Integrated Genomic Comparison of Mouse Models Reveals Their Clinical Resemblance to Human Liver Cancer
MOLECULAR CANCER RESEARCH
Authors: Yim, Sun Young; Shim, Jae-Jun; Shin, Ji-Hyun; Jeong, Yun Seong; Kang, Sang-Hee; Kim, Sang-Bae; Eun, Young Gyu; Lee, Dong Jin; Conner, Elizabeth A.; Factor, Valentina M.; Moore, David D.; Johnson, Randy L.; Thorgeirsson, Snorri S.; Lee, Ju-Seog
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous disease. Mouse models are commonly used as preclinical models to study hepatocarcinogenesis, but how well these models recapitulate molecular subtypes of human HCC is unclear. Here, integration of genomic signatures from molecularly and clinically defined human HCC (n = 11) and mouse models of HCC (n = 9) identified the mouse models that best resembled subtypes of human HCC and determined the clinical relevance of each model. Mst1/2 knockout (KO), Sav1 KO, and SV40 T antigen mouse models effectively recapitulated subtypes of human HCC with a poor prognosis, whereas the Myc transgenic model best resembled human HCCs with a more favorable prognosis. The Myc model was also associated with activation of beta-catenin. E2f1, E2f1/Myc, E2f1/Tgfa, and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced models were heterogeneous and were unequally split into poor and favor-able prognoses. Mst1/2 KO and Sav1 KO models best resemble human HCC with hepatic stem cell characteristics. Applying a genomic predictor for immunotherapy, the six-gene IFNg score, the Mst1/2 KO, Sav1 KO, SV40, and DEN models were predicted to be the least responsive to immunotherapy. Further analysis showed that elevated expression of immuneinhibitory genes (Cd276 and Nectin2/Pvrl2) in Mst1/2 KO, Sav1 KO, and SV40 models and decreased expression of immune stimulatory gene (Cd86) in the DEN model might be accountable for the lack of predictive response to immunotherapy. Implication: The current genomic approach identified the most relevant mouse models to human liver cancer and suggests immunotherapeutic potential for the treatment of specific subtypes. (C) 2018 AACR.
Tumor Lymphatic Function Regulates Tumor Inflammatory and Immunosuppressive Microenvironments
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
Authors: Kataru, Raghu P.; Ly, Catherine L.; Shin, Jinyeon; Park, Hyeung Ju; Baik, Jung Eun; Rehal, Sonia; Ortega, Sagrario; Lyden, David; Mehrara, Babak J.
Abstract
Proliferation of aberrant, dysfunctional lymphatic vessels around solid tumors is a common histologic finding. Studies have shown that abnormalities in lymphatic function result in accumulation of inflammatory cells with an immunosuppressive profile. We tested the hypothesis that dysfunctional lymphatic vessels surrounding solid tumors regulate changes in the tumor microenvironment and tumor-specific immune responses. Using subcutaneously implanted mouse melanoma and breast cancer tumors in a lymphatic endothelial cell-specific diphtheria toxin receptor transgenic mouse, we found that local ablation of lymphatic vessels increased peritumoral edema, as compared with controls. Comparative analysis of the peritumoral fluid demonstrated increases in the number of macrophages, CD4+ inflammatory cells, F4/80(+)/Gr-1(+) (myeloid-derived suppressor cells), CD4(+)/Foxp3(+) (Tregs) immunosuppressive cells, and expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNFa, IFNg, and IL1b following lymphatic ablation. Tumors grown in lymphatic ablated mice exhibited reduced intratumoral accumulation of cytotoxic T cells and increased tumor PD-L1 expression, causing rapid tumor growth, compared with tumors grown in nonlymphatic-ablated mice. Our study suggests that lymphatic dysfunction plays a role in regulating tumor microenvironments and may be therapeutically targeted in combination with immunotherapy to prevent tumor growth and progression.