang
- & Chen Ding
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Article
| Open AccessTumor reactive γδ T cells contribute to a complete response to PD-1 blockade in a Merkel cell carcinoma patient
Immune checkpoint blockade cancer therapy has been designed to enable tumor killing by conventional αβ T cells. Here authors show that in a Merkel cell carcinoma patient showing complete response to anti-PD-1 treatment, innate-like γδ T cells that specifically recognize the tumor cells expand, and likely contribute to therapeutic success.
- Scott C. Lien
- , Dalam Ly
- & Pamela S. Ohashi
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Article
| Open AccessHeat shock protein gp96 drives natural killer cell maturation and anti-tumor immunity by counteracting Trim28 to stabilize Eomes
Natural killer (NK) cell maturation and function are regulated by multiple transcription factors (TF), but detailed molecular insights are scarce. Here the authors show that a TF, Eomes, is important for NK cell responses and cancer surveillance, in which Eomes expression is regulated by gp96 and Trim28 via the ubiquitination and degradation pathways.
- Yuxiu Xu
- , Xin Li
- & Songdong Meng
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Article
| Open AccessLeukaemia exposure alters the transcriptional profile and function of BCR::ABL1 negative macrophages in the bone marrow niche
The function of macrophages in myeloid leukaemia can be difficult to assess because of lack of differentiation between transformed and non-transformed cells. Here the authors use a chimeric mouse model to characterise the effect of myeloid leukaemia on bystander macrophages noting altered functional properties of these cells.
- Amy Dawson
- , Martha M. Zarou
- & G. Vignir Helgason
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Article
| Open AccessTargeting ALK averts ribonuclease 1-induced immunosuppression and enhances antitumor immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have now been approved for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however only a minority of patients appear to benefit. Here the authors report that RNase1 levels predict response to nivolumab (anti-PD1) in patients with HCC and that RNase 1 overexpression correlates with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in HCC preclinical models.
- Chunxiao Liu
- , Chenhao Zhou
- & Mien-Chie Hung
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Article
| Open AccessNeutral ceramidase regulates breast cancer progression by metabolic programming of TREM2-associated macrophages
Ceramide, a central molecule in sphingolipid metabolism, has been shown to affect the development and functionality of myeloid cells. Here the authors report that myeloid deficiency of neutral ceramidase (NcDase), the enzyme converting ceramide into sphingosine, induces an immunosuppressive phenotype of tumor associated macrophages, linked to T cell exhaustion in breast cancer preclinical models.
- Rui Sun
- , Chao Lei
- & Zhongbin Deng
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Article
| Open AccessNon-invasive transdermal delivery of biomacromolecules with fluorocarbon-modified chitosan for melanoma immunotherapy and viral vaccines
Different approaches have been described for the transdermal delivery of drugs. Here the authors report the design of a fluorocarbon modified chitosan-based non-invasive transdermal platform for the delivery of biomacromolecules, such as viral antigens for vaccines or immune checkpoint inhibitors for melanoma immunotherapy.
- Wenjun Zhu
- , Ting Wei
- & Zhuang Liu
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Article
| Open AccessMHC-I upregulation safeguards neoplastic T cells in the skin against NK cell-mediated eradication in mycosis fungoides
Defective immune responses have been reported in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Here the authors show that in patients with mycosis fungoides, the most common CTCL, malignant T cells upregulate MHC-I as a mechanism to evade NK-mediated immunity.
- Yun-Tsan Chang
- , Pacôme Prompsy
- & Emmanuella Guenova
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Article
| Open AccessTumour-retained activated CCR7+ dendritic cells are heterogeneous and regulate local anti-tumour cytolytic activity
Recognition of tumour antigen induces dendritic cell activation and migration to the lymph node. Here, the authors use photoconvertible mice to demonstrate that some activated dendritic cells are retained in tumours and gradually lose function, but their ability to support local anti-tumour responses can be augmented by anti-PD-L1 blockade.
- Colin Y. C. Lee
- , Bethany C. Kennedy
- & Menna R. Clatworthy
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Article
| Open AccessMARS an improved de novo peptide candidate selection method for non-canonical antigen target discovery in cancer
Detection of neoepitopes from tumours is time consuming and requires the integration of genomic and/or RNA sequencing expression data. Here, the authors propose a machine learning method to enable direct identification of additional, tumour-specific sequences using mass spectrometry through integration of de novo peptide sequencing scores, MHC class I binding prediction, and peptide retention time prediction.
- Hanqing Liao
- , Carolina Barra
- & Nicola Ternette
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Article
| Open AccessCell state dependent effects of Bmal1 on melanoma immunity and tumorigenicity
It has been reported that the circadian clock regulator Bmal1 can modulate tumorigenesis. Here the authors show that ectopic expression of Bmal1 promotes an immune resistant mesenchymal melanoma cell state associated with increased AP-1 activity.
- Xue Zhang
- , Shishir M. Pant
- & Chi V. Dang
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Article
| Open AccessMacro CD5L+ deteriorates CD8+T cells exhaustion and impairs combination of Gemcitabine-Oxaliplatin-Lenvatinib-anti-PD1 therapy in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
The role of the tumor microenvironment in immunotherapy response in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma remains unclear. Here, single cell RNA and TCR sequencing of samples before and after immunotherapy highlights the role of CD8 T-cell status conversion and exhaustion induced by Macro CD5L+ in treatment response.
- Jia-Cheng Lu
- , Lei-Lei Wu
- & Jia Fan
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Article
| Open AccessEpigenetic reprogramming shapes the cellular landscape of schwannoma
Schwannomas are regularly treated with radiotherapy, but the molecular effects on these tumours and their microenvironment remain unclear. Here, the authors show that radiotherapy can induce epigenetic reprogramming and immune infiltration in schwannomas, and develop the snARC-seq approach to analyse the epigenomic evolution at the single-cell level.
- S. John Liu
- , Tim Casey-Clyde
- & David R. Raleigh
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Article
| Open AccessMutant KRAS-activated circATXN7 fosters tumor immunoescape by sensitizing tumor-specific T cells to activation-induced cell death
Oncogenic KRAS mutations can dictate the formation of an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment. Here the authors report that, in KRAS mutant colorectal cancer, the upregulation of circATXN7 in tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes is associated with increased sensitivity to activation-induced cell death and resistance to immunotherapy.”
- Chi Zhou
- , Wenxin Li
- & Huashan Liu
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Article
| Open AccessInhibition of iRhom1 by CD44-targeting nanocarrier for improved cancer immunochemotherapy
A pro-tumorigenic role of iRhom1 has been described in several cancer types. Here the authors show that iRhom1 regulates sensitivity to chemotherapy and immune response, as well they report that CD44 targeting nanoparticle-mediated co-delivery of iRhom1 pre-siRNA promotes anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical cancer models.
- Zhangyi Luo
- , Yixian Huang
- & Song Li
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Article
| Open AccessIL-12 reprograms CAR-expressing natural killer T cells to long-lived Th1-polarized cells with potent antitumor activity
Human natural killer T (NKT) cells have been proposed as a cellular platform for CAR engineering. Here the authors report that IL-12 engineering reprograms CAR-expressing NKT cells to long-lived Th1-polarized cells with potent anti-tumor activity in leukemia and neuroblastoma preclinical models.
- Elisa Landoni
- , Mark G. Woodcock
- & Gianpietro Dotti