bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abstract 2641: Transcriptional reprogramming of Ewing tumors: gains and losses noted when utilizing immunocompetent in vivo models
Authors: Daley Jessica D. , Mukherjee Elina , Tufino A Carolina , Bao Riyue , Bailey Kelly M. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Objective: Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive cancer most frequently diagnosed in adolescents and young adults. Currently, there is a limited understanding of the immunobiology of Ewing sarcoma, including limited pre-clinical studies of immunotherapeutic interventions. This, in part, is due to the historical lack of an immuno-competent murine model. Here, we utilize an immunocompetent, humanized mouse model to investigate the Ewing tumor immune microenvironment. Specifically, we sought to determine the transcriptional differences that occur when comparing human Ewing tumors established in a humanized backdrop versus those developed in an NSG (immuno-deficient) model.
Methods: Human Ewing cell lines (A673, TC32, TC71) and PDX (PSaRC219) were injected orthotopically into humanized or NSG mice. After ~3 weeks, bulk RNA sequencing was performed on tumors utilizing an Illumina Next Generation Sequencer. Tumor single-cell suspensions underwent immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (CyTek Aurora) for the following human markers: CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, CD14, CD16, etc.. Peripheral blood was collected, PBMCs isolated, and immunophenotyping was again performed to determine peripheral blood immune cell populations.
Results: Ewing tumors established in humanized mice demonstrate infiltration of human CD45+ cells as well as immune cell sub-populations (CD3+, CD14+, CD56+ cells). Bulk RNA sequencing analysis utilizing unsupervised hierarchal clustering revealed that the transcriptional profile of Ewing tumors generated in humanized vs NSG mice cluster distinctly. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes (p &lt;0.05) in Ewing tumors developed in humanized versus NSG mice demonstrates upregulation of pathways including extracellular matrix remodeling, collagen biosynthesis, and Wnt signaling. Notably, transcripts known to be specific to TGFBeta-dependent signaling in Ewing tumors are upregulated in the immune competent model, including TGFB1, FBLN5, and COLEC12.
Conclusion: This work demonstrates the Ewing tumor transcriptional remodeling that occurs when tumors are developed in an immunocompetent in vivo backdrop. Upregulation of several pro-metastatic pathways were noted. Ongoing work focuses on testing drug response differences between Ewing tumors developed in humanized versus NSG backdrops and pursuing immunocompetent Ewing models as a component of preclinical agent testing.
Citation Format: Jessica D. Daley, Elina Mukherjee, A Carolina Tufino, Riyue Bao, Kelly M. Bailey. Transcriptional reprogramming of Ewing tumors: gains and losses noted when utilizing immunocompetent in vivo models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2641.
Abstract 2649: A new role for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as a proximal mediator of immune checkpoints (PD-L1/2 and IDO1) in non-small cell lung cancer: Insights into an interferon-induced, LncRNA-and JAK/STAT-mediated signaling pathway
Authors: Lara Brian , Snyder Megan , Wang Zhongyan , Fimbres Jocelyn , Yang Eric , Sherr David H. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the second most common cancer and accounts for ~127,000 deaths/year in the U.S. Its current ~30% five-year survival rate is an improvement from a decade ago thanks in part to the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors including PD1- and PD-L1-specific monoclonal antibodies. While PD-1/PD-L1-targeted immunotherapy is effective in many cases, not all patients respond and complete remissions still only occur in a minority of patients. Therefore, a greater understanding of immune checkpoint regulation in human NSCLC is needed. Here, we investigated a novel role for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), an environmental carcinogen receptor previously associated with smoking-induced lung cancers, in the regulation of immune checkpoints PD-L1, PD-L2, and IDO1. Computational analyses of existing databases for protein-protein interactions linked to the AhR signaling pathway suggested crosstalk between the AhR, type I and type II Interferon (IFN), and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. AhR deletion from human lung A549 adenocarcinoma cells significantly reduced expression of JAK2, STAT1, STAT2, and the JAK/STAT signaling targets IRF1 and IRF9. Type II IFNγ significantly increased expression of those genes as well as the immune checkpoints IDO1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 in an AhR-dependent fashion. Interestingly, AhR deletion also eliminated IFNγ-mediated induction of a recently described long non-coding RNA, INCR1, which is encoded across the CD274/CD273 locus, and which facilitates JAK2, CD274/PD-L1, and IDO1 translation. Concomitantly, AhR knockout increased baseline expression of an RNA-binding protein, HNRNPH1, known to sequester JAK2 and CD274 mRNA thereby reducing IDO, PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression. Similarly, the AhR was shown to regulate Type I IFNα-mediated induction of STAT1, STAT2, CD274/PD-L1, and CD273/PD-L2. The data indicate that IFN induction of key immune checkpoints in lung adenocarcinoma cells is dependent on the AhR through its control of a conventional JAK/STAT pathway and an unconventional lncRNA (INCR1) and RNA-binding protein (HNRNPH1) pathway.
Citation Format: Brian Lara, Megan Snyder, Zhongyan Wang, Jocelyn Fimbres, Eric Yang, David H. Sherr. A new role for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as a proximal mediator of immune checkpoints (PD-L1/2 and IDO1) in non-small cell lung cancer: Insights into an interferon-induced, LncRNA-and JAK/STAT-mediated signaling pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2649.
Abstract 2658: The circadian clock modulates cancer immune checkpoint therapy through immune cell trafficking
Authors: Lichterman Jake N. , Srinivasan Tarun , Li Wenling , Sabaeifard Parastoo , Coughlin Laura A. , Poulides Nicole , Hooper Lora V. , Koh Andrew Y. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (ICT) can provide durable remissions for cancer patients with previously incurable malignancies. However, ICT is ineffective for many cancer types, and even those who initially respond may develop ICT resistance and succumb to their cancer. Tumor cell extrinsic factors, termed host factors, have recently emerged as key mediators and biomarkers of ICT response. One intriguing host factor that may influence ICT response is the circadian clock, an evolutionarily conserved transcriptional-translational feedback loop that allows mammalian organisms to adapt to environmental exposures (e.g. light). However, whether “the clock” modulates the ICT anti-tumor immune response is unknown.
Utilizing preclinical mouse models of cancer immunotherapy, we found that ICT efficacy is time-of-day dependent. ICT was most efficacious if ICT was administered at two hours after first light exposure (Zeitgeber time 2, ZT2) and least efficacious at ZT18. Utilizing flow cytometry, bulk cytokine analysis, and single cell RNA sequencing, we characterized the anti-tumor immune response after administering ICT at ZT2 and ZT18. There was an increase in effector granzyme B- and interferon-γ producing CD8+ T-cells in the tumor at ZT2 versus ZT18. This was accompanied by an increase in CD11c+ dendritic cells (DCs) and intratumoral chemokines (e.g. CXCL10) that promote DC/T-cell migration into the tumor microenvironment, and leads to enhanced DC-T-cell priming and anti-tumor immunity. Interestingly, these time-of-day dependent differences in tumor immune cell infiltration were present prior to the administration of ICT. To interrogate the role of the clock in mediating these time-of-day dependent differences, we characterized the response to ICT in mice that lack the core clock gene, BMAL1. Loss of BMAL1 in DCs (BMAL1fl/fl crossed with CD11c-cre) attenuated ICT efficacy, abrogated time-of-day dependent differences in ICT efficacy and dampened anti-tumor immunity. These findings highlight a role for a novel host factor, the circadian clock, in mediating the efficacy of cancer immune checkpoint therapy.
Citation Format: Jake N. Lichterman, Tarun Srinivasan, Wenling Li, Parastoo Sabaeifard, Laura A. Coughlin, Nicole Poulides, Lora V. Hooper, Andrew Y. Koh. The circadian clock modulates cancer immune checkpoint therapy through immune cell trafficking [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2658.
Abstract 2681: Blockade of SIRPα in glioblastoma cells inhibits mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation and increase immune cell mediated cytotoxicity
Authors: Tsai Yu-Ting , Lesser Glenn J. , Soto-Pantoja David R. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor with limited immunotherapeutic options, likely due to significant GBM-associated systemic and intra-tumoral immunosuppression. The binding of SIRPα on myeloid cells to CD47 on cancer cells restricts immuno-phagocytosis against cancer cells. However, less attention has been given to SIRPα is also expressed in cancer cells, and the role of SIRPα on cancer cells is still unclear. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was used to examine the expression of SIRPα in normal brain tissues and GBM. A single-cell database on the Broad Institute Portal was utilized to analyze the SIRPα expression in different cell types. SIRPα antisense morpholino was applied for gene knockdown. Established stable SIRPα overexpressed GBM cell lines were used to examine the mitochondrial function through the Seahorse Mito Stress test. In vitro, immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity was measured by Agilent xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis. Patient biopsies show a 2-fold increase in SIRPα expression in GBM tumors compared to the normal adjacent (n=14-21; p &lt; 0.01). Single-cell RNA-seq data on GBM tumors shows that SIRPα is expressed not only in the myeloid compartment but also in malignant cells. Studies have shown that mitochondrial function and fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) play a critical role in GBM progression. Respirometry data revealed that blocking SIRPα in murine GBM cell line (CT2A) decreases mitochondrial ATP production. Seahorse Mito Stress test combined with fuel inhibitors showed that SIRPα expression mainly affects the usage of FAO (approximately 50%). In addition, stably, the GFP-tagged SIRPα overexpressed GBM cell line showed an increase of mitochondrial respiration with enhanced FAO ratio compared to the GFP control cell line. These suggested that SIRPα regulates mitochondrial FAO. Studies have shown that tumor-intrinsic FAO confers cell resistance to immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Interestingly, by coculturing with microglia, the innate immune population in the brain, our data showed that SIRPα blockade on GBM enhanced microglia-mediated cytotoxicity. Our data showed that targeting SIRPα on GBM may be a prospective therapeutic option by inhibiting FAO in mitochondria and increasing immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
Citation Format: Yu-Ting Tsai, Glenn J. Lesser, David R. Soto-Pantoja. Blockade of SIRPα in glioblastoma cells inhibits mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation and increase immune cell mediated cytotoxicity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2681.
Abstract 2694: The role of innate lymphoid cells and innate like T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huang Patrick , Ruf Benjamin , Trehan Rajiv , Soika Dana , Ma Chi , Greten Tim F. , Korangy Firouzeh 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The major focus of cancer immunotherapy has been on conventional T cells due to their unique recognition of specific peptide antigens. Despite advances in the cancer immunotherapy field, including the use of atezolizumab and bevacizumab as first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the overall mortality rate of HCC continues to rise. Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) and innate-like T cells (ILTC) are broadly categorized within the innate lymphoid population as playing an important role in inflammation, tissue repair and immune tolerance. Their ability to react rapidly to stimulants in their local tissue environment as well as to recruit and activate a variety of other immune cells makes these cells attractive targets for anti-tumor therapy. However, previous studies looking at ILCs and ILTCs in cancer have revealed both pro- and anti-tumor functions. Furthermore, the complex interplay between these cell populations in the tumor microenvironment is not well understood, particularly over the natural course of tumor development. In this study, we aim to better elucidate the role of ILC and ILTC populations in HCC progression in terms of both their kinetics and role as potential therapeutic targets. We performed hydrodynamic tail vein injections in mice with two different plasmid combinations to alter expression of commonly mutated oncogenes and tumor suppressors in human HCC (MYC;TP53 and MYC;CTNNB1). Histologic analysis of the livers was performed to determine appropriate time points to assess ILC and ILTC populations. We then designed a comprehensive 29-plex spectral flow panel to assess broad kinetic changes in the frequency of ILC, ILTC, and conventional T cell populations. We show that in early time points (4-7 days post-injection) when neoplastic transformation of hepatocytes has already occurred, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, group 1 ILCs, ILC2s, and ILC3s expand in frequency for both tumor models. Cytokine analysis shows a generalized decreased trend across timepoints in effector cytokine production in MAITs and group 1 ILCs, suggesting gradual dysfunction over time. Taken together, these preliminary findings show that ILC and ILTC populations expand early during tumor progression but gradually decrease in functionality with tumor progression.
Citation Format: Patrick Huang, Benjamin Ruf, Rajiv Trehan, Dana Soika, Chi Ma, Tim F. Greten, Firouzeh Korangy. The role of innate lymphoid cells and innate like T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2694.
Abstract 2755: Characterizing breast cancer cells following immune pruning in mice
Authors: McElduff Sarina , Bronder Daniel , Duran Mercedes , Bakhoum Samuel 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
In cancer patients, metastasis is the leading cause of death. Indeed, primary tumors which are diagnosed early and treated in a timely manner have the highest rate of success. In contrast, metastatic disease and late diagnosis of tumors portend poor outcomes. Thus, understanding the underlying biology and developing novel therapeutic approaches for metastatic cancers is pivotal. Most cancer-based mutational characteristics are tissue-dependent, and cancers with higher mutational load are generally more susceptible to immunotherapy. We observed that poorly metastatic, murine breast cancer cells established a clear phenotypic difference in lung metastasis formation assays. Upon injection of these cells into immune-proficient mice, few, large metastases developed, whereas in immuno-deficient mice, many small metastases grew instead. To determine the molecular features which enable escape under immune editing, we designed the following workflow. We intravenously injected immune-proficient and immune-deficient mice with our poorly metastatic, murine breast cancer cells. As expected, cells readily engrafted in the lungs, causing a significant reduction in survival of immune-deficient mice. Furthermore, liver metastases were observed only in immune-deficient mice. Upon euthanasia, we resected and dissociated both organs. To isolate the tumor cells from these samples, we flow-sorted and subjected them to next-generation sequencing. To elucidate the epigenomic, genomic, and transcriptomic differences between metastases of each background, we performed ATAC, WGS, and RNAseq, respectively. By dissecting the evolutionary mechanisms which allow cancer cells to evade immune detection in metastasis, we can develop targeted immunotherapy strategies to diminish the spread (and lethality) of metastatic cancers. In the future, we plan to examine the descriptive discrepancies between the tissues reared with and without immune pruning in order to put forward innovative therapeutic strategies.
Citation Format: Sarina McElduff, Daniel Bronder, Mercedes Duran, Samuel Bakhoum. Characterizing breast cancer cells following immune pruning in mice [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2755.
Abstract 2764: Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 controls integrin-dependent cancer cell stemness & metastasis
Authors: Gao Qiong , Liu Kun , Jia Yuzhi , Wei Juncheng , Chaudhuri Shuvam Mohan , Wang Shengnan , Tang Amy , Mani Nikita Lavanya , Iyer Radhika , Cheng Yang , Gao Beixue , Lu Weiyuan , Sun Zhaolin , Liu Huiping , Fang Deyu 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Integrins play critical roles in connecting the extracellular matrix and actin skeleton for cell adhesion, migration, signal transduction, and gene transcription. While the upregulation of integrins is thought to promote cancer stemness and metastasis, the mechanisms underlying their upregulation in cancer stem cells (CSCs) remain poorly understood. Herein, we show that the death from cancer signature gene, USP22, is essential in maintaining breast cancer cell stemness by promoting the transcription of a group of integrin family members, in particular, integrin β1 (ITGB1). Both genetic and pharmacological inhibition of USP22 largely impaired breast cancer stem cell self-renewal and prevented their metastasis. Reconstitution of Integrin β1 partially rescued USP22-null breast cancer stemness and their metastasis. At the molecular level, USP22 functions as a bona fide deubiquitinase to protect the proteasomal degradation of the forkhead box M1 (FoxM1), a transcription factor for tumoral ITGB1 gene transcription. Importantly, unbiased analysis of the TCGA database revealed a strong positive correlation between USP22 and ITGB1 in more than 90% of human cancer types, implying that USP22 functions as a key factor in maintaining stemness across a broad spectrum of human cancer types possibly through regulating ITGB1. To support this notion, immunohistochemistry staining detected a positive correlation among USP22, FoxM1 and integrin β1 in human breast cancers. Collectively, our study identifies the USP22-FoxM1-integrin β1 signaling axis as critical for cancer stemness and offers a potential target for antitumor therapy.
Citation Format: Qiong Gao, Kun Liu, Yuzhi Jia, Juncheng Wei, Shuvam Mohan Chaudhuri, Shengnan Wang, Amy Tang, Nikita Lavanya Mani, Radhika Iyer, Yang Cheng, Beixue Gao, Weiyuan Lu, Zhaolin Sun, Huiping Liu, Deyu Fang. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 controls integrin-dependent cancer cell stemness & metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2764.
Abstract 277: Cancer-associated fibroblasts, educated by tumor cells, differentially facilitate cancer cell invasion in cell-line based human gastric tumoroids
Authors: Hwang Hyun Ju , Lee Saet-Byeol , Kuh Hyo-Jeong 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purposes: Gastric cancer can be categorized into two subtypes: intestinal and diffuse. The latter is notorious for frequent peritoneal metastasis, resulting in a poorer prognosis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment play crucial roles in tumor invasion and metastasis. However, little is known about whether CAFs are associated with the differential progression between the two subtypes of gastric tumors. This study investigated whether differential cancer invasion may be attributed to tumor-specific CAF activation, using a cell-line-based human gastric tumoroid model.
Methods: Heterotypic tumor spheroids (TS) were prepared with human gastric cancer lines of intestinal (MKN28, MKN74) and diffuse type (MKN45, KATO III) mixed with human gastric fibroblasts (HGFs) using a minipillar-array chip previously developed. Invasion phenotype and expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were evaluated in heterotypic TSs. mRNA expression in HGFs isolated from heterotypic TSs was analyzed and compared between the two subtypes.
Results: While both heterotypic TSs displayed increased invasion by HGFs, the diffuse type TS showed a higher level of invasion with individual or amoeboid migration and loose binding of cancer cells with HGF. In contrast, the intestinal type TS showed collective migration and tight binding between cancer cells and HGFs. HGFs in each heterotypic TS exhibited differential morphology, matrix remodeling patterns, and gene expression in a tumor subtype-specific manner. Compared to normal HGFs, HGFs isolated from diffuse heterotypic TS showed enriched expression of cytoskeleton-associated genes and several integrins, whereas those of intestinal heterotypic TS exhibited increased expression levels of inflammatory cytokines.
Conclusions: This study established tumoroid models for human gastric cancer subtypes, intestinal and diffuse, using heterotypic TS culture. Our results suggest that the subtype-specific invasion ability of tumor cells is driven by CAFs that are differentially educated by tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment. Our model not only advances our understanding of CAFs' role in tumor progression but also offers an in vitro model for assessing potential therapeutic targets and drug candidates for human gastric cancers.
Citation Format: Hyun Ju Hwang, Saet-Byeol Lee, Hyo-Jeong Kuh. Cancer-associated fibroblasts, educated by tumor cells, differentially facilitate cancer cell invasion in cell-line based human gastric tumoroids [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 277.