Inflammatory fibroblasts mediate resistance to neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer [II]
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ABSTRACT: Standard cancer therapy targets tumor cells while not considering the possible collateral damage on the tumor microenvironment that could impair therapy response. Employing patient-derived tumor organoids and primary stroma cells or a novel murine rectal cancer model, we show that tumor cell-derived IL-1a polarizes cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype causing an elevated oxidative DNA damage mediated by reactive nitrogen species (NOS) and subsequently sensitizing iCAFs to a p53-mediated therapy-induced senescence, which triggers changes in matrisome composition culminating in chemoradiotherapy resistance and disease progression. Consequently, IL-1 inhibition, prevention of iCAF senescence or senolytic therapy sensitizes mice to irradiation. Importantly, rectal cancer patients with poor response to radiotherapy are characterized by an increased number of CAFs, a dominant inflammatory CAF gene signature as well as lower IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) serum levels. Low baseline IL1RA gene expression predicts poor outcome while IL-1RA serum levels are associated with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in IL1RA (rs4251961 T/C). Moreover, conditioned supernatant from patient tumor organoids sensitizes fibroblasts to undergo radiation-induced senescence in an IL-1-dependent manner. Collectively, we unravel a critical role for inflammatory CAFs in cancer therapy and identify IL-1 signaling as an attractive target for stroma-repolarization and prevention of CAF senescence
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE190005 | GEO | 2022/01/14
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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