The expression profiles of CD47 in the tumor microenvironment of salivary gland cancers: a next step in histology-driven immunotherapy

Votava, M., Bartolini, R. , Capkova, L., Smetanova, J., Jiri, V., Kuchar, M., Kalfert, D., Plzak, J., Bartunkova, J. and Strizova, Z. (2022) The expression profiles of CD47 in the tumor microenvironment of salivary gland cancers: a next step in histology-driven immunotherapy. BMC Cancer, 22, 1021. (doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-10114-4) (PMID:36171566) (PMCID:PMC9520840)

[img] Text
281360.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

2MB

Abstract

Background: Salivary gland carcinomas (SGC) are extremely rare malignancies with only limited treatment options for the metastatic phase of the disease. Treatment with anti-CD47 antibodies could represent a potent therapy for SGCs by promoting the phagocytic clearance of tumor cells through various mechanisms. However, the efficacy of anti-CD47 therapy is largely dependent on the expression of CD47 within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Materials and Methods: In 43 patients with SGC, we were the first to investigate the CD47 expression in both tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIIC) in the center and periphery of primary tumors. We also correlated the data with the clinicopathological variables of the patients and offered novel insights into the potential effectiveness of anti-CD47 therapy in SGCs. Results: We observed that the CD47+ tumor cells are outnumbered by CD47+ TIICs in mucoepidermoid carcinoma. In the tumor center, the proportion of CD47+ tumor cells was comparable to the proportion of CD47+ TIICs in most histological subtypes. In low-grade tumors, significantly higher expression of CD47 was observed in TIICs in the periphery of the tumor as compared to the center of the tumor. Conclusion: The reason for a high expression of ‘don’t eat me’ signals in TIICs in the tumor periphery is unclear. However, we hypothesize that in the tumor periphery, upregulation of CD47 in TIICs could be a mechanism to protect newly recruited leukocytes from macrophage-mediated phagocytosis, while also allowing the removal of old or exhausted leukocytes in the tumor center.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The project "Center for Tumor Ecology - Research of the Cancer Microenvironment Supporting Cancer Growth and Spread" (reg. No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000785) is supported by the Operational Programme Research, Development and Education. This work has also received funding by the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science 2022 programme.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bartolini, Mr Robin
Authors: Votava, M., Bartolini, R., Capkova, L., Smetanova, J., Jiri, V., Kuchar, M., Kalfert, D., Plzak, J., Bartunkova, J., and Strizova, Z.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:BMC Cancer
Publisher:BioMed Central
ISSN:1471-2407
ISSN (Online):1471-2407
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Authors
First Published:First published in BMC Cancer 22: 1021
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record