Key Regulatory Elements of the TGFβ-LRRC15 Axis Predict Disease Progression and Immunotherapy Resistance Across Cancer Types
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE290255 | GEO | 2025/10/08
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Leucine-rich repeat containing 15 (LRRC15) has emerged as an attractive biomarker and target for cancer therapy. We have developed a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb), DUNP19, that specifically binds to a phylogenetically conserved LRRC15 epitope and is internalized by target-expressing cancer and stromal cells. In xenograft mouse models, Lutetium-177 labeled DUNP19 ([177Lu]-DUNP19) enables non-invasive imaging and precise radiotherapy to LRRC15-expressing cancer cells and murine cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), halting tumor progression and prolonging survival with minimal toxicity. Transcriptomic analyses of [177Lu]-DUNP19-treated tumors reveal a loss of pro-tumorigenic mechanisms, including a transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-driven and LRRC15+ signature associated with immunotherapy resistance. Together, these results demonstrate that radio-theranostic targeting of LRRC15 with DUNP19 is a compelling precision medicine platform for image-guided diagnosis, eradication, and reprogramming of LRRC15+ tumor tissue that drives immuno-resistance and aggressive disease.
2025-06-02 | GSE260644 | GEO
Project description:Single-cell RNA-seq in mice with subcutaneous tumors was used to determine if TGFβR2 signaling in DPT+ universal fibroblasts drives LRRC15+ myofibroblast differentiation using DptIresCreERT2Tgfbr2fl/fl and WT control mice.
2022-08-16 | E-MTAB-12028 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Tumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGFβ-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Tumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGFβ-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Tumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGFβ-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment. In the present study, patient derived-CAFs and HPFs activated in vitro with either TGFβ or IL6 were comparatively analyzed for gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles, with the aim to define transcriptional pathways responsible for fibroblast activation and establish whether different subpopulations of CAFs may exist in PCa.
2015-09-01 | E-GEOD-68165 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of head and neck cancer and has a survival rate of ~50% over five years. New treatment strategies are sorely needed to improve survival rates – and a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis is needed to develop these strategies. The role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) has increasingly been identified as crucial in tumor progression and metastasis. One of the main constituents of the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), plays a key role in influencing the biological behavior of tumors. Multiple mechanisms contribute to CAF activation, such as TGFβ signaling, but the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in CAF activation in OSCC is poorly understood. Assessing the impact of oral cancer-derived EVs on CAF activation will help to better illuminate OSCC pathophysiology and may drive development of novel treatments options. Materials and Methods: EVs were isolated from OSCC cell lines (Cal 27, SCC-9, SCC-25) using differential centrifugation. Nanoparticle tracking analysis was used for EV quantification and size characterization, and Western blot to confirm the presence of EV protein markers. Oral fibroblasts were co-cultured with enriched EVs, TGFβ, or PBS over 72 hours to assess activation. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the difference in CAF markers. RNA collected from fibroblasts was extracted and the transcriptome was sequenced. Conditioned media from the co-cultures was evaluated with cytokine array profiling. Results: OSCC-derived EVs can activate oral fibroblasts into CAFs that are different from those activated by TGFβ, suggesting different mechanisms of activation and different functional properties. Gene set enrichment analysis using expression data from activated CAFs showed several upregulated inflammatory pathways in those CAFs exposed to OSCC-derived EVs. Marker genes for inflammatory CAF subtypes were also upregulated. This was not seen in CAFs activated by TGFβ. Finally, cytokine array analysis on secreted proteins from CAFs revealed elevated levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines from CAFs activated by EVs, for instance IL-8 and CXCL5. Conclusions: Taken together, our results reveal the ability of OSCC-derived EVs to activate fibroblasts into CAFs. These CAFs seem to have unique properties, differing from TGFβ-activated CAFs. Gaining an understanding of the interplay between EVs and stromal cells such as CAFs could lead to further insights into OSCC tumorigenesis and potential novel therapeutics.
2023-09-07 | GSE233618 | GEO
Project description:Effective targeting of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is hindered by the lack of specific biomarkers and a poor understanding of the mechanisms by which different populations of CAFs contribute to cancer progression. While the role of TGFβ in CAFs is well-studied, less attention has been focused on a structurally and functionally similar protein, Activin A (encoded by INHBA), which is typically associated with poor survival and advanced stage in ovarian cancer. Here, we identified INHBA(+) CAFs as key players in tumor promotion and immune evasion. In syngeneic ovarian cancer mouse models, intraperitoneal injection of the Activin A neutralizing antibody attenuated tumor progression and infiltration with the host INHBA(+) CAFs and M2 macrophages. Collectively, our study identified an INHBA(+) subset of pro-tumoral CAFs as a potential therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.
2023-05-01 | GSE229529 | GEO
Project description:Oncogenic KRAS (KRAS*) contributes to many cancer hallmarks. In colorectal cancer (CRC), KRAS* has been shown to suppress anti-tumor immunity which promotes tumor metastasis. Here, we show that the protumor actions of KRAS* extend to the adipogenic transformation of fibroblasts into lipid-laden cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which spur angiogenesis. Mechanistically, KRAS*-mediated activation of the transcription factor CP2 (TFCP2) resulted in TFCP2-mediated transcriptional upregulation of pro-adipogenic factors BMP4 and WNT5B to drive lipid-rich CAF transformation. Functionally, these lipid-rich CAFs promoted tumor growth via their production of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Correspondingly, genetic and pharmacological neutralization of TFCP2 decreased the abundance of lipid-rich CAFs, reduced tumor angiogenesis, and increased survival in an autochthonous KRAS*–driven CRC mouse model. These murine findings mirror translational profiles in human CRC. Thus, KRAS* transforms the stromal cell state to promote tumor angiogenesis and disease progression, providing an actionable therapeutic intervention for KRAS*–driven CRC.
2023-09-15 | GSE229559 | GEO
Project description:Resistance is a major problem with effective cancer treatment and the stroma forms a significant portion of the tumor mass but traditional drug screens involve cancer cells alone. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major tumor stroma component and its secreted proteins may influence the function of cancer cells. The majority of secretome studies compare different cancer or CAF cell lines exclusively. Here, we present the direct characterization of the secreted protein profiles between CAFs and KRAS mutant-cancer cell lines from colorectal, lung, and pancreatic tissues using multiplexed mass spectrometry. 2573 secreted proteins were annotated, and differential analysis highlighted understudied CAF-enriched secreted proteins, including Wnt family member 5B (WNT5B), in addition to established CAF markers, such as collagens. The functional role of CAF secreted proteins was explored by assessing its effect on the response to 97 anticancer drugs since stromal cells may cause a differing cancer drug response, which may be missed on routine drug screening using cancer cells alone. CAF secreted proteins caused specific effects on each of the cancer cell lines, which highlights the complexity and challenges in cancer treatment and so the importance to consider stromal elements.
2024-05-29 | PXD048307 | Pride
Project description:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy that resists current treatments. To test epigenetic therapy against this cancer we used the DNA demethylating drug 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine (DAC) in a KrasLSL-G12D; p53LSL-R270H/+; Pdx1-cre; Brca1flex2/flex2 (KPC-Brca1) mouse model of aggressive stroma-rich PDAC. In untreated tumors, we found globally decreased 5-methyl-cytosine (5mC) in malignant epithelial cells and in cancer-associated myofibroblasts (CAFs), and increased amounts of 5-hydroxymethyl-cytosine (5HmC) in CAFs, in progression from pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) to PDAC. DAC further reduced DNA methylation and slowed PDAC progression, markedly extending survival in an early treatment protocol and significantly though transiently inhibiting tumor growth when initiated later, without adverse side effects. Escaping tumors contained areas of sarcomatoid transformation with disappearance of CAFs. Mixing-allografting experiments and proliferation indices showed that DAC efficacy was due to inhibition of both the malignant epithelial cells and the stromal CAFs. Expression profiling and immunohistochemistry highlighted DAC-induction of STAT1 in the tumors, and DAC plus gamma-interferon produced an additive anti-proliferative effect on PDAC cells. DAC induced strong expression of the testis antigen DAZL in CAFs. These data show that DAC is effective against PDAC in vivo and provide a rationale for future studies combining hypomethylating agents with cytokines and immunotherapy. Treatment of a short-term explant culture of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) from a KPC-Brca1 mouse pancreatic carcinoma, with 2 micromolar 5-aza-dC (decitabine; DAC) for 48 hours. The experiment includes 3 replicate plates untreated and 3 replicates treated.
2013-01-01 | E-GEOD-42364 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:With the advent of cancer immunotherapy, intense investigation has been focused on tumor-infiltrating immune cells. With only a fraction of patients responding to these new therapies, a better understanding of all elements of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that may influence therapeutic outcome is needed. Stromal elements of the TME, chiefly fibroblasts, have emerged as potential contributors to tumor progression and most recently resistance to immunotherapy, but their precise composition and clinical relevance remain incompletely understood. Here we use single-cell transcriptomics to chart the fibroblastic landscape during pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression in animal models, identifying two healthy tissue fibroblast subsets that co-evolve along individual trajectories into four subsets of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs).
2019-10-31 | E-MTAB-8483 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:The Consensus Molecular Subtype 4 (CMS4) of colorectal cancer (CRC) has the worst prognosis and the highest frequency of hepatic metastases. It is characterized by abundant cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment and active TGFβ signaling, but the molecular drivers of metastasis remain unclear. Here, we show that TGFβ signaling in CRC patient-derived CAFs from the primary tumor induces production of IL-6 family cytokines, particularly IL-6 and IL-11. These cytokines stimulate hepatocytes to express myeloid chemoattractants, including SAA1, through gp130-dependent JAK/STAT signaling. This promotes neutrophil recruitment to the liver, potentially creating a pro-metastatic niche. This IL-6 family-JAK/STAT stromal signaling axis is active in both a murine model of CMS4 as well as in human CRC patients in vivo. Combined, our data reveal that TGFβ-driven CAF signaling actively contributes to the formation of a neutrophil-dependent, pre-metastatic hepatic niche in the metastatic phenotype of CMS4 CRC.
2025-09-03 | GSE306627 | GEO