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Sun J, Xu Y, Liu J, Cui H, Cao H, Ren J. PDRG1 promotes the proliferation and migration of GBM cells by the MEK/ERK/CD44 pathway. Cancer Sci 2021; 113:500-516. [PMID: 34812552 PMCID: PMC8819344 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
P53 and DNA damage‐regulated gene1 (PDRG1) is overexpressed in diverse carcinomas. Here, we discover that PDRG1 is overexpressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, the clinical significance, biological role, and underlying molecular mechanisms of PDRG1 in GBM remain unclear. PDRG1 was aberrantly overexpressed in glioma, especially prevalent in GBM, and correlated with poor clinicopathologic features of glioma. The risk score, operational feature curve analysis, Kaplan‐Meier curve, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that PDRG1 was an independent prognostic indicator and significantly correlates with disease progression of glioma. A prognostic nomogram was constructed to predict the survival risk of individual patients. The function and pathway enrichment analysis of PDRG1 in The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort was performed. PDRG1 knockdown significantly inhibited the migration and proliferation of GBM cells in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptome sequencing analysis of PDRG1 knockdown U‐118 MG(U118) cells indicated that biological regulation adhesion, growth and death, cell motility, cell adhesion molecular and proteoglycans in cancer were significantly enriched. Importantly, we found that the expression of adhesion molecule cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) was regulated by PDRG1 in GBM. We found that PDRG1 promoted the migration and proliferation of GBM cells via the mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK)/CD44 pathway. Our findings provide proof that PDRG1 upregulation predicts progression and poor prognosis in human gliomas, especially in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wt glioma patients. The study provides new evidence that PDRG1 regulates the expression of CD44 in GBM cells and might promote the migration and proliferation via the MEK/ERK/CD44pathway. PDRG1 might be a novel diagnostic indicator and promising therapeutic target for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmin Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yixin Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Huiyue Cui
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Haowei Cao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jing Ren
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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52
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Bickett TE, Knitz M, Darragh LB, Bhatia S, Van Court B, Gadwa J, Bhuvane S, Piper M, Nguyen D, Tu H, Lenz L, Clambey ET, Barry K, Karam SD. FLT3L Release by Natural Killer Cells Enhances Response to Radioimmunotherapy in Preclinical Models of HNSCC. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:6235-6249. [PMID: 34518311 PMCID: PMC8595694 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-0971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Natural killer (NK) cells are type I innate lymphoid cells that are known for their role in killing virally infected cells or cancer cells through direct cytotoxicity. In addition to direct tumor cell killing, NK cells are known to play fundamental roles in the tumor microenvironment through secretion of key cytokines, such as FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L). Although radiotherapy is the mainstay treatment in most cancers, the role of radiotherapy on NK cells is not well characterized. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN This study combines radiation, immunotherapies, genetic mouse models, and antibody depletion experiments to identify the role of NK cells in overcoming resistance to radiotherapy in orthotopic models of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS We have found that NK cells are a crucial component in the development of an antitumor response, as depleting them removes efficacy of the previously successful combination treatment of radiotherapy, anti-CD25, and anti-CD137. However, in the absence of NK cells, the effect can be rescued through treatment with FLT3L. But neither radiotherapy with FLT3L therapy alone nor radiotherapy with anti-NKG2A yields any meaningful tumor growth delay. We also identify a role for IL2 in activating NK cells to secrete FLT3L. This activity, we show, is mediated through CD122, the intermediate affinity IL2 receptor, and can be targeted with anti-CD25 therapy. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the complexity of using radio-immunotherapies to activate NK cells within the tumor microenvironment, and the importance of NK cells in activating dendritic cells for increased tumor surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E Bickett
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Michael Knitz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Laurel B Darragh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Shilpa Bhatia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Benjamin Van Court
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jacob Gadwa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Shiv Bhuvane
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Miles Piper
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Diemmy Nguyen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Hua Tu
- Lake Pharma, The Biologics Company, San Francisco, California
| | - Laurel Lenz
- Department of Immunology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Eric T Clambey
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Kevin Barry
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sana D Karam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
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53
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Tseng JC, Yang JX, Liu YL, Su YW, Lee AYL, Chen YW, Liu KJ, Luo Y, Hong YR, Chuang TH. Sharpening up tumor microenvironment to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade on head and neck cancer using a CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 71:1115-1128. [PMID: 34581869 PMCID: PMC9016021 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-03062-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck cancers are a type of life-threatening cancers characterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Only less than 20% of the patients respond to immune checkpoint blockade therapy, indicating the need for a strategy to increase the efficacy of immunotherapy for this type of cancers. Previously, we identified a type B CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) called CpG-2722, which has the universal activity of eliciting an immune response in grouper, mouse, and human cells. In this study, we further characterized and compared its cytokine-inducing profiles with different types of CpG-ODNs. The antitumor effect of CpG-2722 was further investigated alone and in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in a newly developed syngeneic orthotopic head and neck cancer animal model. Along with other inflammatory cytokines, CpG-2722 induces the gene expressions of interleukin-12 and different types of interferons, which are critical for the antitumor response. Both CpG-2722 and anti-programmed death (PD)-1 alone suppressed tumor growth. Their tumor suppression efficacies were further enhanced when CpG-2722 and anti-PD-1 were used in combination. Mechanistically, CpG-2722 shaped a tumor microenvironment that is favorable for the action of anti-PD-1, which included promoting the expression of different cytokines such as IL-12, IFN-β, and IFN-γ, and increasing the presence of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, M1 macrophages, and CD8 positive T cells. Overall, CpG-2722 provided a priming effect for CD8 positive T cells by sharpening the tumor microenvironment, whereas anti-PD-1 released the brake for their tumor-killing effect, resulting in an enhanced efficacy of the combined CpG-2722 and anti-PD-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen-Chih Tseng
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Xing Yang
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Liu
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Su
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Alan Yueh-Luen Lee
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Wen Chen
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Ko-Jiunn Liu
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Yunping Luo
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Yi-Ren Hong
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsien Chuang
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan.
- Program in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan.
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54
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Knochelmann HM, Rivera-Reyes AM, Wyatt MM, Smith AS, Chamness R, Dwyer CJ, Bobian M, Rangel Rivera GO, Horton JD, Lilly M, Romeo MJ, Timmers CD, Rubinstein MP, Neskey DM, Paulos CM. Modeling ex vivo tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte expansion from established solid malignancies. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1959101. [PMID: 34408920 PMCID: PMC8366547 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1959101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) elicits the regression of metastatic malignancies, yet a low proportion of patients achieve complete durable responses. The high incidence of relapse in these patients highlights the need to better understand mechanisms of tumor escape from T cell control. While melanoma has provided the foundation for developing TIL therapy, much less is known about TIL efficacy and relapse in other malignancies. We sought to investigate TIL characteristics in mouse tumors which have not been studied in this setting. Here, we expanded murine TIL ex vivo in IL-2 from fragments of multiple tumor models, including oral cavity cancer models of varying immunogenicity. Additionally, TIL was expanded from pmel-1 mice bearing B16F10 melanoma, yielding an enriched population of tumor-infiltrating TCR transgenic T cells. Murine TIL are similar to human TIL in that they express high levels of inhibitory receptors (PD-1, Tim-3, etc.) and can be expanded ex vivo in IL-2 extensively. Of clinical relevance, we draw parallels between murine and human oral cavity cancer TIL, evaluating relationships between inhibitory receptor expression and function. This platform can be used by labs even in the absence of clinical specimens or clean cell facilities and will be important to more broadly understand TIL phenotypes across many different malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Knochelmann
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amalia M Rivera-Reyes
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Megan M Wyatt
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Aubrey S Smith
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Reilley Chamness
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Connor J Dwyer
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Michael Bobian
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Guillermo O Rangel Rivera
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joshuva D Horton
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Michael Lilly
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Martin J Romeo
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Cynthia D Timmers
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Mark P Rubinstein
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pelotonia Institute of Immuno-Oncology, the Ohio State University, Columbus, ohio, USA
| | - David M Neskey
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Chrystal M Paulos
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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55
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Cui Z, Dabas H, Leonard BC, Shiah JV, Grandis JR, Johnson DE. Caspase-8 mutations associated with head and neck cancer differentially retain functional properties related to TRAIL-induced apoptosis and cytokine induction. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:775. [PMID: 34362880 PMCID: PMC8346537 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04066-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The cysteine protease, caspase-8, undergoes dimerization, processing, and activation following stimulation of cells with death ligands such as TRAIL, and mediates TRAIL induction of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. In addition, caspase-8 mediates TRAIL-induced activation of NF-κB and upregulation of immunosuppressive chemokines/cytokines, via a mechanism independent of caspase-8 catalytic activity. The gene encoding procaspase-8 is mutated in 10% of human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Despite a paucity of experimental evidence, HNSCC-associated caspase-8 mutations are commonly assumed to be loss of function. To investigate their functional properties and phenotypic effects, 18 HNSCC-associated caspase-8 mutants were expressed in doxycycline-inducible fashion in cell line models wherein the endogenous wild-type caspase-8 was deleted. We observed that 5/8 mutants in the amino-terminal prodomain, but 0/10 mutants in the carboxyl-terminal catalytic region, retained an ability to mediate TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Caspase-8 proteins with mutations in the prodomain were defective in dimerization, whereas all ten of the catalytic region mutants efficiently dimerized, revealing an inverse relationship between dimerization and apoptosis induction for the mutant proteins. Roughly half (3/8) of the prodomain mutants and 9/10 of the catalytic region mutants retained the ability to mediate TRAIL induction of immunosuppressive CXCL1, IL-6, or IL-8. Doxycycline-induced expression of wild-type caspase-8 or a representative mutant led to an increased percentage of T and NKT cells in syngeneic HNSCC xenograft tumors. These findings demonstrate that HNSCC-associated caspase-8 mutants retain properties that may influence TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and cytokine induction, as well as the composition of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Cui
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hadas Dabas
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brandon C Leonard
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jamie V Shiah
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer R Grandis
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Daniel E Johnson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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56
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Cancer Stem Cells in Oropharyngeal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153878. [PMID: 34359786 PMCID: PMC8345685 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), which is a common type of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), is associated with tobacco and alcohol use, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Underlying mechanisms and as a result prognosis of the HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPC patients are different. Like stem cells, the ability of self-renewal and differentiate, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have roles in tumor invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, and recurrence after therapy. Research revealed their roles to some extent in all of these processes but there are still many unresolved points to connect to CSC-targeted therapy. In this review, we will focus on what we currently know about CSCs of OPC and limitations of our current knowledge. We will present perspectives that will broaden our understanding and recent literature which may connect to therapy.
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57
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Salivary exosomal microRNAs as biomarkers for head and neck cancer detection-a literature review. Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg 2021; 43:19. [PMID: 34191144 PMCID: PMC8245637 DOI: 10.1186/s40902-021-00303-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MicroRNAs (miRs) are small, non-coding mRNA molecules which regulate cellular processes in tumorigenesis. miRs were discovered in extracellular environment and biological fluids, carrying marks of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). They were also identified in abundance in salivary exosomes, in which they are protected by exosome lipid barrier against enzymatic injuries and therefore, the accuracy of exosomal miR-based cancer detection increase. This systematic review aimed to reveal and inventorize the most reliable exosomal miRNAs in saliva samples which can be used as novel biomarkers for early detection of HNSCC. Materials and methods A systematic literature search, according to PRISMA guideline, was performed on Pubmed and Google Academic libraries, based on specific keywords. Original articles published between 2010 and 2021 were selected. The quality of each paper was assessed using the Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool. Results At the end of selection process, five studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies analyzed twelve salivary exosomal miRs, presenting different methods of exosome and miR identification for HNSCC detection. A comprehensive explanation of the miR pathways of action was drawn and illustrated in this review. Conclusion Exosomal miRs are promising biomarkers for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer detection. miR-10b-5p, miR-486-5p, miR-24-3p and miR-200a stand as the most useful ones in saliva sample examination.
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58
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Sharon S, Baird JR, Bambina S, Kramer G, Blair TC, Jensen SM, Leidner RS, Bell RB, Casap N, Crittenden MR, Gough MJ. A platform for locoregional T-cell immunotherapy to control HNSCC recurrence following tumor resection. Oncotarget 2021; 12:1201-1213. [PMID: 34194619 PMCID: PMC8238246 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Surgical resection of head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with high rates of local and distant recurrence, partially mitigated by adjuvant therapy. A pre-existing immune response in the patient's tumor is associated with better outcomes following treatment with conventional therapies, but improved options are needed for patients with poor anti-tumor immunity. We hypothesized that local delivery of tumor antigen-specific T-cells into the resection cavity following surgery would direct T-cells to residual antigens in the margins and draining lymphatics and present a platform for T-cell-targeted immunotherapy. We loaded T-cells into a biomaterial that conformed to the resection cavity and demonstrated that it could release T-cells that retained their functional activity in-vitro, and in a HNSCC model in-vivo. Locally delivered T-cells loaded in a biomaterial were equivalent in control of established tumors to intravenous adoptive T-cell transfer, and resulted in the systemic circulation of tumor antigen-specific T-cells as well as local accumulation in the tumor. We demonstrate that adjuvant therapy with anti-PD1 following surgical resection was ineffective unless combined with local delivery of T-cells. These data demonstrate that local delivery of tumor-specific T-cells is an efficient option to convert tumors that are unresponsive to checkpoint inhibitors to permit tumor cures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shay Sharon
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hadassah and Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Jason R. Baird
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
| | - Shelly Bambina
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
| | - Gwen Kramer
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
| | - Tiffany C. Blair
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Shawn M. Jensen
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
| | - Rom S. Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
| | - R. Bryan Bell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
| | - Nardy Casap
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hadassah and Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Marka R. Crittenden
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
- The Oregon Clinic, Portland, OR 97213, USA
| | - Michael J. Gough
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
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59
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Sharon S, Duhen T, Bambina S, Baird J, Leidner R, Bell B, Casap N, Crittenden M, Vasudevan S, Jubran M, Kravchenko-Balasha N, Gough M. Explant Modeling of the Immune Environment of Head and Neck Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:611365. [PMID: 34221953 PMCID: PMC8249923 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.611365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients exhibit distinct responses to immunotherapies that are thought to be linked to their tumor immune environment. However, wide variations in outcomes are also observed in patients with matched baseline tumor environments, indicating that the biological response to treatment is not currently predictable using a snapshot analysis. To investigate the relationship between the immune environment of tumors and the biological response to immunotherapies, we characterized four murine head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) models on two genetic backgrounds. Using tumor explants from those models, we identified correlations between the composition of infiltrating immune cells and baseline cytokine profiles prior to treatment. Following treatment with PD-1 blockade, CTLA-4 blockade, or OX40 stimulation, we observed inter-individual variability in the response to therapy between genetically identical animals bearing the same tumor. These distinct biological responses to treatment were not linked to the initial tumor immune environment, meaning that outcome would not be predictable from a baseline analysis of the tumor infiltrates. We similarly performed the explant assay on patient HNSCC tumors and found significant variability between the baseline environment of the tumors and their response to therapy. We propose that tumor explants provide a rapid biological assay to assess response to candidate immunotherapies that may allow matching therapies to individual patient tumors. Further development of explant approaches may allow screening and monitoring of treatment responses in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shay Sharon
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hadassah and Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Thomas Duhen
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Shelly Bambina
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Jason Baird
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Rom Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Bryan Bell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Nardy Casap
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hadassah and Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Marka Crittenden
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
- The Oregon Clinic, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Swetha Vasudevan
- The Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maria Jubran
- The Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Michael Gough
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
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60
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Fabian KP, Padget MR, Donahue RN, Solocinski K, Robbins Y, Allen CT, Lee JH, Rabizadeh S, Soon-Shiong P, Schlom J, Hodge JW. PD-L1 targeting high-affinity NK (t-haNK) cells induce direct antitumor effects and target suppressive MDSC populations. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2019-000450. [PMID: 32439799 PMCID: PMC7247398 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment, clinical benefit with this class of agents has been limited to a subset of patients. Hence, more effective means to target tumor cells that express immune checkpoint molecules should be developed. For the first time, we report a novel natural killer (NK) cell line, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) targeting high-affinity natural killer (t-haNK), which was derived from NK-92 and was engineered to express high-affinity CD16, endoplasmic reticulum-retained interleukin (IL)-2, and a PD-L1-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). We show that PD-L1 t-haNK cells also retained the expression of native NK receptors and carried a high content of granzyme and perforin granules. Methods NanoString, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to characterize the phenotype of irradiated PD-L1 t-haNK cells. In vitro PD-L1 t-haNK cell activity against cancer cell lines and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined via flow-based and 111In-release killing assays. The antitumor effect of PD-L1 t-haNK cells in vivo was investigated using MDA-MB-231, H460, and HTB1 xenograft models in NOD-scid IL2Rgammanull (NSG) mice. Additionally, the antitumor effect of PD-L1 t-haNK cells, in combination with anti-PD-1 and N-803, an IL-15 superagonist, was evaluated using mouse oral cancer 1 syngeneic model in C57BL/6 mice. Results We show that PD-L1 t-haNK cells expressed PD-L1-targeting CAR and CD16, retained the expression of native NK receptors, and carried a high content of granzyme and perforin granules. In vitro, we demonstrate the ability of irradiated PD-L1 t-haNK cells to lyse 20 of the 20 human cancer cell lines tested, including triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and lung, urogenital, and gastric cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of PD-L1 t-haNK cells was correlated to the PD-L1 expression of the tumor targets and can be improved by pretreating the targets with interferon (IFN)-γ. In vivo, irradiated PD-L1 t-haNK cells inhibited the growth of engrafted TNBC and lung and bladder tumors in NSG mice. The combination of PD-L1 t-haNK cells with N-803 and anti-PD-1 antibody resulted in superior tumor growth control of engrafted oral cavity squamous carcinoma tumors in C57BL/6 mice. In addition, when cocultured with human PBMCs, PD-L1 t-haNK cells preferentially lysed the myeloid-derived suppressor cell population but not other immune cell types. Conclusion These studies demonstrate the antitumor efficacy of PD-L1 t-haNK cells and provide a rationale for the potential use of these cells in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellsye P Fabian
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michelle R Padget
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kristen Solocinski
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- Section on Translational Tumor Immunology, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - John H Lee
- ImmunityBio, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Shahrooz Rabizadeh
- NantOmics, Culver City, California, USA.,ImmunityBio, Culver City, California, USA
| | - Patrick Soon-Shiong
- NantOmics, Culver City, California, USA.,ImmunityBio, Culver City, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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CBX7 suppresses urinary bladder cancer progression via modulating AKR1B10-ERK signaling. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:537. [PMID: 34035231 PMCID: PMC8149849 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03819-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The chromobox (CBX) proteins mediate epigenetic gene silencing and have been implicated in the cancer development. By analyzing eight CBX family members in TCGA dataset, we found that chromobox 7 (CBX7) was the most strikingly downregulated CBX family member in urinary bladder cancer (UBC), as compared to normal tissues. Though dysregulation of CBX7 has been reported in multiple cancers, its specific role and clinical relevance in UBC remain unclear. Herein, we found that frequent downregulation of CBX7 in UBC specimens, which was due to its promoter hypermethylation, was correlated with poor prognosis. The ectopic expression of CBX7 suppressed UBC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cancer stemness, whereas CBX7 depletion promoted cancer cell aggressiveness. Importantly, CBX7 overexpression in UBC cells inhibited tumorigenicity, whereas CBX7 depletion promoted the tumor development, indicating its tumor-suppressive role in UBC. Using RNA-seq and chromosome immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, we identified aldo-keto reductase family 1 member 10 (AKR1B10) as a novel downstream target of CBX7, which was negatively modulated by CBX7 in a PRC1-dependent manner and involved in stimulating ERK signaling. Consistently, AKR1B10 overexpression induced cancer cell aggressiveness, whereas suppression of AKR1B10 by siRNA or its small molecular inhibitor, oleanolic acid, reversed the CBX7 deficiency-induced cellular effects. AKR1B10 overexpression was negatively associated with CBX7 downregulation and predicted poor clinical outcomes in UBC patients. Taken together, our results indicate that CBX7 functions as a tumor suppressor to downregulate AKR1B10 and further inactivates ERK signaling. This CBX7/AKR1B10/ERK signaling axis may provide a new therapeutic strategy against UBC.
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The aryl hydrocarbon receptor suppresses immunity to oral squamous cell carcinoma through immune checkpoint regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2012692118. [PMID: 33941684 PMCID: PMC8126867 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012692118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors represent some of the most important cancer treatments developed in the last 20 y. However, existing immunotherapy approaches benefit only a minority of patients. Here, we provide evidence that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a central player in the regulation of multiple immune checkpoints in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Orthotopic transplant of mouse OSCC cells from which the AhR has been deleted (MOC1AhR-KO) results, within 1 wk, in the growth of small tumors that are then completely rejected within 2 wk, concomitant with an increase in activated T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes (tdLNs) and T cell signaling within the tumor. By 2 wk, AhR+ control cells (MOC1Cas9), but not MOC1AhR-KO cells up-regulate exhaustion pathways in the tumor-infiltrating T cells and expression of checkpoint molecules on CD4+ T cells (PD-1, CTLA4, Lag3, and CD39) and macrophages, dendritic cells, and Ly6G+ myeloid cells (PD-L1 and CD39) in tdLNs. Notably, MOC1AhR-KO cell transplant renders mice 100% immune to later challenge with wild-type tumors. Analysis of altered signaling pathways within MOC1AhR-KO cells shows that the AhR controls baseline and IFNγ-induced Ido and PD-L1 expression, the latter of which occurs through direct transcriptional control. These observations 1) confirm the importance of malignant cell AhR in suppression of tumor immunity, 2) demonstrate the involvement of the AhR in IFNγ control of PD-L1 and IDO expression in the cancer context, and 3) suggest that the AhR is a viable target for modulation of multiple immune checkpoints.
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Wang Z, Goto Y, Allevato MM, Wu VH, Saddawi-Konefka R, Gilardi M, Alvarado D, Yung BS, O'Farrell A, Molinolo AA, Duvvuri U, Grandis JR, Califano JA, Cohen EEW, Gutkind JS. Disruption of the HER3-PI3K-mTOR oncogenic signaling axis and PD-1 blockade as a multimodal precision immunotherapy in head and neck cancer. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2383. [PMID: 33888713 PMCID: PMC8062674 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22619-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has revolutionized head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treatment, but <20% of patients achieve durable responses. Persistent activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling circuitry represents a key oncogenic driver in HNSCC; however, the potential immunosuppressive effects of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors may limit the benefit of their combination with ICB. Here we employ an unbiased kinome-wide siRNA screen to reveal that HER3, is essential for the proliferation of most HNSCC cells that do not harbor PIK3CA mutations. Indeed, we find that persistent tyrosine phosphorylation of HER3 and PI3K recruitment underlies aberrant PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in PIK3CA wild type HNSCCs. Remarkably, antibody-mediated HER3 blockade exerts a potent anti-tumor effect by suppressing HER3-PI3K-AKT-mTOR oncogenic signaling and concomitantly reversing the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment. Ultimately, we show that HER3 inhibition and PD-1 blockade may provide a multimodal precision immunotherapeutic approach for PIK3CA wild type HNSCC, aimed at achieving durable cancer remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Wang
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yusuke Goto
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael M Allevato
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Victoria H Wu
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert Saddawi-Konefka
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Mara Gilardi
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Bryan S Yung
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Aoife O'Farrell
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alfredo A Molinolo
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Umamaheswar Duvvuri
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer R Grandis
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joseph A Califano
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ezra E W Cohen
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Jagodinsky JC, Jin WJ, Bates AM, Hernandez R, Grudzinski JJ, Marsh IR, Chakravarty I, Arthur IS, Zangl LM, Brown RJ, Nystuen EJ, Emma SE, Kerr C, Carlson PM, Sriramaneni RN, Engle JW, Aluicio-Sarduy E, Barnhart TE, Le T, Kim K, Bednarz BP, Weichert JP, Patel RB, Morris ZS. Temporal analysis of type 1 interferon activation in tumor cells following external beam radiotherapy or targeted radionuclide therapy. Theranostics 2021; 11:6120-6137. [PMID: 33995649 PMCID: PMC8120207 DOI: 10.7150/thno.54881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Clinical interest in combining targeted radionuclide therapies (TRT) with immunotherapies is growing. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) activates a type 1 interferon (IFN1) response mediated via stimulator of interferon genes (STING), and this is critical to its therapeutic interaction with immune checkpoint blockade. However, little is known about the time course of IFN1 activation after EBRT or whether this may be induced by decay of a TRT source. Methods: We examined the IFN1 response and expression of immune susceptibility markers in B78 and B16 melanomas and MOC2 head and neck cancer murine models using qPCR and western blot. For TRT, we used 90Y chelated to NM600, an alkylphosphocholine analog that exhibits selective uptake and retention in tumor cells including B78 and MOC2. Results: We observed significant IFN1 activation in all cell lines, with peak activation in B78, B16, and MOC2 cell lines occurring 7, 7, and 1 days, respectively, following RT for all doses. This effect was STING-dependent. Select IFN response genes remained upregulated at 14 days following RT. IFN1 activation following STING agonist treatment in vitro was identical to RT suggesting time course differences between cell lines were mediated by STING pathway kinetics and not DNA damage susceptibility. In vivo delivery of EBRT and TRT to B78 and MOC2 tumors resulted in a comparable time course and magnitude of IFN1 activation. In the MOC2 model, the combination of 90Y-NM600 and dual checkpoint blockade therapy reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival compared to single agent therapy and cumulative dose equivalent combination EBRT and dual checkpoint blockade therapy. Conclusions: We report the time course of the STING-dependent IFN1 response following radiation in multiple murine tumor models. We show the potential of TRT to stimulate IFN1 activation that is comparable to that observed with EBRT and this may be critical to the therapeutic integration of TRT with immunotherapies.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/immunology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/physiopathology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiotherapy
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/radiation effects
- Gene Knockout Techniques
- Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
- Interferon Type I/biosynthesis
- Interferon Type I/genetics
- Interferon Type I/physiology
- Lymphocytes/drug effects
- Lymphocytes/radiation effects
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/physiopathology
- Melanoma, Experimental/radiotherapy
- Membrane Proteins/agonists
- Membrane Proteins/deficiency
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/physiology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Neoplasm Proteins/agonists
- Neoplasm Proteins/physiology
- Radiopharmaceuticals/pharmacokinetics
- Radiopharmaceuticals/therapeutic use
- Time Factors
- Tumor Protein, Translationally-Controlled 1
- Tumor Stem Cell Assay
- Up-Regulation
- Yttrium Radioisotopes/pharmacokinetics
- Yttrium Radioisotopes/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin C. Jagodinsky
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Won Jong Jin
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Amber M. Bates
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Reinier Hernandez
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Joseph J. Grudzinski
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Ian R. Marsh
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Ishan Chakravarty
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Ian S. Arthur
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Luke M. Zangl
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Ryan J. Brown
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Erin J. Nystuen
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Sarah E. Emma
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Caroline Kerr
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Peter M. Carlson
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Raghava N. Sriramaneni
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Jonathan W. Engle
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Eduardo Aluicio-Sarduy
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Todd E. Barnhart
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Trang Le
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - KyungMann Kim
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Bryan P. Bednarz
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Jamey P. Weichert
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Ravi B. Patel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Zachary S. Morris
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
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Cunningham S, McCauley S, Vairamani K, Speth J, Girdhani S, Abel E, Sharma RA, Perentesis JP, Wells SI, Mascia A, Sertorio M. FLASH Proton Pencil Beam Scanning Irradiation Minimizes Radiation-Induced Leg Contracture and Skin Toxicity in Mice. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051012. [PMID: 33804336 PMCID: PMC7957631 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Dose and efficacy of radiation therapy are limited by the toxicity to normal tissue adjacent to the treated tumor region. Recently, ultra-high dose rate radiotherapy (FLASH radiotherapy) has shown beneficial reduction of normal tissue damage while preserving similar tumor efficacy with electron, photon and scattered proton beam irradiation in preclinical models. Proton therapy is increasingly delivered by pencil beam scanning (PBS) technology, and we therefore set out to test PBS FLASH radiotherapy on normal tissue toxicity and tumor control in vivo in mouse using a clinical proton delivery system. This validation of the FLASH normal tissue-sparing hypothesis with a clinical delivery system provides supporting data for PBS FLASH radiotherapy and its potential role in improving radiotherapy outcomes. Abstract Ultra-high dose rate radiation has been reported to produce a more favorable toxicity and tumor control profile compared to conventional dose rates that are used for patient treatment. So far, the so-called FLASH effect has been validated for electron, photon and scattered proton beam, but not yet for proton pencil beam scanning (PBS). Because PBS is the state-of-the-art delivery modality for proton therapy and constitutes a wide and growing installation base, we determined the benefit of FLASH PBS on skin and soft tissue toxicity. Using a pencil beam scanning nozzle and the plateau region of a 250 MeV proton beam, a uniform physical dose of 35 Gy (toxicity study) or 15 Gy (tumor control study) was delivered to the right hind leg of mice at various dose rates: Sham, Conventional (Conv, 1 Gy/s), Flash60 (57 Gy/s) and Flash115 (115 Gy/s). Acute radiation effects were quantified by measurements of plasma and skin levels of TGF-β1 and skin toxicity scoring. Delayed irradiation response was defined by hind leg contracture as a surrogate of irradiation-induced skin and soft tissue toxicity and by plasma levels of 13 different cytokines (CXCL1, CXCL10, Eotaxin, IL1-beta, IL-6, MCP-1, Mip1alpha, TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, VEGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF and TGF- β1). Plasma and skin levels of TGF-β1, skin toxicity and leg contracture were all significantly decreased in FLASH compared to Conv groups of mice. FLASH and Conv PBS had similar efficacy with regards to growth control of MOC1 and MOC2 head and neck cancer cells transplanted into syngeneic, immunocompetent mice. These results demonstrate consistent delivery of FLASH PBS radiation from 1 to 115 Gy/s in a clinical gantry. Radiation response following delivery of 35 Gy indicates potential benefits of FLASH versus conventional PBS that are related to skin and soft tissue toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Cunningham
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Oncology, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (S.C.); (S.M.); (K.V.); (J.P.P.); (S.I.W.)
| | - Shelby McCauley
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Oncology, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (S.C.); (S.M.); (K.V.); (J.P.P.); (S.I.W.)
| | - Kanimozhi Vairamani
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Oncology, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (S.C.); (S.M.); (K.V.); (J.P.P.); (S.I.W.)
| | - Joseph Speth
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (J.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Swati Girdhani
- Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; (S.G.); (E.A.); (R.A.S.)
| | - Eric Abel
- Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; (S.G.); (E.A.); (R.A.S.)
| | - Ricky A. Sharma
- Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; (S.G.); (E.A.); (R.A.S.)
| | - John P. Perentesis
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Oncology, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (S.C.); (S.M.); (K.V.); (J.P.P.); (S.I.W.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Susanne I. Wells
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Oncology, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (S.C.); (S.M.); (K.V.); (J.P.P.); (S.I.W.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Anthony Mascia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (J.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Mathieu Sertorio
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Oncology, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (S.C.); (S.M.); (K.V.); (J.P.P.); (S.I.W.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Correspondence:
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Inhibition of PI3K Isoform p110γ Increases Both Anti-Tumor and Immunosuppressive Responses to Aggressive Murine Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Low Immunogenicity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13050953. [PMID: 33668795 PMCID: PMC7956466 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13050953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Poorly immunogenic head and neck squamous carcinomas (HNSCC) remain difficult to treat due to poor response rates to immunotherapy. Inhibition of the PI3K catalytic subunit p110γ, which is expressed in leukocytes and some HNSCCs, has shown promise in treating HNSCC; with clinical trials underway to gauge its effectiveness. However, the effect of PI3K p110γ inhibition on the host immune system in poorly immunogenic HNSCC has not been fully described. In this study, our group characterized the immune response to poorly immunogenic HNSCC in the absence of PI3K p110γ using an orthotopic mouse model with the MOC2 cell line. We found that mice lacking p110γ did not demonstrate significantly different tumor growth or metastasis, though we observed substantial elevation in both anti-tumor and immunosuppressive activity at the primary tumor site. Our results indicate that PI3K p110γ inhibition may potentially enhance anti-tumor immunity against poorly immunogenic HNSCC if administered with checkpoint inhibitors. Abstract HNSCC is the sixth most common cancer, with around 650,000 new cases yearly. Gain of function mutations in the PI3K pathway are common in HNSCC, and inhibition of the PI3K p110γ subunit has shown promise in HNSCC treatment. However, given that PI3K p110γ plays an important role in myeloid and lymphoid immune cell function, it is essential to understand how PI3K p110γ inhibition affects the anti-tumor immune response independent of tumor cells. To elucidate PI3K p110γ function in HNSCC, we employed an orthotopic mouse model using poorly immunogenic and aggressive cell line MOC2 on Pik3cg−/− mice. We observed that wild-type and Pik3cg−/− mice displayed similar rates of HNSCC tumor growth and metastasis after 20 days following tumor injection. T-cell infiltration and intrinsic T-cell responses to MOC2 oral tumors were comparable between wild-type and Pik3cg−/− mice. Interestingly, the immune response of tumor-bearing Pik3cg−/− mice was marked by increased anti-tumor cytotoxic molecules (IFN-γ, IL-17)) by T-cells and immune checkpoint marker (PD-L1, PD-1) expression by myeloid cells and T-cells compared to tumor-bearing wild-type mice. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that inhibition of PI3K p110γ modulates tumor-associated immune cells, which likely potentiates HNSCC treatment when used in combination with selective checkpoint inhibitors.
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Mudianto T, Campbell KM, Webb J, Zolkind P, Skidmore ZL, Riley R, Barnell EK, Ozgenc I, Giri T, Dunn GP, Adkins DR, Griffith M, Egloff AM, Griffith OL, Uppaluri R. Yap1 Mediates Trametinib Resistance in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:2326-2339. [PMID: 33547198 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-4179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) "window of opportunity" clinical trial, we reported that trametinib reduced MEK-Erk1/2 activation and resulted in tumor responses in a subset of patients. Here, we investigated resistance to trametinib and molecular correlates in HNSCC cell lines and patient samples. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN HNSCC cell lines were treated with trametinib to generate resistant lines. Candidate bypass pathways were assessed using immunoblotting, CRISPR knockout, and survival assays. Effectiveness of combined trametinib and verteporfin targeting was evaluated. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) from responder patients were treated with trametinib and resistant tumors were analyzed. Window trial clinical samples were subjected to whole-exome and RNA sequencing. RESULTS HNSCC cell lines developed resistance (CAL27-TR and HSC3-TR) after prolonged trametinib exposure. Downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway were activated in CAL27-TR and HSC3-TR, and combined trametinib and verteporfin treatment resulted in synergistic treatment response. We defined the Hippo pathway effector Yap1 as an induced survival pathway promoting resistance to trametinib in HSC3-TR. Yap1 was necessary for HSC3-TR trametinib resistance, and constitutively active Yap1 was sufficient to confer resistance in parental HSC3. Analysis of trametinib neoadjuvant trial patient tumors indicated canonical MEK-Erk1/2 pathway activating mutations were infrequent, and Yap1 activity increased following trametinib treatment. Trametinib treatment of a PDX from a responder patient resulted in evolution of resistance with increased Yap1 expression and activity. CONCLUSIONS These studies identify a Yap1-dependent resistance to trametinib therapy in HNSCCs. Combined Yap1 and MEK targeting may represent a strategy to enhance HNSCC response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tenny Mudianto
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Katie M Campbell
- McDonnell Genome Institute and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jason Webb
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Paul Zolkind
- Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Zachary L Skidmore
- McDonnell Genome Institute and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Rachel Riley
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Erica K Barnell
- McDonnell Genome Institute and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ibrahim Ozgenc
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tusar Giri
- Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Gavin P Dunn
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Douglas R Adkins
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Malachi Griffith
- McDonnell Genome Institute and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ann Marie Egloff
- Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Obi L Griffith
- McDonnell Genome Institute and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Uzunparmak B, Gao M, Lindemann A, Erikson K, Wang L, Lin E, Frank SJ, Gleber-Netto FO, Zhao M, Skinner HD, Newton J, Sikora AG, Myers JN, Pickering CR. Caspase-8 loss radiosensitizes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to SMAC mimetic-induced necroptosis. JCI Insight 2020; 5:139837. [PMID: 33108350 PMCID: PMC7714407 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.139837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Caspase-8 (CASP8) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in head and neck squamous carcinomas (HNSCCs), and CASP8 mutations are associated with poor survival. The distribution of these mutations in HNSCCs suggests that they are likely to be inactivating. Inhibition of CASP8 has been reported to sensitize cancer cells to necroptosis, a regulated cell death mechanism. Here, we show that knockdown of CASP8 renders HNSCCs susceptible to necroptosis by a second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (SMAC) mimetic, birinapant, in combination with pan-caspase inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK or emricasan and radiation. In a syngeneic mouse model of oral cancer, birinapant, particularly when combined with radiation, delayed tumor growth and enhanced survival under CASP8 loss. Exploration of molecular underpinnings of necroptosis sensitivity confirmed that the level of functional receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 3 (RIP3) determines susceptibility to this mode of death. Although an in vitro screen revealed that low RIP3 levels rendered many HNSCC cell lines resistant to necroptosis, patient tumors maintained RIP3 expression and should therefore remain sensitive. Collectively, these results suggest that targeting the necroptosis pathway with SMAC mimetics, especially in combination with radiation, may be relevant therapeutically in HNSCC with compromised CASP8 status, provided that RIP3 function is maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burak Uzunparmak
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas USA
| | - Meng Gao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Antje Lindemann
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kelly Erikson
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Eric Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Steven J. Frank
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Frederico O. Gleber-Netto
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mei Zhao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Heath D. Skinner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jared Newton
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew G. Sikora
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jeffrey N. Myers
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Curtis R. Pickering
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Jin WJ, Erbe AK, Schwarz CN, Jaquish AA, Anderson BR, Sriramaneni RN, Jagodinsky JC, Bates AM, Clark PA, Le T, Lan KH, Chen Y, Kim K, Morris ZS. Tumor-Specific Antibody, Cetuximab, Enhances the In Situ Vaccine Effect of Radiation in Immunologically Cold Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2020; 11:591139. [PMID: 33281820 PMCID: PMC7689006 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.591139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumors that over-expresses huEGFR, the anti-EGFR antibody, cetuximab, antagonizes tumor cell viability and sensitizes to radiation therapy. However, the immunologic interactions between cetuximab and radiation therapy are not well understood. We transduced two syngeneic murine HNSCC tumor cell lines to express human EGFR (MOC1- and MOC2-huEGFR) in order to facilitate evaluation of the immunologic interactions between radiation and cetuximab. Cetuximab was capable of inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in MOC1- and MOC2-huEGFR cells but showed no effect on the viability or radiosensitivity of these tumor cells, which also express muEGFR that is not targeted by cetuximab. Radiation enhanced the susceptibility of MOC1- and MOC2-huEGFR to ADCC, eliciting a type I interferon response and increasing expression of NKG2D ligands on these tumor cells. Co-culture of splenocytes with cetuximab and MOC2-huEGFR cells resulted in increased expression of IFNγ in not only NK cells but also in CD8+ T cells, and this was dependent upon splenocyte expression of FcγR. In MOC2-huEGFR tumors, combining radiation and cetuximab induced tumor growth delay that required NK cells, EGFR expression, and FcγR on host immune cells. Combination of radiation and cetuximab increased tumor infiltration with NK and CD8+ T cells but not regulatory T cells. Expression of PD-L1 was increased in MOC2-huEGFR tumors following treatment with radiation and cetuximab. Delivering anti-PD-L1 antibody with radiation and cetuximab improved survival and resulted in durable tumor regression in some mice. Notably, these cured mice showed evidence of an adaptive memory response that was not specifically directed against huEGFR. These findings suggest an opportunity to improve the treatment of HNSCC by combining radiation and cetuximab to engage an innate anti-tumor immune response that may prime an effective adaptive immune response when combined with immune checkpoint blockade. It is possible that this approach could be extended to any immunologically cold tumor that does not respond to immune checkpoint blockade alone and for which a tumor-specific antibody exists or could be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Jong Jin
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Amy K. Erbe
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Ciara N. Schwarz
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Abigail A. Jaquish
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Bryce R. Anderson
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Justin C. Jagodinsky
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Amber M. Bates
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Paul A. Clark
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Trang Le
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Keng-Hsueh Lan
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - KyungMann Kim
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Zachary S. Morris
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
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Hassan N, Greve B, Espinoza-Sánchez NA, Götte M. Cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans as multifunctional integrators of signaling in cancer. Cell Signal 2020; 77:109822. [PMID: 33152440 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Proteoglycans (PGs) represent a large proportion of the components that constitute the extracellular matrix (ECM). They are a diverse group of glycoproteins characterized by a covalent link to a specific glycosaminoglycan type. As part of the ECM, heparan sulfate (HS)PGs participate in both physiological and pathological processes including cell recruitment during inflammation and the promotion of cell proliferation, adhesion and motility during development, angiogenesis, wound repair and tumor progression. A key function of HSPGs is their ability to modulate the expression and function of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, morphogens, and adhesion molecules. This is due to their capacity to act as ligands or co-receptors for various signal-transducing receptors, affecting pathways such as FGF, VEGF, chemokines, integrins, Wnt, notch, IL-6/JAK-STAT3, and NF-κB. The activation of those pathways has been implicated in the induction, progression, and malignancy of a tumor. For many years, the study of signaling has allowed for designing specific drugs targeting these pathways for cancer treatment, with very positive results. Likewise, HSPGs have become the subject of cancer research and are increasingly recognized as important therapeutic targets. Although they have been studied in a variety of preclinical and experimental models, their mechanism of action in malignancy still needs to be more clearly defined. In this review, we discuss the role of cell-surface HSPGs as pleiotropic modulators of signaling in cancer and identify them as promising markers and targets for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nourhan Hassan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany; Biotechnology Program, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Burkhard Greve
- Department of Radiotherapy-Radiooncology, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, A1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Nancy A Espinoza-Sánchez
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany; Department of Radiotherapy-Radiooncology, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, A1, 48149 Münster, Germany.
| | - Martin Götte
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.
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71
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Li H, Ngan HL, Liu Y, Chan HHY, Poon PHY, Yeung CK, Peng Y, Lam WY, Li BX, He Y, Lui VWY. Comprehensive Exome Analysis of Immunocompetent Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer Models Reveals Patient Relevant Landscapes. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102935. [PMID: 33053752 PMCID: PMC7601118 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunocompetent metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC) models, although scarce, can help understanding cancer progression and therapy responses in vivo. Their comprehensive genome characterizations are essential for translational research. We first exome-sequenced the two most widely used spontaneous metastatic immunocompetent models, namely AT-84 and SCC VII, followed by comprehensive genomic analyses with three prior-sequenced models (MOC2, MOC2-10, and 4MOSC2), together with patient tumors for utility assessment. AT-84 and SCC VII bear high HNC tumor resemblance regarding mutational signatures-Trp53, Fanconi anemia, and MAPK and PI3K pathway defects. Collectively, the five models harbor genetic aberrations across 10 cancer hallmarks and 14 signaling pathways and machineries (metabolic, epigenetic, immune evasion), to extents similar in patients. Immune defects in HLA-A (H2-Q10, H2-Q4, H2-Q7, and H2-K1), Pdcd1, Tgfb1, Il2ra, Il12a, Cd40, and Tnfrsf14 are identified. Invasion/metastatic genome analyses first highlight potential druggable ERBB4 and KRAS mutations, for advanced/metastatic oral cavity cancer, as well as known metastasis players (Muc5ac, Trem3, Trp53, and Ttn) frequently captured by all models. Notable immunotherapy and precision druggable targets (Pdcd1, Erbb4, Fgfr1, H/Kras, Jak1, and Map2k2) and three druggable hubs (RTK family, MAPK, and DNA repair pathways) are frequently represented by these models. Immunocompetent metastatic HNC models are worth developing to address therapy- and invasion/metastasis-related questions in host immunity contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (H.L.); (H.-L.N.); (Y.L.); (H.H.Y.C.); (P.H.Y.P.); (C.K.Y.)
| | - Hoi-Lam Ngan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (H.L.); (H.-L.N.); (Y.L.); (H.H.Y.C.); (P.H.Y.P.); (C.K.Y.)
| | - Yuchen Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (H.L.); (H.-L.N.); (Y.L.); (H.H.Y.C.); (P.H.Y.P.); (C.K.Y.)
| | - Helen Hoi Yin Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (H.L.); (H.-L.N.); (Y.L.); (H.H.Y.C.); (P.H.Y.P.); (C.K.Y.)
| | - Peony Hiu Yan Poon
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (H.L.); (H.-L.N.); (Y.L.); (H.H.Y.C.); (P.H.Y.P.); (C.K.Y.)
| | - Chun Kit Yeung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (H.L.); (H.-L.N.); (Y.L.); (H.H.Y.C.); (P.H.Y.P.); (C.K.Y.)
| | - Yibing Peng
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (Y.P.); (Y.H.)
| | - Wai Yip Lam
- Lee’s Pharmaceutical (HK) Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China; (W.Y.L.); (B.X.L.)
| | - Benjamin Xiaoyi Li
- Lee’s Pharmaceutical (HK) Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China; (W.Y.L.); (B.X.L.)
| | - Yukai He
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (Y.P.); (Y.H.)
| | - Vivian Wai Yan Lui
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (H.L.); (H.-L.N.); (Y.L.); (H.H.Y.C.); (P.H.Y.P.); (C.K.Y.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-3943-5388; Fax: +852-2603-5123
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Naik K, Janal MN, Chen J, Bandary D, Brar B, Zhang S, Dolan JC, Schmidt BL, Albertson DG, Bhattacharya A. The Histopathology of Oral Cancer Pain in a Mouse Model and a Human Cohort. J Dent Res 2020; 100:194-200. [PMID: 33030108 DOI: 10.1177/0022034520961020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral cancer patients often have severe, chronic, and mechanically induced pain at the site of the primary cancer. Oral cancer pain is initiated and maintained in the cancer microenvironment and attributed to release of mediators that sensitize primary sensory nerves. This study was designed to investigate the histopathology associated with painful oral cancers in a preclinical model. The relationship of pain scores with pathologic variables was also investigated in a cohort of 72 oral cancer patients. Wild-type mice were exposed to the carcinogen, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO). Nociceptive (pain) behavior was measured with the dolognawmeter, an operant device and assay for measuring functional and mechanical allodynia. Lesions developed on the tongues and esophagi of the 4NQO-treated animals and included hyperkeratoses, papillomas, dysplasias, and cancers. Papillomas included lesions with benign and dysplastic pathological features. Two histologic subtypes of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) were identified-SCCs with exophytic and invasive components associated with papillary lesions (pSCCs) and invasive SCCs without exophytic histology (iSCCs). Only the pSCC subtype of tongue cancer was associated with nociceptive behavior. Increased tumor size was associated with greater nociceptive behavior in the mouse model and more pain experienced by oral cancer patients. In addition, depth of invasion was associated with patient-reported pain. The pSCC histology identifies 4NQO-induced tongue cancers that are expected to be enriched for expression and release of nociceptive mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Naik
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - M N Janal
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - J Chen
- New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - D Bandary
- New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - B Brar
- New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Zhang
- New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - J C Dolan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - B L Schmidt
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - D G Albertson
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - A Bhattacharya
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
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Jimenez T, Barrios A, Tucker A, Collazo J, Arias N, Fazel S, Baker M, Halim M, Huynh T, Singh R, Pervin S. DUSP9-mediated reduction of pERK1/2 supports cancer stem cell-like traits and promotes triple negative breast cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:3487-3506. [PMID: 33163285 PMCID: PMC7642669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer remains a complex disease resulting in high mortality in women. A subset of cancer stem cell (CSC)-like cells expressing aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and SOX2/OCT4 are implicated in aggressive biology of specific subtypes of breast cancer. Targeting these populations in breast tumors remain challenging. We examined xenografts from three poorly studied triple negative (TN) breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-468, HCC70 and HCC1806) as well as HMLEHRASV12 for stem cell (SC)-specific proteins, proliferation pathways and dual-specific phosphatases (DUSPs) by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry. We found that pERK1/2 remained suppressed in TN xenografts examined at various stages of growth, while the levels of pp38 MAPK and pAKT was upregulated. We found that DUSP was involved in the suppression of pERK1/2, which was MEK1/2 independent. Our in vitro assays, using HMLEHRASV12 xenografts as a positive control, confirmed increased phosphatase activity that specifically influenced pERK1/2 but not pp38MAPK or pJNK levels. Family members of DUSPs examined, showed increase in DUSP9 expression in TN xenografts. Increased DUSP9 expression in xenografts was consistently associated with upregulation of SC-specific proteins, ALDH1 and SOX2/OCT4. HRAS driven HMLEHRASV12 xenografts as well as mammospheres from TN breast cancer cells showed inverse relationship between pERK1/2 and increased expression of DUSP9 and CSC traits. In addition, treatment in vitro, with MEK1/2 inhibitor, PD 98059, reduced pERK1/2 levels and increased DUSP9 and SC-specific proteins. Depletion of subsets of SOX2/OCT4 by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), as well as pharmacological and genetic reduction of DUSP9 levels influenced ALDH1 and SOX2/OCT4 expression and reduced mammosphere growth in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo. Collectively our data support the possibility that DUSP9 contributed to stem cell-like cells that could influence TN breast tumor growth. Conclusion: Our study shows that subsets of TN breast cancers with MEK1/2 independent reduced pERK1/2 levels will respond less to MEK1/2 inhibitors, thereby questioning their therapeutic efficacy. Our study also demonstrates context-dependent DUSP9-mediated reduced pERK1/2 levels could influence stem cell-like traits in TN breast tumors. Therefore, targeting DUSP9 could be an attractive target for improved clinical outcome in a subset of basal-like breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia Jimenez
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science1748 118 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Albert Barrios
- Department of Biology, California State University Dominguez HillsLos Angeles, CA 90747, USA
| | - Alexandria Tucker
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science1748 118 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Javier Collazo
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science1748 118 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Nataly Arias
- Department of Biology, California State University Dominguez HillsLos Angeles, CA 90747, USA
| | - Sayeda Fazel
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science1748 118 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Melanie Baker
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science1748 118 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Mariza Halim
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science1748 118 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Travis Huynh
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science1748 118 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Rajan Singh
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science1748 118 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLALos Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Shehla Pervin
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science1748 118 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLALos Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Giovannoni F, Bosch I, Polonio CM, Torti MF, Wheeler MA, Li Z, Romorini L, Rodriguez Varela MS, Rothhammer V, Barroso A, Tjon EC, Sanmarco LM, Takenaka MC, Modaresi SMS, Gutiérrez-Vázquez C, Zanluqui NG, Dos Santos NB, Munhoz CD, Wang Z, Damonte EB, Sherr D, Gehrke L, Peron JPS, Garcia CC, Quintana FJ. AHR is a Zika virus host factor and a candidate target for antiviral therapy. Nat Neurosci 2020; 23:939-951. [PMID: 32690969 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-0664-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus linked to multiple birth defects including microcephaly, known as congenital ZIKV syndrome. The identification of host factors involved in ZIKV replication may guide efficacious therapeutic interventions. In genome-wide transcriptional studies, we found that ZIKV infection triggers aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activation. Specifically, ZIKV infection induces kynurenine (Kyn) production, which activates AHR, limiting the production of type I interferons (IFN-I) involved in antiviral immunity. Moreover, ZIKV-triggered AHR activation suppresses intrinsic immunity driven by the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein, which limits ZIKV replication. AHR inhibition suppressed the replication of multiple ZIKV strains in vitro and also suppressed replication of the related flavivirus dengue. Finally, AHR inhibition with a nanoparticle-delivered AHR antagonist or an inhibitor developed for human use limited ZIKV replication and ameliorated newborn microcephaly in a murine model. In summary, we identified AHR as a host factor for ZIKV replication and PML protein as a driver of anti-ZIKV intrinsic immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Giovannoni
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Laboratorio de Estrategias Antivirales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET-Instituto de Química Biológica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Irene Bosch
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carolina Manganeli Polonio
- Neuroimmune Interactions Laboratory, Immunology Department-ICB IV, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Scientific Platform Pasteur-USP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - María F Torti
- Laboratorio de Estrategias Antivirales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET-Instituto de Química Biológica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Michael A Wheeler
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhaorong Li
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Leonardo Romorini
- Laboratorio de Investigación aplicada a Neurociencias, Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María S Rodriguez Varela
- Laboratorio de Investigación aplicada a Neurociencias, Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Veit Rothhammer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andreia Barroso
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily C Tjon
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liliana M Sanmarco
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maisa C Takenaka
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Cristina Gutiérrez-Vázquez
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nágela Ghabdan Zanluqui
- Scientific Platform Pasteur-USP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Immunopathology and Allergy Post Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nilton Barreto Dos Santos
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina Demarchi Munhoz
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Zhongyan Wang
- Dept. of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elsa B Damonte
- Laboratorio de Estrategias Antivirales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET-Instituto de Química Biológica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - David Sherr
- Dept. of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lee Gehrke
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jean Pierre Schatzmann Peron
- Neuroimmune Interactions Laboratory, Immunology Department-ICB IV, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. .,Scientific Platform Pasteur-USP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. .,Immunopathology and Allergy Post Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Cybele C Garcia
- Laboratorio de Estrategias Antivirales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET-Instituto de Química Biológica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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75
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Robbins Y, Greene S, Friedman J, Clavijo PE, Van Waes C, Fabian KP, Padget MR, Abdul Sater H, Lee JH, Soon-Shiong P, Gulley J, Schlom J, Hodge JW, Allen CT. Tumor control via targeting PD-L1 with chimeric antigen receptor modified NK cells. eLife 2020; 9:e54854. [PMID: 32633234 PMCID: PMC7340502 DOI: 10.7554/elife.54854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Failed T cell-based immunotherapies in the presence of genomic alterations in antigen presentations pathways may be overcome by NK cell-based immunotherapy. This approach may still be limited by the presence of immunosuppressive myeloid populations. Here, we demonstrate that NK cells (haNKs) engineered to express a PD-L1 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) haNKs killed a panel of human and murine head and neck cancer cells at low effector-to-target ratios in a PD-L1-dependent fashion. Treatment of syngeneic tumors resulted in CD8 and PD-L1-dependent tumor rejection or growth inhibition and a reduction in myeloid cells endogenously expressing high levels of PD-L1. Treatment of xenograft tumors resulted in PD-L1-dependent tumor growth inhibition. PD-L1 CAR haNKs reduced levels of macrophages and other myeloid cells endogenously expressing high PD-L1 in peripheral blood from patients with head and neck cancer. The clinical study of PD-L1 CAR haNKs is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Sarah Greene
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Kellsye P Fabian
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Michelle R Padget
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Houssein Abdul Sater
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | | | | | - James Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
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76
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Woods LT, Jasmer KJ, Muñoz Forti K, Shanbhag VC, Camden JM, Erb L, Petris MJ, Weisman GA. P2Y 2 receptors mediate nucleotide-induced EGFR phosphorylation and stimulate proliferation and tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Oral Oncol 2020; 109:104808. [PMID: 32540611 PMCID: PMC7736485 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.104808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess functional expression of the P2Y2 nucleotide receptor (P2Y2R) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines and define its role in nucleotide-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation. The use of anti-EGFR therapeutics to treat HNSCC is hindered by intrinsic and acquired drug resistance. Defining novel pathways that modulate EGFR signaling could identify additional targets to treat HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS In human HNSCC cell lines CAL27 and FaDu and the mouse oral cancer cell line MOC2, P2Y2R contributions to extracellular nucleotide-induced changes in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and EGFR and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation were determined using the ratiometric Ca2+ indicator fura-2 and immunoblot analysis, respectively. Genetic knockout of P2Y2Rs using CRISPR technology or pharmacological inhibition with P2Y2R-selective antagonist AR-C118925 defined P2Y2R contributions to in vivo tumor growth. RESULTS P2Y2R agonists UTP and ATP increased intracellular Ca2+ levels and ERK1/2 and EGFR phosphorylation in CAL27 and FaDu cells, responses that were inhibited by AR-C118925 or P2Y2R knockout. P2Y2R-mediated EGFR phosphorylation was also attenuated by inhibition of the adamalysin family of metalloproteases or Src family kinases. P2Y2R knockout reduced UTP-induced CAL27 cell proliferation in vitro and significantly reduced CAL27 and FaDu tumor xenograft volume in vivo. In a syngeneic mouse model of oral cancer, AR-C118925 administration reduced MOC2 tumor volume. CONCLUSION P2Y2Rs mediate HNSCC cell responses to extracellular nucleotides and genetic or pharmacological blockade of P2Y2R signaling attenuates tumor cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, suggesting that the P2Y2R represents a novel therapeutic target in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas T Woods
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Kimberly J Jasmer
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Kevin Muñoz Forti
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Vinit C Shanbhag
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Jean M Camden
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Laurie Erb
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Michael J Petris
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Gary A Weisman
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA.
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77
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The current markers of cancer stem cell in oral cancers. Life Sci 2020; 249:117483. [PMID: 32135187 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) constitute 5% of all reported cancers. Among all, the oral cavity cancer is the most frequent type of HNC which accounts for over half of HNC cases. Mouth cancer ranks the sixth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Generally, conventional chemotherapy has shown success at decreasing relapse and metastasis rates and improves the overall prognosis. Recently, target therapy and targeted drug delivery systems have been introduced as promising treatments. The elimination of efficiency of current therapeutic strategies due to the spared cancer stem cells that cause chemotherapy resistance, relapse and metastasis. Inefficiency methodologies in the elimination of all cancer cells in the body are a major problem that remained to be resolved before to confront the new cancer therapies. Many studies imply to cancer stem cell markers as important agents for targeted anti-cancer as well as improving chemotherapy efficiencies. The potentials of targeted cancer therapy led us to search for novel markers in the mouth cancer stem cells especially in rare cancers. The aimed of this research was, first a comprehensive critical review of the previous studies on the markers of cancer stem cells in oral cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma, salivary gland cancers, and to highlight the most common cancer stem cell markers which have potential to be exploited as indicators for the preneoplastic lesion malignancy, oral cancer progression, and/or treatment prognosis.
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78
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Li HR, Gao J, Jin C, Jiang JH, Ding JY. Downregulation of SETBP1 promoted non-small cell lung cancer progression by inducing cellular EMT and disordered immune status. Am J Transl Res 2020; 12:447-462. [PMID: 32194895 PMCID: PMC7061827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE SET binding protein 1 (SETBP1) has involved in cancer pathogenesis like leukemic malignancies and breast cancer. But the role and the underlying mechanism in NSCLC remain unclear. METHODS RT-PCR and western blotting were used for determining the expression level of SETBP1 in NSCLC. The clinical values of SETBP1 expression were evaluated by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. CCK-8, transwell and Matrigel assays were used to assess NSCLC cells proliferation, migration and invasion ability. The analysis of EMT markers was carried out by RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the relationship between SETBP1 expression and tumor-associated immune cells. RESULTS SETBP1 expression was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues than matched peri-tumors and NSCLC patients with the decreased level of SETBP1 had worse OS. Downregulation of SETBP1 expression induced EMT to promote NSCLC cells proliferation, migration and invasion by the activation of ERK1/2 signal pathway. Aberrant SETBP1 expression was companied by disordered immune status of NSCLC patients and might be involved in regulation of polarization of tumor-associated macrophages. CONCLUSION SETBP1 can act as a tumor suppressor to reduce the progression of NSCLC and can be used for a prognostic biomarker in NSCLC. Aberrant SETBP1 expression was companied by disordered immune status of NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ran Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jian Gao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Chun Jin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jia-Hao Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Yong Ding
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
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79
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ERK Activation Modulates Cancer Stemness and Motility of a Novel Mouse Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 12:cancers12010061. [PMID: 31878324 PMCID: PMC7016611 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We established the NHRI-HN1 cell line from a mouse tongue tumor induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO)/arecoline, with further selection for cell stemness via in vitro sphere culture, to evaluate potential immunotherapies for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in East and Southeast Asia. In vivo and in vitro phenotypic characterization, including tumor growth, immune modulator administration, gene expression, morphology, migration, invasion, and sphere formation assays, were conducted. NHRI-HN1 cells are capable of generating orthotopic tumors in syngeneic mice. Interestingly, immune stimulation via CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) dramatically reduced the tumor growth in NHRI-HN1 cell-injected syngeneic mice. The pathways enriched in genes that were differentially expressed in NHRI-HN1 cells when compared to non-tumorigenic cells were similar to those that were identified when comparing human OSCC and non-tumorous tissues. NHRI-HN1 cells have characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), including enhanced migration and invasion. NHRI-HN1 cells showed aggressive cell growth and sphere formation. The blockage of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation suppressed cell migration and reduced stemness characteristics in NHRI-HN1 cells, similar to human OSCC cell lines. Our data suggest that NHRI-HN1 cells, showing tumorigenic characteristics of EMT, cancer stemness, and ERK activation, are sufficient in modeling human OSCC and also competent for use in investigating oral cancer immunotherapies.
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80
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Greene S, Robbins Y, Mydlarz WK, Huynh AP, Schmitt NC, Friedman J, Horn LA, Palena C, Schlom J, Maeda DY, Zebala JA, Clavijo PE, Allen C. Inhibition of MDSC Trafficking with SX-682, a CXCR1/2 Inhibitor, Enhances NK-Cell Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Models. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 26:1420-1431. [PMID: 31848188 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-2625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Natural killer (NK)-cell-based immunotherapy may overcome obstacles to effective T-cell-based immunotherapy such as the presence of genomic alterations in IFN response genes and antigen presentation machinery. All immunotherapy approaches may be abrogated by the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment present in many solid tumor types, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Here, we studied the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in suppressing NK-cell function in HNSCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The ability of peripheral and tumor-infiltrating MDSC from mice bearing murine oral cancer 2 (MOC2) non-T-cell-inflamed tumors and from patients with HNSCC to suppress NK-cell function was studied with real-time impedance and ELISpot assays. The therapeutic efficacy of SX-682, a small-molecule inhibitor of CXCR1 and CXCR2, was assessed in combination with adoptively transferred NK cells. RESULTS Mice bearing MOC2 tumors pathologically accumulate peripheral CXCR2+ neutrophilic-MDSC (PMN-MDSC) that traffic into tumors and suppress NK-cell function through TGFβ and production of H2O2. Inhibition of MDSC trafficking with orally bioavailable SX-682 significantly abrogated tumor MDSC accumulation and enhanced the tumor infiltration, activation, and therapeutic efficacy of adoptively transferred murine NK cells. Patients with HNSCC harbor significant levels of circulating and tumor-infiltrating CXCR1/2+ CD15+ PMN-MDSC and CD14+ monocytic-MDSC. Tumor MDSC exhibited greater immunosuppression than those in circulation. HNSCC tumor MDSC immunosuppression was mediated by multiple, independent, cell-specific mechanisms including TGFβ and nitric oxide. CONCLUSIONS The clinical study of CXCR1/2 inhibitors in combination with adoptively transferred NK cells is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Greene
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland
- NIH Medical Research Scholars Program, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wojciech K Mydlarz
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Angel P Huynh
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nicole C Schmitt
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lucas A Horn
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Clint Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland.
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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81
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Wang Z, Wu VH, Allevato MM, Gilardi M, He Y, Luis Callejas-Valera J, Vitale-Cross L, Martin D, Amornphimoltham P, Mcdermott J, Yung BS, Goto Y, Molinolo AA, Sharabi AB, Cohen EEW, Chen Q, Lyons JG, Alexandrov LB, Gutkind JS. Syngeneic animal models of tobacco-associated oral cancer reveal the activity of in situ anti-CTLA-4. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5546. [PMID: 31804466 PMCID: PMC6895221 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13471-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Tobacco use is the main risk factor for HNSCC, and tobacco-associated HNSCCs have poor prognosis and response to available treatments. Recently approved anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors showed limited activity (≤20%) in HNSCC, highlighting the need to identify new therapeutic options. For this, mouse models that accurately mimic the complexity of the HNSCC mutational landscape and tumor immune environment are urgently needed. Here, we report a mouse HNSCC model system that recapitulates the human tobacco-related HNSCC mutanome, in which tumors grow when implanted in the tongue of immunocompetent mice. These HNSCC lesions have similar immune infiltration and response rates to anti-PD-1 (≤20%) immunotherapy as human HNSCCs. Remarkably, we find that >70% of HNSCC lesions respond to intratumoral anti-CTLA-4. This syngeneic HNSCC mouse model provides a platform to accelerate the development of immunotherapeutic options for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Wang
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Victoria H Wu
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael M Allevato
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mara Gilardi
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yudou He
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Lynn Vitale-Cross
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Martin
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - James Mcdermott
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bryan S Yung
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yusuke Goto
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alfredo A Molinolo
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew B Sharabi
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ezra E W Cohen
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Qianming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - J Guy Lyons
- Dermatology, Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
- Cancer Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
- Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Ludmil B Alexandrov
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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82
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Friedman J, Moore EC, Zolkind P, Robbins Y, Clavijo PE, Sun L, Greene S, Morisada MV, Mydlarz WK, Schmitt N, Hodge JW, Schreiber H, Van Waes C, Uppaluri R, Allen C. Neoadjuvant PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Blockade Reverses Functional Immunodominance among Tumor Antigen-Specific T Cells. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 26:679-689. [PMID: 31645352 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-2209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Surgical resection of primary tumor with regional lymphadenectomy remains the treatment of choice for patients with advanced human papillomavirus-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, even when pathologic disease-free margins can be achieved, locoregional and/or distant disease relapse remains high. Perioperative immunotherapy may improve outcomes, but mechanistic data supporting the use of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment clinically are sparse. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Two syngeneic models of oral cavity carcinoma with defined T-cell antigens were treated with programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) mAb before or after surgical resection of primary tumors, and antigen-specific T-cell responses were explored with functional and in vivo challenge assays. RESULTS We demonstrated that functional immunodominance developed among T cells targeting multiple independent tumor antigens. T cells specific for subdominant antigens expressed greater levels of PD-1. Neoadjuvant, but not adjuvant, PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade broke immunodominance and induced T-cell responses to dominant and subdominant antigens. Using tumors lacking the immunodominant antigen as a model of antigen escape, neoadjuvant PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade induced effector T-cell immunity against tumor cells lacking immunodominant but retaining subdominant antigen. When combined with complete surgical excision, neoadjuvant PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade led to formation of immunologic memory capable of preventing engraftment of tumors lacking the immunodominant but retaining subdominant antigen. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results implicate PD-1 expression by T cells in the mechanism of functional immunodominance among independent T-cell clones within a progressing tumor and support the use of neoadjuvant PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade in patients with surgically resectable carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ellen C Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul Zolkind
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lilian Sun
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sarah Greene
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Megan V Morisada
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wojciech K Mydlarz
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nicole Schmitt
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hans Schreiber
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Clint Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. .,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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83
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Zhou L, Mudianto T, Ma X, Riley R, Uppaluri R. Targeting EZH2 Enhances Antigen Presentation, Antitumor Immunity, and Circumvents Anti-PD-1 Resistance in Head and Neck Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 26:290-300. [PMID: 31562203 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-1351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor-based therapeutics improve survival in patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but many do not benefit due to a low response rate. Herein, we identified EZH2 as a therapeutic target that enhanced tumor cell antigen presentation and subsequently sensitized resistant tumors to anti-PD-1 therapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN EZH2 regulation of antigen presentation was defined using EZH2 inhibitors (GSK126 and EPZ6438) in human and mouse HNSCC cell lines. Mechanistic dissection of EZH2 in regulation of antigen presentation was investigated using flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and chromatin-immunoprecipitation assays. EZH2-deficient cell lines were generated using CRISPR-CAS9. GSK126 and anti-PD-1-blocking antibody were used in testing combinatorial therapy in vivo. RESULTS EZH2 expression was negatively correlated with antigen-processing machinery pathway components in HNSCC data sets in The Cancer Genome Atlas. EZH2 inhibition resulted in significant upregulation of MHC class I expression in human and mouse human papillomavirus-negative HNSCC lines in vitro and in mouse models in vivo. Enhanced antigen presentation on the tumor cells by EZH2 inhibitors or CRISPR-mediated EZH2 deficiency increased antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell proliferation, IFNγ production, and tumor cell cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, EZH2 inhibition reduced the histone H3K27me3 modification on the β-2-microglobulin promoter. Finally, in an anti-PD-1-resistant model of HNSCC, tumor growth was suppressed with combination therapy. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that targeting EZH2 enhanced antigen presentation and was able to circumvent anti-PD-1 resistance. Thus, combining EZH2 targeting with anti-PD-1 may increase therapeutic susceptibility in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liye Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tenny Mudianto
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Xiaojing Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Rachel Riley
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts. .,Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
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84
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Chen YF, Chang KW, Yang IT, Tu HF, Lin SC. Establishment of syngeneic murine model for oral cancer therapy. Oral Oncol 2019; 95:194-201. [DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2019.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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85
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Irani S. Emerging insights into the biology of metastasis: A review article. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2019; 22:833-847. [PMID: 31579438 PMCID: PMC6760483 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2019.32786.7839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis means the dissemination of the cancer cells from one organ to another which is not directly connected to the primary site. Metastasis has a crucial role in the prognosis of cancer patients. A few theories, different types of cell and several molecular pathways have been proposed to explain the mechanism of metastasis. In this work, the related articles in the limited period of time, 2000-mid -2018 were reviewed, through search in PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus database. The articles published in the last two decades related to the biology of cancer metastasis were selected and the most important factors were discussed. Metastasis is critical factor to predict survival in patients with advanced cancer and prognosis determines the treatment plan. Many different cell types and various signaling pathways control the metastatic process. Metastasis is a multistep process. Many signaling pathways and molecules are involved in metastasis. Increasing knowledge about the mechanism of metastasis can help in finding the promising targets of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soussan Irani
- Dental Research Centre, Oral Pathology Department, Dental Faculty, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan,Iran, Lecturer at Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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86
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Patel P, Sun L, Robbins Y, Clavijo PE, Friedman J, Silvin C, Van Waes C, Cook J, Mitchell J, Allen C. Enhancing direct cytotoxicity and response to immune checkpoint blockade following ionizing radiation with Wee1 kinase inhibition. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1638207. [PMID: 31646086 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1638207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells activate the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint in response to ionizing radiation (IR) and effector immune cell-derived granzyme B to facilitate repair and survival. Wee1 kinase inhibition reverses the ability of tumor cells to pause at G2/M. Here, we hypothesized that AZD1775, a small molecule inhibitor of Wee1 kinase, could sensitize tumor cells to IR and T-lymphocyte killing and improve responses to combination IR and programmed death (PD)-axis immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Multiple models of head and neck carcinoma, lung carcinoma and melanoma were used in vitro and in vivo to explore this hypothesis. AZD1775 reversed G2/M cell cycle checkpoint activation following IR, inducing cell death. Combination IR and AZD1775 induced accumulation of DNA damage in M-phase cells and was rescued with nucleoside supplementation, indicating mitotic catastrophe. Combination treatment enhanced control of syngeneic MOC1 tumors in vivo, and on-target effects of systemic AZD1775 could be localized with targeted IR. Combination treatment enhanced granzyme B-dependent T-lymphocyte killing through reversal of additive G2/M cell cycle block induced by IR and granzyme B. Combination IR and AZ1775-enhanced CD8+ cell-dependent MOC1 tumor growth control and rate of complete rejection of established tumors in the setting of PD-axis ICB. Functional assays demonstrated increased tumor antigen-specific immune responses in sorted T-lymphocytes. The combination of IR and AZD1775 not only lead to enhanced tumor-specific cytotoxicity, it also enhanced susceptibility to T-lymphocyte killing and responses to PD-axis ICB. These data provide the pre-clinical rationale for the combination of these therapies in the clinical trial setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Patel
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lily Sun
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher Silvin
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John Cook
- Radiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James Mitchell
- Radiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Clint Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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87
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Chiabotto G, Gai C, Deregibus MC, Camussi G. Salivary Extracellular Vesicle-Associated exRNA as Cancer Biomarker. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11070891. [PMID: 31247906 PMCID: PMC6679099 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11070891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted in biological fluids contain several transcripts of the cell of origin, which may modify the functions and phenotype of proximal and distant cells. Cancer-derived EVs may promote a favorable microenvironment for cancer growth and invasion by acting on stroma and endothelial cells and may favor metastasis formation. The transcripts contained in cancer EVs may be exploited as biomarkers. Protein and extracellular RNA (exRNA) profiling in patient bio-fluids, such as blood and urine, was performed to identify molecular features with potential diagnostic and prognostic values. EVs are concentrated in saliva, and salivary EVs are particularly enriched in exRNAs. Several studies were focused on salivary EVs for the detection of biomarkers either of non-oral or oral cancers. The present paper provides an overview of the available studies on the diagnostic potential of exRNA profiling in salivary EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Chiabotto
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino 10126, Italy.
| | - Chiara Gai
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino 10126, Italy.
| | - Maria Chiara Deregibus
- i3T Business Incubator and Technology Transfer, University of Torino, Torino 10126, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Camussi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino 10126, Italy.
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88
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Dharmaraj N, Piotrowski SL, Huang C, Newton JM, Golfman LS, Hanoteau A, Koshy ST, Li AW, Pulikkathara MX, Zhang B, Burks JK, Mooney DJ, Lei YL, Sikora AG, Young S. Anti-tumor immunity induced by ectopic expression of viral antigens is transient and limited by immune escape. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1568809. [PMID: 30906661 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1568809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapeutic treatments in head and neck cancer clinical trials include cancer vaccines targeting foreign viral antigens or mutational neoantigens derived from cancer-expressed proteins. Anti-tumor immune responses place cancer cells under selective pressure to lose or downregulate target antigens; therefore, vaccination against virus- or host- "driver" oncogenes are proposed as a strategy to overcome immune escape. Herein, we demonstrate the impact of immunogenic viral antigens on anti-tumor response and immune editing in MOC2-E6E7, a syngeneic murine oral cancer cell line expressing HPV-16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Using orthotopic syngeneic models, we observed in vivo tumor growth kinetics of MOC2-E6E7 is delayed in immunocompetent mice compared to parental MOC2 tumors. In contrast, tumor growth remained similar in Rag1-/- mice lacking adaptive immunity. MOC2-E6E7 tumors demonstrated an "inflamed" or immune-activated tumor microenvironment and greater infiltration of CD8+ T cells compared to MOC2. By real-time PCR, we detected downregulation of E6 and E7 genes in MOC2-E6E7 tumors only in immunocompetent mice, suggesting the loss of ectopic viral antigen expression due to immune editing. We then assessed the efficacy of a biomaterials-based mesoporous silica rod (MSR) cancer vaccine targeting HPV-16 E7 in our model. Vaccination induced robust infiltration of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells, which led to tumor growth delay and modestly prolonged survival in MOC2-E6E7 tumors. Increased efficacy was seen in a separate head and neck cancer tumor model, mEER, which obligately expresses E7 antigen. Collectively, our data highlight the need for both immunogenicity and 'driver' status of target antigens to be considered in cancer vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeraja Dharmaraj
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stacey L Piotrowski
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Chen Huang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jared M Newton
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leonard S Golfman
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Aurelie Hanoteau
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sandeep T Koshy
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Wyss Institute Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.,Exploratory Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aileen W Li
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Wyss Institute Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Bing Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jared K Burks
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David J Mooney
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Wyss Institute Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yu L Lei
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Andrew G Sikora
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Simon Young
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of BioEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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89
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Rossa C, D'Silva NJ. Immune-relevant aspects of murine models of head and neck cancer. Oncogene 2019; 38:3973-3988. [PMID: 30696955 PMCID: PMC6533118 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0686-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck cancers (HNCs) cause significant mortality and morbidity. There have been few advances in therapeutic management of HNC in the past 4 to 5 decades, which support the need for studies focusing on HNC biology. In recent years, increased recognition of the relevance of the host response in cancer progression has led to novel therapeutic strategies and putative biomarkers of tumor aggressiveness. However, tumor-immune interactions are highly complex and vary with cancer type. Pre-clinical, in vivo models represent an important and necessary step in understanding biological processes involved in development, progression and treatment of HNC. Rodents (mice, rats, hamsters) are the most frequently used animal models in HNC research. The relevance and utility of information generated by studies in murine models is unquestionable, but it is also limited in application to tumor-immune interactions. In this review, we present information regarding the immune-specific characteristics of the murine models most commonly used in HNC research, including immunocompromised and immunocompetent animals. The particular characteristics of xenograft, chemically induced, syngeneic, transgenic, and humanized models are discussed in order to provide context and insight for researchers interested in the in vivo study of tumor-immune interactions in HNC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Rossa
- Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, UNESP-State University of Sao Paulo, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, Araraquara - SP, Brazil. .,Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Nisha J D'Silva
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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90
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Nagaya T, Friedman J, Maruoka Y, Ogata F, Okuyama S, Clavijo PE, Choyke PL, Allen C, Kobayashi H. Host Immunity Following Near-Infrared Photoimmunotherapy Is Enhanced with PD-1 Checkpoint Blockade to Eradicate Established Antigenic Tumors. Cancer Immunol Res 2019; 7:401-413. [PMID: 30683733 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) induces immunogenic cell death but has mostly failed to induce durable antitumor responses in syngenic tumor mouse models. We hypothesized that adaptive immune resistance could be limiting durable responses after treatmemt with NIR-PIT. We investigated the effects of combining NIR-PIT targeting cell-surface CD44 and PD-1 blockade in multiple syngeneic tumor models. In two of three models, NIR-PIT monotherapy halted tumor growth, enhanced dendritic cell tumor infiltration, and induced de novo tumor antigen-specific T-cell responses absent at baseline. The addition of PD-1 blockade reversed adaptive immune resistance, resulting in both enhanced preexisting tumor antigen-specific T-cell responses and enhanced de novo T-cell responses induced by NIR-PIT. Enhanced immune responses correlated with shared tumor antigen expression, suggesting that antigenicity is a major determinant of response to combination NIR-PIT and PD-1 blockade. Combination treatment induced complete rejection of MC38 tumors treated with NIR-PIT, as well as untreated, distant tumors. Accordingly, tumor antigen-specific T-cell responses were measured in both treated and untreated tumors, validating the development of systemic antitumor immunity. Mice that cleared tumors resisted subsequent tumor challenge, indicating the presence of systemic immune memory. Cumulatively, these results demonstrate reversal of adaptive immune resistance following induction of innate and adaptive immunity by NIR-PIT, resulting in high rates of tumor rejection and/or significant tumor growth control in antigenic syngeneic models of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadanobu Nagaya
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yasuhiro Maruoka
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Fusa Ogata
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Shuhei Okuyama
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Peter L Choyke
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Clint Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - Hisataka Kobayashi
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
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91
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Morand GB, Ikenberg K, Vital DG, Cardona I, Moch H, Stoeckli SJ, Huber GF. Preoperative assessment of CD44‐mediated depth of invasion as predictor of occult metastases in early oral squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck 2018; 41:950-958. [DOI: 10.1002/hed.25532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire B. Morand
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity Hospital Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Kristian Ikenberg
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular PathologyUniversity Hospital Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Domenic G. Vital
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity Hospital Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Isabel Cardona
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryMcGill University Montreal Québec Canada
| | - Holger Moch
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular PathologyUniversity Hospital Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Sandro J. Stoeckli
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryKantonsspital St. Gallen St. Gallen Switzerland
| | - Gerhard F. Huber
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity Hospital Zurich Zurich Switzerland
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92
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Clavijo PE, Friedman J, Robbins Y, Moore EC, Smith E, Zauderer M, Evans EE, Allen CT. Semaphorin4D Inhibition Improves Response to Immune-Checkpoint Blockade via Attenuation of MDSC Recruitment and Function. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 7:282-291. [PMID: 30514791 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Tumor infiltration by immunosuppressive myeloid cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), causes resistance to immunotherapy. Semaphorin4D, originally characterized for its axonal guidance properties, also contributes to endothelial cell migration and survival and modulates global immune cytokine profiles and myeloid cell polarization within the tumor microenvironment. Here, we show how a therapeutic murine Sema4D mAb improves responses to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) in two murine carcinoma models. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with Sema4D mAb abrogated Ly6Ghi PMN-MDSC recruitment through reducing MAPK-dependent chemokine production by tumor cells in Murine oral cancer-1 (MOC1) tumors. PMN-MDSC suppressive capacity was reduced through inhibition of Sema4D-driven arginase expression. These changes led to enhanced tumor infiltration by CD8+ TIL and activation of tumor-draining lymph node T lymphocytes in response to tumor antigen. Sema4D mAb in combination with either CTLA-4 or PD-1 blockade enhanced rejection of tumors or tumor growth delay, resulting in prolonged survival with either treatment. This function of Sema4D mAb provides a rationale for its evaluation in combination with ICB to treat tumors with immunosuppressive myeloid infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ellen C Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland. .,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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93
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Patel S, Waghela B, Shah K, Vaidya F, Mirza S, Patel S, Pathak C, Rawal R. Silibinin, A Natural Blend In Polytherapy Formulation For Targeting Cd44v6 Expressing Colon Cancer Stem Cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16985. [PMID: 30451890 PMCID: PMC6242811 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35069-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Colon cancer stem cells have been attributed to poor prognosis, therapeutic resistance and aggressive nature of the malignancy. Recent reports associated CD44v6 expression with relapse, metastasis and reduced 5-year survival of colon cancer patients, thereby making it a potential therapeutic target. Thus, in this study, comprehensive prediction and screening of CD44v6 against 1674 lead compounds was conducted. Silibinin was identified as a potential compound targeting CD44v6. Inorder to substantiate these findings, the cytotoxic effect of 5FU, Silibinin and 5FU+ Silibinin was assessed on human colon carcinoma cell line HCT116 derived CD44+ subpopulation. 5FU+ Silibinin inhibited cell proliferation of CD44+ subpopulation at lower concentration than Silibinin standalone. Further, corresponding to CD44v6 knockdown cells, 5FU+ Silibinin treatment significantly decreased CD44v6, Nanog, CTNNB1 and CDKN2A expression whereas increased E-cadherin expression in HCT116 derived CD44+ cells. Moreover, synergistic effect of these drugs suppressed sphere formation, inhibited cell migration, triggered PARP cleavage and perturbation in mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby activating intrinsic apoptotic pathways and induced autophagic cell death. Importantly, 5FU+ Silibinin could inhibit PI3K/MAPK dual activation and arrest the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. Thus, our study suggests that inhibition of CD44v6 attenuates stemness of colon cancer stem cells and holds a prospect of potent therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanaya Patel
- Division of Biological & Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.,Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Bhargav Waghela
- Department of Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Kanisha Shah
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Foram Vaidya
- Department of Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Sheefa Mirza
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Saumya Patel
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Chandramani Pathak
- Department of Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Rakesh Rawal
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
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94
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Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen Leaf Water Extract Induces Apoptosis in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells via ERK1/2/Akt1/JNK1 Signaling Pathways. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:7826576. [PMID: 30519270 PMCID: PMC6241369 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7826576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen, called sapodilla, or locally known as ciku, belongs to the family Sapotaceae. We found that Manilkara zapota leaf water extract has cytotoxic effect against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line in our earlier study. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the anticancer properties of Manilkara zapota leaf water extract in HepG2 cells. We also aimed to unravel yet undiscovered mechanisms and identified several expressed genes whose functions in cytotoxicity activity of Manilkara zapota leaf water extract in HepG2 cells have not been well-studied. The apoptosis and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) activities were analyzed using Annexin V-propidium iodide staining and dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, respectively, by NovoCyte Flow Cytometer. Bax and Bcl-2 expression were assessed using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. The associated molecular pathways were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Overall analyses revealed that Manilkara zapota leaf water extract can increase percentage of early apoptotic cells, induce the formation of ROS, upregulate c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and reduce Akt1 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) transcriptional activities. Our data suggest that Manilkara zapota leaf water extract can suppress the growth of HepG2 cells via modulation of ERK1/2/Akt1/JNK1 transcriptional expression.
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95
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Kashyap T, Pramanik KK, Nath N, Mishra P, Singh AK, Nagini S, Rana A, Mishra R. Crosstalk between Raf-MEK-ERK and PI3K-Akt-GSK3β signaling networks promotes chemoresistance, invasion/migration and stemness via expression of CD44 variants (v4 and v6) in oral cancer. Oral Oncol 2018; 86:234-243. [PMID: 30409306 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2018.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cell-surface glycoprotein CD44 is an important oral cancer stem cell (OCSC) marker and plays significant role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) aggressiveness, however, the regulation of CD44 is incompletely understood. METHODS In the present study, 145 fresh human OSCC tissue specimens, including 18 adjacent normal, 42 noninvasive (N0), 53 invasive tumor samples (N1-3) and 32 chemo-radiation resistant samples (RCRT), were included. The expression of CD44 standard (CD44s) and variants (CD44v4, CD44v6); the activation of pERK1/2, GSK3β, NICD (Notch) pathways; the cell viability; and the MMP-9/-2 activity were assessed using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, MTT assay and gelatin zymography. OSCC cell lines, including parental (SCC9/SCC4) and Cisplatin-resistant (CisR-SCC9/-SCC4) cells, were used. Knock down of CD44v4/CD44v6 (by siRNA) or inactivation of MAPK/PI3K pathways using specific PD98059/LY294002 was achieved for in vitro analysis of chemoresistance and invasion/migration. RESULTS Elevated CD44 variants were associated with overall OSCC progression, chemoresistance and invasion. Positive correlations were observed, mainly between the expression of CD44v4 and the activation of ERK1/2 causing chemoresistance, whereas CD44v6 expression and inactivation of GSK3β caused invasiveness of OSCC. Cisplatin resistant, CisR-SCC9/SCC4 cell lines showed OCSC properties. Inhibition of MEK/ERK1/2 by SMI or knock down (KD) of CD44v4 by siRNA reversed cisplatin-resistance, whereas blocking the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β pathway by SMI or KD of CD44v6 isoforms by respective siRNA diminished invasion/metastasis potential. CONCLUSION Collectively, our results demonstrated that CD44v4 expression is more linked with ERK1/2 activation and promote cisplatin resistance, whereas CD44v6 expression is associated primarily with PI3K/Akt/GSK3β activation and driving tumor invasion/migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanushree Kashyap
- Centre for Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ratu-Lohardaga Road, Brambe, Ranchi 835205, Jharkhand, India
| | - Kamdeo K Pramanik
- Centre for Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ratu-Lohardaga Road, Brambe, Ranchi 835205, Jharkhand, India
| | - Nidhi Nath
- Centre for Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ratu-Lohardaga Road, Brambe, Ranchi 835205, Jharkhand, India
| | - Prajna Mishra
- Centre for Applied Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ratu-Lohardaga Road, Brambe, Ranchi 835205, Jharkhand, India
| | - Abhay K Singh
- Centre for Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ratu-Lohardaga Road, Brambe, Ranchi 835205, Jharkhand, India
| | - Siddavaram Nagini
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ajay Rana
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago 840 S. Wood Street, Suite 601 Clinical Sciences Building, MC 958, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Rajakishore Mishra
- Centre for Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ratu-Lohardaga Road, Brambe, Ranchi 835205, Jharkhand, India.
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96
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Baird JR, Bell RB, Troesch V, Friedman D, Bambina S, Kramer G, Blair TC, Medler T, Wu Y, Sun Z, de Gruijl TD, van de Ven R, Leidner RS, Crittenden MR, Gough MJ. Evaluation of Explant Responses to STING Ligands: Personalized Immunosurgical Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Res 2018; 78:6308-6319. [PMID: 30224374 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Surgeons have unique in situ access to tumors enabling them to apply immunotherapies to resection margins as a means to prevent local recurrence. Here, we developed a surgical approach to deliver stimulator of interferon genes (STING) ligands to the site of a purposeful partial tumor resection using a gel-based biomaterial. In a range of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) murine tumor models, we demonstrate that although control-treated tumors recur locally, tumors treated with STING-loaded biomaterials are cured. The mechanism of tumor control required activation of STING and induction of type I IFN in host cells, not cancer cells, and resulted in CD8 T-cell-mediated cure of residual cancer cells. In addition, we used a novel tumor explant assay to screen individual murine and human HNSCC tumor responses to therapies ex vivo We then utilized this information to personalize the biomaterial and immunotherapy applied to previously unresponsive tumors in mice. These data demonstrate that explant assays identify the diversity of tumor-specific responses to STING ligands and establish the utility of the explant assay to personalize immunotherapies according to the local response.Significance: Delivery of immunotherapy directly to resection sites via a gel-based biomaterial prevents locoregional recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Res; 78(21); 6308-19. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Baird
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - R Bryan Bell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.,Head and Neck Institute, Portland, Oregon
| | - Victoria Troesch
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - David Friedman
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Shelly Bambina
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Gwen Kramer
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Tiffany C Blair
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Terry Medler
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Yaping Wu
- Pathology, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Zhaoyu Sun
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Tanja D de Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rieneke van de Ven
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rom S Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Marka R Crittenden
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.,The Oregon Clinic, Portland, Oregon
| | - Michael J Gough
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.
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97
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Wu CT, Lin WY, Chen WC, Chen MF. Predictive Value of CD44 in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer and Its Relationship with IL-6 Signaling. Ann Surg Oncol 2018; 25:3518-3526. [PMID: 30128900 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-018-6706-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CD44, a cancer stem cell surface marker, is associated with treatment resistance and prognosis in some cancers. In the present study, we examined the predictive value of CD44 in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of 105 MIBC patients and correlated these outcomes with the expression of CD44. Furthermore, the bladder cancer cell lines HT1197 and MB49 were selected for cellular and animal experiments to investigate the correlation between CD44 and tumor aggressiveness. RESULTS Analysis of clinical specimens indicated that CD44 staining was significantly associated with a higher clinical stage, higher locoregional failure rate, and lower disease-specific survival rate for MIBC patients. Using cellular experiments and orthotopic tumor models, we showed that CD44+ bladder cancer cells had a higher invasion ability and augmented epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) compared with CD44 cells. There was a significant correlation between interleukin (IL)-6 and CD44 levels noted by in vitro testing, and clinical samples. Blockade of IL-6 attenuated the expression of CD44, cancer stem-cell-like properties, and aggressive tumor behavior in vitro and in vivo. The related changes included the attenuated STAT3 activation and EMT, and decreased programmed death ligand 1-mediated T-cell suppression. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that CD44 expression is positively associated with tumor aggressiveness in bladder cancer, and activated IL-6 signaling provides a suitable microenvironment for the induction of CD44 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Te Wu
- Department of Urology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Keelung City, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yu Lin
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Urology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chiayi, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Cheng Chen
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chiayi, Putz City, Chia-Yi Hsien, Taiwan
| | - Miao-Fen Chen
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chiayi, Putz City, Chia-Yi Hsien, Taiwan.
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98
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Oweida A, Hararah MK, Phan A, Binder D, Bhatia S, Lennon S, Bukkapatnam S, Van Court B, Uyanga N, Darragh L, Kim HM, Raben D, Tan AC, Heasley L, Clambey E, Nemenoff R, Karam SD. Resistance to Radiotherapy and PD-L1 Blockade Is Mediated by TIM-3 Upregulation and Regulatory T-Cell Infiltration. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:5368-5380. [PMID: 30042205 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-1038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT) can transform the immune landscape and render poorly immunogenic tumors sensitive to PD-L1 inhibition. Here, we established that the response to combined RT and PD-L1 inhibition is transient and investigated mechanisms of resistance.Experimental Design: Mechanisms of resistance to RT and PD-L1 blockade were investigated in orthotopic murine head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumors using mass cytometry and whole-genome sequencing. Mice were treated with anti-PD-L1 or anti-TIM-3 alone and in combination with and without RT. Tumor growth and survival were assessed. Flow cytometry was used to assess phenotypic and functional changes in intratumoral T-cell populations. Depletion of regulatory T cells (Treg) was performed using anti-CD25 antibody.Results: We show that the immune checkpoint receptor, TIM-3, is upregulated on CD8 T cells and Tregs in tumors treated with RT and PD-L1 blockade. Treatment with anti-TIM-3 concurrently with anti-PD-L1 and RT led to significant tumor growth delay, enhanced T-cell cytotoxicity, decreased Tregs, and improved survival in orthotopic models of HNSCC. Despite this treatment combination, the response was not durable, and analysis of relapsed tumors revealed resurgence of Tregs. Targeted Treg depletion, however, restored antitumor immunity in mice treated with RT and dual immune checkpoint blockade and resulted in tumor rejection and induction of immunologic memory.Conclusions: These data reveal multiple layers of immune regulation that can promote tumorigenesis and the therapeutic potential of sequential targeting to overcome tumor resistance mechanisms. We propose that targeted Treg inhibitors may be critical for achieving durable tumor response with combined radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res; 24(21); 5368-80. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Oweida
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Mohammad K Hararah
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Andy Phan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - David Binder
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Shilpa Bhatia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Shelby Lennon
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Sanjana Bukkapatnam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Benjamin Van Court
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Nomin Uyanga
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Laurel Darragh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Hyun Min Kim
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - David Raben
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Aik Choon Tan
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Lynn Heasley
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Eric Clambey
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Raphael Nemenoff
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Sana D Karam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado.
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99
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Sun L, Moore E, Berman R, Clavijo PE, Saleh A, Chen Z, Van Waes C, Davies J, Friedman J, Allen CT. WEE1 kinase inhibition reverses G2/M cell cycle checkpoint activation to sensitize cancer cells to immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1488359. [PMID: 30288354 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1488359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrinsic resistance to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) killing limits responses to immune activating anti-cancer therapies. Here, we established that activation of the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint results in tumor cell cycle pause and protection from granzyme B-induced cell death. This was reversed with WEE1 kinase inhibition, leading to enhanced CTL killing of antigen-positive tumor cells. Similarly, but at a later time point, cell cycle pause following TNFα exposure was reversed with WEE1 kinase inhibition, leading to CTL transmembrane TNFα-dependent induction of apoptosis and necroptosis in bystander antigen-negative tumor cells. Results were reproducible in models of oral cavity carcinoma, melanoma and colon adenocarcinoma harboring variable Tp53 genomic alterations. WEE1 kinase inhibition sensitized tumors to PD-1 mAb immune checkpoint blockade in vivo, resulting in CD8+-dependent rejection of established tumors harboring antigen-positive or mixed antigen-positive and negative tumor cells. Together, these data describe activation of the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint in response to early and late CTL products as a mechanism of resistance to CTL killing, and provide pre-clinical rationale for the clinical combination of agents that inhibit cell cycle checkpoints and activate anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian Sun
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Ellen Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Rose Berman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Anthony Saleh
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Zhong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - John Davies
- Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, USA
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100
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Friedman J, Morisada M, Sun L, Moore EC, Padget M, Hodge JW, Schlom J, Gameiro SR, Allen CT. Inhibition of WEE1 kinase and cell cycle checkpoint activation sensitizes head and neck cancers to natural killer cell therapies. J Immunother Cancer 2018; 6:59. [PMID: 29925431 PMCID: PMC6011473 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-018-0374-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Natural killer (NK) cells recognize and lyse target tumor cells in an MHC-unrestricted fashion and complement antigen- and MHC-restricted killing by T-lymphocytes. NK cells and T-lymphocytes mediate early killing of targets through a common granzyme B-dependent mechanism. Tumor cell resistance to granzyme B and how this alters NK cell killing is not clearly defined. Methods Tumor cell sensitivity to cultured murine KIL and human high affinity NK (haNK) cells in the presence or absence of AZD1775, a small molecule inhibitor of WEE1 kinase, was assessed via real time impedance analysis. Mechanisms of enhanced sensitivity to NK lysis were determined and in vivo validation via adoptive transfer of KIL cells into syngeneic mice was performed. Results Cultured murine KIL cells lyse murine oral cancer 2 (MOC2) cell targets more efficiently than freshly isolated peripheral murine NK cells. MOC2 sensitivity to granzyme B-dependent KIL cell lysis was enhanced by inhibition of WEE1 kinase, reversing G2/M cell cycle checkpoint activation and resulting in enhanced DNA damage and apoptosis. Treatment of MOC2 tumor-bearing wild-type C57BL/6 mice with AZD1775 and adoptively transferred KIL cells resulted in enhanced tumor growth control and survival over controls or either treatment alone. Validating these findings in human models, WEE1 kinase inhibition sensitized two human head and neck cancer cell lines to direct lysis by haNK cells. Further, WEE1 kinase inhibition sensitized these cell lines to antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity when combined with the anti-PD-L1 IgG1 mAb Avelumab. Conclusions Tumor cell resistance to granzyme B-induced cell death can be reversed through inhibition of WEE1 kinase as AZD1775 sensitized both murine and human head and neck cancer cells to NK lysis. These data provide the pre-clinical rationale for the combination of small molecules that reverse cell cycle checkpoint activation and NK cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Megan Morisada
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Lillian Sun
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Ellen C Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michelle Padget
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sofia R Gameiro
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA. .,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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