Publications by Linda Cui

Publications by authors named "Linda Cui"

Cancer Cell

September 2022

Platelets, often seen as just clotting agents, actually play a surprising role in promoting tumor growth and can also inhibit liver cancer (HCC) in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
The study showed that the anti-tumor effects of platelets come from their release of CD40L through a pathway involving the P2Y12 receptor, which helps activate CD8 T cells.
Unlike traditional anti-platelet medications like aspirin, which don't affect CD40L release, this research suggests that targeting platelets without blocking CD40L could benefit liver cancer patients with NAFLD.

Cancer Immunol Res

September 2021

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a type of immune cell that can recognize specific non-peptide antigens, and they show potential in attacking tumors when activated.
In this study, researchers found that MAIT cells activated by a synthetic antigen (5-OP-RU) and a TLR9 agonist (CpG) greatly expanded and enhanced their activity, leading to improved antitumor responses in mice with various types of cancer.
The effectiveness of this MAIT-directed immunotherapy was demonstrated even when the tumor cells lacked MR1, indicating that MAIT cells might use an indirect method to combat cancer, making them promising candidates for future cancer treatments.

Cancer Discov

May 2021

Gut dysbiosis in patients with cirrhosis and chronic gastrointestinal disorders can negatively impact antitumor immunity in the liver, particularly in cases of cholangiocarcinoma.
The study found that conditions like primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and colitis lead to an increase in specific immune cells (PMN-MDSCs) that suppress the body's ability to fight tumors.
Neomycin treatment was shown to counteract this immune suppression by blocking the expression of factors that promote these suppressive immune cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic avenue for liver cancer prevention.

J Hepatol

May 2021

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) often show minimal response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) like PD-1, prompting researchers to explore the use of a CD40 agonist to enhance immune response.
In various murine models of intrahepatic CCAs, combining CD40 agonist therapy with anti-PD-1 treatment significantly reduced tumor burden and boosted the activation of essential immune cells, such as T cells and natural killer cells.
The findings suggest that activating macrophages and dendritic cells through CD40 stimulation can improve the effectiveness of anti-PD-1 therapy, particularly when combined with traditional chemotherapy agents like gemcitabine and cisplatin.