Cancer Biology

Restraint of melanoma progression by cells in the local skin environment

1. Yilun Ma
2. Mohita Tagore
3. Miranda V Hunter
4. Ting-Hsiang Huang
5. Emily Montal
6. Joshua M Weiss
7. Richard M White

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  In this important study, the authors used a zebrafish model and scRNAseq analysis to show that a subset of keratinocytes within melanoma microenvironment highly up-regulate Twist and undergo Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Surprisingly, when overexpressing Twist in keratinocytes, the resulting alteration in keratinocytes is inhibitory for melanoma invasion in both zebrafish and human cell culture models. The results are supported by overall convincing experimental data that provide new insights into the interactions between melanoma cells and their environment.

Reviewed by eLife

ME3BP-7 is a targeted cytotoxic agent that rapidly kills pancreatic cancer cells expressing high levels of monocarboxylate transporter MCT1

1. Jordina Rincon-Torroella
2. Marco Dal Molin
3. Brian Mog
4. Gyuri Han
5. Evangeline Watson
6. Nicolas Wyhs
7. Shun Ishiyama
8. Taha Ahmedna
9. Il Minn
10. Nilofer Azad
11. Chetan Bettegowda
12. Nickolas Papadopoulos
13. Kenneth W Kinzler
14. Shibin Zhou
15. Bert Vogelstein
16. Kathleen Gabrielson
17. Surojit Sur

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This study presents a valuable finding and developed ME3BP-7 as a novel microencapsulated formulation of 3BP, which specifically targets MCT1-overexpressing PDAC cells. It demonstrates its specificity and efficacy in vitro and in PDAC mouse models, with significant anti-tumor effects and improved serum stability. Overall, the evidence supporting the authors' claims is solid.

Reviewed by eLife

Super-enhancer-driven ZFP36L1 promotes PD-L1 expression in infiltrative gastric cancer

1. Xujin Wei
2. Jie Liu
3. Jia Cheng
4. Wangyu Cai
5. Wen Xie
6. Kang Wang
7. Lingyun Lin
8. Jingjing Hou
9. Jianchun Cai
10. Huiqin Zhuo

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The authors provide useful data to support the existence of a regulatory pathway starting with SPI1-driven ZFP36L1 expression, that goes on to downregulate HDAC3 expression at the transcript level, leading to PD-L1 upregulation due to implied enhanced acetylation of its promoter region. This is therefore an interesting pathway that adds to our understanding of how PD-L1 expression is controlled in gastric cancer. However, this is likely one of many possible pathways that impact PD-L1 expression, and the data are currently incomplete to support the claims made.

Reviewed by eLife

The T cell receptor β chain repertoire of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes improves neoantigen prediction and prioritization

1. Thi Mong Quynh Pham
2. Thanh Nhan Nguyen
3. Bui Que Tran Nguyen
4. Thi Phuong Diem Tran
5. Nguyen My Diem Pham
6. Hoang Thien Phuc Nguyen
7. Thi Kim Cuong Ho
8. Dinh Viet Linh Nguyen
9. Huu Thinh Nguyen
10. Duc Huy Tran
11. Thanh Sang Tran
12. Truong Vinh Ngoc Pham
13. Minh Triet Le
14. Thi Tuong Vy Nguyen
15. Minh-Duy Phan
16. Hoa Giang
17. Hoai-Nghia Nguyen
18. Le Son Tran

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The study presents a potentially valuable approach by combining two measurements (pHLA binding and pHLA-TCR binding) to improve predictions of which mutations in colorectal cancer are likely to be presented to and recognised by the immune system. While this approach is promising, the evidence supporting the primary claim remains somewhat incomplete. The experimental validation of the computational predictions with actual immune responses is still limited, despite the increase in sample size from 4 to 8 in this revision.

Reviewed by eLife

TAK1-mediated phosphorylation of PLCE1 represses PIP2 hydrolysis to impede esophageal squamous cancer metastasis

1. Qianqian Ju
2. Wenjing Sheng
3. Meichen Zhang
4. Jing Chen
5. Liucheng Wu
6. Xiaoyu Liu
7. Wentao Fang
8. Hui Shi
9. Cheng Sun

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This work provides solid evidence that Transforming Growth Factor β Activated Kinase 1 (TAK1) regulates esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tumor proliferation and metastasis. The findings are valuable to the field of molecular tumor biology in general and to the understanding of ESCC tumor invasiveness and metastatic potential.

Reviewed by eLife

A new potential strategy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma treatment by generating serum-based antibodies from tumor-exposed mice

1. Zheng Liu

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This study provides a valuable strategy for treating mouse cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (mCSCC) with serum derived from mCSCC-exposed mice. The exploration of serum-derived antibodies as a potential therapy for curing cancer is particularly promising but the study provides incomplete evidence for specific effects of mCSCC-binding serum antibodies. This study will be of interest to scientists seeking a novel immunotherapeutic strategy in cancer therapy.

Reviewed by eLife

Inhibition of O-GlcNAc transferase activates type I interferon-dependent antitumor immunity by bridging cGAS-STING pathway

1. Jianwen Chen
2. Bao Zhao
3. Hong Dong
4. Tianliang Li
5. Xiang Cheng
6. Wang Gong
7. Jing Wang
8. Junran Zhang
9. Gang Xin
10. Yanbao Yu
11. Yu L Lei
12. Jennifer D Black
13. Zihai Li
14. Haitao Wen

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The author demonstrates that deficiency or pharmacological inhibition of O-glcNac transferase (OGT) enhances tumor immunity in colorectal cancer models. This useful study unveils that OGT deficiency triggers a DNA damage response that can affect immune status in colorectal cancers. It provides convincing evidence showing that OGT-mediated processing of HSF1 is crucial in maintaining genomic integrity.

Reviewed by eLife

Engineering PEG10-assembled endogenous virus-like particles with genetically encoded neoantigen peptides for cancer vaccination

1. Ruijing Tang
2. Luobin Guo
3. Tingyu Wei
4. Tingting Chen
5. Huan Yang
6. Honghao Ye
7. Fangzhou Lin
8. Yongyi Zeng
9. Haijun Yu
10. Zhixiong Cai
11. Xiaolong Liu

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This study presents a valuable strategy to co-deliver peptides and adjuvants to antigen-presenting cells by engineering the Virus-like particle (VLP). The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is convincing, but the antitumour efficacy is unimpressive and would benefit from more antitumor experiments. The work will be of broad interest to bioengineers and medical biologists focusing on cancer vaccines.

Reviewed by eLife

Mutant mice lacking alternatively spliced p53 isoforms unveil Ackr4 as a male-specific prognostic factor in Myc-driven B-cell lymphomas

1. Anne Fajac
2. Iva Simeonova
3. Julia Leemput
4. Marc Gabriel
5. Aurélie Morin
6. Vincent Lejour
7. Annaïg Hamon
8. Jeanne Rakotopare
9. Wilhelm Vaysse-Zinkhöfer
10. Eliana Eldawra
11. Marina Pinskaya
12. Antonin Morillon
13. Jean-Christophe Bourdon
14. Boris Bardot
15. Franck Toledo

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study using engineered mouse models provides a first and compelling demonstration of a pathogenic phenotype associated with lack of expression of p53AS, an isoform of the p53 protein with a different C-terminus than canonical p53. The role of this isoform has been elusive so far and this first demonstration represents a substantial advance in our understanding of the complex role(s) of p53 isoforms. The revised manuscript adequately addresses previous concerns.

Reviewed by eLife

BMP antagonist CHRDL2 enhances the cancer stem‐cell phenotype and increases chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer

1. Eloise Clarkson
2. Annabelle Lewis

Reviewed by Review Commons