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Abstract
The immune system has evolved complex effector mechanisms to protect the host against a diversity of pathogenic organisms and regulatory adaptations that can curtail pathological sequelae of inflammatory events, prevent autoimmunity, and assist in tissue repair. Cancers, by virtue of their local manifestations of tissue dysfunction and destruction, inflammation, and genomic instability, can evoke these protective mechanisms, which support the progression of tumors and prevent their immune eradication. Central to these processes is a subset of CD4+ T cells, known as regulatory T (Treg) cells, that express the X chromosome–linked transcription factor FOXP3. In addition to their critical role in controlling autoimmunity and suppressing inflammatory responses in diverse biological settings, Treg cells are ubiquitously present in the tumor microenvironment where they promote tumor development and progression by dampening antitumor immune responses. Furthermore, Treg cells can directly support the survival of transformed cells through the elaboration of growth factors and interacting with accessory cells in tumors such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Current insights into the biology of tumor-associated Treg cells have opened up opportunities for their selective targeting in cancer, with the goal of alleviating their suppression of antitumor immune responses while maintaining overall immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Plitas
- Immunology Program and Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA;,
- Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alexander Y. Rudensky
- Immunology Program and Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA;,
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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52
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Kim JH, Kim BS, Lee SK. Regulatory T Cells in Tumor Microenvironment and Approach for Anticancer Immunotherapy. Immune Netw 2020; 20:e4. [PMID: 32158592 PMCID: PMC7049587 DOI: 10.4110/in.2020.20.e4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tregs have a role in immunological tolerance and immune homeostasis by suppressing immune reactions, and its therapeutic potential is critical in autoimmune diseases and cancers. There have been multiple studies conducted on Tregs because of their roles in immune suppression and therapeutic potential. In tumor immunity, Tregs can promote the development and progression of tumors by preventing effective anti-tumor immune responses in tumor-bearing hosts. High infiltration of Tregs into tumor tissue results in poor survival in various types of cancer patients. Identifying factors specifically expressed in Tregs that affect the maintenance of stability and function of Tregs is important for understanding cancer pathogenesis and identifying therapeutic targets. Thus, manipulation of Tregs is a promising anticancer strategy, but finding markers for Treg-specific depletion and controlling these cells require fine-tuning and further research. Here, we discuss the role of Tregs in cancer and the development of Treg-targeted therapies to promote cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Ho Kim
- Research Institute for Precision Immune-Medicine, Good T Cells, Inc., Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Beom Seok Kim
- Research Institute for Precision Immune-Medicine, Good T Cells, Inc., Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Sang-Kyou Lee
- Research Institute for Precision Immune-Medicine, Good T Cells, Inc., Seoul 03722, Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
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53
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Chen H, Luan X, Paholak HJ, Burnett JP, Stevers NO, Sansanaphongpricha K, He M, Chang AE, Li Q, Sun D. Depleting tumor-associated Tregs via nanoparticle-mediated hyperthermia to enhance anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2020; 15:77-92. [PMID: 31868112 PMCID: PMC7132783 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2019-0190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: We aim to demonstrate that a local nanoparticle-mediated hyperthermia can effectively eliminate tumor-associated Tregs and thereby boost checkpoint blockade-based immunotherapy. Materials & methods: Photothermal therapy (PTT), mediated with systemically administered stealthy iron-oxide nanoparticles, was applied to treat BALB/c mice bearing 4T1 murine breast tumors. Flow cytometry was applied to evaluate both Treg and CD8+ T-cell population. Tumor growth following combination therapy of both PTT and anti-CTLA-4 was further evaluated. Results: Our data reveal that tumor-associated Tregs can be preferentially depleted via iron-oxide nanoparticles-mediated PTT. When combining PTT with anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy, we demonstrate a significant inhibition of syngeneic 4T1 tumor growth. Conclusion: This study offers a novel strategy to overcome Treg-mediated immunosuppression and thereby to boost cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Xin Luan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hayley J Paholak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Joseph P Burnett
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nicholas O Stevers
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kanokwan Sansanaphongpricha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Current address: National Nanotechnology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Miao He
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alfred E Chang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Qiao Li
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Duxin Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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54
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Verma A, Mathur R, Farooque A, Kaul V, Gupta S, Dwarakanath BS. T-Regulatory Cells In Tumor Progression And Therapy. Cancer Manag Res 2019; 11:10731-10747. [PMID: 31920383 PMCID: PMC6935360 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s228887] [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: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important members of the immune system regulating the host responses to infection and neoplasms. Tregs prevent autoimmune disorders by protecting the host-cells from an immune response, related to the peripheral tolerance. However, tumor cells use Tregs as a shield to protect themselves against anti-tumor immune response. Thus, Tregs are a hurdle in achieving the complete potential of anti-cancer therapies including immunotherapy. This has prompted the development of novel adjuvant therapies that obviate their negative effects thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy. Our earlier studies have shown the efficacy of the glycolytic inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) by reducing the induced Tregs pool and enhance immune stimulation as well as local tumor control. These findings have suggested its potential for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy, besides radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review provides a brief account of the current status of Tregs as a component of the immune-biology of tumors and various preclinical and clinical strategies pursued to obviate the limitations imposed by them in achieving therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Verma
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rohit Mathur
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Vandana Kaul
- Division of Abdominal Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Seema Gupta
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
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55
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Ge X, Zhao Y, Chen C, Wang J, Sun L. Cancer Immunotherapies Targeting Tumor-Associated Regulatory T Cells. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:11033-11044. [PMID: 31997881 PMCID: PMC6917600 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s231052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important effectors in the tumor microenvironment (TME), acting as accomplices in the promotion of tumor progression. Currently, the importance of removing the immunosuppressive activity in the TME has received its due attention, and Tregs have been focused on. The cytokine-receptor axes are among the essential signaling pathways in immunocytes, and tumor-associated Tregs are no exception. Therefore, manipulating cytokine-receptor pathways may be a promising effective strategy for treating various malignancies. Here, we summarize the classification, immunosuppressive mechanisms, existing immunotherapies, and potential biomarkers related to tumor-infiltrating Tregs to guide the development of effective cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxu Ge
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yamei Zhao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lifeng Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
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56
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Hashemi V, Maleki LA, Esmaily M, Masjedi A, Ghalamfarsa G, Namdar A, Yousefi M, Yousefi B, Jadidi-Niaragh F. Regulatory T cells in breast cancer as a potent anti-cancer therapeutic target. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 78:106087. [PMID: 31841758 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.106087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite marked advances in treatment approaches, breast cancer is still going to be more prevalent, worldwide. High levels of regulatory T (Treg) cells have repeatedly been demonstrated in circulation, lymph nodes, and tumor samples from patients with various cancer types. The transcription factor Forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3)-expressing Treg cells have the high suppressive potential of the immune system and are fundamental in preserving immune homeostasis and self-tolerance. However, they enhance tumor development by curbing efficient anti-tumor immune mechanisms in malignancies. Moreover, the accumulation of Treg cells in breast tumors is related to the short overall survival of patients. Treg cell frequency has been applied as an independent predicting factor to diagnose patients with a high risk of relapse. Pulling out all populations of Treg cells to promote the efficacy of anticancer treatment methods may potentially lead to hazardous autoimmune disorders. Thus, realizing the exact structure of tumor-infiltrating Treg cells is pivotal to efficiently target Treg cells in tumors. There are exclusive and non-exclusive approaches to lower down and degrade the number/function of Treg cells. These approaches can include inhibiting tumoral migration, depletion, interference with function, and utilizing T cell plasticity. This review article attempts to clarify the implications concerning the involvement of Treg cells in breast cancer progression and discuss the current approaches in the treatment of this cancer via modulation of Treg cells function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vida Hashemi
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran; Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Maryam Esmaily
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Masjedi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ghasem Ghalamfarsa
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Afshin Namdar
- Katz Group Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Mehdi Yousefi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Bahman Yousefi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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57
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Payandeh Z, Yarahmadi M, Nariman-Saleh-Fam Z, Tarhriz V, Islami M, Aghdam AM, Eyvazi S. Immune therapy of melanoma: Overview of therapeutic vaccines. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:14612-14621. [PMID: 30706472 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer which develops from the occurrence of genetic mutations in the melanocytes. Based on the features of melanoma tumors such as location, genetic profile and stage, there are several therapeutic strategies including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, because of the appearance resistance mechanisms, the efficiency of these treatments strategies may be reduced. It has been demonstrated that therapeutic monoclonal antibodies can improve the efficiency of melanoma therapies. Recently, several mAbs, such as nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and ipilimumab, were approved for the immunotherapy of melanoma. The antibodies inhibit immune checkpoint receptors such as CTL4 and pd-1. Another therapeutic strategy for the treatment of melanoma is cancer vaccines, which improve clinical outcomes in patients. The combination therapy using antibodies and gene vaccine give us a new perspective in the treatment of melanoma patients. Herein, we present the recent progressions in the melanoma immunotherapy, especially dendritic cells mRNA vaccines by reviewing recent literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Payandeh
- Immunology Research Center, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Maral Yarahmadi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ziba Nariman-Saleh-Fam
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Vahideh Tarhriz
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Maryam Islami
- Dietary Supplements and Probiotic Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | | | - Shirin Eyvazi
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Biotechnology Research Center, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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58
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Riera-Domingo C, Audigé A, Granja S, Cheng WC, Ho PC, Baltazar F, Stockmann C, Mazzone M. Immunity, Hypoxia, and Metabolism-the Ménage à Trois of Cancer: Implications for Immunotherapy. Physiol Rev 2019; 100:1-102. [PMID: 31414610 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00018.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It is generally accepted that metabolism is able to shape the immune response. Only recently we are gaining awareness that the metabolic crosstalk between different tumor compartments strongly contributes to the harsh tumor microenvironment (TME) and ultimately impairs immune cell fitness and effector functions. The major aims of this review are to provide an overview on the immune system in cancer; to position oxygen shortage and metabolic competition as the ground of a restrictive TME and as important players in the anti-tumor immune response; to define how immunotherapies affect hypoxia/oxygen delivery and the metabolic landscape of the tumor; and vice versa, how oxygen and metabolites within the TME impinge on the success of immunotherapies. By analyzing preclinical and clinical endeavors, we will discuss how a metabolic characterization of the TME can identify novel targets and signatures that could be exploited in combination with standard immunotherapies and can help to predict the benefit of new and traditional immunotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Riera-Domingo
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Cancer Research Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Annette Audigé
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Cancer Research Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Sara Granja
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Cancer Research Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Wan-Chen Cheng
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Cancer Research Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Ping-Chih Ho
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Cancer Research Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Cancer Research Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Christian Stockmann
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Cancer Research Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Massimiliano Mazzone
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Ludwig Cancer Research Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
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59
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Regulatory T cells in cancer immunosuppression - implications for anticancer therapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2019; 16:356-371. [PMID: 30705439 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-019-0175-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 859] [Impact Index Per Article: 171.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells, an immunosuppressive subset of CD4+ T cells characterized by the expression of the master transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3), are a component of the immune system with essential roles in maintaining self-tolerance. In addition, Treg cells can suppress anticancer immunity, thereby hindering protective immunosurveillance of neoplasia and hampering effective antitumour immune responses in tumour-bearing hosts, thus promoting tumour development and progression. Identification of the factors that are specifically expressed in Treg cells and/or that influence Treg cell homeostasis and function is important to understanding cancer pathogenesis and to identifying therapeutic targets. Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have provided a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancer. Most immune-checkpoint molecules are expressed in Treg cells, but the effects of ICIs on Treg cells, and thus the contributions of these cells to treatment responses, remain unclear. Notably, evidence indicates that ICIs targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) might enhance the immunosuppressive function of Treg cells, whereas cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors might deplete these cells. Thus, although manipulation of Treg cells is a promising anticancer therapeutic strategy, approaches to controlling these cells require further research. Herein, we discuss novel insights into the roles of Treg cells in cancer, which can hopefully be used to develop Treg cell-targeted therapies and facilitate immune precision medicine.
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60
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Recent advances in the study of regulatory T cells in gastric cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 73:560-567. [PMID: 31181438 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC), which features a complex pathogenesis and mechanism, remains refractory. FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), which have been implicated in the progression of gastric cancer, play an immunosuppressive role in the tumor microenvironment. However, the prognostic value of Treg infiltration is still controversial in GC patients. Recently, the association of Tregs with the clinicopathological characteristics of GC patients, the prognostic value of Tregs alone or its combination with other factors to GC patients, the role of Tregs in GC tumor microenvironment, clinical applications and Tregs-targeted therapies for GC patients have become hot issues. In this review, we are going to discuss these scientific researches which focused on these topics.
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61
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Abstract
With the advent of the concept of dominant tolerance and the subsequent discovery of CD4+ regulatory T cells expressing the transcription factor FOXP3 (Tregs), almost all productive as well as nonproductive immune responses can be compartmentalized to a binary of immune effector T cells and immune regulatory Treg populations. A beneficial immune response warrants the timely regulation by Tregs, whereas a nonproductive immune response indicates insufficient effector functions or an outright failure of tolerance. There are ample reports supporting role of Tregs in suppressing spontaneous auto-immune diseases as well as promoting immune evasion by cancers. To top up their importance, several non-immune functions like tissue homeostasis and regeneration are also being attributed to Tregs. Hence, after being in the center stage of basic and translational immunological research, Tregs are making the next jump towards clinical studies. Therefore, newer small molecules, biologics as well as adoptive cell therapy (ACT) approaches are being tested to augment or undermine Treg responses in the context of autoimmunity and cancer. In this brief review, we present the strategies to modulate Tregs towards a favorable clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Sharma
- Academy of Immunology and Microbiology, Institute for Basic Science (IBS) , Pohang , Republic of Korea.,Division of Integrative Biosciences & Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) , Pohang , Republic of Korea
| | - Dipayan Rudra
- Academy of Immunology and Microbiology, Institute for Basic Science (IBS) , Pohang , Republic of Korea.,Division of Integrative Biosciences & Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) , Pohang , Republic of Korea
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62
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Horton JD, Knochelmann HM, Day TA, Paulos CM, Neskey DM. Immune Evasion by Head and Neck Cancer: Foundations for Combination Therapy. Trends Cancer 2019; 5:208-232. [PMID: 30961829 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2019.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck cancer is disfiguring and deadly, and contemporary treatment has fallen short in terms of morbidity and mortality. The rich immune infiltrate within these tumors designates them as prime candidates for immunotherapy and success with these drugs has been documented for recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer. Still, single-agent immunotherapy has generated either only transient responses or durable response in only a minority subset of patients. Mapping the immune escape mechanisms enacted by head and neck cancer within the tumor microenvironment allows for rational design of strategies to overcome this tolerance. We outline the immune pathway derangements within the head and neck cancer microenvironment and discuss combination treatment strategies to overcome the limitations of immunologic monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Horton
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Hannah M Knochelmann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Terry A Day
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Chrystal M Paulos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - David M Neskey
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Developmental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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63
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Onda M, Kobayashi K, Pastan I. Depletion of regulatory T cells in tumors with an anti-CD25 immunotoxin induces CD8 T cell-mediated systemic antitumor immunity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:4575-4582. [PMID: 30760587 PMCID: PMC6410866 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1820388116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in controlling tumor progression and immune surveillance. We produced an immunotoxin (2E4-PE38) that kills mouse cells expressing CD25 by attaching the Fv portion of monoclonal antibody 2E4 (anti-mouse CD25) to a 38-kDa portion of Pseudomonas exotoxin A. We employed three mouse cancer tumor models (AB1 mesothelioma, 66c14 breast cancer, and CT26M colon cancer). Tumors were implanted at two sites on BALB/c mice. On days 5 and 9, one tumor was directly injected with 2E4-PE38, and the other was not treated; 2E4-PE38 produced complete regressions of 85% of injected AB1 tumors, 100% of 66c14 tumors, and 100% of CT26M tumors. It also produced complete regressions of 77% of uninjected AB1 tumors, 47% of 66c14 tumors, and 92% of CT26M tumors. Mice with complete regressions of 66c14 tumors were immune to rechallenge with 66c14 cells. Mice with complete regressions of AB1 or CT26M tumors developed cross-tumor immunity rejecting both tumor types. Injection of anti-CD25 antibody or a mutant inactive immunotoxin were generally ineffective. Tumors were analyzed 3 days after 2E4-PE38 injection. The number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) was significantly reduced in the injected tumor but not in the spleen. Injected tumors contained an increase in CD8 T cells expressing IFN-γ, the activation markers CD69 and CD25, and macrophages and conventional dendritic cells. Treatment with antibodies to CD8 abolished the antitumor effect. Selective depletion of Tregs in tumors facilitates the development of a CD8 T cell-dependent antitumor effect in three mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Onda
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892;
| | - Kazuto Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 960-1295 Fukushima, Japan
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892;
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Tang A, Harding F. The challenges and molecular approaches surrounding interleukin-2-based therapeutics in cancer. Cytokine X 2019. [PMCID: PMC7885892 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytox.2018.100001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
IL2-based cancer therapies are limited by their toxicity and pleiotropy. Current engineering approaches target IL2 half-life and cell/receptor specificity. IL2 may enhance the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T-based therapies.
Interleukin-2 has had a long history as a promising cancer therapeutic, being capable of eliciting complete and durable remissions in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma. Despite high toxicity and efficacy limited to only certain patient subpopulations and cancer types, the prospective use of novel, engineered IL2 formats in combination with the presently expanding repertoire of immuno-oncological targets remains very encouraging. This is possible due to the significant research efforts in the IL2 field that have yielded critical structural and biological insights that have made IL2 more effective and more broadly applicable in the clinic. In this review, we discuss some of the molecular approaches that have been used to further improve IL2 therapy for cancer.
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Margolis N, Markovits E, Markel G. Reprogramming lymphocytes for the treatment of melanoma: From biology to therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 141:104-124. [PMID: 31276707 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This decade has introduced drastic changes in melanoma therapy, predominantly due to the materialization of the long promise of immunotherapy. Cytotoxic T cells are the chief component of the immune system, which are targeted by different strategies aimed to increase their capacity against melanoma cells. To this end, reprogramming of T cells occurs by T cell centered manipulation, targeting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment or altering the whole patient. These are enabled by delivery of small molecules, functional monoclonal antibodies, different subunit vaccines, as well as living lymphocytes, native or genetically engineered. Current FDA-approved therapies are focused on direct T cell manipulation, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors blocking CTLA-4 and/or PD-1, which paves the way for an effective immunotherapy backbone available for combination with other modalities. Here we review the biology and clinical developments that enable melanoma immunotherapy today and in the future.
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Second-generation IL-2 receptor-targeted diphtheria fusion toxin exhibits antitumor activity and synergy with anti-PD-1 in melanoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:3100-3105. [PMID: 30718426 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1815087116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Denileukin diftitox (DAB-IL-2, Ontak) is a diphtheria-toxin-based fusion protein that depletes CD25-positive cells including regulatory T cells and has been approved for the treatment of persistent or recurrent cutaneous T cell lymphoma. However, the clinical use of denileukin diftitox was limited by vascular leak toxicity and production issues related to drug aggregation and purity. We found that a single amino acid substitution (V6A) in a motif associated with vascular leak induction yields a fully active, second-generation biologic, s-DAB-IL-2(V6A), which elicits 50-fold less human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayer permeation and is 3.7-fold less lethal to mice by LD50 analysis than s-DAB-IL-2. Additionally, to overcome aggregation problems, we developed a production method for the fusion toxin using Corynebacterium diphtheriae that secretes fully folded, biologically active, monomeric s-DAB-IL-2 into the culture medium. Using the poorly immunogenic mouse B16F10 melanoma model, we initiated treatment 7 days after tumor challenge and observed that, while both s-DAB-IL-2(V6A) and s-DAB-IL-2 are inhibitors of tumor growth, the capacity to treat with higher doses of s-DAB-IL-2(V6A) could provide a superior activity window. In a sequential dual-therapy study in tumors that have progressed for 10 days, both s-DAB-IL-2(V6A) and s-DAB-IL-2 given before checkpoint inhibition with anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibodies inhibited tumor growth, while either drug given as monotherapy had less effect. s-DAB-IL-2(V6A), a fully monomeric protein with reduced vascular leak, is a second-generation diphtheria-toxin-based fusion protein with promise as a cancer immunotherapeutic both alone and in conjunction with PD-1 blockade.
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67
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Lee JJ, Chu E. Recent Advances in the Clinical Development of Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy for Mismatch Repair Proficient (pMMR)/non-MSI-H Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Clin Colorectal Cancer 2018; 17:258-273. [PMID: 30072278 PMCID: PMC6612427 DOI: 10.1016/j.clcc.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) continues to be associated with a poor prognosis, and there remains a significant unmet need for novel agents and treatment regimens. Major breakthroughs have been made with immune checkpoint blockade therapy in several disease types, including DNA mismatch repair deficient/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors. To date, however, immune checkpoint monotherapy has not shown significant clinical activity in the treatment of patients with mismatch repair proficient (pMMR)/non-MSI-H mCRC. The immune resistance mechanisms in pMMR/non-MSI-H mCRC have not yet been clearly elucidated. Significant efforts are currently focused on identifying effective combination immunotherapy regimens for the treatment of patients with pMMR/non-MSI-H mCRC. The combination of atezolizumab with cobimetinib had shown promising clinical activity in an early-phase clinical trial. Unfortunately, the IMblaze 370 (COTEZO) phase III trial of atezolizumab/cobimetinib combination in patients with mCRC failed to show significant improvement in overall survival in patients treated with the atezolizumab/combimetinib combination in comparison with regorafenib alone. This review summarizes the recent major advances in the clinical development of immunotherapy regimens for patients with pMMR/non-MSI-H mCRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Lee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.
| | - Edward Chu
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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Viral hepatitis, inflammation, and cancer: A lesson for autoimmunity. J Autoimmun 2018; 95:58-68. [PMID: 30509387 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2018.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In the present review, we analyzed the various overlapping and non-mutually exclusive mechanisms that intersect and form complex and highly flexible immunological networks allowing the defense against liver infections and tumors. Liver immunity results from the combination of the skills of systemic and local immune system(s) to sense and recognize pathogen or tumor antigens, to sensitize a wide range of innate and adaptive immune cells, and to clear the "invaders", through the establishment of a transient liver immunopathology state undergoing resolution/control of infections or tumors, and memory development. Then, a special emphasis is placed on discussing about the capacity of the immune system(s) to develop a state of chronic low-level immunopathology adapting through the intervention of simultaneous immunoregulatory mechanisms, when the liver is infected by highly mutable viruses (e.g., hepatitis B or C viruses [HBV or HCV]) capable to escape from the immune recognition. The establishment of chronic inflammation represents an advantage for the species survival, because it guarantees the long-term survival of human hosts despite the virus persistence. However, chronic inflammation, in the long run, can evolve towards severe consequences (decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) in some individuals, finding requiring the impelling need of discovering new therapeutic anti-viral and immunostimulatory agents addressed, in combination, to fight especially HBV that, in contrast to HCV, lacks antivirals capable to eradicate the virus. Finally, we discussed the concept proposing that the divergent immunoregulatory mechanisms that develop in persisting infections or tumors, on the one hand, and autoimmunity, on the other hand, are the mirror image of each other, whose understanding is also relevant for preparing novel immunotherapeutic approaches in autoimmune diseases.
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69
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Empowering dendritic cell cancer vaccination: the role of combinatorial strategies. Cytotherapy 2018; 20:1309-1323. [PMID: 30360963 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are bone marrow-derived immune cells that play a crucial role in inducing the adaptive immunity and supporting the innate immune response independently from T cells. In the last decade, DCs have become a hopeful instrument for cancer vaccines that aims at re-educating the immune system, leading to a potent anti-cancer immune response able to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Although several studies have indicated that DC-based vaccines are feasible and safe, the clinical advantages of DC vaccination as monotherapy for most of the neoplasms remain a distant target. Recently, many reports and clinical trials have widely used innovative combinatorial therapeutic strategies to normalize the immune function in the TME and synergistically enhance DC function. This review will describe the most relevant and updated evidence of the anti-cancer combinatorial approaches to boost the clinical potency of DC-based vaccines.
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70
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Tel-Karthaus N, Kers-Rebel ED, Looman MW, Ichinose H, de Vries CJ, Ansems M. Nuclear Receptor Nur77 Deficiency Alters Dendritic Cell Function. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1797. [PMID: 30123220 PMCID: PMC6085422 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the professional antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. Proper function of DCs is crucial to elicit an effective immune response against pathogens and to induce antitumor immunity. Different members of the nuclear receptor (NR) family of transcription factors have been reported to affect proper function of immune cells. Nur77 is a member of the NR4A subfamily of orphan NRs that is expressed and has a function within the immune system. We now show that Nur77 is expressed in different murine DCs subsets in vitro and ex vivo, in human monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) and in freshly isolated human BDCA1+ DCs, but its expression is dispensable for DC development in the spleen and lymph nodes. We show, by siRNA-mediated knockdown of Nur77 in human moDCs and by using Nur77-/- murine DCs, that Nur77-deficient DCs have enhanced inflammatory responses leading to increased T cell proliferation. Treatment of human moDCs with 6-mercaptopurine, an activator of Nur77, leads to diminished DC activation resulting in an impaired capacity to induce IFNγ production by allogeneic T cells. Altogether, our data show a yet unexplored role for Nur77 in modifying the activation status of murine and human DCs. Ultimately, targeting Nur77 may prove to be efficacious in boosting or diminishing the activation status of DCs and may lead to the development of improved DC-based immunotherapies in, respectively, cancer treatment or treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Tel-Karthaus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology Laboratory, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Esther D Kers-Rebel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology Laboratory, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Maaike W Looman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology Laboratory, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Hiroshi Ichinose
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Carlie J de Vries
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marleen Ansems
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology Laboratory, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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71
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Carmenate T, Ortíz Y, Enamorado M, García-Martínez K, Avellanet J, Moreno E, Graça L, León K. Blocking IL-2 Signal In Vivo with an IL-2 Antagonist Reduces Tumor Growth through the Control of Regulatory T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 200:3475-3484. [PMID: 29618524 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
IL-2 is critical for peripheral tolerance mediated by regulatory T (Treg) cells, which represent an obstacle for effective cancer immunotherapy. Although IL-2 is important for effector (E) T cell function, it has been hypothesized that therapies blocking IL-2 signals weaken Treg cell activity, promoting immune responses. This hypothesis has been partially tested using anti-IL-2 or anti-IL-2R Abs with antitumor effects that cannot be exclusively attributed to lack of IL-2 signaling in vivo. In this work, we pursued an alternative strategy to block IL-2 signaling in vivo, taking advantage of the trimeric structure of the IL-2R. We designed an IL-2 mutant that conserves the capacity to bind to the αβ-chains of the IL-2R but not to the γc-chain, thus having a reduced signaling capacity. We show our IL-2 mutein inhibits IL-2 Treg cell-dependent differentiation and expansion. Moreover, treatment with IL-2 mutein reduces Treg cell numbers and impairs tumor growth in mice. A mathematical model was used to better understand the effect of the mutein on Treg and E T cells, suggesting suitable strategies to improve its design. Our results show that it is enough to transiently inhibit IL-2 signaling to bias E and Treg cell balance in vivo toward immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yaquelín Ortíz
- Centro de Inmunología Molecular, 16040 Havana, Cuba; and
| | | | | | | | - Ernesto Moreno
- Centro de Inmunología Molecular, 16040 Havana, Cuba; and
| | - Luis Graça
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Kalet León
- Centro de Inmunología Molecular, 16040 Havana, Cuba; and
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Regulatory T cells (Treg) characterized by expression of FOXP3 and strong immunosuppressive activity play a key role in regulating homeostasis in health and disease. Areas covered: Human Treg are highly diverse phenotypically and functionally. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), Treg are reprogrammed by the tumor, acquiring an activated phenotype and enhanced suppressor functions. No unique phenotypic markers for Treg accumulating in human tumors exist. Treg are heterogeneous and use numerous mechanisms to mediate suppression, which either silences anti-tumor immune surveillance or prevents tissue damage by activated T cells. Treg plasticity in the TME endows them with dual functionality. Treg frequency in tumors associates either with poor or improved survival. Treg responses to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) differ from the restorative effects ICIs induce in other immune cells. Therapies used to silence Treg, including ICIs, are only partly successful. Treg persistence and resistance to depletion are critical for maintaining homeostasis. Expert opinion: Treg emerge as a heterogeneous subset of immunosuppressive T cells, which usually, but not always, favor tumor progression. Treg are also engaged in non-immune activities that benefit the host. Therapeutic silencing of Treg in cancer requires a deeper understanding of Treg activities in human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa L Whiteside
- a Departments of Pathology, Immunology and Otolaryngology , University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
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73
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Woroniecka KI, Rhodin KE, Chongsathidkiet P, Keith KA, Fecci PE. T-cell Dysfunction in Glioblastoma: Applying a New Framework. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:3792-3802. [PMID: 29593027 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A functional, replete T-cell repertoire is an integral component to adequate immune surveillance and to the initiation and maintenance of productive antitumor immune responses. Glioblastoma (GBM), however, is particularly adept at sabotaging antitumor immunity, eliciting severe T-cell dysfunction that is both qualitative and quantitative. Understanding and countering such dysfunction are among the keys to harnessing the otherwise stark potential of anticancer immune-based therapies. Although T-cell dysfunction in GBM has been long described, newer immunologic frameworks now exist for reclassifying T-cell deficits in a manner that better permits their study and reversal. Herein, we divide and discuss the various T-cell deficits elicited by GBM within the context of the five relevant categories: senescence, tolerance, anergy, exhaustion, and ignorance. Categorization is appropriately made according to the molecular bases of dysfunction. Likewise, we review the mechanisms by which GBM elicits each mode of T-cell dysfunction and discuss the emerging immunotherapeutic strategies designed to overcome them. Clin Cancer Res; 24(16); 3792-802. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina I Woroniecka
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kristen E Rhodin
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Pakawat Chongsathidkiet
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kristin A Keith
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Peter E Fecci
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. .,Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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74
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Shitara K, Nishikawa H. Regulatory T cells: a potential target in cancer immunotherapy. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1417:104-115. [DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Shitara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology; National Cancer Center Hospital East; Chiba Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/EPOC; National Cancer Center; Tokyo/Chiba Japan
- Department of Immunology; Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine; Nagoya Japan
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75
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Marron TU, Hammerich L, Brody J. Local Immunotherapies of Cancer. Oncoimmunology 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-62431-0_28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Phenotypic and Functional Properties of Tumor-Infiltrating Regulatory T Cells. Mediators Inflamm 2017; 2017:5458178. [PMID: 29463952 PMCID: PMC5804416 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5458178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells maintain immune homeostasis by suppressing excessive immune responses. Treg cells induce tolerance against self- and foreign antigens, thus preventing autoimmunity, allergy, graft rejection, and fetus rejection during pregnancy. However, Treg cells also infiltrate into tumors and inhibit antitumor immune responses, thus inhibiting anticancer therapy. Depleting whole Treg cell populations in the body to enhance anticancer treatments will produce deleterious autoimmune diseases. Therefore, understanding the precise nature of tumor-infiltrating Treg cells is essential for effectively targeting Treg cells in tumors. This review summarizes recent results relating to Treg cells in the tumor microenvironment, with particular emphasis on their accumulation, phenotypic, and functional properties, and targeting to enhance the efficacy of anticancer treatment.
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78
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Huijts CM, Santegoets SJ, de Jong TD, Verheul HM, de Gruijl TD, van der Vliet HJ. Immunological effects of everolimus in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2017; 30:341-352. [PMID: 28988508 PMCID: PMC5806813 DOI: 10.1177/0394632017734459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a crucial kinase present in all cells. Besides its role in the regulation of cell-growth, proliferation, angiogenesis, and survival of malignant tumors, mTOR additionally plays an important role in immune regulation by controlling the balance between effector T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs). This critically affects the suppressive state of the immune system. Here, the systemic immunological effects of everolimus treatment were comprehensively investigated in five patients with metastatic renal cell cancer. In this hypothesis generating study, the immunological alterations in circulating immune subsets induced by everolimus included a (non-significant) increase in the frequency of Tregs, a significant increase in monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells, a significant decrease in the frequency of immunoregulatory natural killer cells, classical CD141+ (cDC1) and CD1c+ (cDC2) dendritic cell subsets, as well as a decrease in the activation status of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and cDC1. These date indicate that the immunological effects of everolimus affect multiple immune cell subsets and altogether tip the balance in favor of immunosuppression, which can be considered a detrimental effect in the treatment of cancer, and may require combination treatment with agents able to negate immune suppression and boost T cell immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte M Huijts
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia J Santegoets
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tamarah D de Jong
- 2 Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henk M Verheul
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tanja D de Gruijl
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans J van der Vliet
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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79
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Flynn MJ, Hartley JA. The emerging role of anti-CD25 directed therapies as both immune modulators and targeted agents in cancer. Br J Haematol 2017; 179:20-35. [PMID: 28556984 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.14770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
CD25 (also termed IL2RA) forms one component of the high-affinity heterotrimeric interleukin 2 (IL2) receptor on activated T cells. Its affinity for IL2 and cellular function are tightly regulated and vary in different cell types. The high frequency of CD25 on the surface of many different haematological tumour cells is now well established and, apart from its prognostic significance, CD25 may be present on leukaemic stem cells and enable oncogenic signalling pathways in leukaemic cells. Additionally, high CD25 expression in activated circulating immune cells and Tregs is a factor that has already been exploited by IL2 immunotherapies for treatment of tumours and autoimmune disease. The relative clinical safety and efficacy of administering anti-CD25 radioimmunoconjugates and immunotoxins in various haematological tumour indications has been established and clinical trials of a novel CD25-directed antibody drug conjugate are underway.
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80
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Marron TU, Ronner L, Martin PE, Flowers CR, Brody JD. Vaccine strategies for the treatment of lymphoma: preclinical progress and clinical trial update. Immunotherapy 2017; 8:1335-1346. [PMID: 27993085 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2016-0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The clonal B-cell immunoglobulin idiotype found on the surface of lymphomas was the first targeted tumor-specific antigen, and combinations of idiotype with classical and novel adjuvants were shown to stimulate robust humoral and cellular responses, though clinical efficacy was more variable. Cellular and in situ vaccination to help target a wider array of tumor-specific antigens have also been able to stimulate tumor-specific cellular responses, though their clinical success has also been limited. Our growing understanding of the role of regulatory cells and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, along with a wide variety of immunomodulatory agents developed as of late, offer promising adjuvants to potentiate the immune responses elicited by these vaccine protocols and to achieve durable remissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas U Marron
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lukas Ronner
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter E Martin
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Joshua D Brody
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Buschow SI, Ramazzotti M, Reinieren-Beeren IMJ, Heinzerling LM, Westdorp H, Stefanini I, Beltrame L, Hato SV, Ellebaek E, Gross S, Nguyen VA, Weinlich G, Ragoussis J, Baban D, Schuler-Thurner B, Svane IM, Romani N, Austyn JM, De Vries IJM, Schuler G, Cavalieri D, Figdor CG. Survival of metastatic melanoma patients after dendritic cell vaccination correlates with expression of leukocyte phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1/Raf kinase inhibitory protein. Oncotarget 2017; 8:67439-67456. [PMID: 28978044 PMCID: PMC5620184 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma offers great promise but, to date, only a subset of patients have responded. There is an urgent need to identify ways of allocating patients to the most beneficial therapy, to increase survival and decrease therapy-associated morbidity and costs. Blood-based biomarkers are of particular interest because of their straightforward implementation in routine clinical care. We sought to identify markers for dendritic cell (DC) vaccine-based immunotherapy against metastatic melanoma through gene expression analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A large-scale microarray analysis of 74 samples from two treatment centers, taken directly after the first round of DC vaccination, was performed. We found that phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 1 (PEBP1)/Raf Kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) expression can be used to identify a significant proportion of patients who performed poorly after DC vaccination. This result was validated by q-PCR analysis on blood samples from a second cohort of 95 patients treated with DC vaccination in four different centers. We conclude that low PEBP1 expression correlates with poor overall survival after DC vaccination. Intriguingly, this was only the case for expression of PEBP1 after, but not prior to, DC vaccination. Moreover, the change in PEBP1 expression upon vaccination correlated well with survival. Further analyses revealed that PEBP1 expression positively correlated with genes involved in T cell responses but inversely correlated with genes associated with myeloid cells and aberrant inflammation including STAT3, NOTCH1, and MAPK1. Concordantly, PEBP1 inversely correlated with the myeloid/lymphoid-ratio and was suppressed in patients suffering from chronic inflammatory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja I Buschow
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matteo Ramazzotti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Inge M J Reinieren-Beeren
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lucie M Heinzerling
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harm Westdorp
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Irene Stefanini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Beltrame
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Stanleyson V Hato
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Ellebaek
- CCIT, Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Hematology and Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Stefanie Gross
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Van Anh Nguyen
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Georg Weinlich
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jiannis Ragoussis
- Genomics Group, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Current address: McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dilair Baban
- Genomics Group, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Beatrice Schuler-Thurner
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Inge M Svane
- CCIT, Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Hematology and Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Nikolaus Romani
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jonathan M Austyn
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - I Jolanda M De Vries
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerold Schuler
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Carl G Figdor
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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82
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Tao Z, Li S, Ichim TE, Yang J, Riordan N, Yenugonda V, Babic I, Kesari S. Cellular immunotherapy of cancer: an overview and future directions. Immunotherapy 2017; 9:589-606. [DOI: 10.2217/imt-2016-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical success of checkpoint inhibitors has led to a renaissance of interest in cancer immunotherapies. In particular, the possibility of ex vivo expanding autologous lymphocytes that specifically recognize tumor cells has attracted much research and clinical trial interest. In this review, we discuss the historical background of tumor immunotherapy using cell-based approaches, and provide some rationale for overcoming current barriers to success of autologous immunotherapy. An overview of adoptive transfer of lymphocytes, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and dendritic cell therapies is provided. We conclude with discussing the possibility of gene-manipulating immune cells in order to augment therapeutic activity, including silencing of the immune-suppressive zinc finger orphan nuclear receptor, NR2F6, as an attractive means of overcoming tumor-associated immune suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqi Tao
- The Affiliated XuZhou Center Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated XuZhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Endocrinology, the Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, China
| | | | - Junbao Yang
- Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
| | - Neil Riordan
- Medistem Panama, Inc., City of Knowledge, Clayton, Republic of Panama
| | - Venkata Yenugonda
- Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
| | - Ivan Babic
- Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
| | - Santosh Kesari
- Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
- John Wayne Cancer Institute, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
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83
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Wang X, Lang M, Zhao T, Feng X, Zheng C, Huang C, Hao J, Dong J, Luo L, Li X, Lan C, Yu W, Yu M, Yang S, Ren H. Cancer-FOXP3 directly activated CCL5 to recruit FOXP3 +Treg cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Oncogene 2017; 36:3048-3058. [PMID: 27991933 PMCID: PMC5454319 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Forkheadbox protein 3 (FOXP3), initially identified as a key transcription factor for regulatory T cells (Treg cells), was also expressed in many tumors including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, its role in PDAC progression remains elusive. In this study, we utilized 120 PDAC tissues after radical resection to detect cancer-FOXP3 and Treg cells by immunohistochemistry and evaluated clinical and pathological features of these patients. Cancer-FOXP3 was positively correlated with Treg cells accumulation in tumor tissues derived from PDAC patients. In addition, high cancer-FOXP3 expression was associated with increased tumor volumes and poor prognosis in PDAC especially combined with high levels of Treg cells. Overexpression of cancer-FOXP3 promoted the tumor growth in immunocompetent syngeneic mice but not in immunocompromised or Treg cell-depleted mice. Furthermore, CCL5 was directly trans-activated by cancer-FOXP3 and promoted the recruitment of Treg cells from peripheral blood to the tumor site in vitro and in vivo. This finding has been further reinforced by the evidence that Treg cells recruitment by cancer-FOXP3 was impaired by neutralization of CCL5, thereby inhibiting the growth of PDAC. In conclusion, cancer-FOXP3 serves as a prognostic biomarker and a crucial determinant of immunosuppressive microenvironment via recruiting Treg cells by directly trans-activating CCL5. Therefore, cancer-FOXP3 could be used to select patients with better response to CCL5/CCR5 blockade immunotherapy.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Animals
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/genetics
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/immunology
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology
- Cells, Cultured
- Chemokine CCL5/metabolism
- Chemokine CCL5/pharmacology
- Chemotaxis, Leukocyte/drug effects
- Chemotaxis, Leukocyte/genetics
- Female
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/physiology
- Humans
- Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects
- Lymphocyte Activation/genetics
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, SCID
- Middle Aged
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/immunology
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- Tumor Microenvironment/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- X Wang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - M Lang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - T Zhao
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - X Feng
- The State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Hospital of Blood Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
| | - C Zheng
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - C Huang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - J Hao
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - J Dong
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - L Luo
- Department of Gynaecology, Hepingqu Gynaecology and Obsterics Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - X Li
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - C Lan
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - W Yu
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - M Yu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - S Yang
- Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - H Ren
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin, China
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84
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85
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Arce Vargas F, Furness AJS, Solomon I, Joshi K, Mekkaoui L, Lesko MH, Miranda Rota E, Dahan R, Georgiou A, Sledzinska A, Ben Aissa A, Franz D, Werner Sunderland M, Wong YNS, Henry JY, O'Brien T, Nicol D, Challacombe B, Beers SA, Turajlic S, Gore M, Larkin J, Swanton C, Chester KA, Pule M, Ravetch JV, Marafioti T, Peggs KS, Quezada SA. Fc-Optimized Anti-CD25 Depletes Tumor-Infiltrating Regulatory T Cells and Synergizes with PD-1 Blockade to Eradicate Established Tumors. Immunity 2017; 46:577-586. [PMID: 28410988 PMCID: PMC5437702 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2017.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
CD25 is expressed at high levels on regulatory T (Treg) cells and was initially proposed as a target for cancer immunotherapy. However, anti-CD25 antibodies have displayed limited activity against established tumors. We demonstrated that CD25 expression is largely restricted to tumor-infiltrating Treg cells in mice and humans. While existing anti-CD25 antibodies were observed to deplete Treg cells in the periphery, upregulation of the inhibitory Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) IIb at the tumor site prevented intra-tumoral Treg cell depletion, which may underlie the lack of anti-tumor activity previously observed in pre-clinical models. Use of an anti-CD25 antibody with enhanced binding to activating FcγRs led to effective depletion of tumor-infiltrating Treg cells, increased effector to Treg cell ratios, and improved control of established tumors. Combination with anti-programmed cell death protein-1 antibodies promoted complete tumor rejection, demonstrating the relevance of CD25 as a therapeutic target and promising substrate for future combination approaches in immune-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick Arce Vargas
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Andrew J S Furness
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Isabelle Solomon
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Kroopa Joshi
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Leila Mekkaoui
- Research Department of Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Marta H Lesko
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | | | - Rony Dahan
- Leonard Wagner Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Andrew Georgiou
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Anna Sledzinska
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Assma Ben Aissa
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Dafne Franz
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Mariana Werner Sunderland
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Yien Ning Sophia Wong
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Jake Y Henry
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Tim O'Brien
- Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - David Nicol
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Ben Challacombe
- Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Stephen A Beers
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Cancer Sciences Unit, University of Southampton, Faculty of Medicine, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Samra Turajlic
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Martin Gore
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - James Larkin
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Charles Swanton
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Translational Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Kerry A Chester
- Research Department of Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Martin Pule
- Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Jeffrey V Ravetch
- Leonard Wagner Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Teresa Marafioti
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Karl S Peggs
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK.
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Cancer Immunology Unit, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK.
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86
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Fisher SA, Aston WJ, Chee J, Khong A, Cleaver AL, Solin JN, Ma S, Lesterhuis WJ, Dick I, Holt RA, Creaney J, Boon L, Robinson B, Lake RA. Transient Treg depletion enhances therapeutic anti-cancer vaccination. Immun Inflamm Dis 2017; 5:16-28. [PMID: 28250921 PMCID: PMC5322183 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Regulatory T cells (Treg) play an important role in suppressing anti- immunity and their depletion has been linked to improved outcomes. To better understand the role of Treg in limiting the efficacy of anti-cancer immunity, we used a Diphtheria toxin (DTX) transgenic mouse model to specifically target and deplete Treg. METHODS Tumor bearing BALB/c FoxP3.dtr transgenic mice were subjected to different treatment protocols, with or without Treg depletion and tumor growth and survival monitored. RESULTS DTX specifically depleted Treg in a transient, dose-dependent manner. Treg depletion correlated with delayed tumor growth, increased effector T cell (Teff) activation, and enhanced survival in a range of solid tumors. Tumor regression was dependent on Teffs as depletion of both CD4 and CD8 T cells completely abrogated any survival benefit. Severe morbidity following Treg depletion was only observed, when consecutive doses of DTX were given during peak CD8 T cell activation, demonstrating that Treg can be depleted on multiple occasions, but only when CD8 T cell activation has returned to base line levels. Finally, we show that even minimal Treg depletion is sufficient to significantly improve the efficacy of tumor-peptide vaccination. CONCLUSIONS BALB/c.FoxP3.dtr mice are an ideal model to investigate the full therapeutic potential of Treg depletion to boost anti-tumor immunity. DTX-mediated Treg depletion is transient, dose-dependent, and leads to strong anti-tumor immunity and complete tumor regression at high doses, while enhancing the efficacy of tumor-specific vaccination at low doses. Together this data highlight the importance of Treg manipulation as a useful strategy for enhancing current and future cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Fisher
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Wayne J. Aston
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jonathan Chee
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Andrea Khong
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Amanda L. Cleaver
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jessica N. Solin
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Shaokang Ma
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - W. Joost Lesterhuis
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Ian Dick
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Robert A. Holt
- British Columbia Cancer AgencyVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Jenette Creaney
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | | | - Bruce Robinson
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Richard A. Lake
- School of Medicine and PharmacologyUniversity of Western Australia, QEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
- National Research Centre for Asbestos Related DiseasesQEII Medical CentreNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
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87
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Ahmad S, Abu-Eid R, Shrimali R, Webb M, Verma V, Doroodchi A, Berrong Z, Samara R, Rodriguez PC, Mkrtichyan M, Khleif SN. Differential PI3Kδ Signaling in CD4+ T-cell Subsets Enables Selective Targeting of T Regulatory Cells to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancer Res 2017; 77:1892-1904. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-1839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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88
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Togashi Y, Nishikawa H. Regulatory T Cells: Molecular and Cellular Basis for Immunoregulation. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2017; 410:3-27. [PMID: 28879523 DOI: 10.1007/82_2017_58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a highly immune-suppressive subset of CD4+ T cells, characterized by expression of the master regulatory transcription factor FOXP3. Tregs are proven to play central roles in the maintenance of self-tolerance in healthy individuals. Tregs are involved in maintaining immune homeostasis: they protect hosts from developing autoimmune diseases and allergy, whereas in malignancies, they promote tumor progression by suppressing anti-tumor immunity. Elucidating factors influencing Treg homeostasis and function have important implications for understanding disease pathogenesis and identifying therapeutic opportunities. Thus, the manipulating Tregs for up- or down-regulation of their suppressive function is a new therapeutic strategy for treating various diseases including autoimmune disorders and cancer. This review will focus on recent advances in how Tregs integrate extracellular and intracellular signals to control their survival and stability. Deeper mechanistic understanding of disease-specific Treg development, maintenance, and function could make disease-specific Treg-targeted therapy more effective, resulting in an increase of efficacy and decrease of side effects related to manipulating Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Togashi
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/EPOC, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/EPOC, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan. .,Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
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89
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Dillman RO, Nistor GI, Cornforth AN. Dendritic cell vaccines for melanoma: past, present and future. Melanoma Manag 2016; 3:273-289. [PMID: 30190899 PMCID: PMC6094661 DOI: 10.2217/mmt-2016-0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Administering dendritic cells (DC) loaded with tumor-associated antigens (TAA) ex vivo is a promising strategy for therapeutic vaccines in advanced melanoma. To date the induction of immune responses to specific TAA has been more impressive than clinical benefit because of TAA limitations, suboptimal DC and possibly immune-checkpoint inhibition. Various products, antigen-loading techniques, treatment schedules, routes of administration and adjunctive agents continue to be explored. Biologic heterogeneity suggests autologous tumor as the optimal TAA source to induce immune responses to the entire repertoire of unique patient-specific neoantigens. Many questions remain regarding the optimal preparation of DC and strategies for antigen loading. Effective DC vaccines should result in additive or synergistic effects when combined with checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert O Dillman
- AiVita Biomedical, Inc., 18301 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 130, Clinical, Research, and Manufacturing Departments, Irvine, CA 92612, USA
| | - Gabriel I Nistor
- AiVita Biomedical, Inc., 18301 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 130, Clinical, Research, and Manufacturing Departments, Irvine, CA 92612, USA
| | - Andrew N Cornforth
- AiVita Biomedical, Inc., 18301 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 130, Clinical, Research, and Manufacturing Departments, Irvine, CA 92612, USA
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90
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Camisaschi C, Vallacchi V, Vergani E, Tazzari M, Ferro S, Tuccitto A, Kuchuk O, Shahaj E, Sulsenti R, Castelli C, Rodolfo M, Rivoltini L, Huber V. Targeting Immune Regulatory Networks to Counteract Immune Suppression in Cancer. Vaccines (Basel) 2016; 4:vaccines4040038. [PMID: 27827921 PMCID: PMC5192358 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines4040038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The onset of cancer is unavoidably accompanied by suppression of antitumor immunity. This occurs through mechanisms ranging from the progressive accumulation of regulatory immune cells associated with chronic immune stimulation and inflammation, to the expression of immunosuppressive molecules. Some of them are being successfully exploited as therapeutic targets, with impressive clinical results achieved in patients, as in the case of immune checkpoint inhibitors. To limit immune attack, tumor cells exploit specific pathways to render the tumor microenvironment hostile for antitumor effector cells. Local acidification might, in fact, anergize activated T cells and facilitate the accumulation of immune suppressive cells. Moreover, the release of extracellular vesicles by tumor cells can condition distant immune sites contributing to the onset of systemic immune suppression. Understanding which mechanisms may be prevalent in specific cancers or disease stages, and identifying possible strategies to counterbalance would majorly contribute to improving clinical efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Here, we intend to highlight these mechanisms, how they could be targeted and the tools that might be available in the near future to achieve this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Camisaschi
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Viviana Vallacchi
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Vergani
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Marcella Tazzari
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Simona Ferro
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Tuccitto
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Olga Kuchuk
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Eriomina Shahaj
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Roberta Sulsenti
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Chiara Castelli
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Monica Rodolfo
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Licia Rivoltini
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Veronica Huber
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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91
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Abstract
The critical contribution of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T-regulatory cells (Treg) to immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment is well-established. Whereas the mechanisms that drive the generation and accumulation of Treg in tumors have been an active area of study, the information on their origin and population dynamics remains limited. In this review, we discuss the ontogeny of tumor-associated Treg in light of the recently identified lineage markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingsheng Li
- a Department of Microbiology and Immunology , School of Medicine, University of Louisville , Louisville , KY , USA
| | - Nejat K Egilmez
- a Department of Microbiology and Immunology , School of Medicine, University of Louisville , Louisville , KY , USA
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92
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Malignant melanoma—The cradle of anti-neoplastic immunotherapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2016; 106:25-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2016.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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93
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Davis RJ, Van Waes C, Allen CT. Overcoming barriers to effective immunotherapy: MDSCs, TAMs, and Tregs as mediators of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in head and neck cancer. Oral Oncol 2016; 58:59-70. [PMID: 27215705 PMCID: PMC4912416 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
A significant subset of head and neck cancers display a T-cell inflamed phenotype, suggesting that patients with these tumors should respond to therapeutic approaches aimed at strengthening anti-tumor immune responses. A major barrier to the development of an effective anti-tumor immune response, at baseline or in response to immunotherapy, is the development of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Several well described mechanisms of effector immune cell suppression in the head and neck cancer microenvironment are discussed here, along with updates on current trials designed to translate what we have learned from pre-clinical and correlative clinical studies into improved responses in patients with head and neck cancer following immune activating therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth J Davis
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Clint T Allen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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94
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Boudewijns S, Bloemendal M, Gerritsen WR, de Vries IJM, Schreibelt G. Dendritic cell vaccination in melanoma patients: From promising results to future perspectives. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 12:2523-2528. [PMID: 27322496 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2016.1197453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in the induction of antitumor immunity. Therefore, they are used as anti-cancer vaccines in clinical studies in various types of cancer. DC vaccines are generally well tolerated and able to induce antigen-specific T cell responses in melanoma patients. After DC vaccinations, functional tumor-specific T cells are more frequently detected in stage III melanoma patients, as compared to patients with advanced melanoma, indicating that the tumor load influences immunological responses. Furthermore, long-lasting clinical responses were rarely seen in metastatic melanoma patients after DC vaccination. Since more potent treatment options are available, e.g. immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy, DC vaccination as monotherapy may not be preferred in the treatment of advanced melanoma. However, encouraging results of DC vaccines combined with ipilimumab have been reported in advanced melanoma patients with an objective response rate of 38%. DC vaccines show promising clinical results in stage III patients, although clinical efficacy still needs to be proven in a phase 3 trial. The clinical and immunological results of DC vaccination in stage III melanoma patients might be further improved by using naturally circulating DCs (myeloid DCs and plasmacytoid DCs) and neoantigens to load DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Boudewijns
- a Department of Medical Oncology , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.,b Department of Tumor Immunology , Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Martine Bloemendal
- a Department of Medical Oncology , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.,b Department of Tumor Immunology , Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Winald R Gerritsen
- a Department of Medical Oncology , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - I Jolanda M de Vries
- b Department of Tumor Immunology , Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Gerty Schreibelt
- b Department of Tumor Immunology , Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
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95
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Takeuchi Y, Nishikawa H. Roles of regulatory T cells in cancer immunity. Int Immunol 2016; 28:401-9. [PMID: 27160722 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxw025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 361] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing the transcription factor FoxP3 are highly immune suppressive and play central roles in the maintenance of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis, yet in malignant tumors they promote tumor progression by suppressing effective antitumor immunity. Indeed, higher infiltration by Tregs is observed in tumor tissues, and their depletion augments antitumor immune responses in animal models. Additionally, increased numbers of Tregs and, in particular, decreased ratios of CD8(+) T cells to Tregs among tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are correlated with poor prognosis in various types of human cancers. The recent success of cancer immunotherapy represented by immune checkpoint blockade has provided a new insight in cancer treatment, yet more than half of the treated patients did not experience clinical benefits. Identifying biomarkers that predict clinical responses and developing novel immunotherapies are therefore urgently required. Cancer patients whose tumors contain a large number of neoantigens stemming from gene mutations, which have not been previously recognized by the immune system, provoke strong antitumor T-cell responses associated with clinical responses following immune checkpoint blockade, depending on the resistance to Treg-mediated suppression. Thus, integration of a strategy restricting Treg-mediated immune suppression may expand the therapeutic spectrum of cancer immunotherapy towards patients with a lower number of neoantigens. In this review, we address the current understanding of Treg-mediated immune suppressive mechanisms in cancer, the involvement of Tregs in cancer immunotherapy, and strategies for effective and tolerable Treg-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Takeuchi
- Division of Cancer Immunology, EPOC, National Cancer Center, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan and
| | - Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Division of Cancer Immunology, EPOC, National Cancer Center, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan and Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
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96
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Bol KF, Schreibelt G, Gerritsen WR, de Vries IJM, Figdor CG. Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy: State of the Art and Beyond. Clin Cancer Res 2016; 22:1897-906. [PMID: 27084743 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-1399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC) vaccination in cancer patients aims to induce or augment an effective antitumor immune response against tumor antigens and was first explored in a clinical trial in the 1990s. More than two decades later, numerous clinical trials have been performed or are ongoing with a wide variety of DC subsets, culture protocols, and treatment regimens. The safety of DC vaccination and its ability to induce antitumor responses have clearly been established; however, although scattered patients with long-term benefit were reported, DC vaccines have not yet fulfilled their promise, perhaps mainly due to the lack of large-scale well-conducted phase II/III trials. To allow meaningful multicenter phase III trials, the production of DC vaccines should be standardized between centers which is now becoming feasible. To improve the efficacy of DC-based immunotherapy, it could be combined with other treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalijn F Bol
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Gerty Schreibelt
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Winald R Gerritsen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - I Jolanda M de Vries
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Carl G Figdor
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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97
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Vasaturo A, Halilovic A, Bol KF, Verweij DI, Blokx WAM, Punt CJA, Groenen PJTA, van Krieken JHJM, Textor J, de Vries IJM, Figdor CG. T-cell Landscape in a Primary Melanoma Predicts the Survival of Patients with Metastatic Disease after Their Treatment with Dendritic Cell Vaccines. Cancer Res 2016; 76:3496-506. [PMID: 27197179 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-3211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes appear to be a predictor of survival in many cancers, including cutaneous melanoma. We applied automated multispectral imaging to determine whether density and distribution of T cells within primary cutaneous melanoma tissue correlate with survival of metastatic melanoma patients after dendritic cell (DC) vaccination. CD3(+) T cell infiltration in primary tumors from 77 metastatic melanoma patients was quantified using the ratio of intratumoral versus peritumoral T-cell densities (I/P ratio). Patients with longer survival after DC vaccination had stronger T-cell infiltration than patients with shorter survival in a discovery cohort of 19 patients (P = 0.000026) and a validation cohort of 39 patients (P = 0.000016). I/P ratio was the strongest predictor of survival in a multivariate analysis including M substage and serum lactate dehydrogenase level. To evaluate I/P ratio as a predictive biomarker, we analyzed 19 chemotherapy-treated patients. Longer survival times of DC-vaccinated compared with chemotherapy-treated patients was observed for high (P = 0.000566), but not low (P = 0.154) I/P ratios. In conclusion, T-cell infiltration into primary melanoma is a strong predictor of survival after DC vaccination in metastatic melanoma patients who, on average, started this therapy several years after primary tumor resection. The infiltration remains predictive even after adjustment for late-stage prognostic markers. Our findings suggest that the I/P ratio is a potential predictive biomarker for treatment selection. Cancer Res; 76(12); 3496-506. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Vasaturo
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Altuna Halilovic
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Kalijn F Bol
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Dagmar I Verweij
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Willeke A M Blokx
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Cornelis J A Punt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - J Han J M van Krieken
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes Textor
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Theoretical Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - I Jolanda M de Vries
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Carl G Figdor
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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98
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Liu C, Workman CJ, Vignali DAA. Targeting regulatory T cells in tumors. FEBS J 2016; 283:2731-48. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.13656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 12/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Department of Immunology; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Creg J. Workman
- Department of Immunology; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Dario A. A. Vignali
- Department of Immunology; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh PA USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center; University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute; Pittsburgh PA USA
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99
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Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns Induced Crosstalk between Dendritic Cells, T Helper Cells, and Natural Killer Helper Cells Can Improve Dendritic Cell Vaccination. Mediators Inflamm 2016; 2016:5740373. [PMID: 26980946 PMCID: PMC4766350 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5740373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A coordinated cellular interplay is of crucial importance in both host defense against pathogens and malignantly transformed cells. The various interactions of Dendritic Cells (DC), Natural Killer (NK) cells, and T helper (Th) cells can be influenced by a variety of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and will lead to enhanced CD8+ effector T cell responses. Specific Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR) triggering during maturation enables DC to enhance Th1 as well as NK helper cell responses. This effect is correlated with the amount of IL-12p70 released by DC. Activated NK cells are able to amplify the proinflammatory cytokine profile of DC via the release of IFN-γ. The knowledge on how PAMP recognition can modulate the DC is of importance for the design and definition of appropriate therapeutic cancer vaccines. In this review we will discuss the potential role of specific PAMP-matured DC in optimizing therapeutic DC-based vaccines, as some of these DC are efficiently activating Th1, NK cells, and cytotoxic T cells. Moreover, to optimize these vaccines, also the inhibitory effects of tumor-derived suppressive factors, for example, on the NK-DC crosstalk, should be taken into account. Finally, the suppressive role of the tumor microenvironment in vaccination efficacy and some proposals to overcome this by using combination therapies will be described.
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100
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Ishii K, Barrett AJ. Novel immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of acute leukemia (myeloid and lymphoblastic). Ther Adv Hematol 2016; 7:17-39. [PMID: 26834952 PMCID: PMC4713888 DOI: 10.1177/2040620715616544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There have been major advances in our understanding of the multiple interactions between malignant cells and the innate and adaptive immune system. While the attention of immunologists has hitherto focused on solid tumors, the specific immunobiology of acute leukemias is now becoming defined. These discoveries have pointed the way to immune interventions building on the established graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect from hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (HSCT) and extending immunotherapy beyond HSCT to individuals with acute leukemia with a diversity of immune manipulations early in the course of the leukemia. At present, clinical results are in their infancy. In the coming years larger studies will better define the place of immunotherapy in the management of acute leukemias and lead to treatment approaches that combine conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy and HSCT to achieve durable cures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazusa Ishii
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Austin J. Barrett
- Stem Cell Allotransplantation Section, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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