Leveraging CAR macrophages targeting c-Met for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: insights from single-cell multi-omics

Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer is known for its poor prognosis and resistance to conventional therapies, largely due to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and aggressive angiogenesis. Effectively targeting these CSCs and associated angiogenic pathways is crucial for effective treatment....

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Main Authors: Lingyu Hu, Xiaoguang Wang, Zhengwei Song, Fei Chen, Bin Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:Molecular Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-00996-4
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author Lingyu Hu
Xiaoguang Wang
Zhengwei Song
Fei Chen
Bin Wu
author_facet Lingyu Hu
Xiaoguang Wang
Zhengwei Song
Fei Chen
Bin Wu
author_sort Lingyu Hu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer is known for its poor prognosis and resistance to conventional therapies, largely due to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and aggressive angiogenesis. Effectively targeting these CSCs and associated angiogenic pathways is crucial for effective treatment. This study leverages single-cell multi-omics to explore a novel therapeutic approach involving Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) macrophages engineered to target the c-Met protein on pancreatic CSCs. Methods We employed single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze pancreatic cancer tissue, identifying c-Met as a key marker of CSCs. CAR macrophages were engineered using a lentiviral system to express a c-Met-specific receptor. The phagocytic efficiency of these CAR macrophages against pancreatic CSCs was assessed in vitro, along with their ability to inhibit angiogenesis. The in vivo efficacy of CAR macrophages was evaluated in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Results CAR macrophages demonstrated high specificity for c-Met + CSCs, significantly enhancing phagocytosis and reducing the secretion of angiogenic factors such as VEGFA, FGF2, and ANGPT. In vivo, these macrophages significantly suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis, prolonging survival in pancreatic cancer-bearing mice. Conclusion CAR macrophages targeting c-Met represent a promising therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer, offering targeted elimination of CSCs and disruption of tumor angiogenesis. This study highlights the potential of single-cell multi-omics in guiding the development of precision immunotherapies.
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spelling doaj-art-af06c2ded9ba41a3b57bd338e4dc5a322025-08-20T02:51:16ZengBMCMolecular Medicine1528-36582024-11-0130111710.1186/s10020-024-00996-4Leveraging CAR macrophages targeting c-Met for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: insights from single-cell multi-omicsLingyu Hu0Xiaoguang Wang1Zhengwei Song2Fei Chen3Bin Wu4Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing UniversityDepartment of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing UniversityDepartment of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing UniversityDepartment of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing UniversityDepartment of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing UniversityAbstract Background Pancreatic cancer is known for its poor prognosis and resistance to conventional therapies, largely due to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and aggressive angiogenesis. Effectively targeting these CSCs and associated angiogenic pathways is crucial for effective treatment. This study leverages single-cell multi-omics to explore a novel therapeutic approach involving Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) macrophages engineered to target the c-Met protein on pancreatic CSCs. Methods We employed single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze pancreatic cancer tissue, identifying c-Met as a key marker of CSCs. CAR macrophages were engineered using a lentiviral system to express a c-Met-specific receptor. The phagocytic efficiency of these CAR macrophages against pancreatic CSCs was assessed in vitro, along with their ability to inhibit angiogenesis. The in vivo efficacy of CAR macrophages was evaluated in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Results CAR macrophages demonstrated high specificity for c-Met + CSCs, significantly enhancing phagocytosis and reducing the secretion of angiogenic factors such as VEGFA, FGF2, and ANGPT. In vivo, these macrophages significantly suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis, prolonging survival in pancreatic cancer-bearing mice. Conclusion CAR macrophages targeting c-Met represent a promising therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer, offering targeted elimination of CSCs and disruption of tumor angiogenesis. This study highlights the potential of single-cell multi-omics in guiding the development of precision immunotherapies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-00996-4Pancreatic cancerCAR macrophagesc-MetSingle-cell multi-omicsAngiogenesisCancer stem cells
spellingShingle Lingyu Hu
Xiaoguang Wang
Zhengwei Song
Fei Chen
Bin Wu
Leveraging CAR macrophages targeting c-Met for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: insights from single-cell multi-omics
Molecular Medicine
Pancreatic cancer
CAR macrophages
c-Met
Single-cell multi-omics
Angiogenesis
Cancer stem cells
title Leveraging CAR macrophages targeting c-Met for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: insights from single-cell multi-omics
title_full Leveraging CAR macrophages targeting c-Met for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: insights from single-cell multi-omics
title_fullStr Leveraging CAR macrophages targeting c-Met for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: insights from single-cell multi-omics
title_full_unstemmed Leveraging CAR macrophages targeting c-Met for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: insights from single-cell multi-omics
title_short Leveraging CAR macrophages targeting c-Met for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: insights from single-cell multi-omics
title_sort leveraging car macrophages targeting c met for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer insights from single cell multi omics
topic Pancreatic cancer
CAR macrophages
c-Met
Single-cell multi-omics
Angiogenesis
Cancer stem cells
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-00996-4
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