Single-cell analysis of multiple cancer types reveals differences in endothelial cells between tumors and normal tissues

Article Oncology

Special issue The advance of solid tumor research in China: 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT for evaluating primary and metastatic lesions in different histological subtypes of renal cell carcinoma

Yilin Li et al.

Summary: Ga-68-PSMA-11 PET/CT demonstrates high accuracy and sensitivity in detecting metastatic lesions in ccRCC patients, particularly in the bone and lymph nodes.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER (2023)

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Article Peripheral Vascular Disease

Identification of vascular cues contributing to cancer cell stemness and function

Saran Kumar et al.

Summary: The study uncovered the influence of vascular cues on GSC gene expression and function, revealing that perivascular GSCs possess superior tumor-initiation potential and a unique metabolic milieu dominated by mTOR activity. Additionally, bidirectional communication between glioma cells and ECs, primarily through Notch-mediated signaling, impacts genes responsible for maintaining GSCs in an undifferentiated state.

ANGIOGENESIS (2022)

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Review Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Clinical efficacy and safety of angiogenesis inhibitors: sex differences and current challenges

Andrea Cignarella et al.

Summary: This review discusses the challenges clinicians face in angiogenesis inhibitor therapy, including the need to consider sex differences in clinical efficacy and safety, and proposes future research directions.

CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH (2022)

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Review Immunology

Tumors resurrect an embryonic vascular program to escape immunity

Elisabeth J. M. Huijbers et al.

Summary: Tumors can escape immunity by inducing a state of unresponsiveness in tumor vasculature, leading to compromised immune responses. By mimicking embryonic mechanisms through angiogenesis, tumors enforce immune privileged conditions to ensure uninterrupted growth.

SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY (2022)

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Article Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

Scalable single-cell RNA sequencing from full transcripts with Smart-seq3xpress

Michael Hagemann-Jensen et al.

Summary: Smart-seq3xpress is a simplified and miniaturized version of the Smart-seq3 protocol, which allows high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing from full transcripts while reducing reagent usage. Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells using Smart-seq3xpress revealed a comprehensive atlas of common and rare cell types. Compared with droplet-based methods, Smart-seq3xpress also provided additional coverage of cell-type-associated isoform variation.

NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY (2022)

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Article Oncology

The impact of VEGF on cancer metastasis and systemic disease

Yunlong Yang et al.

Summary: Metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality, is still poorly understood. Both blood and lymphatic vasculatures play crucial roles in distal metastasis, with VEGF being a key angiogenic factor. Anti-VEGF drugs have been widely used in clinical treatment of various cancers, but their impact on cancer metastasis and systemic disease is largely unknown.

SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Comprehensive characterization of the prostate tumor microenvironment identifies CXCR4/CXCL12 crosstalk as a novel antiangiogenic therapeutic target in prostate cancer

Isabel Heidegger et al.

Summary: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of prostate cancer tumor endothelial cells (TEC) and identifies potential therapeutic targets, specifically the CXCL12/CXCR4 interaction, to interfere with tumor angiogenesis in prostate cancer. Understanding the cell-to-cell communication networks in the tumor microenvironment contributes to the development of new therapeutic approaches for prostate cancer.

MOLECULAR CANCER (2022)

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Review Pharmacology & Pharmacy

New insights into antiangiogenic therapy resistance in cancer: Mechanisms and therapeutic aspects

Maohua Huang et al.

Summary: Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth, but resistance to antiangiogenic therapy is a major challenge. This review describes the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind tumor resistance to antiangiogenic therapy and potential biomarkers for predicting treatment response. It also discusses recent advances in combination strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy.

DRUG RESISTANCE UPDATES (2022)

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Review Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Targeting signaling pathways in prostate cancer: mechanisms and clinical trials

Yundong He et al.

Summary: This review summarizes the targeted agents and their mechanisms for treating prostate cancer (PCa), as well as discusses their limitations and future directions.

SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY (2022)

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Article Medicine, Research & Experimental

Tumor-specific interendothelial adhesion mediated by FLRT2 facilitates cancer aggressiveness

Tomofumi Ando et al.

Summary: Blood vessel abnormalities in cancer can be targeted therapeutically to suppress cancer progression, according to a study. Researchers found that a molecule called fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane protein 2 (FLRT2) is expressed in abnormal blood vessels of advanced colorectal cancers in humans. Deleting FLRT2 in endothelial cells selectively pruned abnormal blood vessels and suppressed tumor metastasis. Additionally, FLRT2 deletion increased the number of mature vessels, enhancing the antitumor effects of immune checkpoint blockers. The study suggests that targeting tumor-specific interendothelial adhesions could be a safe and effective therapeutic option.

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION (2022)

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Review Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Notch signaling pathway: architecture, disease, and therapeutics

Binghan Zhou et al.

Summary: The NOTCH gene and signaling pathway have been studied for 110 years and play important roles in the development, homeostasis, and related diseases of tissues and organs. However, recent studies have found that the outcomes of NOTCH signaling are context-dependent. In terms of cancer, NOTCH signaling can both promote and inhibit tumor development. NOTCH-targeted therapies in clinical trials have not met expectations, and NOTCH mutations may serve as predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint blockade therapy in many cancers.

SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY (2022)

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Review Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Wnt/β-catenin signalling: function, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic opportunities

Jiaqi Liu et al.

Summary: This article provides a comprehensive review of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, including its origin, composition, function, and clinical trials. It also discusses the challenges and opportunities for developing small-molecule compounds targeting this signaling pathway in disease treatment.

SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

UniProt: the universal protein knowledgebase in 2021

Alex Bateman et al.

Summary: The UniProt Knowledgebase aims to provide users with a comprehensive, high-quality set of protein sequences annotated with functional information. Updates over the past two years have increased the number of sequences to approximately 190 million, with new methods to assess proteome completeness and quality. UniProtKB has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by expertly curating relevant entries and making them rapidly available through a dedicated portal.

NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH (2021)

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Article Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging

68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT Improves Tumor Detection and Impacts Management in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Nader Hirmas et al.

Summary: 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET demonstrated higher accuracy than CT in the detection of HCC metastases and was associated with a management change in about half the patient cohort.

JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Cell Biology

Hsp90-stabilized MIF supports tumor progression via macrophage recruitment and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer

Luisa Klemke et al.

Summary: The study demonstrates that MIF stabilization in CRC is tumor-specific, and Mif deletion reduces CRC tumor growth, suggesting a dual role for MIF in CRC tumor progression, switching from a proinflammatory cytokine to an angiogenesis promoting factor. Additionally, Mif-deficient colonic tumor organoids show growth defects and decreased susceptibility to HSP90 inhibitor treatment, supporting MIF as a potential and selective therapeutic target in CRC.

CELL DEATH & DISEASE (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Inference and analysis of cell-cell communication using CellChat

Suoqin Jin et al.

Summary: By constructing an interaction database and developing the tool CellChat, the authors quantitatively inferred and analyzed cell-cell communication networks, revealing important signaling inputs and outputs between cells, and achieved classification of conserved and context-specific pathways.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the tumor ecosystems underlying initiation and progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Weilin Pu et al.

Summary: The study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively analyze the tumour microenvironment of PTC, identifying potential therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic therapy combination. The research discovered premalignant thyrocyte populations and different malignant thyrocyte phenotypes, offering insights into prognosis and treatment implications.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Oncology

Prognostic Value of Vascular-Expressed PSMA and CD248 in Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder

Yu Li et al.

Summary: The study confirmed the expression of PSMA and CD248 in the tumor-associated vessels of UCB patients, with high levels significantly associated with deteriorated clinicopathological features and poor prognosis. Both PSMA and CD248 expression serve as good risk factors for predicting prognosis, and combining them with other clinical risk factors can enhance predictive performance. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that PSMA and CD248 may promote angiogenesis and the progression of UCB.

FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY (2021)

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Review Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging

Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen PET in Prostate Cancer

Courtney Lawhn-Heath et al.

Summary: PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceuticals play a significant role in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer, with higher detection rates compared to conventional imaging and potential to change management plans, contributing positively to the advancement of prostate cancer imaging.

RADIOLOGY (2021)

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Review Oncology

Therapeutic Targeting of the Tumor Microenvironment

Leire Bejarano et al.

Summary: This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current therapies targeting the TME, combining a discussion of the underlying basic biology with clinical evaluation of different therapeutic approaches, and highlighting the challenges and future perspectives.

CANCER DISCOVERY (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Integrated analysis of multimodal single-cell data

Yuhan Hao et al.

Summary: The study introduces a weighted-nearest neighbor analysis framework to learn the relative utility of each data type in each cell, enabling integrative analysis of multiple modalities. Applied to a CITE-seq dataset, the method constructs a multimodal reference atlas of the circulating immune system and successfully identifies and validates previously unreported lymphoid subpopulations.

CELL (2021)

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Article Oncology

Spatially Distinct Reprogramming of the Tumor Microenvironment Based On Tumor Invasion in Diffuse-Type Gastric Cancers

Hye Young Jeong et al.

Summary: The study used single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal the cellular components and molecular features of the tumor microenvironment in diffuse-type gastric cancer, showing enrichment of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and myeloid cells in the deep invasive layers. Moreover, it demonstrated the potential role of CCL2 in tumor invasion and identified immunosuppressive immune cell subtypes that may contribute to tumor aggressiveness in deep invasive layers. The high-level coexpression of stromal cell-specific genes and correlation of CCL2 with poor survival outcomes were also observed in patients with gastric cancer.

CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Single-cell analyses of renal cell cancers reveal insights into tumor microenvironment, cell of origin, and therapy response

Yuping Zhang et al.

Summary: This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify the cell of origin for different RCC subtypes and highlighted the crucial role of the tumor microenvironment in influencing ccRCC biology and response to therapy.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Decoding the multicellular ecosystem of lung adenocarcinoma manifested as pulmonary subsolid nodules by single-cell RNA sequencing

Xudong Xing et al.

Summary: This study provides single-cell transcriptomic profiling of SSN and their TME, revealing that cytotoxic natural killer/I cells dominate the TME of SSN, and malignant cells in SSN undergo metabolic reprogramming and immune stress. Furthermore, the subtype composition of endothelial cells in SSN is similar to that in mLUAD, while the subtype distribution of fibroblasts is more like that in nLung.

SCIENCE ADVANCES (2021)

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Article Oncology