AI Article Synopsis

  • Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) pose a significant risk to patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), with current treatments failing to improve outcomes, highlighting the need for new therapies that target the tumor's immune environment.
  • Researchers examined the immune microenvironment in NF1-associated tumors, using various techniques to analyze how immune cells infiltrate and respond to these tumors.
  • Results showed that malignant progression involved increased infiltration of specific immune cells, particularly tumor-associated macrophages, linked to worse patient outcomes, indicating a potential for therapies that can enhance anti-tumor immune responses.

Article Abstract

Purpose: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas and the leading cause of mortality in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Despite many clinical trials, outcomes for patients with MPNST have remained stagnant, and most succumb to their disease; thus, novel therapeutic approaches are needed. A better understanding of the MPNST immune ecosystem will aid in the development of strategies to activate the immune system against the tumor. In this study, we profile the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in NF1-associated peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNST) to discover insights on the role played by tumor-infiltrating immune cells in malignant transformation.

Experimental Design: Using fresh and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from patients diagnosed with NF1-PNST, we dissected the TIME through IHC, multiparameter flow cytometry, and comparative transcriptomic studies.

Results: Immunophenotyping confirmed increased immune cell infiltration during malignant progression, with a predominance of infiltrating myeloid cells, particularly CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAM). The T cells within MPNST exhibited signs of tumor activation, characterized by high programmed cell death 1 expression. Additionally, MPNST specimens demonstrated elevated levels of immunosuppressive TAM, with heightened PD-L1 expression. The proportion of CD163+ myeloid cells within the TIME correlated with poorer progression-free survival. Notably, loss of H3K27 trimethylation correlated with low immune cell infiltration in MPNST.

Conclusions: Malignant transformation of NF1-PNST is characterized by an immunosuppressive microenvironment comprising TAM with high expression of PD-L1, which is associated with inferior outcomes. These findings suggest the clinical potential of immune-modulating therapeutics that can unleash an antitumor immune response.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-1454DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

peripheral nerve
12
nerve sheath
12
sheath tumors
12
nf1-associated peripheral
8
tumor-associated macrophages
8
immune
8
immune cell
8
cell infiltration
8
myeloid cells
8
mpnst
5

Similar Publications

Local Administration of (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate as a Local Anesthetic Agent Inhibits the Excitability of Rat Nociceptive Primary Sensory Neurons.

Cells

January 2025

Laboratory of Food and Physiological Sciences, Department of Life and Food Sciences, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5201, Kanagawa, Japan.

While the impact of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on modulating nociceptive secondary neuron activity has been documented, it is still unknown how EGCG affects the excitability of nociceptive primary neurons in vivo. The objective of the current study was to investigate whether administering EGCG locally in rats reduces the excitability of nociceptive primary trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons in response to mechanical stimulation in vivo. In anesthetized rats, TG neuronal extracellular single unit recordings were made in response to both non-noxious and noxious mechanical stimuli.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a complex neurodegenerative disease primarily affecting motor neurons, leading to progressive muscle atrophy and paralysis. This review explores the role of Schwann cells in ALS pathogenesis, highlighting their influence on disease progression through mechanisms involving demyelination, neuroinflammation, and impaired synaptic function. While Schwann cells have been traditionally viewed as peripheral supportive cells, especially in motor neuron disease, recent evidence indicates that they play a significant role in ALS by impacting motor neuron survival and plasticity, influencing inflammatory responses, and altering myelination processes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ewing sarcoma family tumors (ESFT) pose diagnostic challenges, which largely depend on the primary site of involvement and tumor stage. Despite advancements in treatment, metastatic ESFTs remain associated with poor outcomes. This case describes a 21-year-old woman who, in July 2022, presented with a left breast mass identified through ultrasound and CT scan, along with abdominal distention.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of Peripheral Neuropathy (using nerve conduction studies (NCS)) in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia aged between 5 to 18 years and to study its correlation with chronic anemia, ferritin levels, chelation status, annual transfusion requirement, deficiency of serum Vitamin B12, and Folate levels.

Methods: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 100 eligible children were enrolled in a tertiary care teaching hospital in New Delhi, India. Neurological examinations focusing on peripheral neuropathy followed by NCS were performed on all the patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Transthyretin-Related Familial Amyloidosis Polyneuropathy with Spinal Cord Damage: A Case Report.

Int Med Case Rep J

January 2025

Department of Neurology, Luoyang Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Luoyang Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke) Clinical Medical Research Center, Regional Medical Center for Neurological Diseases of Henan Province, Luoyang, People's Republic of China.

Introduction: Transthyretin protein-related familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease caused by mutations in the TTR gene. The disease is characterized primarily by peripheral and autonomic nerve damage. Disease progression is associated with frequent involvement of the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, and other organs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!