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CHI3L1 contributes to an immune suppressed tumour microenvironment in highly invasive brain metastases

ABSTRACT: Brain metastases (BrM) occur in up to 40% of cancer patients, causing nearly one-fifth of cancer deaths. While immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) benefit some BrM patients, responses remain highly variable. This variability partly reflects distinct histopathological growth patterns that include minimally invasive (MI) and highly invasive (HI) brain BrM. Here we show that MI BrM exhibit robust immune infiltration, whereas HI lesions are immunosuppressed. However, histological differentiation between MI and HI can be challenging due to subjective margin assessment. Here, using highly multiplexed spatial proteomics on 119 tumour sections from 46 patients with BrM, we identify CHI3L1 as a key mediator of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in HI BrM. In preclinical models, genetic deletion of CHI3L1 converts immune-cold metastases into lymphocyte-rich, ICI-responsive lesions infiltrated by granzyme-B+ CD8+ T cells. In BrM patients treated with ICI, immunohistochemical quantification of CHI3L1 expression was a stronger predictor of ICI response than traditional MI/HI classification. Thus, CHI3L1 represents a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for BrM.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE303531 | GEO | 2026/03/13

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background Skeletal morbidity in cancer patients has a major impact on quality of life and preserving bone health while improving outcomes is an important goal of modern antitumor treatment strategies. Despite their widespread use in early disease stages, the effects of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) on the skeleton are still poorly defined. Here, we initiated a comprehensive investigation of the impact of ICI on bone turnover by longitudinal assessment of bone turnover markers (BTM) in cancer patients and by validation in a novel bioengineered 3D model of bone remodeling. Methods Serum markers of bone resorption (C-terminal telopeptide, CTX) and formation (procollagen type I N-propeptide, PINP; and osteocalcin, OCN) were measured before each ICI application (PD1 inhibitors, PD1i or PD-L1 inhibitors, PD1i) for 6 months or until disease progression in patients with advanced cancer and no evidence of bone metastases. To validate the in vivo results, we evaluated osteoclast (OC) and osteoblast (OB) differentiation upon treatment with ICI. In addition, their effect on bone remodeling was assessed by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and proteomics analysis in a dynamic 3D model of the bone multicellular unit (BMU). Results The longitudinal assessment of BTM revealed a significant decrease in CTX levels after 3 weeks, followed by a return to baseline levels within 3 months. In contrast, serum levels of PINP and OCN gradually increased from baseline to the last postbaseline assessment. In vitro, ICI impaired the maturation of preosteoclasts by inhibiting STAT3/NFATc1 signaling, but not JNK, ERK and AKT; while lacking any direct effect on osteogenesis. However, using our novel bioengineered 3D bone model, which enables the simultaneous differentiation of OB and OC precursor cells, we confirmed the uncoupling of the OC/OB activity upon ICI treatment by demonstrating impaired OC maturation along with increased OB differentiation. Conclusion Our study indicates that the inhibition of the PD1/PD-L1 signaling axis interferes with the OB/OC coupling of bone turnover and may potentially exert a protective effect on bone by impairing the differentiation OCs and indirectly promoting osteogenesis.

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CHI3L1 contributes to an immune suppressed tumour microenvironment in highly invasive brain metastases

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