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EnanDIM - a novel family of L-nucleotide-protected TLR9 agonists for cancer immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:5. [PMID: 30621769 PMCID: PMC6323716 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-018-0470-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toll-like receptor 9 agonists are potent activators of the immune system. Their clinical potential in immunotherapy against metastatic cancers is being evaluated across a number of clinical trials. TLR9 agonists are DNA-based molecules that contain several non-methylated CG-motifs for TLR9 recognition. Chemical modifications of DNA backbones are usually employed to prevent degradation by nucleases. These, however, can promote undesirable off-target effects and therapeutic restrictions. Methods Within the EnanDIM® family members of TLR9 agonists described here, D-deoxyribose nucleotides at the nuclease-accessible 3′-ends are replaced by nuclease-resistant L-deoxyribose nucleotides. EnanDIM® molecules with varying sequences were screened for their activation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells based on secretion of IFN-alpha and IP-10 as well as activation of immune cells. Selected molecules were evaluated in mice in a maximum feasible dose study and for analysis of immune activation. The ability to modulate the tumor-microenvironment and anti-tumor responses after EnanDIM® administration was analyzed in syngeneic murine tumor models. Results The presence of L-deoxyribose containing nucleotides at their 3′-ends is sufficient to prevent EnanDIM® molecules from nucleolytic degradation. EnanDIM® molecules show broad immune activation targeting specific components of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Activation was strictly dependent on the presence of CG-motifs, known to be recognized by TLR9. The absence of off-target effects may enable a wide therapeutic window. This advantageous anti-tumoral immune profile also promotes increased T cell infiltration into CT26 colon carcinoma tumors, which translates into reduced tumor growth. EnanDIM® molecules also drove regression of multiple other murine syngeneic tumors including MC38 colon carcinoma, B16 melanoma, A20 lymphoma, and EMT-6 breast cancer. In A20 and EMT-6, EnanDIM® immunotherapy cured a majority of mice and established persistent anti-tumor immune memory as evidenced by the complete immunity of these mice to subsequent tumor re-challenge. Conclusions In summary, EnanDIM® comprise a novel family of TLR9 agonists that facilitate an efficacious activation of both innate and adaptive immunity. Their proven potential in onco-immunotherapy, as shown by cytotoxic activity, beneficial modulation of the tumor microenvironment, inhibition of tumor growth, and induction of long-lasting, tumor-specific memory, supports EnanDIM® molecules for further preclinical and clinical development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40425-018-0470-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Carbohydrate-based adjuvants activate tumor-specific Th1 and CD8+ T-cell responses and reduce the immunosuppressive activity of MDSCs. Cancer Lett 2019; 440-441:94-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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153
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Vescovi R, Monti M, Moratto D, Paolini L, Consoli F, Benerini L, Melocchi L, Calza S, Chiudinelli M, Rossi G, Bugatti M, Maio M, Fonsatti E, Farisoglio C, Simbolo M, Almici C, Verardi R, Scarpa A, Bergese P, Manganoni A, Facchetti F, Vermi W. Collapse of the Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Compartment in Advanced Cutaneous Melanomas by Components of the Tumor Cell Secretome. Cancer Immunol Res 2019; 7:12-28. [PMID: 30401679 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is an immunogenic neoplasm infiltrated by T cells, although these adaptive T cells usually fail to eradicate the tumor. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are potent regulators of the adaptive immune response and can eliminate melanoma cells via TLR-mediated effector functions. The PDC compartment is maintained by progressively restricted bone marrow progenitors. Terminally differentiated PDCs exit the bone marrow into the circulation, then home to lymph nodes and inflamed peripheral tissues. Infiltration by PDCs is documented in various cancers. However, their role within the melanoma immune contexture is not completely known. We found that in locoregional primary cutaneous melanoma (PCM), PDC infiltration was heterogeneous, occurred early, and was recurrently localized at the invasive margin, the site where PDCs interact with CD8+ T cells. A reduced PDC density was coupled with an increased Breslow thickness and somatic mutations at the NRAS p.Q61 codon. Compared with what was seen in PCM, high numbers of PDCs were found in regional lymph nodes, as also identified by in silico analysis. In contrast, in metastatic melanoma patients, PDCs were mostly absent in the tumor tissues and were significantly reduced in the circulation, particularly in the advanced M1c group. Exposure of circulating PDCs to melanoma cell supernatant (SN-mel) depleted of extracellular vesicles resulted in significant PDC death. SN-mel exposure also resulted in a defect of PDC differentiation from CD34+ progenitors. These findings indicate that soluble components released by melanoma cells support the collapse of the PDC compartment, with clinical implications for refining TLR agonist-based trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Vescovi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Matilde Monti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniele Moratto
- Laboratory of Genetic Disorders of Childhood, "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lucia Paolini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Luisa Benerini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Melocchi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Calza
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mariella Chiudinelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulio Rossi
- Pathology Unit, Azienda Romagna, Hospital Santa Maria delle Croci, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Mattia Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michele Maio
- Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy
| | - Ester Fonsatti
- Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Michele Simbolo
- ARC-Net Research Centre and Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Camillo Almici
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Laboratory for Stem Cells Manipulation and Cryopreservation, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rosanna Verardi
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Laboratory for Stem Cells Manipulation and Cryopreservation, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- ARC-Net Research Centre and Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paolo Bergese
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Facchetti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - William Vermi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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154
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Zhang R, Billingsley MM, Mitchell MJ. Biomaterials for vaccine-based cancer immunotherapy. J Control Release 2018; 292:256-276. [PMID: 30312721 PMCID: PMC6355332 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The development of therapeutic cancer vaccines as a means to generate immune reactivity against tumors has been explored since the early discovery of tumor-specific antigens by Georg Klein in the 1960s. However, challenges including weak immunogenicity, systemic toxicity, and off-target effects of cancer vaccines remain as barriers to their broad clinical translation. Advances in the design and implementation of biomaterials are now enabling enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity of cancer vaccines by controlling the presentation and release of vaccine components to immune cells and their microenvironment. Here, we discuss the rational design and clinical status of several classes of cancer vaccines (including DNA, mRNA, peptide/protein, and cell-based vaccines) along with novel biomaterial-based delivery technologies that improve their safety and efficacy. Further, strategies for designing new platforms for personalized cancer vaccines are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Margaret M Billingsley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Michael J Mitchell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
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Tang H, Liu Y, Wang C, Zheng H, Chen Y, Liu W, Chen X, Zhang J, Chen H, Yang Y, Yang J. Inhibition of COX-2 and EGFR by Melafolone Improves Anti-PD-1 Therapy through Vascular Normalization and PD-L1 Downregulation in Lung Cancer. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2018; 368:401-413. [PMID: 30591531 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.118.254359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint blockade therapy has been proven efficacious in lung cancer patients. However, primary/acquired resistance hampers its efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel strategies to improve checkpoint blockade therapy. Here we tested whether dual inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by flavonoid melafolone improves program death 1 (PD-1) checkpoint blockade therapy through normalizing tumor vasculature and PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) downregulation. Virtual screening assay, cellular thermal shift assay, and enzyme inhibition assay identified melafolone as a potential inhibitor of COX-2 and EGFR. In Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and CMT167 models, dual inhibition of COX-2 and EGFR by melafolone promoted survival, tumor growth inhibition, and vascular normalization, and ameliorated CD8+ T-cell suppression, accompanied by the downregulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and PD-L1 in the tumor cells. Mechanistically, dual inhibition of COX-2 and EGFR in lung cancer cells by melafolone increased the migration of pericyte, decreased the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, and enhanced the proliferation and effector function of CD8+ T cells through VEGF, TGF-β, or PD-L1 downregulation and PI3K/AKT inactivation. Notably, melafolone improved PD-1 immunotherapy against LLC and CMT167 tumors. Together, dual inhibition of COX-2 and EGFR by melafolone improves checkpoint blockade therapy through vascular normalization and PD-L1 downregulation and, by affecting vessels and immune cells, may be a promising combination strategy for the treatment of human lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglin Tang
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Yanzhuo Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Chenlong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Hao Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Yaxin Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Wen Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Xuewei Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Honglei Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Yuqing Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune-Related Diseases (H.T., Y.L., C.W., H.Z., Y.C., W.L., X.C., J.Z., J.Y.) and Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology (H.C.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (Y.Y.)
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156
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Kell SA, Kachura MA, Renn A, Traquina P, Coffman RL, Campbell JD. Preclinical development of the TLR9 agonist DV281 as an inhaled aerosolized immunotherapeutic for lung cancer: Pharmacological profile in mice, non-human primates, and human primary cells. Int Immunopharmacol 2018; 66:296-308. [PMID: 30502651 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2018.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
CpG-motif-containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) activate innate immunity through Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 9 signaling and generate local immune responses when delivered directly to the lung. Herein we describe pharmacological studies in mice, cynomolgus monkeys, and in human primary cells which support the development of DV281, a C-class CpG-ODN, as an inhaled aerosolized immunotherapeutic for lung cancer to be combined with an inhibitor of the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‑1) immune checkpoint. In vitro, DV281 potently induced Interferon (IFN)‑α from monkey and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), stimulated interleukin‑6 production and proliferation in human B cells, and induced TLR9-dependent cytokine responses from mouse splenocytes. Intranasal delivery of DV281 to mice led to substantial but transient cytokine and chemokine responses in the lung. Lung responses to repeated intranasal DV281 were partially to fully reversible 2 weeks after the final dose and were absent in TLR9-deficient mice. Single escalating doses of aerosolized DV281 in monkeys induced dose-dependent induction of IFN-regulated genes in bronchoalveolar lavage cells and blood. In a repeat-dose safety study in monkeys, inhaled DV281 was well-tolerated, and findings were mechanism of action-related and non-adverse. Co-culture of human PBMC with DV281 and anti-PD‑1 antibody did not augment cytokine or cellular proliferation responses compared to DV281 alone, indicating that the combination did not lead to dysregulated cytokine responses. These studies support clinical development of inhaled aerosolized DV281 as a combination therapy with anti-PD‑1 antibody for lung cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alex Renn
- Dynavax Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
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157
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Morin MD, Wang Y, Jones BT, Mifune Y, Su L, Shi H, Moresco EMY, Zhang H, Beutler B, Boger DL. Diprovocims: A New and Exceptionally Potent Class of Toll-like Receptor Agonists. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:14440-14454. [PMID: 30272974 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b09223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A screen conducted with nearly 100000 compounds and a surrogate functional assay for stimulation of an immune response that measured the release of TNF-α from treated human THP-1 myeloid cells differentiated along the macrophage line led to the discovery of the diprovocims. Unique to these efforts and of special interest, the screening leads for this new class of activators of an immune response came from a compound library designed to promote cell-surface receptor dimerization. Subsequent comprehensive structure-activity relationship studies improved the potency 800-fold over that of the screening leads, providing diprovocim-1 and diprovocim-2. The diprovocims act by inducing cell-surface toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 dimerization and activation with TLR1 (TLR1/TLR2 agonist), bear no structural similarity to any known natural or synthetic TLR agonist, and are easy to prepare and synthetically modify, and selected members are active in both human and murine systems. The most potent diprovocim (3, diprovocim-1) elicits full agonist activity at extraordinarily low concentrations (EC50 = 110 pM) in human THP-1 cells, being more potent than the naturally derived TLR1/TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4 or any other known small molecule TLR agonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Morin
- Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 United States
| | - Ying Wang
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas , Texas 75390 , United States
| | - Brian T Jones
- Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 United States
| | - Yuto Mifune
- Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 United States
| | - Lijing Su
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas , Texas 75390 , United States
| | - Hexin Shi
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas , Texas 75390 , United States
| | - Eva Marie Y Moresco
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas , Texas 75390 , United States
| | - Hong Zhang
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas , Texas 75390 , United States
| | - Bruce Beutler
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas , Texas 75390 , United States
| | - Dale L Boger
- Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 United States
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158
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Probst P, Stringhini M, Ritz D, Fugmann T, Neri D. Antibody-based Delivery of TNF to the Tumor Neovasculature Potentiates the Therapeutic Activity of a Peptide Anticancer Vaccine. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 25:698-709. [PMID: 30327303 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-1728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is a growing interest in the use of tumor antigens for therapeutic vaccination strategies. Unfortunately, in most cases, the use of peptide vaccines in patients does not mediate shrinkage of solid tumor masses.Experimental Design: Here, we studied the opportunity to boost peptide vaccination with F8-TNF, an antibody fusion protein that selectively delivers TNF to the tumor extracellular matrix. AH1, a model antigen to investigate CD8+ T-cell immunity in BALB/c mice, was used as vaccine. RESULTS Peptide antigens alone exhibited only a modest tumor growth inhibition. However, anticancer activity could be substantially increased by combination with F8-TNF. Analysis of T cells in tumors and in draining lymph nodes revealed a dramatic expansion of AH1-specific CD8+ T cells, which were strongly positive for PD-1, LAG-3, and TIM-3. The synergistic anticancer activity, observed in the combined use of peptide vaccination and F8-TNF, was largely due to the ability of the fusion protein to induce a rapid hemorrhagic necrosis in the tumor mass, thus leaving few residual tumor cells. While the cell surface phenotype of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells did not substantially change upon treatment, the proportion of AH1-specific T cells was strongly increased in the combination therapy group, reaching more than 50% of the CD8+ T cells within the tumor mass. CONCLUSIONS Because both peptide vaccination strategies and tumor-homing TNF fusion proteins are currently being studied in clinical trials, our study provides a rationale for the combination of these 2 regimens for the treatment of patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Probst
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Stringhini
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Dario Neri
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich, Switzerland.
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159
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Seo JW, Tavaré R, Mahakian LM, Silvestrini MT, Tam S, Ingham ES, Salazar FB, Borowsky AD, Wu AM, Ferrara KW. CD8 + T-Cell Density Imaging with 64Cu-Labeled Cys-Diabody Informs Immunotherapy Protocols. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:4976-4987. [PMID: 29967252 PMCID: PMC6215696 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-0261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: Noninvasive and quantitative tracking of CD8+ T cells by PET has emerged as a potential technique to gauge response to immunotherapy. We apply an anti-CD8 cys-diabody, labeled with 64Cu, to assess the sensitivity of PET imaging of normal and diseased tissue.Experimental Design: Radiolabeling of an anti-CD8 cys-diabody (169cDb) with 64Cu was developed. The accumulation of 64Cu-169cDb was evaluated with PET/CT imaging (0, 5, and 24 hours) and biodistribution (24 hours) in wild-type mouse strains (n = 8/group studied with imaging and IHC or flow cytometry) after intravenous administration. Tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in tumor-bearing mice treated with CpG and αPD-1 were quantified and mapped (n = 6-8/group studied with imaging and IHC or flow cytometry).Results: We demonstrate the ability of immunoPET to detect small differences in CD8+ T-cell distribution between mouse strains and across lymphoid tissues, including the intestinal tract of normal mice. In FVB mice bearing a syngeneic HER2-driven model of mammary adenocarcinoma (NDL), 64Cu-169cDb PET imaging accurately visualized and quantified changes in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in response to immunotherapy. A reduction in the circulation time of the imaging probe followed the development of treatment-related liver and splenic hypertrophy and provided an indication of off-target effects associated with immunotherapy protocols.Conclusions: 64Cu-169cDb imaging can spatially map the distribution of CD8+ T cells in normal organs and tumors. ImmunoPET imaging of tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic CD8+ T cells detected changes in T-cell density resulting from adjuvant and checkpoint immunotherapy protocols in our preclinical evaluation. Clin Cancer Res; 24(20); 4976-87. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jai Woong Seo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Richard Tavaré
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lisa M Mahakian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Matthew T Silvestrini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Sarah Tam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Elizabeth S Ingham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Felix B Salazar
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Alexander D Borowsky
- Center for Comparative Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Anna M Wu
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Katherine W Ferrara
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
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160
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Smith M, García-Martínez E, Pitter MR, Fucikova J, Spisek R, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial Watch: Toll-like receptor agonists in cancer immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1526250. [PMID: 30524908 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1526250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists demonstrate therapeutic promise as immunological adjuvants for anticancer immunotherapy. To date, three TLR agonists have been approved by US regulatory agencies for use in cancer patients. Additionally, the potential of hitherto experimental TLR ligands to mediate clinically useful immunostimulatory effects has been extensively investigated over the past few years. Here, we summarize recent preclinical and clinical advances in the development of TLR agonists for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Smith
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elena García-Martínez
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain
| | - Michael R Pitter
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio a.c., Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio a.c., Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France.,Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 1428, Villejuif, France.,Université Paris Sud/Paris XI, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Université Paris Descartes/ Paris V, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France.,INSERM, U1138, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,Karolinska Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Pôle de Biologie, Hopitâl Européen George Pompidou, AP-HP; Paris, France
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Université Paris Descartes/ Paris V, Paris, France.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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161
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Deng H, Zhang Z. The application of nanotechnology in immune checkpoint blockade for cancer treatment. J Control Release 2018; 290:28-45. [PMID: 30287266 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, which could utilize the host's immune system to kill tumor cells, has great potential in long-term inhibition of tumor growth and recurrence compared to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As we know, tumors exhibit powerful adaption to escape the destruction of immune system at the late stage of diseases due to overactivation of immune checkpoint pathways which function as natural "brakes" for immune responses. The newly emerging immune checkpoint inhibitors are regarded as the breakthrough for cancer immunotherapy as they can re-boost the host's immune system by restoring T cells function and promoting cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) responses. However, there is still scope for improvement in enhancing the clinical efficacy and reducing side effects of these immune modulators. In this review, we mainly introduce the basic mechanisms of the immune checkpoint pathways and outline the recent successes of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in combination with nanoparticle delivery system. Furthermore, the underexplored potential in application of nanotechnology to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy and overcome the limits of immune checkpoint inhibitors is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhiping Zhang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, China; National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedcine, China; Hubei Engineering Research Center for Novel Drug Delivery System, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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162
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Frank MJ, Reagan PM, Bartlett NL, Gordon LI, Friedberg JW, Czerwinski DK, Long SR, Hoppe RT, Janssen R, Candia AF, Coffman RL, Levy R. In Situ Vaccination with a TLR9 Agonist and Local Low-Dose Radiation Induces Systemic Responses in Untreated Indolent Lymphoma. Cancer Discov 2018; 8:1258-1269. [PMID: 30154192 PMCID: PMC6171524 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-18-0743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This multicenter phase I/II clinical trial evaluated intratumoral SD-101, a TLR9 agonist, and low-dose radiation in patients with untreated indolent lymphoma. Twenty-nine enrolled patients received 4 Gy of radiation followed by 5 weekly intratumoral injections of SD-101 at a single tumor site. No treatment-related grade 4 or serious adverse events occurred. Nearly all patients had tumor reduction at their treated site. More importantly, 24 patients had tumor reduction at their nontreated sites, with 5 patients achieving a partial response and one achieving a complete response. Treatment-related increases of CD8+ and CD4+ effector T cells and decreases of T follicular helper and T regulatory cells (Treg) were observed in the tumor microenvironment. Low pretreatment levels of CD4+ Tregs, proliferating CD8+ T cells, and Granzyme B+ CD8+ T cells were associated with favorable outcomes. Intratumoral SD-101 in combination with low-dose radiation is well tolerated and results in regression of both treated and untreated sites of disease.Significance: In situ vaccination with the TLR9 agonist SD-101, along with low-dose radiation, was safe and induced systemic responses in patients with indolent lymphoma. Low levels of CD4+ Tregs, proliferating CD8+ T cells, and Granzyme B+ CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment predicted favorable response to treatment. Cancer Discov; 8(10); 1258-69. ©2018 AACR. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1195.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Frank
- Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Division of Oncology, Stanford, California
| | | | - Nancy L Bartlett
- Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Leo I Gordon
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Debra K Czerwinski
- Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Division of Oncology, Stanford, California
| | - Steven R Long
- Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Division of Oncology, Stanford, California
| | - Richard T Hoppe
- Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford, California
| | | | | | | | - Ronald Levy
- Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Division of Oncology, Stanford, California.
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163
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Shetab Boushehri MA, Lamprecht A. TLR4-Based Immunotherapeutics in Cancer: A Review of the Achievements and Shortcomings. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:4777-4800. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alf Lamprecht
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Bonn, D-53121 Bonn, Germany
- PEPITE EA4267, Univ. Bourgonge Franch-Comte, 25030 Besançon, France
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164
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Ribas A, Medina T, Kummar S, Amin A, Kalbasi A, Drabick JJ, Barve M, Daniels GA, Wong DJ, Schmidt EV, Candia AF, Coffman RL, Leung ACF, Janssen RS. SD-101 in Combination with Pembrolizumab in Advanced Melanoma: Results of a Phase Ib, Multicenter Study. Cancer Discov 2018; 8:1250-1257. [PMID: 30154193 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-18-0280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PD-1 inhibitors are approved for treating advanced melanoma, but resistance has been observed. This phase Ib trial evaluated intratumoral SD-101, a synthetic CpG oligonucleotide that stimulates Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable or metastatic malignant melanoma. The most common adverse events related to SD-101 were injection-site reactions and transient, mild-to-moderate "flu-like" symptoms. Among the 9 patients naïve to anti-PD-1 therapy, the overall response rate (ORR) was 78%. The estimated 12-month progression-free survival rate was 88%, and the overall survival rate was 89%. Among 13 patients having prior anti-PD-1 therapy, the ORR was 15%. RNA profiling of tumor biopsies demonstrated increased CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, cytotoxic cells, dendritic cells, and B cells. The combination of intratumoral SD-101 and pembrolizumab was well tolerated and induced broad immune activation in the tumor microenvironment with durable tumor responses in both peripheral and visceral lesions.Significance: These early data demonstrate that the combination of pembrolizumab with intratumoral SD-101 is well tolerated and can induce immune activation at the tumor site. Combining an intratumoral TLR9 innate immune stimulant with PD-1 blockade can potentially increase clinical efficacy with minimal additional toxicity relative to PD-1 blockade alone. Cancer Discov; 8(10); 1250-7. ©2018 AACR. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1195.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Ribas
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Theresa Medina
- Medicine/Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Shivaani Kummar
- Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Asim Amin
- Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Anusha Kalbasi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Joseph J Drabick
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Minal Barve
- Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Gregory A Daniels
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Deborah J Wong
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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165
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Adjuvant effect of the novel TLR1/TLR2 agonist Diprovocim synergizes with anti-PD-L1 to eliminate melanoma in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E8698-E8706. [PMID: 30150374 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1809232115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful cancer immunotherapy entails activation of innate immune receptors to promote dendritic cell (DC) maturation, antigen presentation, up-regulation of costimulatory molecules, and cytokine secretion, leading to activation of tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Here we screened a synthetic library of 100,000 compounds for innate immune activators using TNF production by THP-1 cells as a readout. We identified and optimized a potent human and mouse Toll-like receptor (TLR)1/TLR2 agonist, Diprovocim, which exhibited an EC50 of 110 pM in human THP-1 cells and 1.3 nM in primary mouse peritoneal macrophages. In mice, Diprovocim-adjuvanted ovalbumin immunization promoted antigen-specific humoral and CTL responses and synergized with anti-PD-L1 treatment to inhibit tumor growth, generating long-term antitumor memory, curing or prolonging survival of mice engrafted with the murine melanoma B16-OVA. Diprovocim induced greater frequencies of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes than alum, of which CD8 T cells were necessary for the antitumor effect of immunization plus anti-PD-L1 treatment.
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166
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Sasso E, D'Avino C, Passariello M, D'Alise AM, Siciliano D, Esposito ML, Froechlich G, Cortese R, Scarselli E, Zambrano N, Nicosia A, De Lorenzo C. Massive parallel screening of phage libraries for the generation of repertoires of human immunomodulatory monoclonal antibodies. MAbs 2018; 10:1060-1072. [PMID: 29995563 PMCID: PMC6204801 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2018.1496772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoints are emerging as novel targets for cancer therapy, and antibodies against them have shown remarkable clinical efficacy with potential for combination treatments to achieve high therapeutic index. This work aims at providing a novel approach for the generation of several novel human immunomodulatory antibodies capable of binding their targets in their native conformation and useful for therapeutic applications. We performed a massive parallel screening of phage libraries by using for the first time activated human lymphocytes to generate large collections of single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) against 10 different immune checkpoints: LAG-3, PD-L1, PD-1, TIM3, BTLA, TIGIT, OX40, 4-1BB, CD27 and ICOS. By next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis we ranked individual scFvs in each collection and identified those with the highest level of enrichment. As a proof of concept of the quality/potency of the binders identified by this approach, human IgGs from three of these collections (i.e., PD-1, PD-L1 and LAG-3) were generated and shown to have comparable or better binding affinity and biological activity than the clinically validated anti-PD-1 mAb nivolumab. The repertoires generated in this work represent a convenient source of agonistic or antagonistic antibodies against the ‘Checkpoint Immunome’ for preclinical screening and clinical implementation of optimized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Sasso
- a Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology , University of Naples "Federico II" , Napoli ( NA ), Italy.,b CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c. a.r.l ., Naples , Italy
| | - Chiara D'Avino
- a Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology , University of Naples "Federico II" , Napoli ( NA ), Italy.,b CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c. a.r.l ., Naples , Italy
| | - Margherita Passariello
- a Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology , University of Naples "Federico II" , Napoli ( NA ), Italy.,b CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c. a.r.l ., Naples , Italy
| | | | - Daniela Siciliano
- a Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology , University of Naples "Federico II" , Napoli ( NA ), Italy.,b CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c. a.r.l ., Naples , Italy
| | | | - Guendalina Froechlich
- a Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology , University of Naples "Federico II" , Napoli ( NA ), Italy.,b CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c. a.r.l ., Naples , Italy
| | | | | | - Nicola Zambrano
- a Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology , University of Naples "Federico II" , Napoli ( NA ), Italy.,b CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c. a.r.l ., Naples , Italy
| | - Alfredo Nicosia
- a Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology , University of Naples "Federico II" , Napoli ( NA ), Italy.,b CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c. a.r.l ., Naples , Italy.,e Keires AG , Basel , Switzerland
| | - Claudia De Lorenzo
- a Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology , University of Naples "Federico II" , Napoli ( NA ), Italy.,b CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c. a.r.l ., Naples , Italy
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167
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Gallotta M, Assi H, Degagné É, Kannan SK, Coffman RL, Guiducci C. Inhaled TLR9 Agonist Renders Lung Tumors Permissive to PD-1 Blockade by Promoting Optimal CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell Interplay. Cancer Res 2018; 78:4943-4956. [PMID: 29945961 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-0729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Currently approved inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway represent a major advance for the treatment of lung cancers, yet they are ineffective in a majority of patients due to lack of preexisting T-cell reactivity. Here, we show that a TLR9 agonist delivered by inhalation is able to prime T-cell responses against poorly immunogenic lung tumors and to complement the effects of PD-1 blockade. Inhaled TLR9 agonist causes profound remodeling in tumor-bearing lungs, leading to the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures adjacent to the tumors, CD8+ T-cell infiltration into the tumors, dendritic cell expansion, and antibody production. Inhalation of TLR9 agonist also increased the pool of functional PD-1lowT-bethigh effector CD8+ T cells in tumor-bearing lungs. Effector CD8+ T cells generated by inhaled TLR9 agonist treatment were licensed by PD-1 blockade to become highly functional CTLs, leading to a durable rejection of both lung tumors and tumor lesions outside the lungs. CD4+ T cells activated in response to inhaled TLR9 play a critical role in this process by controlling the proliferation, preventing exhaustion, and guiding the differentiation of optimally functional CTLs. This study characterizes a strategy to apply localized TLR9 stimulation to a tumor type not accessible for direct injection, a strategy that may expand the therapeutic potential of PD-1 blockade in non-small cell lung cancer.Significance: These findings demonstrate that local delivery of a toll-like receptor 9 agonist can change the immune content of an entire organ and enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/17/4943/F1.large.jpg Cancer Res; 78(17); 4943-56. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hikmat Assi
- Dynavax Technologies Corporation, Berkeley, California
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168
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Hammond E, Haynes NM, Cullinane C, Brennan TV, Bampton D, Handley P, Karoli T, Lanksheer F, Lin L, Yang Y, Dredge K. Immunomodulatory activities of pixatimod: emerging nonclinical and clinical data, and its potential utility in combination with PD-1 inhibitors. J Immunother Cancer 2018; 6:54. [PMID: 29898788 PMCID: PMC6000956 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-018-0363-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pixatimod (PG545) is a novel clinical-stage immunomodulatory agent capable of inhibiting the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) yet also stimulate dendritic cells (DCs), leading to activation of natural killer (NK) cells. Preclinically, pixatimod inhibits heparanase (HPSE) which may be associated with its inhibitory effect on TAMs whereas its immunostimulatory activity on DCs is through the MyD88-dependent TLR9 pathway. Pixatimod recently completed a Phase Ia monotherapy trial in advanced cancer patients. METHODS To characterize the safety of pixatimod administered by intravenous (IV) infusion, a one month toxicology study was conducted to support a Phase Ia monotherapy clinical trial. The relative exposure (AUC) of pixatimod across relevant species was determined and the influence of route of administration on the immunomodulatory activity was also evaluated. Finally, the potential utility of pixatimod in combination with PD-1 inhibition was also investigated using the syngeneic 4T1.2 breast cancer model. RESULTS The nonclinical safety profile revealed that the main toxicities associated with pixatimod are elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, APTT, decreased platelets and other changes symptomatic of modulating the immune system such as pyrexia, changes in WBC subsets, inflammatory changes in liver, spleen and kidney. Though adverse events such as fever, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides were reported in the Phase Ia trial, none were considered dose limiting toxicities and the compound was well tolerated up to 100 mg via IV infusion. Exposure (AUC) up to 100 mg was considered proportional with some accumulation upon repeated dosing, a phenomenon also noted in the toxicology study. The immunomodulatory activity of pixatimod was independent of the route of administration and it enhanced the effectiveness of PD-1 inhibition in a poorly immunogenic tumor model. CONCLUSIONS Pixatimod modulates innate immune cells but also enhances T cell infiltration in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy. The safety and PK profile of the compound supports its ongoing development in a Phase Ib study for advanced cancer/pancreatic adenocarcinoma with the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo®). TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02042781 . First posted: 23 January, 2014 - Retrospectively registered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole M Haynes
- 0000000403978434grid.1055.1Division of Cancer ResearchPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre 3000 Melbourne VIC Australia
- 0000 0001 2179 088Xgrid.1008.9Sir Peter MacCallum Department of OncologyUniversity of Melbourne 3052 Parkville VIC Australia
| | - Carleen Cullinane
- 0000000403978434grid.1055.1Division of Cancer ResearchPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre 3000 Melbourne VIC Australia
- 0000 0001 2179 088Xgrid.1008.9Sir Peter MacCallum Department of OncologyUniversity of Melbourne 3052 Parkville VIC Australia
| | - Todd V Brennan
- 0000000100241216grid.189509.cDepartment of SurgeryDuke University Medical Center 27710 Durham North Carolina USA
| | | | | | - Tomislav Karoli
- Zucero Therapeutics 4076 Brisbane QLD Australia
- Present address: Novasep Kalkstrasse 218 51377 Leverkusen Germany
| | - Fleur Lanksheer
- Progen Pharmaceuticals 4076 Brisbane QLD Australia
- 0000 0000 8831 109Xgrid.266842.cPresent address: School of Humanities and Social ScienceThe University of Newcastle Newcastle NSW Australia
| | - Liwen Lin
- 0000000100241216grid.189509.cDepartment of SurgeryDuke University Medical Center 27710 Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Yiping Yang
- 0000000100241216grid.189509.cDepartments of Medicine and ImmunologyDuke University Medical Center 27710 Durham North Carolina USA
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169
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Helgadottir H, Rocha Trocoli Drakensjö I, Girnita A. Personalized Medicine in Malignant Melanoma: Towards Patient Tailored Treatment. Front Oncol 2018; 8:202. [PMID: 29946532 PMCID: PMC6006716 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite enormous international efforts, skin melanoma is still a major clinical challenge. Melanoma takes a top place among the most common cancer types and it has one of the most rapidly increasing incidences in many countries around the world. Until recent years, there have been limited options for effective systemic treatment of disseminated melanoma. However, lately, we have experienced a rapid advancement in the understanding of the biology and molecular background of the disease. This has led to new molecular classifications and the development of more effective targeted therapies adapted to distinct melanoma subtypes. Not only are these treatments more effective but they can be rationally prescribed to the patients standing to benefit. As such, melanoma management has now become one of the most developed for personalized medicine. The aim of the present paper is to summarize the current knowledge on melanoma molecular classification, predictive markers, combination therapies, as well as emerging new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hildur Helgadottir
- Skin Tumor Center, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Cancer Centrum Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Iara Rocha Trocoli Drakensjö
- Skin Tumor Center, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Cancer Centrum Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ada Girnita
- Skin Tumor Center, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Cancer Centrum Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
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170
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Alam IS, Mayer AT, Sagiv-Barfi I, Wang K, Vermesh O, Czerwinski DK, Johnson EM, James ML, Levy R, Gambhir SS. Imaging activated T cells predicts response to cancer vaccines. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:2569-2580. [PMID: 29596062 DOI: 10.1172/jci98509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In situ cancer vaccines are under active clinical investigation, given their reported ability to eradicate both local and disseminated malignancies. Intratumoral vaccine administration is thought to activate a T cell-mediated immune response, which begins in the treated tumor and cascades systemically. In this study, we describe a PET tracer (64Cu-DOTA-AbOX40) that enabled noninvasive and longitudinal imaging of OX40, a cell-surface marker of T cell activation. We report the spatiotemporal dynamics of T cell activation following in situ vaccination with CpG oligodeoxynucleotide in a dual tumor-bearing mouse model. We demonstrate that OX40 imaging was able to predict tumor responses on day 9 after treatment on the basis of tumor tracer uptake on day 2, with greater accuracy than both anatomical and blood-based measurements. These studies provide key insights into global T cell activation following local CpG treatment and indicate that 64Cu-DOTA-AbOX40 is a promising candidate for monitoring clinical cancer immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israt S Alam
- Department of Radiology.,Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford
| | - Aaron T Mayer
- Department of Radiology.,Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford.,Department of Bioengineering, and
| | - Idit Sagiv-Barfi
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Kezheng Wang
- Department of Radiology.,Department of Radiology, The Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University and Molecular Imaging Center of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ophir Vermesh
- Department of Radiology.,Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford
| | - Debra K Czerwinski
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Emily M Johnson
- Department of Radiology.,Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford.,Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michelle L James
- Department of Radiology.,Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford.,Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ronald Levy
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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171
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TLR Agonists as Adjuvants for Cancer Vaccines. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1024:195-212. [PMID: 28921471 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-5987-2_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are one of the best characterised families of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and play a critical role in the host defence to infection. Accumulating evidence indicates that TLRs also participate in maintaining tissue homeostasis by controlling inflammation and tissue repair, as well as promoting antitumour effects via activation and modulation of adaptive immune responses. TLR agonists have successfully been exploited to ameliorate the efficacy of various cancer therapies. In this chapter, we will discuss the rationales of using TLR agonists as adjuvants to cancer treatments and summarise the recent findings of preclinical and clinical studies of TLR agonist-based cancer therapies.
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172
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Takeda Y, Azuma M, Funami K, Shime H, Matsumoto M, Seya T. Type I Interferon-Independent Dendritic Cell Priming and Antitumor T Cell Activation Induced by a Mycoplasma fermentans Lipopeptide. Front Immunol 2018; 9:496. [PMID: 29593736 PMCID: PMC5861346 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma fermentans-derived diacylated lipoprotein M161Ag (MALP404) is recognized by human/mouse toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/TLR6. Short proteolytic products including macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2 (MALP2) have been utilized as antitumor immune-enhancing adjuvants. We have chemically synthesized a short form of MALP2 named MALP2s (S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)propyl]-CGNNDE). MALP2 and MALP2s provoke natural killer (NK) cell activation in vitro but only poorly induce tumor regression using in vivo mouse models loading NK-sensitive tumors. Here, we identified the functional mechanism of MALP2s on dendritic cell (DC)-priming and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-dependent tumor eradication using CTL-sensitive tumor-implant models EG7 and B16-OVA. Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blockade therapy in combination with MALP2s + ovalbumin (OVA) showed a significant additive effect on tumor growth suppression. MALP2s increased co-stimulators CD80/86 and CD40, which were totally MyD88-dependent, with no participation of toll-IL-1R homology domain-containing adaptor molecule-1 or type I interferon signaling in DC priming. MALP2s + OVA consequently augmented proliferation of OVA-specific CTLs in the spleen and at tumor sites. Chemokines and cytolytic factors were upregulated in the tumor. Strikingly, longer duration and reinvigoration of CTLs in spleen and tumors were accomplished by the addition of MALP2s + OVA to α-PD-L1 antibody (Ab) therapy compared to α-PD-L1 Ab monotherapy. Then, tumors regressed better in the MALP2s/OVA combination than in the α-PD-L1 Ab monotherapy. Hence, MALP2s/tumor-associated antigens combined with α-PD-L1 Ab is a good therapeutic strategy in some mouse models. Unfortunately, numerous patients are still resistant to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, and good DC-priming adjuvants are desired. Cytokine toxicity by MALP2s remains to be settled, which should be improved by chemical modification in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Takeda
- Department of Vaccine Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Azuma
- Department of Vaccine Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kenji Funami
- Department of Vaccine Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Shime
- Department of Vaccine Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Misako Matsumoto
- Department of Vaccine Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Seya
- Department of Vaccine Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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173
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Yang ZZ, Li L, Xu MC, Ju HX, Hao M, Gu JK, Jim Wang ZJ, Jiang HD, Yu LS, Zeng S. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor involved epigenetic repression of UGT2B7 in colorectal carcinoma: A mechanism to alter morphine glucuronidation in tumor. Oncotarget 2018; 8:29138-29150. [PMID: 28418861 PMCID: PMC5438719 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7, as one of significant drug enzymes, is responsible on the glucuronidation of abundant endobiotics or xenobiotics. We here report that it is markedly repressed in the tumor tissues of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients. Accordingly, morphine in CRC cells will stimulate the expression of its main metabolic enzyme, UGT2B7 during tolerance generation by activating the positive signals in histone 3, especially for trimethylated lysine 27 (H3K4Me3) and acetylated lysine 4 (H3K27Ac). Further study reveals that brain-derived neutrophilic factor (BDNF), a secretory neurotrophin, enriched in CRC can interact and inhibit UGT2B7 by primarily blocking the positive signals of H3K4Me3 as well as activating H3K27Ac on the promoter region of UGT2B7. Meanwhile, BDNF repression attributes to the sensitizations of main core factors in poly-comb repressive complex (PRC) 1 rather than PRC2 as the reason of the depression of SUZ12 in the later complex. Besides that, the productions of two main morphine glucuronides are both increased in the BDNF deficient or TSA and BIX-01294 treated morphine tolerance-like HCT-116 cells. On the same condition, active metabolite, morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) was accumulated more than inactive M3G. Our findings imply that enzymatic activity enhancement and substrate regioselective catalysis alteration of UGT2B7 may release morphine tolerance under the cure of tumor-induced pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Zhao Yang
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Drug Metabolism, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Geriatrics, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Ming-Cheng Xu
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Drug Metabolism, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hai-Xing Ju
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Tumor Hospital, Hangzhou, 310022, China
| | - Miao Hao
- Science Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Jing-Kai Gu
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Zai-Jie Jim Wang
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA
| | - Hui-Di Jiang
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Drug Metabolism, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Lu-Shan Yu
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Drug Metabolism, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Su Zeng
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Drug Metabolism, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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174
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Wang Y, Ma R, Liu F, Lee SA, Zhang L. Modulation of Gut Microbiota: A Novel Paradigm of Enhancing the Efficacy of Programmed Death-1 and Programmed Death Ligand-1 Blockade Therapy. Front Immunol 2018; 9:374. [PMID: 29556232 PMCID: PMC5845387 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Blockade of programmed death 1 (PD-1) protein and its ligand programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been used as cancer immunotherapy in recent years, with the blockade of PD-1 being more widely used than blockade of PD-L1. PD-1 and PD-L1 blockade therapy showed benefits in patients with various types of cancer; however, such beneficial effects were seen only in a subgroup of patients. Improving the efficacy of PD-1 and PD-L1 blockade therapy is clearly needed. In this review, we summarize the recent studies on the effects of gut microbiota on PD-1 and PD-L1 blockade and discuss the new perspectives on improving efficacy of PD-1 and PD-L1 blockade therapy in cancer treatment through modulating gut microbiota. We also discuss the possibility that chronic infections or inflammation may impact on PD-1 and PD-L1 blockade therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Wang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rena Ma
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Fang Liu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Seul A Lee
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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175
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Abstract
The promising results of clinical trials using immune checkpoint inhibitors revived interests in cancer immunotherapy. However, it also became apparent that efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade can benefit from combining it with immunostimulatory strategies. Here, we review prior and re-emerging approaches using Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), focused on the generation of antitumor immune responses in cancer patients. While numerous early clinical trials using TLR9 ligands in monotherapies provided evidence of CpG ODNs tolerability and safety, they failed to demonstrate sufficient antitumor efficacy. Recent studies unraveled multiple levels of negative regulation of immunostimulatory TLR9 signaling in immune cells by the tumor microenvironment that can stifle immune activity in cancer patients. Therefore, CpG ODNs-based strategies can greatly benefit from combination with strategies targeting immune checkpoint regulation. The most recent clinical trials of CpG ODNs together with immune checkpoint inhibitors have a chance to generate novel, more effective and safer cancer immunotherapies.
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176
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Moradi-Marjaneh R, Hassanian SM, Fiuji H, Soleimanpour S, Ferns GA, Avan A, Khazaei M. Toll like receptor signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target in colorectal cancer. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:5613-5622. [PMID: 29150944 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Toll like receptor (TLR) signaling is involved in activating innate and adaptive immune responses and plays a critical role in inflammation-induced diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Dysregulation of this signaling pathway can result in disturbance of epithelial layer hemostasis, chronic inflammatory, excessive repair responses, and development of CRC. There is now substantial evidence for the benefit of targeting of this pathway in cancer treatment, and several agents have been approved, such as BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guérin), MPL (monophosphoryl lipid A) and imiquimod. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the different functions of TLRs on tumor cells and their application in cancer therapy with particular emphasis on recent preclinical and clinical research in treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyhaneh Moradi-Marjaneh
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Mahdi Hassanian
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Microanatomy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamid Fiuji
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Saman Soleimanpour
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Amir Avan
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Modern Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Khazaei
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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177
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Li Q, Liu M, Wu M, Zhou X, Wang S, Hu Y, Wang Y, He Y, Zeng X, Chen J, Liu Q, Xiao D, Hu X, Liu W. PLAC1-specific TCR-engineered T cells mediate antigen-specific antitumor effects in breast cancer. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:5924-5932. [PMID: 29556312 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Placenta-specific 1 (PLAC1), a novel cancer-testis antigen (CTA), is expressed in a number of different human malignancies. It is frequently produced in breast cancer, serving a function in tumorigenesis. Adoptive immunotherapy using T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells against CTA mediates objective tumor regression; however, to the best of our knowledge, targeting PLAC1 using engineered T cells has not yet been attempted. In the present study, the cDNAs encoding TCRα- and β-chains specific for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201-restricted PLAC1 were cloned from a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte, generated by in vitro by the stimulation of CD8+ T cells using autologous HLA-A2+ dendritic cells loaded with a PLAC1-specific peptide (p28-36, VLCSIDWFM). The TCRα/β-chains were linked by a 2A peptide linker (TCRα-Thosea asigna virus-TCRβ), and the constructs were cloned into the lentiviral vector, followed by transduction into human cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells. The efficiency of transduction was up to 25.16%, as detected by PLAC1 multimers. TCR-transduced CD8+ T cells, co-cultured with human non-metastatic breast cancer MCF-7 cells (PLAC1+, HLA-A2+) and triple-negative breast cancer MDAMB-231 cells (PLAC1+, HLA-A2+), produced interferon γ and tumor necrosis factor α, suggesting TCR activation. Furthermore, the PLAC1 TCR-transduced CD8+ T cells efficiently and specifically identified and annihilated the HLA-A2+/PLAC1+ breast cancer cell lines in a lactate dehydrogenase activity assay. Western blot analysis demonstrated that TCR transduction stimulated the production of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling molecules, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 and nuclear factor-κB, through phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ-mediated phosphorylation of protein kinase B in CD8+ T cells. Xenograft mouse assays revealed that PLAC1 TCR-transduced CD8+T cells significantly delayed the tumor progression in mice-bearing breast cancer compared with normal saline or negative control-transduced groups. In conclusion, a novel HLA-A2-restricted and PLAC1-specific TCR was identified. The present study demonstrated PLAC1 to be a potential target for breast cancer treatment; and the usage of PLAC1-specific TCR-engineered T cells may be a novel strategy for PLAC1-positive breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongshu Li
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy Research and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology Research, Cancer Research Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Muyun Liu
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
| | - Man Wu
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
| | - Shaobin Wang
- Interventional and Minimally Invasive Oncology Therapy Department, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518035, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Hu
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
| | - Youfu Wang
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
| | - Yixin He
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoping Zeng
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
| | - Junhui Chen
- Interventional and Minimally Invasive Oncology Therapy Department, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518035, P.R. China
| | - Qubo Liu
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
| | - Dong Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy Research and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology Research, Cancer Research Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Hu
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
| | - Weibin Liu
- Shenzhen Beike Cell Engineering Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R. China
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178
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Liu C, Chu X, Sun P, Feng X, Huang W, Liu H, Ma Y. Synergy effects of Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, and cationic peptides to adjuvant HPV E7 epitope vaccine through preventive and therapeutic immunization in a TC-1 grafted mouse model. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 14:931-940. [PMID: 29271696 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1420446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cross-talk by pattern recognition receptors may facilitate the maturation of dendritic cells and fine tune the immune response. Thus, the inclusion of ligands agonistic to multiple receptors in a vaccine formula may be an effective strategy to elicit robust antitumor cellular immunity. We tested the adjuvant effects and possible synergy of CpG (CpG oligodeoxynucleotide), Poly I:C (polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid) and the cationic peptide Cramp (cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide) formulated in a DOTAP (1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane) liposomal HPV E7 epitope vaccine on a TC-1 grafted mouse model. The vaccine formulations were administered both preventively and therapeutically. Based on our results, both CpG and Poly I:C-adjuvanted vaccines abolished tumor development in a preventive trial and significantly suppressed tumor growth in a therapeutic trial. Increased interferon (IFN)-γ expression and potent memory T cells in splenocytes as well as elevated CD8+IFN-γ+ cells in both spleen and tumor tissue indicated an elevated E744-62-specific cellular immune response. Although synergistic effects were detected between CpG and Poly I:C, their adjuvant effects were not enhanced further when combined with Cramp. Because the enhancement of tumor antigen-specific cellular immune responses is vital for the clearance of infected and cancerous cells, our results contribute a potential adjuvant combination for cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunbao Liu
- a Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Beijing , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China
| | - Xiaojie Chu
- a Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Beijing , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China
| | - Pengyan Sun
- a Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Beijing , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China
| | - Xuejun Feng
- a Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Beijing , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China
| | - Weiwei Huang
- a Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Beijing , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China
| | - Hongxian Liu
- a Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Beijing , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China
| | - Yanbing Ma
- a Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Beijing , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases , Kunming , China
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179
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Xu-Monette ZY, Zhang M, Li J, Young KH. PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade: Have We Found the Key to Unleash the Antitumor Immune Response? Front Immunol 2017; 8:1597. [PMID: 29255458 PMCID: PMC5723106 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PD-1–PD-L1 interaction is known to drive T cell dysfunction, which can be blocked by anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies. However, studies have also shown that the function of the PD-1–PD-L1 axis is affected by the complex immunologic regulation network, and some CD8+ T cells can enter an irreversible dysfunctional state that cannot be rescued by PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. In most advanced cancers, except Hodgkin lymphoma (which has high PD-L1/L2 expression) and melanoma (which has high tumor mutational burden), the objective response rate with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy is only ~20%, and immune-related toxicities and hyperprogression can occur in a small subset of patients during PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy. The lack of efficacy in up to 80% of patients was not necessarily associated with negative PD-1 and PD-L1 expression, suggesting that the roles of PD-1/PD-L1 in immune suppression and the mechanisms of action of antibodies remain to be better defined. In addition, important immune regulatory mechanisms within or outside of the PD-1/PD-L1 network need to be discovered and targeted to increase the response rate and to reduce the toxicities of immune checkpoint blockade therapies. This paper reviews the major functional and clinical studies of PD-1/PD-L1, including those with discrepancies in the pathologic and biomarker role of PD-1 and PD-L1 and the effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. The goal is to improve understanding of the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy, as well as enhance the development of therapeutic strategies to overcome the resistance mechanisms and unleash the antitumor immune response to combat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijun Y Xu-Monette
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jianyong Li
- Department of Hematology, JiangSu Province Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of NanJing Medical University, NanJing, JiangSu Province, China
| | - Ken H Young
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,Graduate School of Biomedical Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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180
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Sato-Kaneko F, Yao S, Ahmadi A, Zhang SS, Hosoya T, Kaneda MM, Varner JA, Pu M, Messer KS, Guiducci C, Coffman RL, Kitaura K, Matsutani T, Suzuki R, Carson DA, Hayashi T, Cohen EE. Combination immunotherapy with TLR agonists and checkpoint inhibitors suppresses head and neck cancer. JCI Insight 2017; 2:93397. [PMID: 28931759 PMCID: PMC5621908 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.93397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the majority of patients do not benefit from these agents. To improve the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors, intratumoral (i.t.) injection with innate immune activators, TLR7 and TLR9 agonists, were tested along with programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1) blockade. The combination therapy suppressed tumor growth at the primary injected and distant sites in human papillomavirus-negative (HPV-negative) SCC7 and MOC1, and HPV-positive MEER syngeneic mouse models. Abscopal effects and suppression of secondary challenged tumor suggest that local treatment with TLR agonists in combination with anti-PD-1 provided systemic adaptive immunity. I.t. treatment with a TLR7 agonist increased the ratio of M1 to M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and promoted the infiltration of tumor-specific IFNγ-producing CD8+ T cells. Anti-PD-1 treatment increased T cell receptor (TCR) clonality of CD8+ T cells in tumors and spleens of treated mice. Collectively, these experiments demonstrate that combination therapy with i.t. delivery of TLR agonists and PD-1 blockade activates TAMs and induces tumor-specific adaptive immune responses, leading to suppression of primary tumor growth and prevention of metastasis in HNSCC models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shiyin Yao
- Moores Cancer Center, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Alast Ahmadi
- Moores Cancer Center, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Minya Pu
- Moores Cancer Center, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kazutaka Kitaura
- Repertoire Genesis Inc., Saito Bioincubator, Saito-Asagai, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takaji Matsutani
- Repertoire Genesis Inc., Saito Bioincubator, Saito-Asagai, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryuji Suzuki
- Repertoire Genesis Inc., Saito Bioincubator, Saito-Asagai, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka, Japan
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181
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Frey B, Rückert M, Weber J, Mayr X, Derer A, Lotter M, Bert C, Rödel F, Fietkau R, Gaipl US. Hypofractionated Irradiation Has Immune Stimulatory Potential and Induces a Timely Restricted Infiltration of Immune Cells in Colon Cancer Tumors. Front Immunol 2017; 8:231. [PMID: 28337197 PMCID: PMC5340766 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to locally controlling the tumor, hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) particularly aims to activate immune cells in the RT-modified microenvironment. Therefore, we examined whether hypofractionated RT can activate dendritic cells (DCs), induce immune cell infiltration in tumors, and how the chronology of immune cell migration into tumors occurs to gain knowledge for future definition of radiation breaks and inclusion of immunotherapy. Colorectal cancer treatments offer only limited survival benefit, and immunobiological principles for additional therapies need to be explored with preclinical models. The impact of hypofractionated RT on CT26 colon cancer tumor cell death, migration of DCs toward supernatants (SN) of tumor cells, and activation of DCs by SN were analyzed. The subcutaneous tumor of a BALB/c-CT26 mouse model was locally irradiated with 2 × 5 Gy, the tumor volume was monitored, and the infiltration of immune cells in the tumor was determined by flow cytometry daily. Hypofractionated RT induced a mixture of apoptotic and necrotic CT26 cells, which is known to be in particular immunogenic. DCs that migrated toward SN of CT26 cells particularly upregulated the activation markers CD80 and CD86 when in contact with SN of irradiated tumor cells. After hypofractionated RT, the tumor outgrowth was significantly retarded and in the irradiated tumors an increased infiltration of macrophages (CD11bhigh/F4-80+) and DCs (MHC-II+), but only between day 5 and 10 after the first irradiation, takes place. While CD4+ T cells migrated into non-irradiated and irradiated tumors, CD8+ T cells were only found in tumors that had been irradiated and they were highly increased at day 8 after the first irradiation. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells show regular turnover in irradiated and non-irradiated tumors. Tumor cell-specific anti-IgM antibodies were enhanced in the serum of animals with irradiated tumors. We conclude that hypofractionated RT suffices to activate DCs and to induce infiltration of innate and adaptive immune cells into solid colorectal tumors. However, the presence of immune cells in the tumor which are beneficial for antitumor immune responses is timely restricted. These findings should be considered when innovative multimodal tumor treatment protocols of distinct RT with immune therapies are designed and clinically implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Frey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Michael Rückert
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Julia Weber
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Xaver Mayr
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Anja Derer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Michael Lotter
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Christoph Bert
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Franz Rödel
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Johann Wolfgang-Goethe Universität , Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Rainer Fietkau
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Udo S Gaipl
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
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