BACKGROUND: Leukemia is driven by complex interactions within the inherently hypoxic bone marrow microenvironment, impacting both disease progression and therapeutic resistance. Co-cultivation of leukemic cells with feeder cells has emerged as a valuable tool to mimic the bone marrow niche. This study explores the interplay between human commercial SD-1 and patient-derived UPF26K leukemic cell lines with feeders - human fibroblasts (NHDF) and mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. RESULTS: Co-cultivation with feeders significantly enhances proliferation and glycolytic activity in the SD-1 cells, improving their viability, while this interaction inhibits the growth and glucose metabolism of the feeders, particularly NHDF. In contrast, UPF26K cells show reduced proliferation when co-cultivated with the feeders while this interaction stimulates NHDF and hMSCs proliferation and glycolysis but reduce their mitochondrial metabolism with hypoxia amplifying these effects. CONCLUSIONS: Cells that switch to glycolysis during co-cultivation, particularly under hypoxia, benefit most from these low oxygen conditions. Due to this leukemic cells' response heterogeneity, targeting microenvironmental interactions and oxygen levels is crucial for personalized leukemia therapy. Advancing co-cultivation models, particularly through innovations like spheroids, can further enhance in vitro studies of primary leukemic cells and support the testing of novel therapies.

• Klíčová slova
• Co-cultivation, Feeders, Hypoxia, Leukemic cells, Tumor microenvironment,
• MeSH
• fibroblasty * metabolismus   MeSH
• glykolýza MeSH
• hypoxie buňky MeSH
• kokultivační techniky metody   MeSH
• leukemie * patologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mezenchymální kmenové buňky * metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondrie metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí MeSH
• proliferace buněk MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as critical mediators of intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment (TME), profoundly influencing cancer progression. These nano-sized vesicles, released by both tumor and stromal cells, carry a diverse cargo of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, reflecting the dynamic cellular landscape and mediating intricate interactions between cells. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the biogenesis, composition, and functional roles of EVs in cancer, highlighting their significance in both basic research and clinical applications. We discuss how cancer cells manipulate EV biogenesis pathways to produce vesicles enriched with pro-tumorigenic molecules, explore the specific contributions of EVs to key hallmarks of cancer, such as angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune evasion, emphasizing their role in shaping TME and driving therapeutic resistance. Concurrently, we submit recent knowledge on how the cargo of EVs can serve as a valuable source of biomarkers for minimally invasive liquid biopsies, and its therapeutic potential, particularly as targeted drug delivery vehicles and immunomodulatory agents, showcasing their promise for enhancing the efficacy and safety of cancer treatments. By deciphering the intricate messages carried by EVs, we can gain a deeper understanding of cancer biology and develop more effective strategies for early detection, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, paving the way for a new era of personalized and precise cancer medicine with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes.

• Klíčová slova
• Biomarkers, Cancer, Extracellular vesicles, Immune evasion, Liquid biopsy, Metastasis, Targeted therapy, Tumor microenvironment,
• MeSH
• extracelulární vezikuly * metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mezibuněčná komunikace * MeSH
• nádorové biomarkery metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí * MeSH
• nádory * metabolismus   patologie   terapie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• nádorové biomarkery MeSH

The collection on Methods and Models in Mammary Gland Biology and Breast Cancer Research showcases recent advances in tools and models that enhance our understanding of mammary gland development and breast cancer. This collection includes sixteen articles, collectively addressing approaches to investigate key aspects of mammary gland biology and tumorigenesis, including hormonal signaling, tissue architecture, tumor microenvironment, and species-specific mammary development. The issue highlights innovations such as optimized progesterone receptor reporters, improved menopause models, and 3D-printed mammary epithelial structures. It also features advancements in organoid-based studies, in situ labeling of epithelial proliferation in large animals, preclinical models for breast cancer prevention, and high-resolution imaging techniques. Methodologies for studying macrophage-cancer cell interactions and lysosomal function are provided as step-by-step protocols. Additionally, review articles provide insights into diverse mammalian organoid systems, rat mammary tumor models, and strategies for modeling breast cancer metastasis. Together, these contributions advance mammary gland research by refining experimental approaches, expanding model diversity, and fostering translational applications in breast cancer.

• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mléčné žlázy lidské * patologie   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• mléčné žlázy zvířat * patologie   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí fyziologie   MeSH
• nádory prsu * patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• úvodní články MeSH
• úvodníky MeSH

Cancer immunotherapy is increasingly used in clinical practice, but its success rate is reduced by tumor escape from the immune system. This may be due to the genetic instability of tumor cells, which allows them to adapt to the immune response and leads to intratumoral immune heterogeneity. The study investigated spatial immune heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment and its possible drivers in a mouse model of tumors induced by human papillomaviruses (HPV) following immunotherapy. Gene expression was determined by RNA sequencing and mutations by whole exome sequencing. A comparison of different tumor areas revealed heterogeneity in immune cell infiltration, gene expression, and mutation composition. While the mean numbers of mutations with every impact on gene expression or protein function were comparable in treated and control tumors, mutations with high or moderate impact were increased after immunotherapy. The genes mutated in treated tumors were significantly enriched in genes associated with ECM metabolism, degradation, and interactions, HPV infection and carcinogenesis, and immune processes such as antigen processing and presentation, Toll-like receptor signaling, and cytokine production. Gene expression analysis of DNA damage and repair factors revealed that immunotherapy upregulated Apobec1 and Apobec3 genes and downregulated genes related to homologous recombination and translesion synthesis. In conclusion, this study describes the intratumoral immune heterogeneity, that could lead to tumor immune escape, and suggests the potential mechanisms involved.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA repair, cancer immunotherapy, intratumoral heterogeneity, mutation, tumor microenvironment,
• MeSH
• imunoterapie * metody   MeSH
• infekce papilomavirem imunologie   virologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí imunologie   genetika   MeSH
• nádory * imunologie   terapie   genetika   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u nádorů MeSH
• sekvenování exomu MeSH
• únik nádoru z imunitní kontroly genetika   imunologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease, which contributes to its rapid progression and therapeutic failure. Besides interpatient tumor heterogeneity, tumors within a single patient can present with a heterogeneous mix of genetically and phenotypically distinct subclones. These unique subclones can significantly impact the traits of cancer. With the plasticity that intratumoral heterogeneity provides, cancers can easily adapt to changes in their microenvironment and therapeutic exposure. Indeed, tumor cells dynamically shift between a more differentiated, rapidly proliferating state with limited tumorigenic potential and a cancer stem cell (CSC)-like state that resembles undifferentiated cellular precursors and is associated with high tumorigenicity. In this context, CSCs are functionally located at the apex of the tumor hierarchy, contributing to the initiation, maintenance, and progression of tumors, as they also represent the subpopulation of tumor cells most resistant to conventional anti-cancer therapies. Although the CSC model is well established, it is constantly evolving and being reshaped by advancing knowledge on the roles of CSCs in different cancer types. Here, we review the current evidence of how CSCs play a pivotal role in providing the many traits of aggressive tumors while simultaneously evading immunosurveillance and anti-cancer therapy in several cancer types. We discuss the key traits and characteristics of CSCs to provide updated insights into CSC biology and highlight its implications for therapeutic development and improved treatment of aggressive cancers.

• Klíčová slova
• Apoptosis, Cancer stem cells, Heterogeneity, Immunosurveillance, Metabolism, Metastasis, Plasticity, Quiescence, Self-renewal, Tumor microenvironment,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové kmenové buňky * patologie   metabolismus   imunologie   MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí MeSH
• nádory * patologie   imunologie   metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Advanced metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) with deficient DNA mismatch repair (MMR-d), or immune-hot CRCs, show significantly improved clinical outcomes compared to MMR-proficient (MMR-p), or immune-cold CRCs. While the prior represents about 5% of all CRCs, the latter represent 95% and are characterized by low immunogenicity. This study investigates bis-diethyldithiocarbamate (CuET), a novel anticancer compound, and its impact on the colorectal cancer tumor microenvironment (TME). CuET is shown to convert immunologically inactive tumors into hotbeds of antitumor immune responses, marked by increased lymphocyte infiltration, heightened cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) and T cells, and enhanced non-self recognition by lymphocytes. The potent anticancer cytotoxicity and in vivo safety and efficacy of CuET are established. In summary, CuET transforms the colorectal cancer TME, bolstering NK and T cell cytotoxicity and refining tumor cell recognition through non-classical activation via the NKG2D/NKG2DL axis. This study unveils a novel mechanism of action for CuET: a potent immunomodulator capable of turning cold tumors hot.

• Klíčová slova
• NK cells, NKG2D, colorectal cancer, copper bis-diethyldithiocarbamate, disulfiram,
• MeSH
• buňky NK imunologie   účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• dithiokarb * farmakologie   MeSH
• kolorektální nádory * farmakoterapie   imunologie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• lektinové receptory NK-buněk - podrodina K * metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• měď MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí * účinky léků   imunologie   MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• dithiokarb * MeSH
• KLRK1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• lektinové receptory NK-buněk - podrodina K * MeSH
• měď MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that is primarily known as an intracellular sensor of environmental pollution. After five decades, the list of synthetic and toxic chemicals that activate AhR signaling has been extended to include a number of endogenous compounds produced by various types of cells via their metabolic activity. AhR signaling is active from the very beginning of embryonal development throughout the life cycle and participates in numerous biological processes such as control of cell proliferation and differentiation, metabolism of aromatic compounds of endogenous and exogenous origin, tissue regeneration and stratification, immune system development and polarization, control of stemness potential, and homeostasis maintenance. AhR signaling can be affected by various pharmaceuticals that may help modulate abnormal AhR signaling and drive pathological states. Given their role in immune system development and regulation, AhR antagonistic ligands are attractive candidates for immunotherapy of disease states such as advanced prostate cancer, where an aberrant immune microenvironment contributes to cancer progression and needs to be reeducated. Advanced stages of prostate cancer are therapeutically challenging and characterized by decreased overall survival (OS) due to the metastatic burden. Therefore, this review addresses the role of AhR signaling in the development and progression of prostate cancer and discusses the potential of AhR as a drug target for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer upon entering the phase of drug resistance and failure of first-line androgen deprivation therapy.Abbreviation: ADC: antibody-drug conjugate; ADT: androgen deprivation therapy; AhR: aryl hydrocarbon receptor; AR: androgen receptor; ARE: androgen response element; ARPI: androgen receptor pathway inhibitor; mCRPC: metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer; DHT: 5a-dihydrotestosterone; FICZ: 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole; 3-MC: 3-methylcholanthrene; 6-MCDF: 6-methyl-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofuran; MDSCs: myeloid-derived suppressor cells; PAHs: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PCa: prostate cancer; TAMs: tumor-associated macrophages; TF: transcription factor; TCDD, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin; TME: tumor microenvironment; TRAMP: transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate; TROP2: tumor associated calcium signal transducer 2.

• Klíčová slova
• Aryl hydrocarbon receptor, antibody-drug conjugates, castration resistance, prostate cancer,
• MeSH
• cílená molekulární terapie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí účinky léků   MeSH
• nádory prostaty * farmakoterapie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• protinádorové látky * terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků * metabolismus   antagonisté a inhibitory   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• protinádorové látky * MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků * MeSH

PURPOSE: Patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) are virtually insensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) employed as standalone therapeutics, at least in part reflecting microenvironmental immunosuppression. Thus, conventional chemotherapeutics and targeted anticancer agents that not only mediate cytotoxic effects but also promote the recruitment of immune effector cells to the HGSOC microenvironment stand out as promising combinatorial partners for ICIs in this oncological indication. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We harnessed a variety of transcriptomic, spatial, and functional assays to characterize the differential impact of neoadjuvant paclitaxel-carboplatin on the immunological configuration of paired primary and metastatic HGSOC biopsies as compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT)-naïve HGSOC samples from five independent patient cohorts. RESULTS: We found NACT-driven endoplasmic reticulum stress and calreticulin exposure in metastatic HGSOC lesions culminates with the establishment of a dense immune infiltrate including follicular T cells (TFH cells), a prerequisite for mature tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) formation. In this context, TLS maturation was associated with an increased intratumoral density of ICI-sensitive TCF1+PD1+ CD8+ T cells over their ICI-insensitive TIM-3+PD1+ counterparts. Consistent with this notion, chemotherapy coupled with a PD1-targeting ICI provided a significant survival benefit over either therapeutic approach in syngeneic models of HGSOC bearing high (but not low) tumor mutational burden. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, our findings suggest that NACT promotes TLS formation and maturation in HGSOC lesions, de facto preserving an intratumoral ICI-sensitive T-cell phenotype. These observations emphasize the role of rational design, especially relative to the administration schedule, for clinical trials testing chemotherapy plus ICIs in patients with HGSOC. See related commentary by Bravo Melgar and Laoui, p. 10.

• MeSH
• CD8-pozitivní T-lymfocyty * imunologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• ektopické lymfoidní struktury * imunologie   patologie   MeSH
• hepatocytární jaderný faktor 1-alfa * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• inhibitory kontrolních bodů * terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• karboplatina aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí * imunologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• nádory vaječníků * farmakoterapie   imunologie   patologie   MeSH
• neoadjuvantní terapie metody   MeSH
• paclitaxel aplikace a dávkování   terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• protokoly protinádorové kombinované chemoterapie terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• serózní cystadenokarcinom farmakoterapie   patologie   imunologie   MeSH
• stres endoplazmatického retikula účinky léků   imunologie   MeSH
• tumor infiltrující lymfocyty imunologie   účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hepatocytární jaderný faktor 1-alfa * MeSH
• inhibitory kontrolních bodů * MeSH
• karboplatina MeSH
• paclitaxel MeSH

Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and xenografts (PDXs) are powerful tools for personalized medicine in pancreatic cancer (PC) research. This study explores the complementary strengths of PDOs and PDXs in terms of practicality, genetic fidelity, cost, and labor considerations. Among other models like 2D cell cultures, spheroids, cancer-on-chip systems, cell line-derived xenografts (CDX), and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), PDOs and PDXs uniquely balance genetic fidelity and personalized medicine potential, offering distinct advantages over the simplicity of 2D cultures and the advanced, but often resource-intensive, GEMMs and cancer-on-chip systems. PDOs excel in high-throughput drug screening due to their ease of use, lower cost, and shorter experimental timelines. However, they lack a complete tumor microenvironment. Conversely, PDXs offer a more complex microenvironment that closely reflects patient tumors, potentially leading to more clinically relevant results. Despite limitations in size, number of specimens, and engraftment success, PDXs demonstrate significant concordance with patient responses to treatment, highlighting their value in personalized medicine. Both models exhibit significant genetic fidelity, making them suitable for drug sensitivity testing. The choice between PDOs and PDXs depends on the research focus, resource availability, and desired level of microenvironment complexity. PDOs are advantageous for high-throughput screening of a diverse array of potential therapeutic agents due to their relative ease of culture and scalability. PDXs, on the other hand, offer a more physiologically relevant model, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of drug efficacy and mechanisms of action.

• Klíčová slova
• Adjuvant, Animal, Chemotherapy, Heterografts, Models, Organoids, Pancreatic neoplasms,
• MeSH
• individualizovaná medicína * metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí účinky léků   MeSH
• nádory slinivky břišní * farmakoterapie   patologie   genetika   MeSH
• organoidy * účinky léků   patologie   MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• screeningové testy protinádorových léčiv metody   MeSH
• xenogenní modely - testy protinádorové aktivity * metody   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• protinádorové látky MeSH

INTRODUCTION: The E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b is a novel target in immune-oncology, with critical roles in regulating T-cell activation and signaling pathways. By facilitating the ubiquitination and degradation of key signaling proteins, Cbl-b modulates immune responses, maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing unwarranted T-cell proliferation. The therapeutic potential of Cbl-b as a cancer immunotherapy target is underscored by its contribution to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, with efforts currently underway to develop small-molecule inhibitors. AREAS COVERED: We reviewed the small molecules, and antibody-drug conjugates targeting Cbl-b from 2018 to 2024. The patents were gathered through publicly available databases and analyzed with in-house developed cheminformatic workflow, described within the manuscript. EXPERT OPINION: Targeting Cbl-b presents a promising approach in immuno-oncology, offering a novel pathway to potentiate the immune system's ability to combat cancer beyond PDL1/PD1 inhibition. The development and clinical advancement of Cbl-b inhibitors, as evidenced by the ongoing trials, mark a significant step toward harnessing this target for therapeutic benefits. Overall, the strategic inhibition of Cbl-b holds substantial promise for improving cancer immunotherapy outcomes, heralding a new era in the fight against cancer.

• Klíčová slova
• CBL-B, antibody drug conjugate, automated patent analysis, immune oncology, small molecule,
• MeSH
• adaptorové proteiny signální transdukční MeSH
• cílená molekulární terapie * MeSH
• imunokonjugáty farmakologie   MeSH
• imunoterapie * metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí * imunologie   MeSH
• nádory * imunologie   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• patenty jako téma * MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-cbl * imunologie   antagonisté a inhibitory   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• T-lymfocyty imunologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• vyvíjení léků * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adaptorové proteiny signální transdukční MeSH
• CBLB protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• imunokonjugáty MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-cbl * MeSH