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Natural Killer Cells: the Missing Link in Effective Treatment for High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2022; 23:210-226. [PMID: 35192139 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-021-00929-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT Ovarian cancer (OC), especially high-grade serous cancer (HGSC), is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with limited options for curative treatment and a high frequency of relapse. Interactions between OC and the immune system may permit immunoediting and immune escape, and current standard of care therapies can influence immune cell infiltration and function within the tumor microenvironment. Natural killer (NK) cells are involved in cancer immunosurveillance and immunoediting and can be activated by therapy, but deliberate approaches to maximize NK cell reactivity for treatment of HGSC are in their infancy. NK cells may be the ideal target for immunotherapy of HGSC. The diverse functions of NK cells, and their established roles in immunosurveillance, make them attractive candidates for more precise and effective HGSC treatment. NK cells' functional capabilities differ because of variation in receptor expression and genetics, with meaningful impacts on their anticancer activity. Studying HGSC:NK cell interactions will define the features that predict the best outcomes for patients with the disease, but the highly diverse nature of HGSC will likely require combination therapies or approaches to simultaneously target multiple, co-existing features of the tumor to avoid tumor escape and relapse. We expect that the ideal therapy will enable NK cell infiltration and activity, reverse immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment, and enable effector functions against the diverse subpopulations that comprise HGSC.
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202
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Passaro A, Brahmer J, Antonia S, Mok T, Peters S. Managing Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung Cancer: Treatment and Novel Strategies. J Clin Oncol 2022; 40:598-610. [PMID: 34985992 DOI: 10.1200/jco.21.01845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A proportion of patients with lung cancer experience long-term clinical benefit with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, most patients develop disease progression during treatment or after treatment discontinuation. Definitions of immune resistance are heterogeneous according to different clinical and biologic features. Primary resistance and acquired resistance, related to tumor-intrinsic and tumor-extrinsic mechanisms, are identified according to previous response patterns and timing of occurrence. The clinical resistance patterns determine differential clinical approaches. To date, several combination therapies are under development to delay or prevent the occurrence of resistance to ICIs, including the blockade of immune coinhibitory signals, the activation of those with costimulatory functions, the modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and the targeting T-cell priming. Tailoring the specific treatments with distinctive biologic resistance mechanisms would be ideal to improve the design and results of clinical trial. In this review, we reviewed the available evidence on immune resistance mechanisms, clinical definitions, and management of resistance to ICIs in lung cancer. We also reviewed data on novel strategies under investigation in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Passaro
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Julie Brahmer
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Tony Mok
- State Key Laboratory in Translational Oncology, Department of Clinical Oncology Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Solange Peters
- Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
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203
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Arnaiz E, Harris AL. Role of Hypoxia in the Interferon Response. Front Immunol 2022; 13:821816. [PMID: 35251003 PMCID: PMC8895238 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.821816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In solid tumors, as the tumor grows and the disease progresses, hypoxic regions are often generated, but in contrast to most normal cells which cannot survive under these conditions, tumour cells adapt to hypoxia by HIF-driven mechanisms. Hypoxia can further promote cancer development by generating an immunosuppressive environment within the tumour mass, which allows tumour cells to escape the immune system recognition. This is achieved by recruiting immunosuppressive cells and by upregulating molecules which block immune cell activation. Hypoxia can also confer resistance to antitumor therapies by inducing the expression of membrane proteins that increase drug efflux or by inhibiting the apoptosis of treated cells. In addition, tumor cells require an active interferon (IFN) signalling pathway for the success of many anticancer therapies, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Therefore, hypoxic effects on this pathway needs to be addressed for a successful treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Arnaiz
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian L. Harris
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Adrian L. Harris,
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204
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Landscape of Immunotherapy Options for Colorectal Cancer: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives beyond Immune Checkpoint Blockade. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020229. [PMID: 35207516 PMCID: PMC8878674 DOI: 10.3390/life12020229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent malignancy in Western countries and a major cause of death despite recent improvements in screening programs and early detection methods. In the last decade, a growing effort has been put into better understanding how the immune system interacts with cancer cells. Even if treatments with immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD1, anti-PD-L1, anti-CTLA4) were proven effective for several cancer types, the benefit for colorectal cancer patients is still limited. However, a subset of patients with deficient mismatch repair (dMMR)/microsatellite-instability-high (MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer has been observed to have a prolonged benefit to immune checkpoint inhibitors. As a result, pembrolizumab and nivolumab +/− ipilimumab recently obtained the Food and Drug Administration approval. This review aims to highlight the body of knowledge on immunotherapy in the colorectal cancer setting, discussing the potential mechanisms of resistance and future strategies to extend its use.
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205
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Shum B, Larkin J, Turajlic S. Predictive biomarkers for response to immune checkpoint inhibition. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 79:4-17. [PMID: 33819567 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the prognosis and treatment paradigm of many cancer types, through the potential for durable responses. However, the majority of patients still do not benefit. Response to checkpoint inhibition is determined by dynamic host, tumour and tumour microenvironment factors that display spatial and temporal variability, but our understanding of these interactions is incomplete. Through investigating biomarkers of resistance and response, opportunities arise to discover new therapeutic targets and shape personalised treatment strategies. Here we review approved and emerging biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, in particular the recent rapid progress in host and tumour genomics. It is unlikely that a single biomarker will precisely predict response, but multivariate multiomic markers may provide a balanced assessment of these factors and more accurately identify patients who will benefit. Further efforts are required to translate these groundbreaking discoveries into novel therapeutics and biomarker driven clinical trials, to provide durable treatment response to a greater population of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Shum
- Renal and Skin Units, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK; Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - James Larkin
- Renal and Skin Units, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Samra Turajlic
- Renal and Skin Units, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK; Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
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206
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Roetman JJ, Apostolova MKI, Philip M. Viral and cellular oncogenes promote immune evasion. Oncogene 2022; 41:921-929. [PMID: 35022539 PMCID: PMC8851748 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02145-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thirteen percent of cancers worldwide are associated with viral infections. While many human oncogenic viruses are widely endemic, very few infected individuals develop cancer. This raises the question why oncogenic viruses encode viral oncogenes if they can replicate and spread between human hosts without causing cancer. Interestingly, viral infection triggers innate immune signaling pathways that in turn activate tumor suppressors such as p53, suggesting that tumor suppressors may have evolved not primarily to prevent cancer, but to thwart viral infection. Here, we summarize and compare several major immune evasion strategies used by viral and non-viral cancers, with a focus on oncogenes that play dual roles in promoting tumorigenicity and immune evasion. By highlighting important and illustrative examples of how oncogenic viruses evade the immune system, we aim to shed light on how non-viral cancers avoid immune detection. Further study and understanding of how viral and non-viral oncogenes impact immune function could lead to improved strategies to combine molecular therapies targeting oncoproteins in combination with immunomodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Roetman
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Minna K I Apostolova
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mary Philip
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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207
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Chen X, Zhang W, Yang W, Zhou M, Liu F. Acquired resistance for immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy: challenges and prospects. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:1048-1064. [PMID: 35037899 PMCID: PMC8833108 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Drug resistance has become an obstacle to the further development of immunotherapy in clinical applications and experimental studies. In the current review, the acquired resistance to immunotherapy was examined. The mechanisms of acquired resistance were based on three aspects as follows: The change of the tumor functions, the upregulated expression of inhibitory immune checkpoint proteins, and the effects of the tumor microenvironment. The combined use of immunotherapy and other therapies is performed to delay acquired resistance. A comprehensive understanding of acquired drug resistance may provide ideas for solving this dilemma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunrui Chen
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Wenyan Yang
- Medical Center, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China
| | - Min Zhou
- Department of Respirtory Medicine, Jinshan Branch of the Sixth People’s Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai 201599, P.R. China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China
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208
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Chhibber A, Huang L, Zhang H, Xu J, Cristescu R, Liu X, Mehrotra DV, Shen J, Shaw PM, Hellmann MD, Snyder A. Germline HLA landscape does not predict efficacy of pembrolizumab monotherapy across solid tumor types. Immunity 2022; 55:56-64.e4. [PMID: 34986342 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the impact of class I and class II human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes, heterozygosity, and diversity on the efficacy of pembrolizumab. Seventeen pembrolizumab clinical trials across eight tumor types and one basket trial in patients with advanced solid tumors were included (n > 3,500 analyzed). Germline DNA was genotyped using a custom genotyping array. HLA diversity (measured by heterozygosity and evolutionary divergence) across class I loci was not associated with improved response to pembrolizumab, either within each tumor type evaluated or across all patients. Similarly, HLA heterozygosity at each class I and class II gene was not associated with response to pembrolizumab after accounting for the number of tests conducted. No conclusive association between HLA genotype and response to pembrolizumab was identified in this dataset. Germline HLA genotype or diversity alone is not an important independent determinant of response to pembrolizumab and should not be used for clinical decision-making in patients treated with pembrolizumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Chhibber
- Department of Biomarker and Genome Sciences, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Lingkang Huang
- Department of Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Jialin Xu
- Department of Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Razvan Cristescu
- Department of Biomarker and Genome Sciences, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Xiaoqiao Liu
- Department of Biomarker and Genome Sciences, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Devan V Mehrotra
- Department of Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Judong Shen
- Department of Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Peter M Shaw
- Department of Biomarker and Genome Sciences, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
| | - Matthew D Hellmann
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Alexandra Snyder
- Department of Medical Oncology, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
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209
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Wang Q, Xie B, Liu S, Shi Y, Tao Y, Xiao D, Wang W. What Happens to the Immune Microenvironment After PD-1 Inhibitor Therapy? Front Immunol 2022; 12:773168. [PMID: 35003090 PMCID: PMC8733588 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.773168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The fruitful results of tumor immunotherapy establish its indispensable status in the regulation of the tumorous immune context. It seems that the treatment of programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) blockade is one of the most promising approaches for cancer control. The significant efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor therapy has been made in several cancer types, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and multiple myeloma. Even so, the mechanisms of how anti-PD-1 therapy takes effect by impacting the immune microenvironment and how partial patients acquire the resistance to PD-1 blockade have yet to be studied. In this review, we discuss the cross talk between immune cells and how they promote PD-1 blockade efficacy. In addition, we also depict factors that may underlie tumor resistance to PD-1 blockade and feasible solutions in combination with it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyi Wang
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Xie
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yongguang Tao
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University), Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Precision Therapy, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Desheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wenxiang Wang
- Department of the 2nd Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
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210
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Genova C, Dellepiane C, Carrega P, Sommariva S, Ferlazzo G, Pronzato P, Gangemi R, Filaci G, Coco S, Croce M. Therapeutic Implications of Tumor Microenvironment in Lung Cancer: Focus on Immune Checkpoint Blockade. Front Immunol 2022; 12:799455. [PMID: 35069581 PMCID: PMC8777268 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.799455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been revolutionized by the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) directed against programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), or cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4). In spite of these improvements, some patients do not achieve any benefit from ICI, and inevitably develop resistance to therapy over time. Tumor microenvironment (TME) might influence response to immunotherapy due to its prominent role in the multiple interactions between neoplastic cells and the immune system. Studies investigating lung cancer from the perspective of TME pointed out a complex scenario where tumor angiogenesis, soluble factors, immune suppressive/regulatory elements and cells composing TME itself participate to tumor growth. In this review, we point out the current state of knowledge involving the relationship between tumor cells and the components of TME in NSCLC as well as their interactions with immunotherapy providing an update on novel predictors of benefit from currently employed ICI or new therapeutic targets of investigational agents. In first place, increasing evidence suggests that TME might represent a promising biomarker of sensitivity to ICI, based on the presence of immune-modulating cells, such as Treg, myeloid derived suppressor cells, and tumor associated macrophages, which are known to induce an immunosuppressive environment, poorly responsive to ICI. Consequently, multiple clinical studies have been designed to influence TME towards a pro-immunogenic state and subsequently improve the activity of ICI. Currently, the mostly employed approach relies on the association of "classic" ICI targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and novel agents directed on molecules, such as LAG-3 and TIM-3. To date, some trials have already shown promising results, while a multitude of prospective studies are ongoing, and their results might significantly influence the future approach to cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Genova
- UO Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (DIMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Chiara Dellepiane
- Lung Cancer Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Carrega
- Dipartimento di Patologia Umana, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Sara Sommariva
- SuPerconducting and Other INnovative Materials and Devices Institute, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-SPIN), Genova, Italy
- Life Science Computational Laboratory (LISCOMP), IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Guido Ferlazzo
- Dipartimento di Patologia Umana, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Paolo Pronzato
- UO Oncologia Medica 2, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Rosaria Gangemi
- UO Bioterapie, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Gilberto Filaci
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche (DIMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
- UO Bioterapie, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Simona Coco
- Lung Cancer Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Michela Croce
- UO Bioterapie, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
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211
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Aoki T, Nishida N, Kudo M. Current Perspectives on the Immunosuppressive Niche and Role of Fibrosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and the Development of Antitumor Immunity. J Histochem Cytochem 2022; 70:53-81. [PMID: 34751050 PMCID: PMC8721576 DOI: 10.1369/00221554211056853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have become the mainstay of treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, they are ineffective in some cases. Previous studies have reported that genetic alterations in oncogenic pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin are the important triggers in HCC for primary refractoriness. T-cell exhaustion has been reported in various tumors and is likely to play a prominent role in the emergence of HCC due to chronic inflammation and cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction. Immunosuppressive cells including regulatory T-cells and tumor-associated macrophages infiltrating the tumor are associated with hyperprogressive disease in the early stages of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. In addition, stellate cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts create an abundant desmoplastic environment by producing extracellular matrix. This strongly contributes to epithelial to mesenchymal transition via signaling activities including transforming growth factor beta, Wnt/β-catenin, and Hippo pathway. The abundant desmoplastic environment has been demonstrated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma to suppress cytotoxic T-cell infiltration, PD-L1 expression, and neoantigen expression, resulting in a highly immunosuppressive niche. It is possible that a similar immunosuppressive environment is created in HCC with advanced fibrosis in the background liver. Although sufficient understanding is required for the establishment of immune therapies of HCC, further investigations are still required in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Aoki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Naoshi Nishida
- Naoshi Nishida, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, Osaka-Sayama 589-8511, Japan. E-mail:
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
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212
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Yang F, Wang JF, Wang Y, Liu B, Molina JR. Comparative Analysis of Predictive Biomarkers for PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Cancers: Developments and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010109. [PMID: 35008273 PMCID: PMC8750062 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has greatly changed the treatment landscape of multiple malignancies. However, the wide administration of ICIs is mainly obstructed by the low response rate and several life-threatening adverse events. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify sets of biomarkers to predict which patients will respond to ICIs. In this review, we discuss the recently investigated molecular and clinical determinants of ICI response, from the aspects of tumor features, clinical features, as well as tumor microenvironment. Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) have dramatically changed the landscape of cancer therapy. Both remarkable and durable responses have been observed in patients with melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and other malignancies. However, the PD-1/PD-L1 blockade has demonstrated meaningful clinical responses and benefits in only a subset of patients. In addition, several severe and life-threatening adverse events were observed in these patients. Therefore, the identification of predictive biomarkers is urgently needed to select patients who are more likely to benefit from ICI therapy. PD-L1 expression level is the most commonly used biomarker in clinical practice for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. However, negative PD-L1 expression cannot reliably exclude a response to a PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Other factors, such as tumor microenvironment and other tumor genomic signatures, appear to impact the response to ICIs. In this review, we examine emerging data for novel biomarkers that may have a predictive value for optimizing the benefit from anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School and Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China;
| | | | - Yucai Wang
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
| | - Baorui Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School and Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China;
- Correspondence: (B.L.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Julian R. Molina
- Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Correspondence: (B.L.); (J.R.M.)
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213
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Li N, Wang J, Zhan X. Identification of Immune-Related Gene Signatures in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2021; 12:752643. [PMID: 34887858 PMCID: PMC8649721 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.752643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that immunotherapy helped to improve the survival and quality-of-life of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) or lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) besides chemotherapy and gene targeting treatment. This study aimed to develop immune-related gene signatures in LUAD and LUSC subtypes, respectively. LUAD and LUSC samples were divided into high- and low-abundance groups of immune cell infiltration (Immunity_H and Immunity_L) based on the abundance of immune cell infiltrations. The distribution of immune cells was significantly different between the high- and low-immunity subtypes in LUAD and LUSC samples. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between those two groups in LUAD and LUSC contain some key immune-related genes, such as PDL1, PD1, CTLA-4, and HLA families. The DEGs were enriched in multiple immune-related pathways. Furthermore, the seven-immune-related-gene-signature (CD1B, CHRNA6, CLEC12B, CLEC17A, CLNK, INHA, and SLC14A2) prognostic model-based high- and low-risk groups were significantly associated with LUAD overall survival and clinical characteristics. The eight-immune-related-gene-signature (C4BPB, FCAMR, GRAPL, MAP1LC3C, MGC2889, TRIM55, UGT1A1, and VIPR2) prognostic model-based high- and low-risk groups were significantly associated with LUSC overall survival and clinical characteristics. The prognostic models were tested as good ones by receiver operating characteristic, principal component analysis, univariate and multivariate analysis, and nomogram. The verifications of these two immune-related-gene-signature prognostic models showed consistency in the train and test cohorts of LUAD and LUSC. In addition, patients with LUAD in the low-risk group responded better to immunotherapy than those in the high-risk group. This study revealed two reliable immune-related-gene-signature models that were significantly associated with prognosis and tumor microenvironment cell infiltration in LUAD and LUSC, respectively. Evaluation of the integrated characterization of multiple immune-related genes and pathways could help to predict the response to immunotherapy and monitor immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.,Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Jiahong Wang
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianquan Zhan
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.,Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.,Gastroenterology Research Institute and Clinical Center, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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214
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Schoenfeld AJ, Antonia SJ, Awad MM, Felip E, Gainor J, Gettinger SN, Hodi FS, Johnson ML, Leighl NB, Lovly CM, Mok T, Perol M, Reck M, Solomon B, Soria JC, Tan DSW, Peters S, Hellmann MD. Clinical definition of acquired resistance to immunotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Ann Oncol 2021; 32:1597-1607. [PMID: 34487855 DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2021.08.2151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Acquired resistance (AR) to programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 [PD-(L)1] blockade is frequent in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), occurring in a majority of initial responders. Patients with AR may have unique properties of persistent antitumor immunity that could be re-harnessed by investigational immunotherapies. The absence of a consistent clinical definition of AR to PD-(L)1 blockade and lack of uniform criteria for ensuing enrollment in clinical trials remains a major barrier to progress; such clinical definitions have advanced biologic and therapeutic discovery. We examine the considerations and potential controversies in developing a patient-level definition of AR in NSCLC treated with PD-(L)1 blockade. Taking into account the specifics of NSCLC biology and corresponding treatment strategies, we propose a practical, clinical definition of AR to PD-(L)1 blockade for use in clinical reports and prospective clinical trials. Patients should meet the following criteria: received treatment that includes PD-(L)1 blockade; experienced objective response on PD-(L)1 blockade (inclusion of a subset of stable disease will require future investigation); have progressive disease occurring within 6 months of last anti-PD-(L)1 antibody treatment or rechallenge with anti-PD-(L)1 antibody in patients not exposed to anti-PD-(L)1 in 6 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Schoenfeld
- Thoracic Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA; Druckenmiller Center for Lung Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - S J Antonia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | - M M Awad
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - E Felip
- Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Gainor
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - S N Gettinger
- Department of Medicine, Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - F S Hodi
- Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - M L Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, USA
| | - N B Leighl
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - C M Lovly
- Department of Medicine and Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| | - T Mok
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - M Perol
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - M Reck
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research, LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - B Solomon
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia
| | - J-C Soria
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - D S W Tan
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - S Peters
- Oncology Department, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - M D Hellmann
- Thoracic Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA.
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215
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Arnal-Estapé A, Foggetti G, Starrett JH, Nguyen DX, Politi K. Preclinical Models for the Study of Lung Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy Development. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:a037820. [PMID: 34518338 PMCID: PMC8634791 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a037820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Experimental preclinical models have been a cornerstone of lung cancer translational research. Work in these model systems has provided insights into the biology of lung cancer subtypes and their origins, contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie tumor progression, and revealed new therapeutic vulnerabilities. Initially patient-derived lung cancer cell lines were the main preclinical models available. The landscape is very different now with numerous preclinical models for research each with unique characteristics. These include genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and three-dimensional culture systems ("organoid" cultures). Here we review the development and applications of these models and describe their contributions to lung cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Arnal-Estapé
- Department of Pathology
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
| | | | | | - Don X Nguyen
- Department of Pathology
- Department of Internal Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology)
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
| | - Katerina Politi
- Department of Pathology
- Department of Internal Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology)
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
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216
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Maggs L, Sadagopan A, Moghaddam AS, Ferrone S. HLA class I antigen processing machinery defects in antitumor immunity and immunotherapy. Trends Cancer 2021; 7:1089-1101. [PMID: 34489208 PMCID: PMC8651070 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigen-processing machinery (APM) plays a crucial role in the synthesis and expression of HLA class I tumor antigen-derived peptide complexes; the latter mediate the recognition and elimination of malignant cells by cognate T cells. Defects in HLA class I APM component expression and/or function are frequently found in cancer cells, providing them with an immune escape mechanism that has relevance in the clinical course of the disease and in the response to T-cell-based immunotherapy. The majority of HLA class I APM defects (>75%) are caused by epigenetic mechanisms or dysregulated signaling and therefore can be corrected by strategies that counteract the underlying mechanisms. Their application in oncology is likely to improve responses to T-cell-based immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Maggs
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ananthan Sadagopan
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ali Sanjari Moghaddam
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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217
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Ledys F, Kalfeist L, Galland L, Limagne E, Ladoire S. Therapeutic Associations Comprising Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 in Breast Cancer: Clinical Challenges and Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5999. [PMID: 34885109 PMCID: PMC8656936 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13235999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite a few cases of long-responder patients, immunotherapy with anti-PD-(L)1 has so far proved rather disappointing in monotherapy in metastatic breast cancer, prompting the use of synergistic therapeutic combinations incorporating immunotherapy by immune-checkpoint inhibitors. In addition, a better understanding of both the mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to immunotherapy, as well as the immunological effects of the usual treatments for breast cancer, make it possible to rationally consider this type of therapeutic combination. For several years, certain treatments, commonly used to treat patients with breast cancer, have shown that in addition to their direct cytotoxic effects, they may have an impact on the tumor immune microenvironment, by increasing the antigenicity and/or immunogenicity of a "cold" tumor, targeting the immunosuppressive microenvironment or counteracting the immune-exclusion profile. This review focuses on preclinical immunologic synergic mechanisms of various standard therapeutic approaches with anti-PD-(L)1, and discusses the potential clinical use of anti-PD-1/L1 combinations in metastatic or early breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Ledys
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (F.L.); (L.K.); (L.G.); (E.L.)
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Burgundy Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
- UMR INSERM 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Laura Kalfeist
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (F.L.); (L.K.); (L.G.); (E.L.)
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Burgundy Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
- UMR INSERM 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Loick Galland
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (F.L.); (L.K.); (L.G.); (E.L.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Emeric Limagne
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (F.L.); (L.K.); (L.G.); (E.L.)
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Burgundy Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
- UMR INSERM 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Sylvain Ladoire
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (F.L.); (L.K.); (L.G.); (E.L.)
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Burgundy Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
- UMR INSERM 1231, Lipides Nutrition Cancer, 21000 Dijon, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France
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218
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Zhang H, Dong W, Zhao H, Zeng Z, Zhang F, Hu Y, Li Q, Chen J, Meng E, Xiao W. Homozygous deletion of the HLA-B gene as an acquired-resistance mechanism to nivolumab in a patient with lung adenocarcinoma: a case report. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1506. [PMID: 34805368 PMCID: PMC8573430 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-3825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have greatly improved the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Patients treated with ICIs can have long-term clinical outcomes; however, acquired resistance to ICI therapy has been frequently observed. To date, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we report the case of a male smoker with metastatic LUAD who initially received multi-line radiotherapy and chemotherapy and achieved stable disease (SD) for almost 10 years. The patient was treated with nivolumab for about 15 months. However, the disease later progressed rapidly. A genetic profile of the patient revealed the homozygous deletion of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B gene, which may have conferred the acquired resistance. Our study is the first to describe the homozygous deletion of the HLA-B gene as an acquired-resistance mechanism to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade in a patient with LUAD. This evidence suggests that tumor cells can selectively lose HLA-A, B, and C to survive under strong immune pressure. This discovery enriches and develops our understanding of the mechanism of drug resistance in ICI therapy in LUAD. However, further investigations are urgently needed to be conducted to determine how this resistance can be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Dong
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huixia Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyan Zeng
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fengyun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanyan Hu
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuwen Li
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Chen
- ChosenMed Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Erhong Meng
- ChosenMed Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhua Xiao
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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219
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Antimetastatic defense by CD8 + T cells. Trends Cancer 2021; 8:145-157. [PMID: 34815204 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is an intricate process whereby tumor cells migrate from the primary tumor, survive in the circulation, seed distal organs, and proliferate to create metastatic foci. CD8+ T cells can detect and eliminate tumor cells. Research on CD8+ T cell-dependent antitumor immunity has classically focused on its role in the primary tumor. There is increasing evidence, however, that CD8+ T cells have unique antimetastatic functions in various steps of the metastatic cascade. Here, we review the mechanisms whereby CD8+ T cells control metastatic lesions. We discuss their role in each step of metastasis, metastatic dormancy, and metastatic clonal evolution as well as the consequent clinical repercussions.
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220
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Ren K, Peng Q, Ding G, Yu Y, Huang T, Gong L, Yu T, Yang L. Potential biomarkers and resistance mechanisms of atezolizumab in a patient with lung squamous cell carcinoma. Immunotherapy 2021; 14:15-21. [PMID: 34763535 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2020-0325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: At present, only a small fraction of patients with cancer benefit from treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, the reasons for which are not fully understood. Monitoring molecular and immunologic changes during treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors would help to identify potential biomarkers and mechanisms associated with resistance and guide subsequent treatment. Methods: The authors report on a patient previously treated for lung squamous cell carcinoma who received atezolizumab-based therapy for 24 months. Results & Conclusion: Analysis of samples before and after atezolizumab treatment suggested that genetic mutations in EGFR exon 20 insertion, phosphatase and PTEN and NOTCH1 as well as changes in tumor immune microenvironment may be associated with acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangqi Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, PR China
| | - Quanzhou Peng
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, PR China
| | - Guanggui Ding
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, PR China
| | - Yefeng Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, PR China
| | - Tonghai Huang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, PR China
| | - Longlong Gong
- Genecast Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 88 Danshan Road, Xidong Chuangrong Building, Suite D-401, Xishan District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu, 214104, PR China
| | - Tao Yu
- Genecast Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 88 Danshan Road, Xidong Chuangrong Building, Suite D-401, Xishan District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu, 214104, PR China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, 1017 Dongmen North Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, PR China
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221
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Au L, Hatipoglu E, Robert de Massy M, Litchfield K, Beattie G, Rowan A, Schnidrig D, Thompson R, Byrne F, Horswell S, Fotiadis N, Hazell S, Nicol D, Shepherd STC, Fendler A, Mason R, Del Rosario L, Edmonds K, Lingard K, Sarker S, Mangwende M, Carlyle E, Attig J, Joshi K, Uddin I, Becker PD, Sunderland MW, Akarca A, Puccio I, Yang WW, Lund T, Dhillon K, Vasquez MD, Ghorani E, Xu H, Spencer C, López JI, Green A, Mahadeva U, Borg E, Mitchison M, Moore DA, Proctor I, Falzon M, Pickering L, Furness AJS, Reading JL, Salgado R, Marafioti T, Jamal-Hanjani M, Kassiotis G, Chain B, Larkin J, Swanton C, Quezada SA, Turajlic S. Determinants of anti-PD-1 response and resistance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Cell 2021; 39:1497-1518.e11. [PMID: 34715028 PMCID: PMC8599450 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
ADAPTeR is a prospective, phase II study of nivolumab (anti-PD-1) in 15 treatment-naive patients (115 multiregion tumor samples) with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) aiming to understand the mechanism underpinning therapeutic response. Genomic analyses show no correlation between tumor molecular features and response, whereas ccRCC-specific human endogenous retrovirus expression indirectly correlates with clinical response. T cell receptor (TCR) analysis reveals a significantly higher number of expanded TCR clones pre-treatment in responders suggesting pre-existing immunity. Maintenance of highly similar clusters of TCRs post-treatment predict response, suggesting ongoing antigen engagement and survival of families of T cells likely recognizing the same antigens. In responders, nivolumab-bound CD8+ T cells are expanded and express GZMK/B. Our data suggest nivolumab drives both maintenance and replacement of previously expanded T cell clones, but only maintenance correlates with response. We hypothesize that maintenance and boosting of a pre-existing response is a key element of anti-PD-1 mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Au
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Emine Hatipoglu
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK; Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Marc Robert de Massy
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Gordon Beattie
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Andrew Rowan
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Desiree Schnidrig
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Rachael Thompson
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Fiona Byrne
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Stuart Horswell
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Nicos Fotiadis
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Steve Hazell
- Department of Pathology, the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - David Nicol
- Department of Urology, the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Scott T C Shepherd
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Annika Fendler
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Robert Mason
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Lyra Del Rosario
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Kim Edmonds
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Karla Lingard
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Sarah Sarker
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Mary Mangwende
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Eleanor Carlyle
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Jan Attig
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Kroopa Joshi
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Imran Uddin
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Pablo D Becker
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Mariana Werner Sunderland
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Ayse Akarca
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Ignazio Puccio
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - William W Yang
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Tom Lund
- Translational Immune Oncology Lab, Centre for Molecular Pathology, The Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton SM2 5PT, UK
| | - Kim Dhillon
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Marcos Duran Vasquez
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Ehsan Ghorani
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Hang Xu
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Charlotte Spencer
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - José I López
- Department of Pathology, Cruces University Hospital, Biocruces-Bizkaia Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Anna Green
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Ula Mahadeva
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Elaine Borg
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Miriam Mitchison
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - David A Moore
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Ian Proctor
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Mary Falzon
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Lisa Pickering
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Andrew J S Furness
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - James L Reading
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Roberto Salgado
- Division of Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne VIC 300, Australia; Department of Pathology, GZA-ZNA Hospitals, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Teresa Marafioti
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Department of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - George Kassiotis
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Benny Chain
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - James Larkin
- Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London NW1 2BU, UK; University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK.
| | - Samra Turajlic
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Renal and Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK.
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222
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Mitchell JM, Flight RM, Moseley HNB. Untargeted Lipidomics of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Demonstrates Differentially Abundant Lipid Classes in Cancer vs. Non-Cancer Tissue. Metabolites 2021; 11:740. [PMID: 34822397 PMCID: PMC8622625 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11110740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) represents 85% of newly diagnosed lung cancers. In this study, we utilized our untargeted assignment tool Small Molecule Isotope Resolved Formula Enumerator (SMIRFE) and ultra-high-resolution Fourier transform mass spectrometry to examine lipid profile differences between paired cancerous and non-cancerous lung tissue samples from 86 patients with suspected stage I or IIA primary NSCLC. Correlation and co-occurrence analysis revealed significant lipid profile differences between cancer and non-cancer samples. Further analysis of machine-learned lipid categories for the differentially abundant molecular formulas identified a high abundance sterol, high abundance and high m/z sphingolipid, and low abundance glycerophospholipid metabolic phenotype across the NSCLC samples. At the class level, higher abundances of sterol esters and lower abundances of cardiolipins were observed suggesting altered stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) or acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (ACAT1) activity and altered human cardiolipin synthase 1 or lysocardiolipin acyltransferase activity respectively, the latter of which is known to confer apoptotic resistance. The presence of a shared metabolic phenotype across a variety of genetically distinct NSCLC subtypes suggests that this phenotype is necessary for NSCLC development and may result from multiple distinct genetic lesions. Thus, targeting the shared affected pathways may be beneficial for a variety of genetically distinct NSCLC subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M. Mitchell
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
- Resource Center for Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Robert M. Flight
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
- Resource Center for Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Hunter N. B. Moseley
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
- Resource Center for Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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223
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Gao Y, Päivinen P, Tripathi S, Domènech-Moreno E, Wong IPL, Vaahtomeri K, Nagaraj AS, Talwelkar SS, Foretz M, Verschuren EW, Viollet B, Yan Y, Mäkelä TP. Inactivation of AMPK Leads to Attenuation of Antigen Presentation and Immune Evasion in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 28:227-237. [PMID: 34667030 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-2049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mutations in STK11 (LKB1) occur in 17% of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and drive a suppressive (cold) tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and resistance to immunotherapy. The mechanisms underpinning the establishment and maintenance of a cold TIME in LKB1-mutant LUAD remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of the LKB1 substrate AMPK in immune evasion in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and mouse models and explored the mechanisms involved. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We addressed the role of AMPK in immune evasion in NSCLC by correlating AMPK phosphorylation and immune-suppressive signatures and by deleting AMPKα1 (Prkaa1) and AMPKα2 (Prkaa2) in a KrasG12D -driven LUAD. Furthermore, we dissected the molecular mechanisms involved in immune evasion by comparing gene-expression signatures, AMPK activity, and immune infiltration in mouse and human LUAD and gain or loss-of-function experiments with LKB1- or AMPK-deficient cell lines. RESULTS Inactivation of both AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 together with Kras activation accelerated tumorigenesis and led to tumors with reduced infiltration of CD8+/CD4+ T cells and gene signatures associated with a suppressive TIME. These signatures recapitulate those in Lkb1-deleted murine LUAD and in LKB1-deficient human NSCLC. Interestingly, a similar signature is noted in human NSCLC with low AMPK activity. In mechanistic studies, we find that compromised LKB1 and AMPK activity leads to attenuated antigen presentation in both LUAD mouse models and human NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS The results provide evidence that the immune evasion noted in LKB1-inactivated lung cancer is due to subsequent inactivation of AMPK and attenuation of antigen presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Gao
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,HiLIFE-Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Colorectal Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Pekka Päivinen
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,HiLIFE-Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sushil Tripathi
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,HiLIFE-Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eva Domènech-Moreno
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Iris P L Wong
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,HiLIFE-Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kari Vaahtomeri
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Wihuri Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ashwini S Nagaraj
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sarang S Talwelkar
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marc Foretz
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Emmy W Verschuren
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Benoit Viollet
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Yan Yan
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. .,HiLIFE-Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Tomi P Mäkelä
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,HiLIFE-Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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224
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García-Sancha N, Corchado-Cobos R, Bellido-Hernández L, Román-Curto C, Cardeñoso-Álvarez E, Pérez-Losada J, Orfao A, Cañueto J. Overcoming Resistance to Immunotherapy in Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5134. [PMID: 34680282 PMCID: PMC8533861 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most frequent cancer in humans, and is now responsible for as many deaths as melanoma. Immunotherapy has changed the therapeutic landscape of advanced CSCC after the FDA approval of anti-PD1 molecules for the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic CSCC. However, roughly 50% of patients will not respond to this systemic treatment and even those who do respond can develop resistance over time. The etiologies of primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy involve changes in the neoplastic cells and the tumor microenvironment. Indirect modulation of immune system activation with new therapies, such as vaccines, oncolytic viruses, and new immunotherapeutic agents, and direct modulation of tumor immunogenicity using other systemic treatments or radiotherapy are now under evaluation in combined regimens. The identification of predictors of response is an important area of research. In this review, we focus on the features associated with the response to immunotherapy, and the evaluation of combination treatments and new molecules, a more thorough knowledge of which is likely to improve the survival of patients with advanced CSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia García-Sancha
- IBMCC-CSIC, Laboratory 7, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (N.G.-S.); (R.C.-C.); (J.P.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (L.B.-H.); (C.R.-C.); (A.O.)
| | - Roberto Corchado-Cobos
- IBMCC-CSIC, Laboratory 7, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (N.G.-S.); (R.C.-C.); (J.P.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (L.B.-H.); (C.R.-C.); (A.O.)
| | - Lorena Bellido-Hernández
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (L.B.-H.); (C.R.-C.); (A.O.)
- Departament of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Concepción Román-Curto
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (L.B.-H.); (C.R.-C.); (A.O.)
- Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Esther Cardeñoso-Álvarez
- Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Jesús Pérez-Losada
- IBMCC-CSIC, Laboratory 7, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (N.G.-S.); (R.C.-C.); (J.P.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (L.B.-H.); (C.R.-C.); (A.O.)
| | - Alberto Orfao
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (L.B.-H.); (C.R.-C.); (A.O.)
- IBMCC-CSIC, Laboratory 11, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Cytometry Service (NUCLEUS) and Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC) (CB16/12/00400, CB16/12/00233, CB16/12/00369, CB16/12/00489 and CB16/12/00480), Instituto Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Cañueto
- IBMCC-CSIC, Laboratory 7, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (N.G.-S.); (R.C.-C.); (J.P.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (L.B.-H.); (C.R.-C.); (A.O.)
- Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
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225
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Hofer F, Di Sario G, Musiu C, Sartoris S, De Sanctis F, Ugel S. A Complex Metabolic Network Confers Immunosuppressive Functions to Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) within the Tumour Microenvironment. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102700. [PMID: 34685679 PMCID: PMC8534848 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) constitute a plastic and heterogeneous cell population among immune cells within the tumour microenvironment (TME) that support cancer progression and resistance to therapy. During tumour progression, cancer cells modify their metabolism to sustain an increased energy demand to cope with uncontrolled cell proliferation and differentiation. This metabolic reprogramming of cancer establishes competition for nutrients between tumour cells and leukocytes and most importantly, among tumour-infiltrating immune cells. Thus, MDSCs that have emerged as one of the most decisive immune regulators of TME exhibit an increase in glycolysis and fatty acid metabolism and also an upregulation of enzymes that catabolise essential metabolites. This complex metabolic network is not only crucial for MDSC survival and accumulation in the TME but also for enhancing immunosuppressive functions toward immune effectors. In this review, we discuss recent progress in the field of MDSC-associated metabolic pathways that could facilitate therapeutic targeting of these cells during cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Stefano Ugel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-045-8126451; Fax: +39-045-8126455
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226
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Garrido MA, Perea F, Vilchez JR, Rodríguez T, Anderson P, Garrido F, Ruiz-Cabello F, Aptsiauri N. Copy Neutral LOH Affecting the Entire Chromosome 6 Is a Frequent Mechanism of HLA Class I Alterations in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205046. [PMID: 34680201 PMCID: PMC8534100 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Total or partial loss of HLA class I antigens reduce the recognition of specific tumor peptides by cytotoxic T lymphocytes favoring cancer immune escape during natural tumor evolution. These alterations can be caused by genomic defects, such as loss of heterozygosity at chromosomes 6 and 15 (LOH-6 and LOH-15), where HLA class I genes are located. There is growing evidence indicating that LOH in HLA contributes to the immune selection of HLA loss variants and influences the resistance to immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the incidence and the mechanism of this chromosomal aberration involving HLA genes has not been systematically assessed in different types of tumors and often remains underestimated. Here, we used SNP arrays to investigate the incidence and patterns of LOH-6 and LOH-15 in a number of human cancer cell lines and tissues of different histological types. We observed that LOH in HLA is a common event in cancer samples with a prevalence of a copy neutral type of LOH (CN-LOH) that affects entire chromosome 6 or 15 and involves chromosomal duplications. LOH-6 was observed more often and was associated with homozygous HLA genotype and partial HLA loss of expression. We also discuss the immunologic and clinical implications of LOH in HLA on tumor clonal expansion and association with the cancer recurrence after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia Garrido
- Servicio de Radiología, UGC de Radiología, Hospital Virgen de la Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain;
| | - Francisco Perea
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC de Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (F.P.); (J.R.V.); (T.R.); (P.A.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Jose Ramon Vilchez
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC de Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (F.P.); (J.R.V.); (T.R.); (P.A.); (F.G.)
| | - Teresa Rodríguez
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC de Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (F.P.); (J.R.V.); (T.R.); (P.A.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Per Anderson
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC de Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (F.P.); (J.R.V.); (T.R.); (P.A.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC de Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (F.P.); (J.R.V.); (T.R.); (P.A.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC de Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; (F.P.); (J.R.V.); (T.R.); (P.A.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence: (F.R.-C.); (N.A.)
| | - Natalia Aptsiauri
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence: (F.R.-C.); (N.A.)
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227
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Vredevoogd D, Apriamashvili G, Peeper D. The (re)discovery of tumor-intrinsic determinants of immune sensitivity by functional genetic screens. IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY 2021; 11:100043. [PMID: 35756970 PMCID: PMC9216628 DOI: 10.1016/j.iotech.2021.100043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Functional genetic screens by CRISPR-Cas9 allow for the unbiased discovery of proteins causally involved in complex biological processes. In recent years, this approach has been used by multiple laboratories to uncover a range of tumor cell regulators determining immune sensitivity. In this review, we provide an overview of genetic screens carried out both in vitro and in vivo. By comparative analysis we highlight commonly identified proteins and pathways that are key in establishing tumor-intrinsic immune susceptibility. Together, these screens demonstrated the importance of the antigen presentation, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor and autophagy pathways in governing sensitivity of tumor cells to immune attack. Moreover, they underline the complex interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment, providing both fundamental and clinically relevant insights into the mechanisms of tumor immune resistance. CRISPR-Cas9 screens shed light on tumor-intrinsic mechanisms of immune sensitivity. Different screen settings highlight tumor-intrinsic and environmental influences. Effects of IFN-γ and antigen presentation pathways depend on environmental contexts. Cellular context impacts how TNF and autophagy pathways affect immune sensitivity. Potential therapeutic targets identified in the TNF, autophagy and IFN-γ pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - D.S. Peeper
- Correspondence to: Prof. Daniel S. Peeper, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 512 2002
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228
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Kinoshita T, Terai H, Yaguchi T. Clinical Efficacy and Future Prospects of Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11101029. [PMID: 34685400 PMCID: PMC8540292 DOI: 10.3390/life11101029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The three major conventional treatments: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, have been commonly performed for lung cancer. However, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Immunotherapy has recently emerged as a very effective new treatment modality, and there is now growing enthusiasm for cancer immunotherapy worldwide. However, the results of clinical studies using immunotherapy are not always favorable. Understanding the steps involved in the recognition and eradication of cancer cells by the immune system seems essential to understanding why past immunotherapies have failed and how current therapies can be optimally utilized. In addition, the combination of immunotherapies, such as cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors, as well as the combination of these therapies with three conventional therapies, may pave the way for personalized immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the results of immunotherapies used in phase III clinical trials, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, and discuss the future prospects of immunotherapies in lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonari Kinoshita
- Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-5363-3806
| | - Hideki Terai
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan;
| | - Tomonori Yaguchi
- Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology, Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;
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229
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Walsh RJ, Tan DSP. The Role of Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Advanced Cervical Cancer: Current Status and Future Perspectives. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10194523. [PMID: 34640541 PMCID: PMC8509251 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10194523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer remains one of the most common cancers in women around the world however therapeutic options in the advanced and recurrent setting are limited. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have been considered an attractive option given the viral etiology of cervical cancer although the majority of patients do not benefit from their use. This review summarises current knowledge and use of immune checkpoint blockade in cervical cancer as well as discussing the challenges faced in their clinical application, namely, the role of biomarker-driven ICI use, potential mechanisms of resistance, strategies to overcome such resistance and additional immunotherapy options beyond ICI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Walsh
- National University Cancer Institute, Singapore 119074, Singapore;
| | - David S. P. Tan
- National University Cancer Institute, Singapore 119074, Singapore;
- Cancer Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Correspondence:
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230
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Pilard C, Ancion M, Delvenne P, Jerusalem G, Hubert P, Herfs M. Cancer immunotherapy: it's time to better predict patients' response. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:927-938. [PMID: 34112949 PMCID: PMC8476530 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01413-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In less than a decade, half a dozen immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved and are currently revolutionising the treatment of many cancer (sub)types. With the clinical evaluation of novel delivery approaches (e.g. oncolytic viruses, cancer vaccines, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity) and combination therapies (e.g. chemo/radio-immunotherapy) as well as the emergence of novel promising targets (e.g. TIGIT, LAG-3, TIM-3), the 'immunotherapy tsunami' is not about to end anytime soon. However, this enthusiasm in the field is somewhat tempered by both the relatively low percentage (<15%) of patients who display an effective anti-cancer immune response and the inability to accurately identify them. Recently, several existing or acquired features/parameters have been shown to impact the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In the present review, we critically discuss current knowledge regarding predictive biomarkers for checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy, highlight the missing/unclear links and emphasise the importance of characterising each neoplasm and its microenvironment in order to better guide the course of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Pilard
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Marie Ancion
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Philippe Delvenne
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium ,grid.411374.40000 0000 8607 6858Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Guy Jerusalem
- grid.411374.40000 0000 8607 6858Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Pascale Hubert
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Michael Herfs
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
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231
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Xiao Y, Chen P, Luo C, Xu Z, Li X, Liu L, Zhao L. Discovery of a novel anti PD-L1 X TIGIT bispecific antibody for the treatment of solid tumors. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2021; 29:100467. [PMID: 34598062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), mainly based on PD-1/PD-L1 blockade has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape of cancer. Despite the huge clinical success ICIs have achieved, about 70% of patients still showed de novo and adaptive resistance. Exploring novel and complementary immune checkpoint molecules in addition to PD-1/PD-L1 is in great urgency. T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) is a co-inhibitory molecule containing an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM) within its cytoplasmic tail, and is highly expressed on regulatory T cells and activated CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and NK cells. We generated a novel single chain Fab heterodimeric bispecific IgG antibody format targeting PD-L1 and TIGIT with one binding site for each target antigen. The bispecifc antibody BiAb-1 is based on "knob-into-hole" technology for heavy chain heterodimerization with a glycine serine linker connecting the 3' end of Cκand the 5' end of VH to prevent wrong pairing of light chains. BiAb-1 was produced with high expression yields and show simultaneous binding to PD-L1 and TIGIT with high affinity. Importantly, cytokine production was enhanced by BiAb-1 from staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) stimulated PBMCs. BiAb-1 also demonstrated potent anti-tumor efficacy in multiple tumor models and superior activity to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade molecules. In conclusion, we have applied rational antibody engineering technology to develop a monovalent heterodimeric bispecifc antibody, which combines the blockade of both PD-1/PD-L1 and TIGIT/CD155 pathways simultaneously and results in superior anti-tumor efficacy in multiple tumor models over existing anti PD-1/PD-L1 molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xiao
- Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing 221116, China.
| | - Peiran Chen
- Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing 221116, China; China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing 221116, China
| | - Ziyang Xu
- Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing 221116, China; Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Xue Li
- Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing 221116, China
| | - Liqiong Liu
- Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing 221116, China
| | - Liwen Zhao
- Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing 221116, China
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Keenan TE, Guerriero JL, Barroso-Sousa R, Li T, O'Meara T, Giobbie-Hurder A, Tayob N, Hu J, Severgnini M, Agudo J, Vaz-Luis I, Anderson L, Attaya V, Park J, Conway J, He MX, Reardon B, Shannon E, Wulf G, Spring LM, Jeselsohn R, Krop I, Lin NU, Partridge A, Winer EP, Mittendorf EA, Liu D, Van Allen EM, Tolaney SM. Molecular correlates of response to eribulin and pembrolizumab in hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5563. [PMID: 34548479 PMCID: PMC8455578 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25769-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have minimal therapeutic effect in hormone receptor-positive (HR+ ) breast cancer. We present final overall survival (OS) results (n = 88) from a randomized phase 2 trial of eribulin ± pembrolizumab for patients with metastatic HR+ breast cancer, computationally dissect genomic and/or transcriptomic data from pre-treatment tumors (n = 52) for molecular associations with efficacy, and identify cytokine changes differentiating response and ICI-related toxicity (n = 58). Despite no improvement in OS with combination therapy (hazard ratio 0.95, 95% CI 0.59-1.55, p = 0.84), immune infiltration and antigen presentation distinguished responding tumors, while tumor heterogeneity and estrogen signaling independently associated with resistance. Moreover, patients with ICI-related toxicity had lower levels of immunoregulatory cytokines. Broadly, we establish a framework for ICI response in HR+ breast cancer that warrants diagnostic and therapeutic validation. ClinicalTrials.gov Registration: NCT03051659.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya E Keenan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Guerriero
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Romualdo Barroso-Sousa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Oncology Center, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Tianyu Li
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tess O'Meara
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anita Giobbie-Hurder
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nabihah Tayob
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jiani Hu
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mariano Severgnini
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Judith Agudo
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ines Vaz-Luis
- Medical Oncology Department, INSERM Unit 981, Molecular Predictors and New Targets in Oncology, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Leilani Anderson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victoria Attaya
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jihye Park
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jake Conway
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Meng Xiao He
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate Program in Biophysics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brendan Reardon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Erin Shannon
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gerburg Wulf
- Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura M Spring
- Breast Cancer, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rinath Jeselsohn
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ian Krop
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nancy U Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann Partridge
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric P Winer
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Mittendorf
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eliezer M Van Allen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Sara M Tolaney
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA.
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Park JE, Kim SE, Keam B, Park HR, Kim S, Kim M, Kim TM, Doh J, Kim DW, Heo DS. Anti-tumor effects of NK cells and anti-PD-L1 antibody with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in PD-L1-positive cancer cell lines. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-000873. [PMID: 32830112 PMCID: PMC7445348 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although programmed cell death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors show remarkable antitumor activity, a large portion of patients with cancer, even those with high PD-L1-expressing tumors, do not respond to their effects. Most PD-L1 inhibitors contain modified fragment crystallizable region (Fc) receptor binding sites to prevent antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against PD-L1-expressing non-tumor cells. However, natural killer (NK) cells have specific antitumor activity in the presence of tumor-targeting antibody through ADCC, which could enhance NK cell-induced cytotoxicity. We evaluated the antitumor efficacy of ADCC via anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and NK cells against several PD-L1-positive cancer cell lines. Methods Various cancer cell lines were used as target cell lines. Surface PD-L1 expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. IMC-001 and anti-hPD-L1-hIgG1 were tested as anti-PD-L1 mAbs with ADCC and atezolizumab as an anti-PD-L1 mAb without ADCC. NK cell cytotoxicity was measured by 51Cr-release assay and CD107a degranulation assay. Also, live cell imaging was performed to evaluate cytotoxicity in a single-cell level. NK-92-CD16 (CD16-transduced NK-92 cell line) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors, respectively, were used as an effector cell. FcγRIIIa (CD16a)-V158F genotyping was performed for healthy donors. Results We demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of NK-92-CD16 cells toward PD-L1-positive cancer cell lines was significantly enhanced in the presence of anti-PD-L1 mAb with ADCC. We also noted a significant increase in primary human NK cell cytotoxicity against PD-L1-positive human cancer cells when cocultured with anti-PD-L1 mAb with ADCC. Moreover, NK cells expressing a FCGR3A high-affinity genotype displayed higher anti-PD-L1 mAb-mediated ADCC lysis of tumor cells than donors with a low-affinity genotype. Conclusion These results suggest that NK cells induce an ADCC response in combination with anti-PD-L1 mAbs, which helps promote ADCC antitumor activity against PD-L1-positive tumors. This study provides support for NK cell immunotherapy against high PD-L1-expressing tumors in combination with ADCC through anti-PD-L1 mAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Eun Park
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Eun Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Bhumsuk Keam
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea .,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha-Ram Park
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyeon Kim
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Miso Kim
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Min Kim
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Junsang Doh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Wan Kim
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Seog Heo
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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234
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Miao L, Zhang Z, Ren Z, Li Y. Application of Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:699060. [PMID: 34513678 PMCID: PMC8426571 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.699060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies globally. It not only has a hidden onset but also progresses rapidly. Most HCC patients are already in the advanced stage of cancer when they are diagnosed, and have even lost the opportunity for surgical treatment. As an inflammation-related tumor, the immunosuppressive microenvironment of HCC can promote immune tolerance through a variety of mechanisms. Immunotherapy can activate tumor-specific immune responses, which brings a new hope for the treatment of HCC. At the present time, main immunotherapy strategies of HCC include immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and so on. This article reviews the application and research progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy in the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Miao
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhengchao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhijian Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yumin Li
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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235
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Comprehensive Analysis of YTH Domain Family in Lung Adenocarcinoma: Expression Profile, Association with Prognostic Value, and Immune Infiltration. DISEASE MARKERS 2021; 2021:2789481. [PMID: 34497675 PMCID: PMC8420974 DOI: 10.1155/2021/2789481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background All YTH domain family members are m6A reader proteins accounting for the methylation modulation involved in the process of tumorgenesis and tumor progression. However, the expression profiles and roles of the YTH domain family in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain to be further illustrated. Methods GEPIA2 and TNMplot databases were used to generate the expression profiles of the YTH family. Kaplan-Meier plotter database was employed to analysis the prognostic value of the YTH family. Coexpression profiles and genetic alterations analysis of the YTH family were undertaken using the cBioPortal database. YTH family protein-associated protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was identified by using STRING. Functional enrichment analysis was performed with the help of the WebGestalt database. The correlation analysis between the YTH family and immune cell infiltration in LUAD was administrated by using the TIMER2.0 database. Results mRNA expression of YTHDC1 and YTHDC2 was significantly lower in LUAD, whereas YTHDF1, YTHDF2, and YTHDF3 with apparently higher expression. YTHDF2 expression was observed to be the highest in the nonsmoker subgroup, and its expression gradually decreased with the increased severity of smoking habit. LUAD patients with low expression of YTHDC2, YTHDF1, and YTHDF2 were correlated with a better overall survival (OS) time. The YTHDF1 genetic alteration rate was 26%, which was the highest in the YTH family. The major cancer-associated functions of YTH family pointed in the direction of immunomodulation, especially antigen processing and presentation. Most of the YTH family members were significantly correlated with the infiltration of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, indicating the deep involvement of the YTH domain family in the immune cell infiltration in LUAD. Conclusion The molecular and expression profiles of the YTH family were dysregulated in LUAD. YTH family members (especially YTHDC2) were promising biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets that may bring benefit for the patients with LUAD.
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236
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Srivastava RM, Purohit TA, Chan TA. Diverse Neoantigens and the Development of Cancer Therapies. Semin Radiat Oncol 2021; 30:113-128. [PMID: 32381291 DOI: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2019.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is the manifestation of uncontrolled cellular growth and immune escape mechanisms. Unrestrained tumor growth can be associated with incidental errors in the genome during replication and genotoxic agents can alter the structure and sequence of our DNA. Among all genetic aberrations in cancer, only limited number of mutations can produce immunogenic antigens which have the potential to bind human leukocyte antigen class I or human leukocyte antigen class II, and help activate the adaptive immune system. These neoantigens can be recognized by CD8+ and CD4+ neoantigen-specific T lymphocytes. Recently, several immune checkpoint targeting drugs have been approved for clinical use. Primarily, these drugs expand and facilitate the cytotoxic activity of neoantigen-specific T cells to eradicate tumors. Differential drug response across cancers could be attributed, at least in part, to differences in the 'tumor antigen landscape' and 'antigen presentation pathway' in patients. Although tumor mutational burden correlates with response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in many cancer types and has evolved as a broad biomarker, a comprehensive understanding of the neoantigen landscape and the function of cognate T cell responses is lacking and is needed for improved patient selection criteria and neoantigen vaccine design. Here, we review cancer neoantigens, their implications for antitumor responses, the dynamics of neoantigen-specific T cells, and the advancement of neoantigen-based therapy in proposed clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghvendra M Srivastava
- Immunogenomics and Precision Oncology Platform, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Tanaya A Purohit
- Immunogenomics and Precision Oncology Platform, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Timothy A Chan
- Immunogenomics and Precision Oncology Platform, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
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Bashash D, Zandi Z, Kashani B, Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi A, Salari S, Ghaffari SH. Resistance to immunotherapy in human malignancies: Mechanisms, research progresses, challenges, and opportunities. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:346-372. [PMID: 34498289 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite remarkable advances in different types of cancer therapies, an effective therapeutic strategy is still a major and significant challenge. One of the most promising approaches in this regard is immunotherapy, which takes advantage of the patients' immune system; however, the many mechanisms that cancerous cells harbor to extend their survival make it impossible to gain perfect eradication of tumors. The response rate to cancer immunotherapies, especially checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive T cell therapy, substantially differs in various cancer types with the highest rates in advanced melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Indeed, the lack of response in many tumors indicates primary resistance that can originate from either tumor cells (intrinsic) or tumor microenvironment (extrinsic). On the other hand, some tumors show an initial response to immunotherapy followed by relapse in few months (acquired resistance). Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance makes it possible to develop effective strategies to overcome this hurdle and boost therapy outcomes. In this review, we take a look at immunotherapy strategies and go through a number of primary and acquired resistance mechanisms. Also, we present various ongoing methods to overcoming resistance and introduce some promising fields to improve the outcome of immunotherapy in patients affected with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davood Bashash
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Zandi
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Shariati Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahareh Kashani
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Shariati Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sina Salari
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed H Ghaffari
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Shariati Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Ladányi A, Papp E, Mohos A, Balatoni T, Liszkay G, Oláh J, Varga A, Lengyel Z, Emri G, Ferrone S. Role of the anatomic site in the association of HLA class I antigen expression level in metastases with clinical response to ipilimumab therapy in patients with melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2019-000209. [PMID: 32554608 PMCID: PMC7304850 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in only part of the treated patients, in conjunction with the potentially serious side effects associated with this type of therapy, has emphasized the need to identify biomarkers to select patients who may benefit from ICI treatment. The aim of our study was to test human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II expression in melanoma metastases as potential biomarkers of response to ipilimumab and survival in patients with metastatic melanoma, since these molecules play a crucial role in the interactions of malignant cells with host’s immune system. Materials and methods HLA class I and II antigen expression level in pretreatment surgical tissue samples (50 lymph node and 35 cutaneous or subcutaneous metastases) from 30 patients was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies. Expression levels were correlated to intratumoral density of lymphocytes expressing cluster of differentiation (CD)8, CD45RO, CD4, forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and/or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), to clinical response to treatment, and to patients’ survival. Results HLA class I antigen expression level in lymph node metastases, but not in cutaneous or subcutaneous metastases was significantly correlated to density of CD8+ and CD45RO+ T cells and of lymphocytes expressing PD-1, as well as to clinical response and to patients’ survival. Conclusions Our results corroborate the role of HLA class I expression level (alone or in combination with T-cell density values) as a predictive biomarker of response to ipilimumab in patients with melanoma. In addition, our results show that this association is influenced by the anatomic site of the metastasis used to measure the HLA class I antigen expression level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ladányi
- Department of Surgical and Molecular Pathology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Papp
- Department of Surgical and Molecular Pathology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anita Mohos
- 1st Institute of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tímea Balatoni
- Department of Oncodermatology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Liszkay
- Department of Oncodermatology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Oláh
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anita Varga
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Lengyel
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Oncodermatology, University of Pécs Clinical Center, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Emri
- Department of Dermatology, University of Debrecen Medical School and Health Science Center, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Wang M, Herbst RS, Boshoff C. Toward personalized treatment approaches for non-small-cell lung cancer. Nat Med 2021; 27:1345-1356. [PMID: 34385702 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01450-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 363] [Impact Index Per Article: 121.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Molecular targeted therapies and immunotherapies for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have improved outcomes markedly over the past two decades. However, the vast majority of advanced NSCLCs become resistant to current treatments and eventually progress. In this Perspective, we discuss some of the recent breakthrough therapies developed for NSCLC, focusing on immunotherapies and targeted therapies. We highlight our current understanding of mechanisms of resistance and the importance of incorporating genomic analyses into clinical studies to decipher these further. We underscore the future role of neoadjuvant and maintenance combination therapy approaches to potentially cure early disease. A major challenge to successful development of rational combination therapies will be the application of robust predictive biomarkers for clear-cut patient stratification, and we provide our views on clinical research areas that could influence how NSCLC will be managed over the coming decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meina Wang
- Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Roy S Herbst
- Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Chris Boshoff
- Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Pfizer Inc., New York City, NY, USA.
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Ahluwalia P, Ahluwalia M, Mondal AK, Sahajpal NS, Kota V, Rojiani MV, Kolhe R. Natural Killer Cells and Dendritic Cells: Expanding Clinical Relevance in the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13164037. [PMID: 34439191 PMCID: PMC8394984 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13164037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major subtype of lung cancer that accounts for almost 85% of lung cancer cases worldwide. Although recent advances in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy have helped in the clinical management of these patients, the survival rate in advanced stages remains dismal. Furthermore, there is a critical lack of accurate prognostic and stratification markers for emerging immunotherapies. To harness immune response modalities for therapeutic benefits, a detailed understanding of the immune cells in the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) is required. Among the diverse immune cells, natural killer (NK cells) and dendritic cells (DCs) have generated tremendous interest in the scientific community. NK cells play a critical role in tumor immunosurveillance by directly killing malignant cells. DCs link innate and adaptive immune systems by cross-presenting the antigens to T cells. The presence of an immunosuppressive milieu in tumors can lead to inactivation and poor functioning of NK cells and DCs, which results in an adverse outcome for many cancer patients, including those with NSCLC. Recently, clinical intervention using modified NK cells and DCs have shown encouraging response in advanced NSCLC patients. Herein, we will discuss prognostic and predictive aspects of NK cells and DC cells with an emphasis on NSCLC. Additionally, the discussion will extend to potential strategies that seek to enhance the anti-tumor functionality of NK cells and DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Ahluwalia
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (P.A.); (A.K.M.); (N.S.S.)
| | - Meenakshi Ahluwalia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
| | - Ashis K. Mondal
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (P.A.); (A.K.M.); (N.S.S.)
| | - Nikhil S. Sahajpal
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (P.A.); (A.K.M.); (N.S.S.)
| | - Vamsi Kota
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
| | - Mumtaz V. Rojiani
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
| | - Ravindra Kolhe
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (P.A.); (A.K.M.); (N.S.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-706-721-2771; Fax: +1-706-434-6053
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241
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Yao J, Arcila ME, Ladanyi M, Hechtman JF. Pan-Cancer Biomarkers: Changing the Landscape of Molecular Testing. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021; 145:692-698. [PMID: 33373449 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2020-0513-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— The increasing use of large panel next-generation sequencing technologies in clinical settings has facilitated the identification of pan-cancer biomarkers, which can be diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, or most importantly, actionable. OBJECTIVE.— To discuss recently approved and emerging pan-cancer and multihistology biomarkers as well as testing methodologies. DATA SOURCES.— The US Food and Drug Administration approval documents, National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, literature, and authors' own publications. CONCLUSIONS.— Since 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved genotype-directed therapies for pan-cancer biomarkers, including microsatellite instability, neurotrophic receptor kinases fusions, and high-tumor mutation burden. Both the importance and rarity of these biomarkers have increased the prevalence of genomic profiling across solid malignancies. As an integral part of the management team of patients with advanced cancer, pathologists need to be aware of these emerging biomarkers, the therapies for which they determine eligibility, and the strengths and pitfalls of the available clinical assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjuan Yao
- From the Diagnostic Molecular Service, Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Maria E Arcila
- From the Diagnostic Molecular Service, Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- From the Diagnostic Molecular Service, Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jaclyn F Hechtman
- From the Diagnostic Molecular Service, Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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242
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Hazini A, Fisher K, Seymour L. Deregulation of HLA-I in cancer and its central importance for immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e002899. [PMID: 34353849 PMCID: PMC8344275 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well accepted that many tumors undergo a process of clonal selection which means that tumor antigens arising at various stages of tumor progression are likely to be represented in just a subset of tumor cells. This process is thought to be driven by constant immunosurveillance which applies selective pressure by eliminating tumor cells expressing antigens that are recognized by T cells. It is becoming increasingly clear that the same selective pressure may also select for tumor cells that evade immune detection by acquiring deficiencies in their human leucocyte antigen (HLA) presentation pathways, allowing important tumor antigens to persist within cells undetected by the immune system. Deficiencies in antigen presentation pathway can arise by a variety of mechanisms, including genetic and epigenetic changes, and functional antigen presentation is a hard phenomenon to assess using our standard analytical techniques. Nevertheless, it is likely to have profound clinical significance and could well define whether an individual patient will respond to a particular type of therapy or not. In this review we consider the mechanisms by which HLA function may be lost in clinical disease, we assess the implications for current immunotherapy approaches using checkpoint inhibitors and examine the prognostic impact of HLA loss demonstrated in clinical trials so far. Finally, we propose strategies that might be explored for possible patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Hazini
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Kerry Fisher
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Len Seymour
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
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243
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Abbott CW, Boyle SM, Pyke RM, McDaniel LD, Levy E, Navarro FC, Mellacheruvu D, Zhang SV, Tan M, Santiago R, Rusan ZM, Milani P, Bartha G, Harris J, McClory R, Snyder MP, Jang S, Chen R. Prediction of Immunotherapy Response in Melanoma through Combined Modeling of Neoantigen Burden and Immune-Related Resistance Mechanisms. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:4265-4276. [PMID: 34341053 PMCID: PMC9401549 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-4314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE While immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has become a pillar of cancer treatment, biomarkers that consistently predict patient response remain elusive due to the complex mechanisms driving immune response to tumors. We hypothesized that a multi-dimensional approach modeling both tumor and immune-related molecular mechanisms would better predict ICB response than simpler mutation-focused biomarkers, such as tumor mutational burden (TMB). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Tumors from a cohort of patients with late-stage melanoma (n = 51) were profiled using an immune-enhanced exome and transcriptome platform. We demonstrate increasing predictive power with deeper modeling of neoantigens and immune-related resistance mechanisms to ICB. RESULTS Our neoantigen burden score, which integrates both exome and transcriptome features, more significantly stratified responders and nonresponders (P = 0.016) than TMB alone (P = 0.049). Extension of this model to include immune-related resistance mechanisms affecting the antigen presentation machinery, such as HLA allele-specific LOH, resulted in a composite neoantigen presentation score (NEOPS) that demonstrated further increased association with therapy response (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS NEOPS proved the statistically strongest biomarker compared with all single-gene biomarkers, expression signatures, and TMB biomarkers evaluated in this cohort. Subsequent confirmation of these findings in an independent cohort of patients (n = 110) suggests that NEOPS is a robust, novel biomarker of ICB response in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Eric Levy
- Personalis, Inc., Menlo Park, California
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Richard Chen
- Personalis, Inc., Menlo Park, California.,Corresponding Author: Richard Chen, Personalis, Inc., 1330 O'Brien Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Phone: 650-752-1300; Fax: 650-752-1301; E-mail:
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244
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Combining Cancer Vaccines with Immunotherapy: Establishing a New Immunological Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158035. [PMID: 34360800 PMCID: PMC8348347 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have become increasingly qualified for use in personalized cancer immunotherapy. A deeper understanding of tumor immunology and novel antigen delivery technologies has assisted in optimizing vaccine design. Therapeutic cancer vaccines aim to establish long-lasting immunological memory against tumor cells, thereby leading to effective tumor regression and minimizing non-specific or adverse events. However, due to several resistance mechanisms, significant challenges remain to be solved in order to achieve these goals. In this review, we describe our current understanding with respect to the use of the antigen repertoire in vaccine platform development. We also summarize various intrinsic and extrinsic resistance mechanisms behind the failure of cancer vaccine development in the past. Finally, we suggest a strategy that combines immune checkpoint inhibitors to enhance the efficacy of cancer vaccines.
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245
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Ge Z, Peppelenbosch MP, Sprengers D, Kwekkeboom J. TIGIT, the Next Step Towards Successful Combination Immune Checkpoint Therapy in Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:699895. [PMID: 34367161 PMCID: PMC8339559 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.699895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) is an inhibitory receptor expressed on several types of lymphocytes. Efficacy of antibody blockade of TIGIT in cancer immunotherapy is currently widely being investigated in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. In multiple cancers TIGIT is expressed on tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells, regulatory T cells and NK cells, and its main ligand CD155 is expressed on tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells and upregulated on cancer cells, which contributes to local suppression of immune-surveillance. While single TIGIT blockade has limited anti-tumor efficacy, pre-clinical studies indicate that co-blockade of TIGIT and PD-1/PD-L1 pathway leads to tumor rejection, notably even in anti-PD-1 resistant tumor models. Among inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules, a unique property of TIGIT blockade is that it enhances not only anti-tumor effector T-cell responses, but also NK-cell responses, and reduces the suppressive capacity of regulatory T cells. Numerous clinical trials on TIGIT-blockade in cancer have recently been initiated, predominantly combination treatments. The first interim results show promise for combined TIGIT and PD-L1 co-blockade in solid cancer patients. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and identify the gaps in our current understanding of TIGIT’s roles in cancer immunity, and provide, based on these insights, recommendations for its positioning in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouhong Ge
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maikel P Peppelenbosch
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dave Sprengers
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jaap Kwekkeboom
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam, Netherlands
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246
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Zhang W, Yao J, Zhong M, Zhang Y, Guo X, Wang HY. A Brief Overview and Update on Major Molecular Genomic Alterations in Solid, Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, Hematopoietic As Well As Lymphoid Malignancies. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021; 145:1358-1366. [PMID: 34270703 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2021-0077-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Recent advances in comprehensive genomic profiling by next-generation sequencing have uncovered the genomic alterations at the molecular level for many types of tumors; as such, numerous small specific molecules that target these alterations have been developed and widely used in the management of these cancers. OBJECTIVE.— To provide a concise molecular genomic update in solid, bone and soft tissue tumors, hematopoietic as well as lymphoid malignancies; discuss its clinical applications; and familiarize practicing pathologists with the emerging cancer biomarkers and their diagnostic utilities. DATA SOURCES.— This review is based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines and peer-reviewed English literature. CONCLUSIONS.— Tumor-specific biomarkers and molecular/genomic alterations, including pan-cancer markers, have been significantly expanded in the past decade thanks to large-scale high-throughput technologies and will continue to emerge in the future. These biomarkers can be of great value in diagnosis, prognosis, and/or targeted therapy/treatment. Familiarization with these emerging and ever-changing tumor biomarkers will undoubtedly aid pathologists in making accurate and state-of-the-art diagnoses and enable them to be more actively involved in the care of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison (W. Zhang).,W. Zhang and Yao are co-first authors.,W. Zhang and H.-Y. Wang are co-senior authors and supervised this manuscript equally
| | - Jinjuan Yao
- The Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (Yao).,W. Zhang and Yao are co-first authors
| | - Minghao Zhong
- The Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Zhong)
| | - Yaxia Zhang
- The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York (Y. Zhang).,The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell College of Medicine, New York, New York (Y. Zhang)
| | - Xiaoling Guo
- The Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York (Guo)
| | - Huan-You Wang
- The Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla (Wang).,W. Zhang and H.-Y. Wang are co-senior authors and supervised this manuscript equally
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247
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Hargadon KM. The role of interferons in melanoma resistance to immune checkpoint blockade: mechanisms of escape and therapeutic implications. Br J Dermatol 2021; 185:1095-1104. [PMID: 34185875 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.20608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has achieved unprecedented success in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, though its efficacy is often limited by innate and acquired mechanisms of resistance. Type I and type II interferons (IFNs) act as key determinants of checkpoint blockade therapeutic outcome, and tumour-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors that disrupt IFN activity confer resistance to various checkpoint inhibitors. This review highlights our current understanding of the mechanisms by which tumours disrupt IFN function in the context of ICB, and it discusses therapeutic strategies to overcome these mechanisms of resistance and improve the clinical reach of ICB therapy in patients with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Hargadon
- Hargadon Laboratory, Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, 23943, USA
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248
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Russell BL, Sooklal SA, Malindisa ST, Daka LJ, Ntwasa M. The Tumor Microenvironment Factors That Promote Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:641428. [PMID: 34268109 PMCID: PMC8276693 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.641428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Through genetic and epigenetic alterations, cancer cells present the immune system with a diversity of antigens or neoantigens, which the organism must distinguish from self. The immune system responds to neoantigens by activating naïve T cells, which mount an anticancer cytotoxic response. T cell activation begins when the T cell receptor (TCR) interacts with the antigen, which is displayed by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Subsequently, accessory stimulatory or inhibitory molecules transduce a secondary signal in concert with the TCR/antigen mediated stimulus. These molecules serve to modulate the activation signal's strength at the immune synapse. Therefore, the activation signal's optimum amplitude is maintained by a balance between the costimulatory and inhibitory signals. This system comprises the so-called immune checkpoints such as the programmed cell death (PD-1) and Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and is crucial for the maintenance of self-tolerance. Cancers often evade the intrinsic anti-tumor activity present in normal physiology primarily by the downregulation of T cell activation. The blockade of the immune checkpoint inhibitors using specific monoclonal antibodies has emerged as a potentially powerful anticancer therapy strategy. Several drugs have been approved mainly for solid tumors. However, it has emerged that there are innate and acquired mechanisms by which resistance is developed against these therapies. Some of these are tumor-intrinsic mechanisms, while others are tumor-extrinsic whereby the microenvironment may have innate or acquired resistance to checkpoint inhibitors. This review article will examine mechanisms by which resistance is mounted against immune checkpoint inhibitors focussing on anti-CTL4-A and anti-PD-1/PD-Ll since drugs targeting these checkpoints are the most developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L. Russell
- Department of Life & Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Innovation Hub, Buboo (Pty) Ltd, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Selisha A. Sooklal
- Department of Life & Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sibusiso T. Malindisa
- Department of Life & Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Monde Ntwasa
- Department of Life & Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
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249
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Notch signaling and efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in relapsed small cell lung cancer. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3880. [PMID: 34162872 PMCID: PMC8222224 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24164-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) benefits only a small subset of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), yet the mechanisms driving benefit are poorly understood. To identify predictors of clinical benefit to ICB, we performed immunogenomic profiling of tumor samples from patients with relapsed SCLC. Tumors of patients who derive clinical benefit from ICB exhibit cytotoxic T-cell infiltration, high expression of antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM) genes, and low neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation. However, elevated Notch signaling, which positively correlates with low NE differentiation, most significantly predicts clinical benefit to ICB. Activation of Notch signaling in a NE human SCLC cell line induces a low NE phenotype, marked by increased expression of APM genes, demonstrating a mechanistic link between Notch activation, low NE differentiation and increased intrinsic tumor immunity. Our findings suggest Notch signaling as a determinant of response to ICB in SCLC. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) benefits only a small subset of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and the mechanisms driving benefit are poorly understood. Here, the authors show that elevated Notch signaling predicts clinical benefit in ICB in relapsed SCLC.
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250
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Shklovskaya E, Rizos H. MHC Class I Deficiency in Solid Tumors and Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome It. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136741. [PMID: 34201655 PMCID: PMC8268865 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well accepted that the immune system can control cancer growth. However, tumors escape immune-mediated control through multiple mechanisms and the downregulation or loss of major histocompatibility class (MHC)-I molecules is a common immune escape mechanism in many cancers. MHC-I molecules present antigenic peptides to cytotoxic T cells, and MHC-I loss can render tumor cells invisible to the immune system. In this review, we examine the dysregulation of MHC-I expression in cancer, explore the nature of MHC-I-bound antigenic peptides recognized by immune cells, and discuss therapeutic strategies that can be used to overcome MHC-I deficiency in solid tumors, with a focus on the role of natural killer (NK) cells and CD4 T cells.
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