TGF-β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapy

Abstract Background Prostate cancer (PCa) has previously been established as a cold tumor with highly complex tumor environment. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 plays pro-oncogenic roles in PCa. TGF-β3, another isoform of the TGF-β family, is reported to have different and even opposite regulato...

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Main Authors: Qiliang Teng, Niu Wang, Hanqi Lei, Tongyu Tong, Yupeng Guan, Mengjun Huang, Fei Cao, Bin Xu, Jia Yang, Yimian Huo, Wenping Chen, Ran Bi, Xuanqi Wang, Zhenyu Wang, Fu-Ying Tian, Bo Zhao, Jun Pang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-025-04103-2
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author Qiliang Teng
Niu Wang
Hanqi Lei
Tongyu Tong
Yupeng Guan
Mengjun Huang
Fei Cao
Bin Xu
Jia Yang
Yimian Huo
Wenping Chen
Ran Bi
Xuanqi Wang
Zhenyu Wang
Fu-Ying Tian
Bo Zhao
Jun Pang
author_facet Qiliang Teng
Niu Wang
Hanqi Lei
Tongyu Tong
Yupeng Guan
Mengjun Huang
Fei Cao
Bin Xu
Jia Yang
Yimian Huo
Wenping Chen
Ran Bi
Xuanqi Wang
Zhenyu Wang
Fu-Ying Tian
Bo Zhao
Jun Pang
author_sort Qiliang Teng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Prostate cancer (PCa) has previously been established as a cold tumor with highly complex tumor environment. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 plays pro-oncogenic roles in PCa. TGF-β3, another isoform of the TGF-β family, is reported to have different and even opposite regulatory roles to TGF-β1. However, the effect of TGF-β3 in PCa has not been elucidated. Methods TGF-β3 expression and its association with multiple clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed immunohistochemically in human PCa specimens. The antitumor effect of TGF-β3 and its combination with immunochemotherapy was observed by subcutaneous xenograft tumor model. RNA-seq of mouse tumor tissues identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were enriched in vascular biological processes. The angiogenesis effect of TGF-β3 was evaluated using tube formation assay. Hypoxic area, NG2+ pericytes, Col IV+ basement membrane, adhesion molecules and immune cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Vascular permeability was measured by Evans blue staining. The flow cytometry was conducted to examine the composition of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Results Low TGF-β3 expression in prostate cancer (PCa) was correlated with higher Gleason scores and pathological T stage. While intratumoral TGF-β3 injection demonstrated antitumor effects in vivo, it did not directly affect PCa cell proliferation, migration or invasion in vitro. GO analysis revealed significant enrichment of DEGs in vascular-related biological process. TGF-β3 treatment normalized tumor vascular architecture and reduced vascular leakage. This vascular normalization upregulated endothelial adhesion molecules and enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration, suppressing tumor growth. Critically, TGF-β3-induced vascular normalization synergized with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy or paclitaxel chemotherapy, enhancing CD8+ T cell or drug infiltration and significantly boosting therapeutic efficacy. Conclusions TGF-β3 potentially acts as a protective factor in PCa by promoting vascular normalization and remodeling of the tumor environment, which facilitates infiltration of CD8+ T cells or drugs, significantly enhancing their antitumor effects.
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spelling doaj-art-554cadfb7d6a43cdb586fa8a8a3de8c32025-08-20T03:42:53ZengSpringerCancer Immunology, Immunotherapy1432-08512025-07-0174811710.1007/s00262-025-04103-2TGF-β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapyQiliang Teng0Niu Wang1Hanqi Lei2Tongyu Tong3Yupeng Guan4Mengjun Huang5Fei Cao6Bin Xu7Jia Yang8Yimian Huo9Wenping Chen10Ran Bi11Xuanqi Wang12Zhenyu Wang13Fu-Ying Tian14Bo Zhao15Jun Pang16Department of Urology, Kidney and Urology Center, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen UniversityMolecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Urology, Kidney and Urology Center, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Urology, Kidney and Urology Center, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Urology, Kidney and Urology Center, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Urology, Kidney and Urology Center, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Urology, Kidney and Urology Center, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Urology, Kidney and Urology Center, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen UniversityMolecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen UniversityMolecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen UniversityMolecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen UniversitySchool of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen UniversitySchool of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen UniversitySchool of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen UniversitySchool of Public Health, Southern Medical UniversityMolecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Urology, Kidney and Urology Center, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Background Prostate cancer (PCa) has previously been established as a cold tumor with highly complex tumor environment. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 plays pro-oncogenic roles in PCa. TGF-β3, another isoform of the TGF-β family, is reported to have different and even opposite regulatory roles to TGF-β1. However, the effect of TGF-β3 in PCa has not been elucidated. Methods TGF-β3 expression and its association with multiple clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed immunohistochemically in human PCa specimens. The antitumor effect of TGF-β3 and its combination with immunochemotherapy was observed by subcutaneous xenograft tumor model. RNA-seq of mouse tumor tissues identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were enriched in vascular biological processes. The angiogenesis effect of TGF-β3 was evaluated using tube formation assay. Hypoxic area, NG2+ pericytes, Col IV+ basement membrane, adhesion molecules and immune cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Vascular permeability was measured by Evans blue staining. The flow cytometry was conducted to examine the composition of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Results Low TGF-β3 expression in prostate cancer (PCa) was correlated with higher Gleason scores and pathological T stage. While intratumoral TGF-β3 injection demonstrated antitumor effects in vivo, it did not directly affect PCa cell proliferation, migration or invasion in vitro. GO analysis revealed significant enrichment of DEGs in vascular-related biological process. TGF-β3 treatment normalized tumor vascular architecture and reduced vascular leakage. This vascular normalization upregulated endothelial adhesion molecules and enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration, suppressing tumor growth. Critically, TGF-β3-induced vascular normalization synergized with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy or paclitaxel chemotherapy, enhancing CD8+ T cell or drug infiltration and significantly boosting therapeutic efficacy. Conclusions TGF-β3 potentially acts as a protective factor in PCa by promoting vascular normalization and remodeling of the tumor environment, which facilitates infiltration of CD8+ T cells or drugs, significantly enhancing their antitumor effects.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-025-04103-2Prostate cancerTGF-β3Vascular normalizationTumor microenvironment
spellingShingle Qiliang Teng
Niu Wang
Hanqi Lei
Tongyu Tong
Yupeng Guan
Mengjun Huang
Fei Cao
Bin Xu
Jia Yang
Yimian Huo
Wenping Chen
Ran Bi
Xuanqi Wang
Zhenyu Wang
Fu-Ying Tian
Bo Zhao
Jun Pang
TGF-β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapy
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
Prostate cancer
TGF-β3
Vascular normalization
Tumor microenvironment
title TGF-β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapy
title_full TGF-β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapy
title_fullStr TGF-β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapy
title_full_unstemmed TGF-β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapy
title_short TGF-β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapy
title_sort tgf β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapy
topic Prostate cancer
TGF-β3
Vascular normalization
Tumor microenvironment
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-025-04103-2
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