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NADPH oxidase 1/4 dual inhibition impairs transforming growth factor-beta protumorigenic effects in cholangiocarcinoma cancer-associated fibroblasts

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signalling has become an attractive therapeutic target due to its pro-tumorigenic actions on epithelial cells and its immunosuppressive effects in the tumour microenvironment. In intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), a highly aggressive malignancy of the bil...

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Main Authors: Amengual, Josep (Author) , Gonzalez-Sanchez, Ester (Author) , Yáñez-Bartolome, Mariana (Author) , Sererols-Viñas, Laura (Author) , Ravichandra, Aashreya (Author) , Guiton, Celia (Author) , Fuste, Noel P. (Author) , Alay, Ania (Author) , Hijazo-Pechero, Sara (Author) , Martín-Mur, Beatriz (Author) , Gut, Marta (Author) , Esteve-Codina, Anna (Author) , Cantos-Cortes, Ana (Author) , Espinosa-Sotelo, Rut (Author) , Ramos, Emilio (Author) , Serrano, Teresa (Author) , Calvo, Mariona (Author) , Laquente, Berta (Author) , Ferrer, Joana (Author) , Pons, Gabriel (Author) , Mendez-Lucas, Andrés (Author) , Dooley, Steven (Author) , Ilyas, Sumera I. (Author) , Vallette, Marie (Author) , Aoudjehane, Lynda (Author) , Lequoy, Marie (Author) , Fouassier, Laura (Author) , Coulouarn, Cédric (Author) , Affò, Silvia (Author) , Scheiter, Alexander (Author) , Calvisi, Diego F. (Author) , Tian, Tian V. (Author) , Fabregat, Isabel (Author) , Vaquero, Javier (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 18 August 2025
In: Signal transduction and targeted therapy
Year: 2025, Volume: 10, Pages: 1-21
ISSN:2059-3635
DOI:10.1038/s41392-025-02347-z
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02347-z
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-025-02347-z
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Author Notes:Josep Amengual, Ester Gonzalez-Sanchez, Mariana Yáñez-Bartolome, Laura Sererols-Viñas, Aashreya Ravichandra, Celia Guiton, Noel P. Fuste, Ania Alay, Sara Hijazo-Pechero, Beatriz Martín-Mur, Marta Gut, Anna Esteve-Codina, Ana Cantos-Cortes, Rut Espinosa-Sotelo, Emilio Ramos, Teresa Serrano, Mariona Calvo, Berta Laquente, Joana Ferrer, Gabriel Pons, Andrés Mendez-Lucas, Steven Dooley, Sumera I. Ilyas, Marie Vallette, Lynda Aoudjehane, Marie Lequoy, Laura Fouassier, Cédric Coulouarn, Silvia Affò, Alexander Scheiter, Diego F. Calvisi, Tian V. Tian, Isabel Fabregat and Javier Vaquero
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Summary:Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signalling has become an attractive therapeutic target due to its pro-tumorigenic actions on epithelial cells and its immunosuppressive effects in the tumour microenvironment. In intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), a highly aggressive malignancy of the biliary tract with poor prognosis, the latest clinical trials using TGF-β inhibitors have failed indicating that the specific actions carried out by TGF-β in iCCA are yet not well delineated. Here, we show that TGF-β signalling is highly active in iCCA and exerts a prominent suppressor effect on tumour cell lines and organoids established from iCCA metastases biopsies, that relies on a functional canonical SMAD2/3/4 signalling. Thus, TGF-β inhibitors promote, instead of inhibiting, tumour cell growth. In this context, a promising strategy is to target intracellular proteins downstream the TGF-β receptors accounting only for TGF-β pro-tumorigenic actions. NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), a downstream mediator of the TGF-β signalling pathway, is strictly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) of iCCA and acts in concert with NOX1 to regulate CAF functions. Use of a dual NOX4/NOX1 inhibitor impaired CAF actions and reduced tumour growth in vitro and in two different in vivo iCCA experimental models. Collectively, our findings reveal an actionable way to specifically target TGF-β pro-tumorigenic actions in CAF from iCCA without undesirable side effects on tumour cells, suggesting a potentially bright future for dual NOX4/NOX1 inhibitors in the clinics, alone or in combination with other therapies.
Item Description:Gesehen am 10.11.2025
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:2059-3635
DOI:10.1038/s41392-025-02347-z

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