Single-cell analysis reveals cellular reprogramming in advanced colon cancer following FOLFOX-bevacizumab treatment

IntroductionThe combination of FOLFOX and bevacizumab (FOLFOX-Bev) is a promising treatment for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the response of the tumor microenvironment to FOLFOX-Bev is still largely unexplored.MethodsWe conducted single-cell transcriptomic analysis of CRC samples deriv...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Meiling Yang, Ciqiu Yang, Dong Ma, Zijun Li, Wei Zhao, Dongyang Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2023.1219642/full
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Summary:IntroductionThe combination of FOLFOX and bevacizumab (FOLFOX-Bev) is a promising treatment for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the response of the tumor microenvironment to FOLFOX-Bev is still largely unexplored.MethodsWe conducted single-cell transcriptomic analysis of CRC samples derived from a patient before and after treatment to gain insights into the cellular changes associated with FOLFOX-Bev treatment.ResultsWe found that cancer cells with high proliferative, metastatic, and pro-angiogenic properties respond better to FOLFOX-Bev treatment. Moreover, FOLFOX-Bev enhances CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity, thereby boosting the anti-tumor immune response. Conversely, FOLFOX-Bev impairs the functionality of tumor-associated macrophages, plasma cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts, leading to a decrease in VEGFB-mediated angiogenesis. Furthermore, FOLFOX-Bev treatment reset intercellular communication, which could potentially affect the function of non-cancer cells.DiscussionOur findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of advanced CRC to FOLFOX-Bev treatment and highlight potential targets for improving the efficacy of this treatment strategy.
ISSN:2234-943X