Surfactant Expression Defines an Inflamed Subtype of Lung Adenocarcinoma Brain Metastases that Correlates with Prolonged Survival
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
Authors: Pocha, Kolja; Mock, Andreas; Rapp, Carmen; Dettling, Steffen; Warta, Rolf; Geisenberger, Christoph; Jungk, Christine; Martins, Leila R.; Grabe, Niels; Reuss, David; Debus, Juergen; von Deimling, Andreas; Abdollahi, Amir; Unterberg, Andreas; Herold-Mende, Christel C.
Abstract
Purpose: To provide a better understanding of the interplay between the immune system and brain metastases to advance therapeutic options for this life-threatening disease. Experimental Design: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were quantified by semiautomated whole-slide analysis in brain metastases from 81 lung adenocarcinomas. Multi-color staining enabled phenotyping of TILs (CD3, CD8, and FOXP3) on a single-cell resolution. Molecular determinants of the extent of TILs in brain metastases were analyzed by transcriptomics in a subset of 63 patients. Findings in lung adenocarcinoma brain metastases were related to published multi-omic primary lung adenocarcinoma The Cancer Genome Atlas data (n = 230) and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data (n = 52,698). Results: TIL numbers within tumor islands was an independent prognostic marker in patients with lung adenocarcinoma brain metastases. Comparative transcriptomics revealed that expression of three surfactant metabolism-related genes (SFTPA1, SFTPB, and NAPSA) was closely associated with TIL numbers. Their expression was not only prognostic in brain metastasis but also in primary lung adenocarcinoma. Correlation with scRNA-seq data revealed that brain metastases with high expression of surfactant genes might originate from tumor cells resembling alveolar type 2 cells. Methylome-based estimation of immune cell fractions in primary lung adenocarcinoma confirmed a positive association between lymphocyte infiltration and surfactant expression. Tumors with a high surfactant expression displayed a transcriptomic profile of an inflammatory microenvironment. Conclusions: The expression of surfactant metabolism-related genes (SFTPA1, SFTPB, and NAPSA) defines an inflamed subtype of lung adenocarcinoma brain metastases characterized by high abundance of TILs in close vicinity to tumor cells, a prolonged survival, and a tumor microenvironment which might be more accessible to immunotherapeutic approaches.
An expression signature of phenotypic resistance to hepatocellular carcinoma identified by cross-species gene expression analysis
CELLULAR ONCOLOGY
Authors: Frau, Maddalena; Simile, Maria M.; Tomasi, Maria L.; Demartis, Maria I.; Daino, Lucia; Seddaiu, Maria A.; Brozzetti, Stefania; Feo, Claudio F.; Massarelli, Giovanni; Solinas, Giuliana; Feo, Francesco; Lee, Ju-Seog; Pascale, Rosa M.
Abstract
Background and aims Hepatocarcinogenesis is under polygenic control. We analyzed gene expression patterns of dysplastic liver nodules (DNs) and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) chemically-induced in F344 and BN rats, respectively susceptible and resistant to hepatocarcinogenesis. Methods Expression profiles were performed by microarray and validated by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Results Cluster analysis revealed two distinctive gene expression patterns, the first of which included normal liver of both strains and BN nodules, and the second one F344 nodules and HCC of both strains. We identified a signature predicting DN and HCC progression, characterized by highest expression of oncosuppressors Csmd1, Dmbt1, Dusp1, and Gnmt, in DNs, and Bhmt, Dmbt1, Dusp1, Gadd45g, Gnmt, Napsa, Pp2ca, and Ptpn13 in HCCs of resistant rats. Integrated gene expression data revealed highest expression of proliferation-related CTGF, c-MYC, and PCNA, and lowest expression of BHMT, DMBT1, DUSP1, GADD45g, and GNMT, in more aggressive rat and human HCC. BHMT, DUSP1, and GADD45g expression predicted patients' survival. Conclusions Our results disclose, for the first time, a major role of oncosuppressor genes as effectors of genetic resistance to hepatocarcinogenesis. Comparative functional genomic analysis allowed discovering an evolutionarily conserved gene expression signature discriminating HCC with different propensity to progression in rat and human.