101
|
Biernacki MA, Sheth VS, Bleakley M. T cell optimization for graft-versus-leukemia responses. JCI Insight 2020; 5:134939. [PMID: 32376800 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.134939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Protection from relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is partly due to donor T cell-mediated graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) immune responses. Relapse remains common in HCT recipients, but strategies to augment GVL could significantly improve outcomes after HCT. Donor T cells with αβ T cell receptors (TCRs) mediate GVL through recognition of minor histocompatibility antigens and alloantigens in HLA-matched and -mismatched HCT, respectively. αβ T cells specific for other leukemia-associated antigens, including nonpolymorphic antigens and neoantigens, may also deliver an antileukemic effect. γδ T cells may contribute to GVL, although their biology and specificity are less well understood. Vaccination or adoptive transfer of donor-derived T cells with natural or transgenic receptors are strategies with potential to selectively enhance αβ and γδ T cell GVL effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melinda A Biernacki
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Medicine, and
| | - Vipul S Sheth
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Marie Bleakley
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
102
|
Krieger E, Toor AA. Can Graft vs. Leukemia Effect Be Uncoupled From Graft vs. Host Disease? An Examination of Proportions. Front Immunol 2020; 11:777. [PMID: 32425947 PMCID: PMC7212371 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Krieger
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Amir Ahmed Toor
- Department of Internal Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
103
|
Ding S, Li S, Zhang S, Li Y. Genetic Alterations and Checkpoint Expression: Mechanisms and Models for Drug Discovery. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1248:227-250. [PMID: 32185713 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-3266-5_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In this chapter, we will sketch a story that begins with the breakdown of chromosome homeostasis and genomic stability. Genomic alterations may render tumor cells eternal life at the expense of immunogenicity. Although antitumor immunity can be primed through neoantigens or inflammatory signals, tumor cells have evolved countermeasures to evade immune surveillance and strike back by modulating immune checkpoint related pathways. At present, monoclonal antibody drugs targeting checkpoints like PD-1 and CTLA-4 have significantly prolonged the survival of a variety of cancer patients, and thus have marked a great achievement in the history of antitumor therapy. Nevertheless, this is not the end of the story. As the relationship between genomic alteration and checkpoint expression is being delineated though the advances of preclinical animal models and emerging technologies, novel checkpoint targets are on the way to be discovered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Ding
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210061, China
| | - Siqi Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210061, China
| | - Shujie Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210061, China
| | - Yan Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210061, China.
| |
Collapse
|
104
|
Abstract
In spite of the recent approval of new promising targeted therapies, the clinical outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains suboptimal, prompting the search for additional and synergistic therapeutic rationales. It is increasingly evident that the bone marrow immune environment of AML patients is profoundly altered, contributing to the severity of the disease but also providing several windows of opportunity to prompt or rewire a proficient antitumor immune surveillance. In this Review, we present current evidence on immune defects in AML, discuss the challenges with selective targeting of AML cells, and summarize the clinical results and immunologic insights from studies that are testing the latest immunotherapy approaches to specifically target AML cells (antibodies, cellular therapies) or more broadly reactivate antileukemia immunity (vaccines, checkpoint blockade). Given the complex interactions between AML cells and the many components of their environment, it is reasonable to surmise that the future of immunotherapy in AML lies in the rational combination of complementary immunotherapeutic strategies with chemotherapeutics or other oncogenic pathway inhibitors. Identifying reliable biomarkers of response to improve patient selection and avoid toxicities will be critical in this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Vago
- Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, and
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Ivana Gojo
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
105
|
Penter L, Wu CJ. Personal tumor antigens in blood malignancies: genomics-directed identification and targeting. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:1595-1607. [PMID: 31985488 PMCID: PMC7108890 DOI: 10.1172/jci129209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematological malignancies have long been at the forefront of the development of novel immune-based treatment strategies. The earliest successful efforts originated from the extensive body of work in the field of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These efforts laid the foundation for the recent exciting era of cancer immunotherapy, which includes immune checkpoint blockade, personal neoantigen vaccines, and adoptive T cell transfer. At the heart of the specificity of these novel strategies is the recognition of target antigens presented by malignant cells to T cells. Here, we review the advances in systematic identification of minor histocompatibility antigens and neoantigens arising from personal somatic alterations or recurrent driver mutations. These exciting efforts pave the path for the implementation of personalized combinatorial cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Livius Penter
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (CVK), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Catherine J. Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
106
|
Grimaldi A, Cammarata I, Martire C, Focaccetti C, Piconese S, Buccilli M, Mancone C, Buzzacchino F, Berrios JRG, D'Alessandris N, Tomao S, Giangaspero F, Paroli M, Caccavale R, Spinelli GP, Girelli G, Peruzzi G, Nisticò P, Spada S, Panetta M, Letizia Cecere F, Visca P, Facciolo F, Longo F, Barnaba V. Combination of chemotherapy and PD-1 blockade induces T cell responses to tumor non-mutated neoantigens. Commun Biol 2020; 3:85. [PMID: 32099064 PMCID: PMC7042341 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0811-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we developed an unbiased, functional target-discovery platform to identify immunogenic proteins from primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells that had been induced to apoptosis by cisplatin (CDDP) treatment in vitro, as compared with their live counterparts. Among the multitude of proteins identified, some of them were represented as fragmented proteins in apoptotic tumor cells, and acted as non-mutated neoantigens (NM-neoAgs). Indeed, only the fragmented proteins elicited effective multi-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, upon a chemotherapy protocol including CDDP. Importantly, these responses further increased upon anti-PD-1 therapy, and correlated with patients' survival and decreased PD-1 expression. Cross-presentation assays showed that NM-neoAgs were unveiled in apoptotic tumor cells as the result of caspase-dependent proteolytic activity of cellular proteins. Our study demonstrates that apoptotic tumor cells generate a repertoire of immunogenic NM-neoAgs that could be potentially used for developing effective T cell-based immunotherapy across multiple cancer patients.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Aged
- Antigen Presentation/drug effects
- Antigen Presentation/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/isolation & purification
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/administration & dosage
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/immunology
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy
- Case-Control Studies
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cisplatin/administration & dosage
- Cisplatin/pharmacology
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/methods
- Female
- Humans
- Immunity, Cellular/drug effects
- Immunotherapy/methods
- Lung Neoplasms/immunology
- Lung Neoplasms/pathology
- Lung Neoplasms/therapy
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes/physiology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Grimaldi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilenia Cammarata
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Martire
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Piconese
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Buccilli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Mancone
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Buzzacchino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Oncologiche e Anatomo Patologiche, Oncologia Medica, Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Julio Rodrigo Giron Berrios
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Oncologiche e Anatomo Patologiche, Oncologia Medica, Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicoletta D'Alessandris
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silverio Tomao
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Oncologiche e Anatomo Patologiche, Oncologia Medica, Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Felice Giangaspero
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
| | - Marino Paroli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Biotecnologie Medico-Chirurgiche, Sapienza Università di Roma - Polo Pontino, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Rosalba Caccavale
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Biotecnologie Medico-Chirurgiche, Sapienza Università di Roma - Polo Pontino, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Gian Paolo Spinelli
- UOC Oncologia Universitaria, ASL Latina (distretto Aprilia), Sapienza Università di Roma, Via Giustiniano snc, 04011, Aprilia, Latina, Italy
| | - Gabriella Girelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Sheila Spada
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Panetta
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Visca
- Unit of Pathology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Facciolo
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Longo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Oncologiche e Anatomo Patologiche, Oncologia Medica, Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Barnaba
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00161, Rome, Italy.
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy.
- Istituto Pasteur - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
107
|
Janelle V, Rulleau C, Del Testa S, Carli C, Delisle JS. T-Cell Immunotherapies Targeting Histocompatibility and Tumor Antigens in Hematological Malignancies. Front Immunol 2020; 11:276. [PMID: 32153583 PMCID: PMC7046834 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decades, T-cell immunotherapy has revealed itself as a powerful, and often curative, strategy to treat blood cancers. In hematopoietic cell transplantation, most of the so-called graft-vs.-leukemia (GVL) effect hinges on the recognition of histocompatibility antigens that reflect immunologically relevant genetic variants between donors and recipients. Whether other variants acquired during the neoplastic transformation, or the aberrant expression of gene products can yield antigenic targets of similar relevance as the minor histocompatibility antigens is actively being pursued. Modern genomics and proteomics have enabled the high throughput identification of candidate antigens for immunotherapy in both autologous and allogeneic settings. As such, these major histocompatibility complex-associated tumor-specific (TSA) and tumor-associated antigens (TAA) can allow for the targeting of multiple blood neoplasms, which is a limitation for other immunotherapeutic approaches, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells. We review the current strategies taken to translate these discoveries into T-cell therapies and propose how these could be introduced in clinical practice. Specifically, we discuss the criteria that are used to select the antigens with the greatest therapeutic value and we review the various T-cell manufacturing approaches in place to either expand antigen-specific T cells from the native repertoire or genetically engineer T cells with minor histocompatibility antigen or TSA/TAA-specific recombinant T-cell receptors. Finally, we elaborate on the current and future incorporation of these therapeutic T-cell products into the treatment of hematological malignancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Janelle
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Caroline Rulleau
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Simon Del Testa
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Cédric Carli
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-Sébastien Delisle
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Division Hématologie et Oncologie, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
108
|
Chen X, Chen HY, Chen ZD, Gong JN, Chen CYC. A novel artificial intelligence protocol for finding potential inhibitors of acute myeloid leukemia. J Mater Chem B 2020; 8:2063-2081. [PMID: 32068215 DOI: 10.1039/d0tb00061b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
There is currently no effective treatment for acute myeloid leukemia, and surgery is also ineffective as an important treatment for most tumors. Rapidly developing artificial intelligence technology can be applied to different aspects of drug development, and it plays a key role in drug discovery. Based on network pharmacology and virtual screening, candidates were selected from the molecular database. Nine artificial intelligence algorithm models were used to further verify the candidates' potential. The 350 training results of the deep learning model showed higher credibility, and the R-square of the training set and test set of the optimal model reached 0.89 and 0.84, respectively. The random forest model has an R-square of 0.91 and a mean square error of only 0.003. The R-square of the Adaptive Boosting model and the Bagging model reached 0.92 and 0.88, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulation evaluated the stability of the ligand-protein complex and achieved good results. Artificial intelligence models had unearthed the promising candidates for STAT3 inhibitors, and the good performance of most models showed that they still had practical value on small data sets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Chen
- Artificial Intelligence Medical Center, School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 510275, China. and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 510275, China
| | - Hsin-Yi Chen
- Artificial Intelligence Medical Center, School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 510275, China.
| | - Zhi-Dong Chen
- Artificial Intelligence Medical Center, School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 510275, China. and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 510275, China
| | - Jia-Ning Gong
- Artificial Intelligence Medical Center, School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 510275, China. and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 510275, China
| | - Calvin Yu-Chian Chen
- Artificial Intelligence Medical Center, School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 510275, China. and Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan and Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
109
|
Biernacki MA, Bleakley M. Neoantigens in Hematologic Malignancies. Front Immunol 2020; 11:121. [PMID: 32117272 PMCID: PMC7033457 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell cancer neoantigens are created from peptides derived from cancer-specific aberrant proteins, such as mutated and fusion proteins, presented in complex with human leukocyte antigens on the cancer cell surface. Because expression of the aberrant target protein is exclusive to malignant cells, immunotherapy directed against neoantigens should avoid “on-target, off-tumor” toxicity. The efficacy of neoantigen vaccines in melanoma and glioblastoma and of adoptive transfer of neoantigen-specific T cells in epithelial tumors indicates that neoantigens are valid therapeutic targets. Improvements in sequencing technology and innovations in antigen discovery approaches have facilitated the identification of neoantigens. In comparison to many solid tumors, hematologic malignancies have few mutations and thus fewer potential neoantigens. Despite this, neoantigens have been identified in a wide variety of hematologic malignancies. These include mutated nucleophosmin1 and PML-RARA in acute myeloid leukemia, ETV6-RUNX1 fusions and other mutated proteins in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, BCR-ABL1 fusions in chronic myeloid leukemia, driver mutations in myeloproliferative neoplasms, immunoglobulins in lymphomas, and proteins derived from patient-specific mutations in chronic lymphoid leukemias. We will review advances in the field of neoantigen discovery, describe the spectrum of identified neoantigens in hematologic malignancies, and discuss the potential of these neoantigens for clinical translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melinda A Biernacki
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Marie Bleakley
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
110
|
Kemps PG, Zondag TC, Steenwijk EC, Andriessen Q, Borst J, Vloemans S, Roelen DL, Voortman LM, Verdijk RM, van Noesel CJM, Cleven AHG, Hawkins C, Lang V, de Ru AH, Janssen GMC, Haasnoot GW, Franken KLMC, van Eijk R, Solleveld-Westerink N, van Wezel T, Egeler RM, Beishuizen A, van Laar JAM, Abla O, van den Bos C, van Veelen PA, van Halteren AGS. Apparent Lack of BRAF V600E Derived HLA Class I Presented Neoantigens Hampers Neoplastic Cell Targeting by CD8 + T Cells in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3045. [PMID: 31998317 PMCID: PMC6967030 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is a neoplastic disorder of hematopoietic origin characterized by inflammatory lesions containing clonal histiocytes (LCH-cells) intermixed with various immune cells, including T cells. In 50-60% of LCH-patients, the somatic BRAF V600E driver mutation, which is common in many cancers, is detected in these LCH-cells in an otherwise quiet genomic landscape. Non-synonymous mutations like BRAF V600E can be a source of neoantigens capable of eliciting effective antitumor CD8+ T cell responses. This requires neopeptides to be stably presented by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I molecules and sufficient numbers of CD8+ T cells at tumor sites. Here, we demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in CD8+ T cell density in n = 101 LCH-lesions, with BRAF V600E mutated lesions displaying significantly lower CD8+ T cell:CD1a+ LCH-cell ratios (p = 0.01) than BRAF wildtype lesions. Because LCH-lesional CD8+ T cell density had no significant impact on event-free survival, we investigated whether the intracellularly expressed BRAF V600E protein is degraded into neopeptides that are naturally processed and presented by cell surface HLA class I molecules. Epitope prediction tools revealed a single HLA class I binding BRAF V600E derived neopeptide (KIGDFGLATEK), which indeed displayed strong to intermediate binding capacity to HLA-A*03:01 and HLA-A*11:01 in an in vitro peptide-HLA binding assay. Mass spectrometry-based targeted peptidomics was used to investigate the presence of this neopeptide in HLA class I presented peptides isolated from several BRAF V600E expressing cell lines with various HLA genotypes. While the HLA-A*02:01 binding BRAF wildtype peptide KIGDFGLATV was traced in peptides isolated from all five cell lines expressing this HLA subtype, KIGDFGLATEK was not detected in the HLA class I peptidomes of two distinct BRAF V600E transduced cell lines with confirmed expression of HLA-A*03:01 or HLA-A*11:01. These data indicate that the in silico predicted HLA class I binding and proteasome-generated neopeptides derived from the BRAF V600E protein are not presented by HLA class I molecules. Given that the BRAF V600E mutation is highly prevalent in chemotherapy refractory LCH-patients who may qualify for immunotherapy, this study therefore questions the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in LCH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Kemps
- Immunology Laboratory Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Timo C Zondag
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Eline C Steenwijk
- Immunology Laboratory Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Quirine Andriessen
- Immunology Laboratory Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jelske Borst
- Immunology Laboratory Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sandra Vloemans
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Dave L Roelen
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Lenard M Voortman
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Robert M Verdijk
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carel J M van Noesel
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Arjen H G Cleven
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Cynthia Hawkins
- Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Veronica Lang
- Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Arnoud H de Ru
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - George M C Janssen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Geert W Haasnoot
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Kees L M C Franken
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ronald van Eijk
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Tom van Wezel
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - R Maarten Egeler
- Immunology Laboratory Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Auke Beishuizen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jan A M van Laar
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Oussama Abla
- Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cor van den Bos
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter A van Veelen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Astrid G S van Halteren
- Immunology Laboratory Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
111
|
Hardy MP, Vincent K, Perreault C. The Genomic Landscape of Antigenic Targets for T Cell-Based Leukemia Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2934. [PMID: 31921187 PMCID: PMC6933603 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Intensive fundamental and clinical research in cancer immunotherapy has led to the emergence and evolution of two parallel universes with surprisingly little interactions: the realm of hematologic malignancies and that of solid tumors. Treatment of hematologic cancers using allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) serendipitously led to the discovery that T cells specific for minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHAs) could cure hematopoietic cancers. Besides, studies based on treatment of solid tumor with ex vivo-expanded tumor infiltrating lymphocytes or immune checkpoint therapy demonstrated that anti-tumor responses could be achieved by targeting tumor-specific antigens (TSAs). It is our contention that much insight can be gained by sharing the tremendous amount of data generated in the two-abovementioned universes. Our perspective article has two specific goals. First, to discuss the value of methods currently used for MiHA and TSA discovery and to explain the key role of mass spectrometry analyses in this process. Second, to demonstrate the importance of broadening the scope of TSA discovery efforts beyond classic annotated protein-coding genomic sequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Pierre Hardy
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Krystel Vincent
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Claude Perreault
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
112
|
Roerden M, Nelde A, Walz JS. Neoantigens in Hematological Malignancies-Ultimate Targets for Immunotherapy? Front Immunol 2019; 10:3004. [PMID: 31921218 PMCID: PMC6934135 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neoantigens derive from non-synonymous somatic mutations in malignant cells. Recognition of neoantigens presented via human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules on the tumor cell surface by T cells holds promise to enable highly specific and effective anti-cancer immune responses and thus neoantigens provide an exceptionally attractive target for immunotherapy. While genome sequencing approaches already enable the reliable identification of somatic mutations in tumor samples, the identification of mutation-derived, naturally HLA-presented neoepitopes as targets for immunotherapy remains challenging, particularly in low mutational burden cancer entities, including hematological malignancies. Several approaches have been utilized to identify neoepitopes from primary tumor samples. Besides whole genome sequencing with subsequent in silico prediction of potential mutation-derived HLA ligands, mass spectrometry (MS) allows for the only unbiased identification of naturally presented mutation-derived HLA ligands. The feasibility of characterizing and targeting these novel antigens has recently been demonstrated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Several immunogenic, HLA-presented peptides derived from mutated Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) were identified, allowing for the generation of T-cell receptor-transduced NPM1mut-specific T cells with anti-leukemic activity in a xenograft mouse model. Neoantigen-specific T-cell responses have also been identified for peptides derived from mutated isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDHmut), and specific T-cell responses could be induced by IDHmut peptide vaccination. In this review, we give a comprehensive overview on known neoantigens in hematological malignancies, present possible prediction and discovery tools and discuss their role as targets for immunotherapy approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malte Roerden
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Annika Nelde
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Juliane S. Walz
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
113
|
Mendez LM, Posey RR, Pandolfi PP. The Interplay Between the Genetic and Immune Landscapes of AML: Mechanisms and Implications for Risk Stratification and Therapy. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1162. [PMID: 31781488 PMCID: PMC6856667 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AML holds a unique place in the history of immunotherapy by virtue of being among the first malignancies in which durable remissions were achieved with "adoptive immunotherapy," now known as allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The successful deployment of unselected adoptive cell therapy established AML as a disease responsive to immunomodulation. Classification systems for AML have been refined and expanded over the years in an effort to capture the variability of this heterogeneous disease and risk-stratify patients. Current systems increasingly incorporate information about cytogenetic alterations and genetic mutations. The advent of next generation sequencing technology has enabled the comprehensive identification of recurrent genetic mutations, many with predictive power. Recurrent genetic mutations found in AML have been intensely studied from a cell intrinsic perspective leading to the genesis of multiple, recently approved targeted therapies including IDH1/2-mutant inhibitors and FLT3-ITD/-TKD inhibitors. However, there is a paucity of data on the effects of these targeted agents on the leukemia microenvironment, including the immune system. Recently, the phenomenal success of checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells has re-ignited interest in understanding the mechanisms leading to immune dysregulation and suppression in leukemia, with the objective of harnessing the power of the immune system via novel immunotherapeutics. A paradigm has emerged that places crosstalk with the immune system at the crux of any effective therapy. Ongoing research will reveal how AML genetics inform the composition of the immune microenvironment paving the way for personalized immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes M. Mendez
- Department of Medicine and Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ryan R. Posey
- Department of Medicine and Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Pier Paolo Pandolfi
- Department of Medicine and Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
114
|
Benvenuto M, Focaccetti C, Izzi V, Masuelli L, Modesti A, Bei R. Tumor antigens heterogeneity and immune response-targeting neoantigens in breast cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 72:65-75. [PMID: 31698088 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is both the most common type of cancer and the most frequent cause of cancer mortality in women, mainly because of its heterogeneity and limited immunogenicity. The aim of specific active cancer immunotherapy is to stimulate the host's immune response against cancer cells directly using a vaccine platform carrying one or more tumor antigens. In particular, the ideal tumor antigen should be able to elicit T cell and B cell responses, be specific for the tumor and be expressed at high levels on cancer cells. Neoantigens are ideal targets for immunotherapy because they are exclusive to individual patient's tumors, are absent in healthy tissues and are not subject to immune tolerance mechanisms. Thus, neoantigens should generate a specific reaction towards tumors since they constitute the largest fraction of targets of tumor-infiltrating T cells. In this review, we describe the technologies used for neoantigen discovery, the heterogeneity of neoantigens in breast cancer and recent studies of breast cancer immunotherapy targeting neoantigens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy; Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, via di Sant'Alessandro 8, 00131, Rome, Italy.
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Human Science and Promotion of the Quality of Life, University San Raffaele Rome, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166, Rome, Italy.
| | - Valerio Izzi
- Center for Cell-Matrix Research, Biocenter Oulu, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7C, FI-90230, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Andrea Modesti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
115
|
Simultaneous Deletion of Endogenous TCRαβ for TCR Gene Therapy Creates an Improved and Safe Cellular Therapeutic. Mol Ther 2019; 28:64-74. [PMID: 31636040 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of an optimal T cell therapeutic expressing high frequencies of transgenic T cell receptor (tgTCR) is essential for improving TCR gene therapy. Upon TCR gene transfer, presence of endogenous TCRαβ reduces expression of tgTCR due to TCR mixed-dimer formation and competition for binding CD3. Knockout (KO) of endogenous TCRαβ was recently achieved using CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the TRAC or TRBC loci, resulting in increased expression and function of tgTCR. Here, we adopt this approach into current protocols for generating T cell populations expressing tgTCR to validate this strategy in the context of four clinically relevant TCRs. First, simultaneous editing of TRAC and TRBC loci was reproducible and resulted in high double KO efficiencies in bulk CD8 T cells. Next, tgTCR expression was significantly higher in double TRAC/BC KO conditions for all TCRs tested, including those that contained structural modifications to encourage preferential pairing. Finally, increased expression of tgTCR in edited T cell populations allowed for increased recognition of antigen expressing tumor targets and prolonged control of tumor outgrowth in a preclinical model of multiple myeloma. In conclusion, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated KO of both endogenous TCRαβ chains can be incorporated in current T cell production protocols and is preferential to ensure an improved and safe clinical therapeutic.
Collapse
|
116
|
Smith CC, Selitsky SR, Chai S, Armistead PM, Vincent BG, Serody JS. Alternative tumour-specific antigens. Nat Rev Cancer 2019; 19:465-478. [PMID: 31278396 PMCID: PMC6874891 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-019-0162-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The study of tumour-specific antigens (TSAs) as targets for antitumour therapies has accelerated within the past decade. The most commonly studied class of TSAs are those derived from non-synonymous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), or SNV neoantigens. However, to increase the repertoire of available therapeutic TSA targets, 'alternative TSAs', defined here as high-specificity tumour antigens arising from non-SNV genomic sources, have recently been evaluated. Among these alternative TSAs are antigens derived from mutational frameshifts, splice variants, gene fusions, endogenous retroelements and other processes. Unlike the patient-specific nature of SNV neoantigens, some alternative TSAs may have the advantage of being widely shared by multiple tumours, allowing for universal, off-the-shelf therapies. In this Opinion article, we will outline the biology, available computational tools, preclinical and/or clinical studies and relevant cancers for each alternative TSA class, as well as discuss both current challenges preventing the therapeutic application of alternative TSAs and potential solutions to aid in their clinical translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christof C Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sara R Selitsky
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Bioinformatics Core, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Shengjie Chai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Paul M Armistead
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Benjamin G Vincent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Program in Computational Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Jonathan S Serody
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Program in Computational Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
117
|
Narayan R, Olsson N, Wagar LE, Medeiros BC, Meyer E, Czerwinski D, Khodadoust MS, Zhang L, Schultz L, Davis MM, Elias JE, Levy R. Acute myeloid leukemia immunopeptidome reveals HLA presentation of mutated nucleophosmin. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219547. [PMID: 31291378 PMCID: PMC6619824 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic mutations in cancer are a potential source of cancer specific neoantigens. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has common recurrent mutations shared between patients in addition to private mutations specific to individuals. We hypothesized that neoantigens derived from recurrent shared mutations would be attractive targets for future immunotherapeutic approaches. Here we sought to study the HLA Class I and II immunopeptidome of thirteen primary AML tumor samples and two AML cell lines (OCI-AML3 and MV4-11) using mass spectrometry to evaluate for endogenous mutation-bearing HLA ligands from common shared AML mutations. We identified two endogenous, mutation-bearing HLA Class I ligands from nucleophosmin (NPM1). The ligands, AVEEVSLRK from two patient samples and C(cys)LAVEEVSL from OCI-AML3, are predicted to bind the common HLA haplotypes, HLA-A*03:01 and HLA-A*02:01 respectively. Since NPM1 is mutated in approximately one-third of patients with AML, the finding of endogenous HLA ligands from mutated NPM1 supports future studies evaluating immunotherapeutic approaches against this shared target, for this subset of patients with AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rupa Narayan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Niclas Olsson
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Lisa E. Wagar
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Bruno C. Medeiros
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Everett Meyer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Debra Czerwinski
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Michael S. Khodadoust
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Lichao Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Liora Schultz
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Mark M. Davis
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Joshua E. Elias
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Ron Levy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
118
|
Garcia-Garijo A, Fajardo CA, Gros A. Determinants for Neoantigen Identification. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1392. [PMID: 31293573 PMCID: PMC6601353 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
All tumors accumulate genetic alterations, some of which can give rise to mutated, non-self peptides presented by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules and elicit T-cell responses. These immunogenic mutated peptides, or neoantigens, are foreign in nature and display exquisite tumor specificity. The correlative evidence suggesting they play an important role in the effectiveness of various cancer immunotherapies has triggered the development of vaccines and adoptive T-cell therapies targeting them. However, the systematic identification of personalized neoantigens in cancer patients, a critical requisite for the success of these therapies, remains challenging. A growing amount of evidence supports that only a small fraction of all tumor somatic non-synonymous mutations (NSM) identified represent bona fide neoantigens; mutated peptides that are processed, presented on the cell surface HLA molecules of cancer cells and are capable of triggering immune responses in patients. Here, we provide an overview of the existing strategies to identify candidate neoantigens and to evaluate their immunogenicity, two factors that impact on neoantigen identification. We will focus on their strengths and limitations to allow readers to rationally select and apply the most suitable method for their specific laboratory setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alena Gros
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
119
|
Brodská B, Otevřelová P, Šálek C, Fuchs O, Gašová Z, Kuželová K. High PD-L1 Expression Predicts for Worse Outcome of Leukemia Patients with Concomitant NPM1 and FLT3 Mutations. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20112823. [PMID: 31185600 PMCID: PMC6600137 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20112823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared to solid tumors, the role of PD-L1 in hematological malignancies is less explored, and the knowledge in this area is mostly limited to lymphomas. However, several studies indicated that PD-L1 is also overexpressed in myeloid malignancies. Successful treatment of the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is likely associated with elimination of the residual disease by the immune system, and possible involvement of PD-L1 in this process remains to be elucidated. We analyzed PD-L1 expression on AML primary cells by flow cytometry and, in parallel, transcript levels were determined for the transcription variants v1 and v2. The ratio of v1/v2 cDNA correlated with the surface protein amount, and high v1/v2 levels were associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.0045). The prognostic impact of PD-L1 was limited to AML with mutated nucleophosmin and concomitant internal tandem duplications in the FLT3 gene (p less than 0.0001 for this particular AML subgroup).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Brodská
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague 128 20, Czech Republic.
| | - Petra Otevřelová
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague 128 20, Czech Republic.
| | - Cyril Šálek
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague 128 20, Czech Republic.
| | - Ota Fuchs
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague 128 20, Czech Republic.
| | - Zdenka Gašová
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague 128 20, Czech Republic.
| | - Kateřina Kuželová
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague 128 20, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
120
|
Brodská B, Šašinková M, Kuželová K. Nucleophosmin in leukemia: Consequences of anchor loss. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2019; 111:52-62. [PMID: 31009764 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Nucleophosmin (NPM), one of the most abundant nucleolar proteins, has crucial functions in ribosome biogenesis, cell cycle control, and DNA-damage repair. In human cells, NPM occurs mainly in oligomers. It functions as a chaperone, undergoes numerous interactions and forms part of many protein complexes. Although NPM role in carcinogenesis is not fully elucidated, a variety of tumor suppressor as well as oncogenic activities were described. NPM is overexpressed, fused with other proteins, or mutated in various tumor types. In the acute myeloid leukemia (AML), characteristic mutations in NPM1 gene, leading to modification of NPM C-terminus, are the most frequent genetic aberration. Although multiple mutation types of NPM are found in AML, they are all characterized by aberrant cytoplasmic localization of the mutated protein. In this review, current knowledge of the structure and function of NPM is presented in relation to its interaction network, in particular to the interaction with other nucleolar proteins and with proteins active in apoptosis. Possible molecular mechanisms of NPM mutation-driven leukemogenesis and NPM therapeutic targeting are discussed. Finally, recent findings concerning the immunogenicity of the mutated NPM and specific immunological features of AML patients with NPM mutation are summarized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Brodská
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 128 20 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Šašinková
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 128 20 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Kuželová
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 128 20 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
121
|
Bauer J, Nelde A, Bilich T, Walz JS. Antigen Targets for the Development of Immunotherapies in Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061397. [PMID: 30897713 PMCID: PMC6471800 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapeutic approaches, including allogeneic stem cell transplantation and donor lymphocyte infusion, have significantly improved the prognosis of leukemia patients. Further efforts are now focusing on the development of immunotherapies that are able to target leukemic cells more specifically, comprising monoclonal antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and dendritic cell- or peptide-based vaccination strategies. One main prerequisite for such antigen-specific approaches is the selection of suitable target structures on leukemic cells. In general, the targets for anti-cancer immunotherapies can be divided into two groups: (1) T-cell epitopes relying on the presentation of peptides via human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules and (2) surface structures, which are HLA-independently expressed on cancer cells. This review discusses the most promising tumor antigens as well as the underlying discovery and selection strategies for the development of anti-leukemia immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jens Bauer
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
- Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Annika Nelde
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
- Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Tatjana Bilich
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
- Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Juliane S Walz
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
122
|
Castelli G, Pelosi E, Testa U. Emerging Therapies for Acute Myelogenus Leukemia Patients Targeting Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Metabolism. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E260. [PMID: 30813354 PMCID: PMC6406361 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11020260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) is a malignant disease of the hematopoietic cells, characterized by impaired differentiation and uncontrolled clonal expansion of myeloid progenitors/precursors, resulting in bone marrow failure and impaired normal hematopoiesis. AML comprises a heterogeneous group of malignancies, characterized by a combination of different somatic genetic abnormalities, some of which act as events driving leukemic development. Studies carried out in the last years have shown that AML cells invariably have abnormalities in one or more apoptotic pathways and have identified some components of the apoptotic pathway that can be targeted by specific drugs. Clinical results deriving from studies using B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibitors in combination with standard AML agents, such as azacytidine, decitabine, low-dose cytarabine, provided promising results and strongly support the use of these agents in the treatment of AML patients, particularly of elderly patients. TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its receptors are frequently deregulated in AML patients and their targeting may represent a promising strategy for development of new treatments. Altered mitochondrial metabolism is a common feature of AML cells, as supported through the discovery of mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase gene and in mitochondrial electron transport chain and of numerous abnormalities of oxidative metabolism existing in AML subgroups. Overall, these observations strongly support the view that the targeting of mitochondrial apoptotic or metabolic machinery is an appealing new therapeutic perspective in AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Germana Castelli
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Elvira Pelosi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Ugo Testa
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
123
|
Abstract
Neoantigen-targeted therapies have typically been based upon personalized neoantigen-specific vaccines; however, in this issue of JCI, van der Lee et al. describe the development of a potential cellular immunotherapy targeting a "public" neoantigen derived from nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1), which is mutated in approximately 30% of acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs). The authors use reverse immunology to predict, and biochemically confirm, NPM1-derived neoepitopes (ΔNPM1) and then generate high-avidity T cell clones and retrovirally transduced T cell populations that kill NPM1-mutated AML. This study provides a general approach to adoptive cellular therapy that can be applied to targeting other tumors with public neoantigens.
Collapse
|
124
|
Abstract
The past decade has seen enormous progress in cancer immunotherapy. Checkpoint inhibitors are a class of immunotherapy that act to recruit endogenous T cells of a patient's immune system against cancer-associated peptide- MHC antigens. In this process, mutated antigenic peptides referred to as neoantigens often serve as the target on cancer cells that are recognized by the T cell receptor (TCR) on endogenous T cells. Another successful immunotherapy has involved adoptive T cell therapy, where therapeutic doses of T cells expressing a gene for an anti-cancer receptor are delivered to a patient. This approach has been used primarily against hematopoietic cancers using synthetic receptors called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). CARs typically contain an antibody fragment (single-chain Fv, scFv) against a cancer cell surface antigen such as the B cell molecule CD19. While therapeutic CARs (and full antibodies) target antigens expressed on cell surfaces, TCRs can target a much larger array of intracellular proteins by binding to any cellular peptide associated with an MHC product. These cancer targets include self-peptides from aberrantly expressed/overexpressed proteins or neoantigens. In this review, we discuss the use of TCRs in adoptive T cell therapy and their target antigens. We focus on two properties that impact sensitivity, potency, and possible toxic cross-reactivity of TCR-mediated therapy: (1) the affinity of the TCR for the target antigen, and (2) the density of the target antigen. Finally, we provide a comprehensive listing of the current clinical trials that involve TCRs in adoptive T cell cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
| | - David M. Kranz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
| |
Collapse
|