101
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Mouw KW, Goldberg MS, Konstantinopoulos PA, D'Andrea AD. DNA Damage and Repair Biomarkers of Immunotherapy Response. Cancer Discov 2017; 7:675-693. [PMID: 28630051 PMCID: PMC5659200 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-17-0226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 468] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
DNA-damaging agents are widely used in clinical oncology and exploit deficiencies in tumor DNA repair. Given the expanding role of immune checkpoint blockade as a therapeutic strategy, the interaction of tumor DNA damage with the immune system has recently come into focus, and it is now clear that the tumor DNA repair landscape has an important role in driving response to immune checkpoint blockade. Here, we summarize the mechanisms by which DNA damage and genomic instability have been found to shape the antitumor immune response and describe clinical efforts to use DNA repair biomarkers to guide use of immune-directed therapies.Significance: Only a subset of patients respond to immune checkpoint blockade, and reliable predictive biomarkers of response are needed to guide therapy decisions. DNA repair deficiency is common among tumors, and emerging experimental and clinical evidence suggests that features of genomic instability are associated with response to immune-directed therapies. Cancer Discov; 7(7); 675-93. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent W Mouw
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham & Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael S Goldberg
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Panagiotis A Konstantinopoulos
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Medical Gynecology Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alan D D'Andrea
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham & Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
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102
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Ghoneim HE, Fan Y, Moustaki A, Abdelsamed HA, Dash P, Dogra P, Carter R, Awad W, Neale G, Thomas PG, Youngblood B. De Novo Epigenetic Programs Inhibit PD-1 Blockade-Mediated T Cell Rejuvenation. Cell 2017. [PMID: 28648661 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 498] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint-blockade (ICB)-mediated rejuvenation of exhausted T cells has emerged as a promising approach for treating various cancers and chronic infections. However, T cells that become fully exhausted during prolonged antigen exposure remain refractory to ICB-mediated rejuvenation. We report that blocking de novo DNA methylation in activated CD8 T cells allows them to retain their effector functions despite chronic stimulation during a persistent viral infection. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of antigen-specific murine CD8 T cells at the effector and exhaustion stages of an immune response identified progressively acquired heritable de novo methylation programs that restrict T cell expansion and clonal diversity during PD-1 blockade treatment. Moreover, these exhaustion-associated DNA-methylation programs were acquired in tumor-infiltrating PD-1hi CD8 T cells, and approaches to reverse these programs improved T cell responses and tumor control during ICB. These data establish de novo DNA-methylation programming as a regulator of T cell exhaustion and barrier of ICB-mediated T cell rejuvenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazem E Ghoneim
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yiping Fan
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ardiana Moustaki
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Hossam A Abdelsamed
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Pradyot Dash
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Pranay Dogra
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Robert Carter
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Walid Awad
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Geoff Neale
- Hartwell Center for Bioinformatics & Biotechnology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Paul G Thomas
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ben Youngblood
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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103
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Nagarsheth N, Wicha MS, Zou W. Chemokines in the cancer microenvironment and their relevance in cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol 2017; 17:559-572. [PMID: 28555670 DOI: 10.1038/nri.2017.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1320] [Impact Index Per Article: 188.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment is the primary location in which tumour cells and the host immune system interact. Different immune cell subsets are recruited into the tumour microenvironment via interactions between chemokines and chemokine receptors, and these populations have distinct effects on tumour progression and therapeutic outcomes. In this Review, we focus on the main chemokines that are found in the human tumour microenvironment; we elaborate on their patterns of expression, their regulation and their roles in immune cell recruitment and in cancer and stromal cell biology, and we consider how they affect cancer immunity and tumorigenesis. We also discuss the potential of targeting chemokine networks, in combination with other immunotherapies, for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Nagarsheth
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Graduate Programs in Immunology and Tumour Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Max S Wicha
- Graduate Programs in Immunology and Tumour Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 1150 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Weiping Zou
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Graduate Programs in Immunology and Tumour Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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104
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Dunn J, Rao S. Epigenetics and immunotherapy: The current state of play. Mol Immunol 2017; 87:227-239. [PMID: 28511092 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Revised: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells employ a number of mechanisms to escape immunosurveillance and facilitate tumour progression. The recent explosion of interest in immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint blockade, is a result of discoveries about the fundamental ligand-receptor interactions that occur between immune and cancer cells within the tumour microenvironment. Distinct ligands expressed by cancer cells engage with cell surface receptors on immune cells, triggering inhibitory pathways (such as PD-1/PD-L1) that render immune cells immunologically tolerant. Importantly, recent studies on the role of epigenetics in immune evasion have exposed a key role for epigenetic modulators in augmenting the tumour microenvironment and restoring immune recognition and immunogenicity. Epigenetic drugs such as DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors can reverse immune suppression via several mechanisms such as enhancing expression of tumour-associated antigens, components of the antigen processing and presenting machinery pathways, immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemokines, and other immune-related genes. These discoveries have established a highly promising basis for studies using combined epigenetic and immunotherapeutic agents as anti-cancer therapies. In this review, we discuss the exciting role of epigenetic immunomodulation in tumour immune escape, emphasising its significance in priming and sensitising the host immune system to immunotherapies through mechanisms such as the activation of the viral defence pathway. With this background in mind, we highlight the promise of combined epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy, focusing on immune checkpoint blockade, to improve outcomes for patients with many different cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Dunn
- Health Research Institute, Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - Sudha Rao
- Health Research Institute, Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, 2601, Australia.
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105
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Gotwals P, Cameron S, Cipolletta D, Cremasco V, Crystal A, Hewes B, Mueller B, Quaratino S, Sabatos-Peyton C, Petruzzelli L, Engelman JA, Dranoff G. Prospects for combining targeted and conventional cancer therapy with immunotherapy. Nat Rev Cancer 2017; 17:286-301. [PMID: 28338065 DOI: 10.1038/nrc.2017.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 654] [Impact Index Per Article: 93.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 25 years, research in cancer therapeutics has largely focused on two distinct lines of enquiry. In one approach, efforts to understand the underlying cell-autonomous, genetic drivers of tumorigenesis have led to the development of clinically important targeted agents that result in profound, but often not durable, tumour responses in genetically defined patient populations. In the second parallel approach, exploration of the mechanisms of protective tumour immunity has provided several therapeutic strategies - most notably the 'immune checkpoint' antibodies that reverse the negative regulators of T cell function - that accomplish durable clinical responses in subsets of patients with various tumour types. The integration of these potentially complementary research fields provides new opportunities to improve cancer treatments. Targeted and immune-based therapies have already transformed the standard-of-care for several malignancies. However, additional insights into the effects of targeted therapies, along with conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, on the induction of antitumour immunity will help to advance the design of combination strategies that increase the rate of complete and durable clinical response in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Gotwals
- Exploratory Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
| | - Scott Cameron
- Translational Clinical Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
| | - Daniela Cipolletta
- Exploratory Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
| | - Viviana Cremasco
- Exploratory Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
| | - Adam Crystal
- Translational Clinical Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
| | - Becker Hewes
- Translational Clinical Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
| | - Britta Mueller
- Exploratory Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
| | - Sonia Quaratino
- Translational Clinical Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
| | | | - Lilli Petruzzelli
- Translational Clinical Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
| | - Jeffrey A Engelman
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Glenn Dranoff
- Exploratory Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
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106
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Epigenetic therapy for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer: A clinical review. Gynecol Oncol Rep 2017; 20:81-86. [PMID: 28378010 PMCID: PMC5369329 DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite a good initial response to chemotherapy, the majority of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer will eventually recur and die of their disease. The introduction of targeted therapies to traditional chemotherapy regimens has done little to improve overall survival in women with ovarian cancer. It has become increasingly apparent that the cancer epigenome contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer and may play an important role in cell proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance, and immune tolerance. Epigenetic therapies such as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors have the potential to reverse these epigenetic changes; however, more research is needed to determine how to incorporate these agents into clinical practice. In this review, we discuss the common epigenetic changes that occur in epithelial ovarian cancer, the current epigenetic therapies that may target these changes, and the clinical experience with epigenetic therapy for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. Epigenetic changes are important in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. Histone modification and DNA methylation are the most common epigenetic changes. Targeting the epigenome in ovarian cancer may improve response to other therapies.
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107
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Zhou J, Yao Y, Shen Q, Li G, Hu L, Zhang X. Demethylating agent decitabine disrupts tumor-induced immune tolerance by depleting myeloid-derived suppressor cells. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2017; 143:1371-1380. [PMID: 28321548 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-017-2394-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The immunoregulatory effect of demethylating agent decitabine (DAC) has been recognized recently. However, little is known about its impact on immune tolerance. In this study, we aimed to determine the impact of DAC on the immune tolerance induced by tumor cells. METHODS The effects of DAC on immune cells in vivo were measured by flow cytometry. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were sorted using magnetic beads and cultured in vitro. The mixed lymphocyte reaction was used to determine the immunoregulatory effect of DAC in vitro. An adoptive transfusion mouse model was established to evaluate the effect in vivo. RESULTS We found that DAC treatment significantly depleted MDSCs in vivo by inducing MDSCs apoptosis. When given at a low dose, the immune effector cells were less affected by the treatment, except for MDSCs. The mixed lymphocyte reaction in vitro showed that T-cell responses were enhanced when MDSCs were depleted. Supplementation of MDSCs would attenuate this T-cell activation effect. Using an adoptive transfusion mouse model, we further demonstrated in vivo that DAC treatment could induce autologous anti-tumor immune response by depleting MDSCs. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to illustrate DAC's immunoregulatory effect on immune tolerance. The disruption of immune tolerance is due to MDSCs depletion that induces an autologous immune response in vivo. By depleting MDSCs, DAC treatment removes one of the obstacles affecting anti-tumor immune activation and warrants further experimental and clinical studies to explore its potential utility in combination with various anti-tumor immunotherapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihao Zhou
- Department of Hematology, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yushi Yao
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Qi Shen
- Department of Hematology, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoqiang Li
- Department of Hematology, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Lina Hu
- Department of Hematology, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyou Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
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108
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Clinical and biological effects of demethylating agents on solid tumours – A systematic review. Cancer Treat Rev 2017; 54:10-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2016] [Revised: 01/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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109
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Annereau M, Willekens C, El Halabi L, Chahine C, Saada V, Auger N, Danu A, Bermudez E, Lazarovici J, Ghez D, Leary A, Pistilli B, Lemare F, Solary E, de Botton S, Desmaris RP, Micol JB. Use of 5-azacitidine for therapy-related myeloid neoplasms in patients with concomitant active neoplastic disease. Leuk Res 2017; 55:58-64. [PMID: 28131982 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2017.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients diagnosed with therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (TRMN) with concomitant active neoplastic disorder (CAND) are usually proposed for best supportive care (BSC). We evaluated the feasibility of using 5-azacytidine (AZA) in this setting. METHODS All patients referred to Gustave Roussy between 2010 and 2015 for TRMN diagnosis (less than 30% blast) and eligible for AZA treatment were included. Patients with CAND proposed for BSC were also described. Patient's outcomes were analyzed based on the presence or not of a CAND. RESULTS Fifty-two patients with TRMN were analyzed, including 19 patients with CAND (14 eligible for AZA) and 33 without CAND eligible for AZA. The 5 patients with CAND ineligible for AZA had a worst performance status (p=0.016) at diagnosis and a shorter overall survival (OS) (0.62 months). Baseline characteristics of patients eligible for AZA were similar in the 2 groups except a trend for best performance status in patients with CAND (p=0.06). Overall response rate (71.4% vs 60.3%), transfusion independence (50.0% vs 45.5%) and OS (12.7 months vs 10.8 months) were similar between patients with and without CAND respectively (p=ns). CONCLUSION Here we report the feasibility and efficacy of AZA for selected patients with TRMN and a CAND.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Annereau
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département de Pharmacie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - C Willekens
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département d'hématologie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - L El Halabi
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département d'hématologie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - C Chahine
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département d'hématologie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - V Saada
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département de biologie et pathologie médicales, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - N Auger
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département de biologie et pathologie médicales, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - A Danu
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département d'hématologie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - E Bermudez
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département de Pharmacie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - J Lazarovici
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département d'hématologie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - D Ghez
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département d'hématologie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - A Leary
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département de médecine oncologique, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - B Pistilli
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département de médecine oncologique, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - F Lemare
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département de Pharmacie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - E Solary
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département d'hématologie, Villejuif F-94805, France; Inserm UMR1170, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - S de Botton
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département d'hématologie, Villejuif F-94805, France; Inserm UMR1170, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - R-P Desmaris
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département de Pharmacie, Villejuif F-94805, France
| | - J-B Micol
- Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Département d'hématologie, Villejuif F-94805, France; Inserm UMR1170, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif F-94805, France.
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110
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Ghoneim HE, Zamora AE, Thomas PG, Youngblood BA. Cell-Intrinsic Barriers of T Cell-Based Immunotherapy. Trends Mol Med 2016; 22:1000-1011. [PMID: 27825667 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged exposure of CD8+ T cells to their cognate antigen can result in exhaustion of effector functions enabling the persistence of infected or transformed cells. Recent advances in strategies to rejuvenate host effector function using Immune Checkpoint Blockade have resulted in tremendous success towards the treatment of several cancers. However, it is unclear if T cell rejuvenation results in long-lived antitumor functions. Emerging evidence suggests that T cell exhaustion may also represent a significant impediment in sustaining long-lived antitumor activity by chimeric antigen receptor T cells. Here, we discuss current findings regarding transcriptional regulation during T cell exhaustion and address the hypothesis that epigenetics may be a potential barrier to achieving the maximum benefit of T cell-based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazem E Ghoneim
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Anthony E Zamora
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Paul G Thomas
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ben A Youngblood
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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112
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Cao Y, Qiu GQ, Wu HQ, Wang ZL, Lin Y, Wu W, Xie XB, Gu WY. Decitabine enhances bortezomib treatment in RPMI 8226 multiple myeloma cells. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:3469-75. [PMID: 27571872 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the interactions between decitabine (DAC) and bortezomib (BTZ) in RPMI 8226 multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Cells were exposed to DAC alone and in combination with BTZ for 48 h. A Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay was performed to assess the rate of proliferation inhibition in the cells. Cell apoptosis was investigated by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect the different cell cycle stages. Western blotting was performed to analyze the protein expression levels of poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP‑1), caspase‑3, ‑9 and DNA (cytosine‑5‑)‑methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess DNMT1 gene expression. The combination of DAC and BTZ increased the proliferation inhibition, apoptotic rate and G0‑G1 arrest compared with use of a single therapeutic agent. In addition, the combination treatment enhanced PARP‑1 cleavage, caspase‑3 and caspase‑9 activation and downregulated the protein and mRNA expression levels of DNMT1. Therefore, the current study determined that the combination of BTZ and the epigenetic agent DAC may be a novel therapeutic strategy to improve the efficacy of BTZ in patients with MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Cao
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Guo-Qiang Qiu
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Hao-Qing Wu
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Lin Wang
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Bao Xie
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Ying Gu
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
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Saleh MH, Wang L, Goldberg MS. Improving cancer immunotherapy with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2016; 65:787-96. [PMID: 26646852 PMCID: PMC11028536 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-015-1776-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy confers durable clinical benefit to melanoma, lung, and kidney cancer patients. Challengingly, most other solid tumors, including ovarian carcinoma, are not particularly responsive to immunotherapy, so combination with a complementary therapy may be beneficial. Recent findings suggest that epigenetic modifying drugs can prime antitumor immunity by increasing expression of tumor-associated antigens, chemokines, and activating ligands by cancer cells as well as cytokines by immune cells. This review, drawing from both preclinical and clinical data, describes some of the mechanisms of action that enable DNA methyltransferase inhibitors to facilitate the establishment of antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H Saleh
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael S Goldberg
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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114
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Suppression of Antitumor Immune Responses by Human Papillomavirus through Epigenetic Downregulation of CXCL14. mBio 2016; 7:mBio.00270-16. [PMID: 27143385 PMCID: PMC4959654 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00270-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are causally associated with multiple human cancers. Previous studies have shown that the HPV oncoprotein E7 induces immune suppression; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. To understand the mechanisms by which HPV deregulates host immune responses in the tumor microenvironment, we analyzed gene expression changes of all known chemokines and their receptors using our global gene expression data sets from human HPV-positive and -negative head/neck cancer and cervical tissue specimens in different disease stages. We report that, while many proinflammatory chemokines increase expression throughout cancer progression, CXCL14 is dramatically downregulated in HPV-positive cancers. HPV suppression of CXCL14 is dependent on E7 and associated with DNA hypermethylation in the CXCL14 promoter. Using in vivo mouse models, we revealed that restoration of Cxcl14 expression in HPV-positive mouse oropharyngeal carcinoma cells clears tumors in immunocompetent syngeneic mice, but not in Rag1-deficient mice. Further, Cxcl14 reexpression significantly increases natural killer (NK), CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cell infiltration into the tumor-draining lymph nodes in vivo. In vitro transwell migration assays show that Cxcl14 reexpression induces chemotaxis of NK, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells. These results suggest that CXCL14 downregulation by HPV plays an important role in suppression of antitumor immune responses. Our findings provide a new mechanistic understanding of virus-induced immune evasion that contributes to cancer progression. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are causally associated with more than 5% of all human cancers. During decades of cancer progression, HPV persists, evading host surveillance. However, little is known about the immune evasion mechanisms driven by HPV. Here we report that the chemokine CXCL14 is significantly downregulated in HPV-positive head/neck and cervical cancers. Using patient tissue specimens and cultured keratinocytes, we found that CXCL14 downregulation is linked to CXCL14 promoter hypermethylation induced by the HPV oncoprotein E7. Restoration of Cxcl14 expression in HPV-positive cancer cells clears tumors in immunocompetent syngeneic mice, but not in immunodeficient mice. Mice with Cxcl14 reexpression show dramatically increased natural killer and T cells in the tumor-draining lymph nodes. These results suggest that epigenetic downregulation of CXCL14 by HPV plays an important role in suppressing antitumor immune responses. Our findings may offer novel insights to develop preventive and therapeutic tools for restoring antitumor immune responses in HPV-infected individuals.
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Chiappinelli KB, Zahnow CA, Ahuja N, Baylin SB. Combining Epigenetic and Immunotherapy to Combat Cancer. Cancer Res 2016; 76:1683-9. [PMID: 26988985 PMCID: PMC4873370 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-2125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The most exciting recent advance for achieving durable management of advanced human cancers is immunotherapy, especially the concept of immune checkpoint blockade. However, with the exception of melanoma, most patients do not respond to immunotherapy alone. A growing body of work has shown that epigenetic drugs, specifically DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, can upregulate immune signaling in epithelial cancer cells through demethylation of endogenous retroviruses and cancer testis antigens. These demethylating agents may induce T-cell attraction and enhance immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in mouse models. Current clinical trials are testing this combination therapy as a potent new cancer management strategy. Cancer Res; 76(7); 1683-9. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine B Chiappinelli
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cynthia A Zahnow
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nita Ahuja
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stephen B Baylin
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland.
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116
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Zou W, Wolchok JD, Chen L. PD-L1 (B7-H1) and PD-1 pathway blockade for cancer therapy: Mechanisms, response biomarkers, and combinations. Sci Transl Med 2016; 8:328rv4. [PMID: 26936508 PMCID: PMC4859220 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aad7118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1702] [Impact Index Per Article: 212.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PD-L1 and PD-1 (PD) pathway blockade is a highly promising therapy and has elicited durable antitumor responses and long-term remissions in a subset of patients with a broad spectrum of cancers. How to improve, widen, and predict the clinical response to anti-PD therapy is a central theme in the field of cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Oncologic, immunologic, genetic, and biological studies focused on the human cancer microenvironment have yielded substantial insight into this issue. Here, we focus on tumor microenvironment and evaluate several potential therapeutic response markers including the PD-L1 and PD-1 expression pattern, genetic mutations within cancer cells and neoantigens, cancer epigenetics and effector T cell landscape, and microbiota. We further clarify the mechanisms of action of these markers and their roles in shaping, being shaped, and/or predicting therapeutic responses. We also discuss a variety of combinations with PD pathway blockade and their scientific rationales for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Zou
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Jedd D Wolchok
- Department of Medicine and the Ludwig Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Lieping Chen
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT 06519, USA.
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117
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Paluch BE, Naqash AR, Brumberger Z, Nemeth MJ, Griffiths EA. Epigenetics: A primer for clinicians. Blood Rev 2016; 30:285-95. [PMID: 26969414 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
With recent advances in cellular biology, we now appreciate that modifications to DNA and histones can have a profound impact on transcription and function, even in the absence of changes to DNA sequence. These modifications, now commonly referred to as "epigenetic" alterations, have changed how we understand cell behavior, reprogramming and differentiation and have provided significant insight into the mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis. Epigenetic alterations, to this point, are largely identified by changes in DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation as well as methylation, acetylation, and phosphorylation of histone tails. These modifications enable significant flexibility in gene expression, rather than just turning genes "ON" or "OFF." Herein we describe the epigenetic landscape in the regulation of gene expression with a particular focus on interrogating DNA methylation in myeloid malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin E Paluch
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Pharmacology and Genetics Building (CGP), Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Abdul R Naqash
- Catholic Health, State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY), 2157 Main Street, 14214 Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Zachary Brumberger
- University at Buffalo State University of New York, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 3435 Main Street, 14260 Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Nemeth
- Department of Medicine, RPCI, Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Griffiths
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Pharmacology and Genetics Building (CGP), Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, RPCI, Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA; Leukemia Division, RPCI, Elm and Carlton Street, 14263 Buffalo, NY, USA.
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118
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Zahnow C, Topper M, Stone M, Murray-Stewart T, Li H, Baylin S, Casero R. Inhibitors of DNA Methylation, Histone Deacetylation, and Histone Demethylation: A Perfect Combination for Cancer Therapy. Adv Cancer Res 2016; 130:55-111. [PMID: 27037751 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic silencing and inappropriate activation of gene expression are frequent events during the initiation and progression of cancer. These events involve a complex interplay between the hypermethylation of CpG dinucleotides within gene promoter and enhancer regions, the recruitment of transcriptional corepressors and the deacetylation and/or methylation of histone tails. These epigenetic regulators act in concert to block transcription or interfere with the maintenance of chromatin boundary regions. However, DNA/histone methylation and histone acetylation states are reversible, enzyme-mediated processes and as such, have emerged as promising targets for cancer therapy. This review will focus on the potential benefits and synergistic/additive effects of combining DNA-demethylating agents and histone deacetylase inhibitors or lysine-specific demethylase inhibitors together in epigenetic therapy for solid tumors and will highlight what is known regarding the mechanisms of action that contribute to the antitumor response.
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Cook AM, Lesterhuis WJ, Nowak AK, Lake RA. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy: mapping the road ahead. Curr Opin Immunol 2015; 39:23-9. [PMID: 26724433 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, and in particular checkpoint blockade, is now standard clinical care for a growing number of cancers. Cytotoxic drugs have been the primary weapon against cancer for a long time and have typically been understood because of their capacity to directly kill tumour cells. It is now clear that these drugs are potential partners for checkpoint blockade and different drugs can influence the immune response to cancer through a wide variety of mechanisms. Some of these relate to immunogenic cell death, whilst others relate to changes in antigen-presentation, tumour cell targeting, or depletion of immunosuppressive cells. Here, we review some recent advances in our understanding of the immunological changes associated with chemotherapy, discuss progress in combining chemotherapy with checkpoint blockade, and comment on the difficulties encountered in translating promising preclinical data into successful treatments for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair M Cook
- National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - W Joost Lesterhuis
- National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Anna K Nowak
- National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia
| | - Richard A Lake
- National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
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