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Fan C, Xiong F, Zhang S, Gong Z, Liao Q, Li G, Guo C, Xiong W, Huang H, Zeng Z. Role of adhesion molecules in cancer and targeted therapy. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:940-957. [PMID: 38212458 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2417-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Adhesion molecules mediate cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions and transmit mechanical and chemical signals among them. Various mechanisms deregulate adhesion molecules in cancer, enabling tumor cells to proliferate without restraint, invade through tissue boundaries, escape from immune surveillance, and survive in the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have revealed that adhesion molecules also drive angiogenesis, reshape metabolism, and are involved in stem cell self-renewal. In this review, we summarize the functions and mechanisms of adhesion molecules in cancer and the tumor microenvironment, as well as the therapeutic strategies targeting adhesion molecules. These studies have implications for furthering our understanding of adhesion molecules in cancer and providing a paradigm for exploring novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Fan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Fang Xiong
- Department of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Zhaojian Gong
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Qianjin Liao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Guiyuan Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Can Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - He Huang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
| | - Zhaoyang Zeng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
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D'Alessio F, Lione L, Salvatori E, Bucci F, Muzi A, Roscilli G, Compagnone M, Pinto E, Battistuzzi G, Conforti A, Aurisicchio L, Palombo F. Immunogenicity of COVID-eVax Delivered by Electroporation Is Moderately Impacted by Temperature and Molecular Isoforms. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030678. [PMID: 36992261 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA integrity is a key issue in gene therapy and genetic vaccine approaches based on plasmid DNA. In contrast to messenger RNA that requires a controlled cold chain for efficacy, DNA molecules are considered to be more stable. In this study, we challenged this concept by characterizing the immunological response induced by a plasmid DNA vaccine delivered using electroporation. As a model, we used COVID-eVax, a plasmid DNA-based vaccine that targets the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Increased nicked DNA was produced by using either an accelerated stability protocol or a lyophilization protocol. Surprisingly, the immune response induced in vivo was only minimally affected by the percentage of open circular DNA. This result suggests that plasmid DNA vaccines, such as COVID-eVax that have recently completed a phase I clinical trial, retain their efficacy upon storage at higher temperatures, and this feature may facilitate their use in low-/middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Luigi Aurisicchio
- Takis, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Neomatrix, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Evvivax, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Palombo
- Takis, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Neomatrix, 00128 Rome, Italy
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3
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DNA-Vaccine-Induced Immune Response Correlates with Lower Viral SARS-CoV-2 Titers in a Ferret Model. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10081178. [PMID: 35893826 PMCID: PMC9332309 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10081178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is entering a new era with the approval of many SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. In spite of the restoration of an almost normal way of life thanks to the immune protection elicited by these innovative vaccines, we are still facing high viral circulation, with a significant number of deaths. To further explore alternative vaccination platforms, we developed COVID-eVax—a genetic vaccine based on plasmid DNA encoding the RBD domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Here, we describe the correlation between immune responses and the evolution of viral infection in ferrets infected with the live virus. We demonstrate COVID-eVax immunogenicity as means of antibody response and, above all, a significant T-cell response, thus proving the critical role of T-cell immunity, in addition to the neutralizing antibody activity, in controlling viral spread.
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Lione L, Salvatori E, Petrazzuolo A, Massacci A, Maggio R, Confroti A, Compagnone M, Aurisicchio L, Ciliberto G, Palombo F. Antitumor efficacy of a neoantigen cancer vaccine delivered by electroporation is influenced by microbiota composition. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1898832. [PMID: 33796408 PMCID: PMC7993125 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1898832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a heterogeneous disease and its treatment remains unsatisfactory with inconstant therapeutic responses. This variability could be related, at least in part, to different and highly personalized gut microbiota compositions. Different studies have shown an impact of microbiota on antitumor therapy. It has been demonstrated that some gut bacteria influences the development and differentiation of immune cells, suggesting that different microbiota compositions could affect the efficacy of the antitumor vaccine. Emerging data suggest that recognition of neoantigens for the generation of neoantigen cancer vaccines (NCVs) could have a key role in the activity of clinical immunotherapies. However, it is still unknown whether there is a crosstalk between microbiota and NCV. This study aimed to understand the possible mechanisms of interaction between gut microbiota and NCV delivered by DNA-electroporation (DNA-EP). We found that decreased microbiota diversity induced by prolonged antibiotic (ATB) treatment is associated with higher intratumor specific immune responses and consequently to a better antitumor effect induced by NCV delivered by DNA-EP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Lione
- Cancer Immunology, Takis, Rome, Italy
- Università Magna Grecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Adriana Petrazzuolo
- Cancer Immunology, Takis, Rome, Italy
- Equipe Labellisée Par La Ligue Contre Le Cancer, Université De Paris, Sorbonne Université, INSERM U1138, Centre De Recherche Des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Biogem, Ariano Irpino, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Mirco Compagnone
- Université Paris Saclay, Faculty of Medicine Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Luigi Aurisicchio
- Cancer Immunology, Takis, Rome, Italy
- Evvivax, Rome, Italy
- Biogem, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Université Paris Saclay, Faculty of Medicine Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Cancer immunology, Neomatrix, Rome, Italy
- Scientific Directorate, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Palombo
- Cancer Immunology, Takis, Rome, Italy
- Université Paris Saclay, Faculty of Medicine Kremlin Bicêtre, France
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Aurisicchio L, Salvatori E, Lione L, Bandini S, Pallocca M, Maggio R, Fanciulli M, De Nicola F, Goeman F, Ciliberto G, Conforti A, Luberto L, Palombo F. Poly-specific neoantigen-targeted cancer vaccines delay patient derived tumor growth. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:78. [PMID: 30764846 PMCID: PMC6376688 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1084-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Personalized cancer vaccines based on neoantigens have reached the clinical trial stage in melanoma. Different vaccination protocols showed efficacy in preclinical models without a clear indication of the quality and the number of neoantigens required for an effective cancer vaccine. Methods In an effort to develop potent and efficacious neoantigen-based vaccines, we have developed different neoantigen minigene (NAM) vaccine vectors to determine the rules for a successful neoantigen cancer vaccine (NCV) delivered by plasmid DNA and electroporation. Immune responses were analyzed at the level of single neoantigen by flow cytometry and correlated with tumor growth. Adoptive T cell transfer, from HLA-2.1.1 mice, was used to demonstrate the efficacy of the NCV pipeline against human-derived tumors. Results In agreement with previous bodies of evidence, immunogenicity was driven by predicted affinity. A strong poly-functional and poly-specific immune response was observed with high affinity neoantigens. However, only a high poly-specific vaccine vector was able to completely protect mice from subsequent tumor challenge. More importantly, this pipeline - from the selection of neoantigens to vaccine design - applied to a new model of patient derived tumor xenograft resulted in therapeutic treatment. Conclusions These results suggest a feasible strategy for a neoantigen cancer vaccine that is simple and applicable for clinical developments. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1084-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Aurisicchio
- Takis, Rome, Italy.,Biogem, Ariano Irpino, Italy.,Vitares, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Lione
- Takis, Rome, Italy.,Università Magna Grecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Pallocca
- UOSD SAFU, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Frauke Goeman
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Laubreton D, Bay S, Sedlik C, Artaud C, Ganneau C, Dériaud E, Viel S, Puaux AL, Amigorena S, Gérard C, Lo-Man R, Leclerc C. The fully synthetic MAG-Tn3 therapeutic vaccine containing the tetanus toxoid-derived TT830-844 universal epitope provides anti-tumor immunity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2016; 65:315-25. [PMID: 26847142 PMCID: PMC4779142 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-016-1802-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Malignant transformations are often associated with aberrant glycosylation processes that lead to the expression of new carbohydrate antigens at the surface of tumor cells. Of these carbohydrate antigens, the Tn antigen is particularly highly expressed in many carcinomas, especially in breast carcinoma. We designed MAG-Tn3, a fully synthetic vaccine based on three consecutive Tn moieties that are O-linked to a CD4+ T cell epitope, to induce anti-Tn antibody responses that could be helpful for therapeutic vaccination against cancer. To ensure broad coverage within the human population, the tetanus toxoid-derived peptide TT830-844 was selected as a T-helper epitope because it can bind to various HLA-DRB molecules. We showed that the MAG-Tn3 vaccine, which was formulated with the GSK proprietary immunostimulant AS15 and designed for human cancer therapy, is able to induce an anti-Tn antibody response in mice of various H-2 haplotypes, and this response correlates with the ability to induce a specific T cell response against the TT830-844 peptide. The universality of the TT830-844 peptide was extended to new H-2 and HLA-DRB molecules that were capable of binding this T cell epitope. Finally, the MAG-Tn3 vaccine was able to induce anti-Tn antibody responses in cynomolgus monkeys, which targeted Tn-expressing tumor cells and mediated tumor cell death both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, MAG-Tn3 is a highly promising anticancer vaccine that is currently under evaluation in a phase I clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphné Laubreton
- Unité de Régulation Immunitaire et Vaccinologie, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1041, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Bay
- Unité de Chimie des Biomolécules, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR3523, Paris, France
| | - Christine Sedlik
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U932, Paris, France
| | - Cécile Artaud
- Pôle Intégré de Recherche Clinique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Christelle Ganneau
- Unité de Chimie des Biomolécules, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR3523, Paris, France
| | - Edith Dériaud
- Unité de Régulation Immunitaire et Vaccinologie, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1041, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Viel
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U932, Paris, France
| | | | - Sebastian Amigorena
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U932, Paris, France
| | | | - Richard Lo-Man
- Unité de Régulation Immunitaire et Vaccinologie, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1041, Paris, France
| | - Claude Leclerc
- Unité de Régulation Immunitaire et Vaccinologie, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015, Paris, France. .,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1041, Paris, France.
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Insights on PRAME and osteosarcoma by means of gene expression profiling. J Orthop Sci 2011; 16:458-66. [PMID: 21691740 DOI: 10.1007/s00776-011-0106-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 03/08/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent bone tumor in children and adolescents. Tumor antigens are encoded by genes that are expressed in many types of solid tumors but are silent in normal tissues, with the exception of placenta and male germ-line cells. It has been proposed that antigen tumors are potential tumor markers. OBJECTIVES The premise of this study is that the identification of novel OS-associated transcripts will lead to a better understanding of the events involved in OS pathogenesis and biology. METHODS We analyzed the expression of a panel of seven tumor antigens in OS samples to identify possible tumor markers. After selecting the tumor antigen expressed in most samples of the panel, gene expression profiling was used to identify osteosarcoma-associated molecular alterations. A microarray was employed because of its ability to accurately produce comprehensive expression profiles. RESULTS PRAME was identified as the tumor antigen expressed in most OS samples; it was detected in 68% of the cases. Microarray results showed differences in expression for genes functioning in cell signaling and adhesion as well as extracellular matrix-related genes, implying that such tumors could indeed differ in regard to distinct patterns of tumorigenesis. CONCLUSIONS The hypothesis inferred in this study was gathered mostly from available data concerning other kinds of tumors. There is circumstantial evidence that PRAME expression might be related to distinct patterns of tumorigenesis. Further investigation is needed to validate the differential expression of genes belonging to tumorigenesis-related pathways in PRAME-positive and PRAME-negative tumors.
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Marra E, Uva P, Viti V, Simonelli V, Dogliotti E, De Rinaldis E, Lahm A, La Monica N, Nicosia A, Ciliberto G, Palombo F. Growth delay of human bladder cancer cells by Prostate Stem Cell Antigen downregulation is associated with activation of immune signaling pathways. BMC Cancer 2010; 10:129. [PMID: 20374648 PMCID: PMC2858747 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-10-129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2009] [Accepted: 04/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored protein expressed not only in prostate but also in pancreas and bladder cancer as shown by immunohistochemistry and mRNA analysis. It has been targeted by monoclonal antibodies in preclinical animal models and more recently in a clinical trial in prostate cancer patients. The biological role played in tumor growth is presently unknown. In this report we have characterized the contribution of PSCA expression to tumor growth. METHODS A bladder cell line was engineered to express a doxycycline (dox) regulated shRNA against PSCA. To shed light on the PSCA biological role in tumor growth, microarray analysis was carried out as a function of PSCA expression. Expression of gene set of interest was further analyzed by qPCR RESULTS: Down regulation of the PSCA expression was associated with reduced cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mice bearing subcutaneous tumors showed a reduced tumor growth upon treatment with dox, which effectively induced shRNA against PSCA as revealed by GFP expression. Pathway analysis of deregulated genes suggests a statistical significant association between PSCA downregulation and activation of genes downstream of the IFNalpha/beta receptor. CONCLUSIONS These experiments established for the first time a correlation between the level of PSCA expression and tumor growth and suggest a role of PSCA in counteracting the natural immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Marra
- Istituto di Ricerche Biologia Molecolare P, Angeletti, Via Pontina Km 30,600 00040 Pomezia (Rome) Italy
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DNA vaccines: developing new strategies against cancer. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2010:174378. [PMID: 20368780 PMCID: PMC2846346 DOI: 10.1155/2010/174378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2009] [Accepted: 02/05/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to their rapid and widespread development, DNA vaccines have entered into a variety of human clinical trials for vaccines against various diseases including cancer. Evidence that DNA vaccines are well tolerated and have an excellent safety profile proved to be of advantage as many clinical trials combines the first phase with the second, saving both time and money. It is clear from the results obtained in clinical trials that such DNA vaccines require much improvement in antigen expression and delivery methods to make them sufficiently effective in the clinic. Similarly, it is clear that additional strategies are required to activate effective immunity against poorly immunogenic tumor antigens. Engineering vaccine design for manipulating antigen presentation and processing pathways is one of the most important aspects that can be easily handled in the DNA vaccine technology. Several approaches have been investigated including DNA vaccine engineering, co-delivery of immunomodulatory molecules, safe routes of administration, prime-boost regimen and strategies to break the immunosuppressive networks mechanisms adopted by malignant cells to prevent immune cell function. Combined or single strategies to enhance the efficacy and immunogenicity of DNA vaccines are applied in completed and ongoing clinical trials, where the safety and tolerability of the DNA platform are substantiated.
In this review on DNA vaccines, salient aspects on this topic going from basic research to the clinic are evaluated. Some representative DNA cancer vaccine studies are also discussed.
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Li M, Bharadwaj U, Zhang R, Zhang S, Mu H, Fisher WE, Brunicardi FC, Chen C, Yao Q. Mesothelin is a malignant factor and therapeutic vaccine target for pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2008; 7:286-96. [PMID: 18281514 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-07-0483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Given the high fatality rate of pancreatic cancer, an effective treatment for this devastating disease is urgently needed. We have shown that mesothelin expression was higher in human pancreatic cancer cells than in human pancreatic duct epithelial cells, and mesothelin mRNA was substantially overexpressed in 18 of 21 (86%) clinical pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens when compared with the surrounding normal tissues. However, the biological functions of mesothelin in tumor progression are not clearly understood. Here we studied the effects of mesothelin overexpression in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro and pancreatic cancer progression in vivo. We found that forced expression of mesothelin significantly increased tumor cell proliferation and migration by 90% and 300%, respectively, and increased tumor volume by 4-fold in the nude mice xenograft model when compared with the vector control cell line. Silencing of mesothelin inhibited cell proliferation and migration in pancreatic cancer cells and ablated tumor progression in vivo. Vaccination with chimeric virus-like particles that contain human mesothelin substantially inhibited tumor progression in C57BL/6J mice. The increases in mesothelin-specific antibodies and CTL activity and the decrease in regulatory T cells correlated with reduced tumor progression and prolonged survival. This study revealed novel functions of mesothelin and suggested a new therapeutic vaccine strategy whereby mesothelin is targeted to control pancreatic cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Abstract
Attempts to raise effective immunity against cancer are benefiting from information on the nature of the immunity involved and its regulation and, perhaps, now it is time to step back and define our approach in molecular terms prior to clinical testing. Although there are immunological differences between mice and patients, results from murine studies are encouraging early 'translation' of concepts to the clinic and it is vital to take immunological principles emerging from mice into clinical vaccine design. One is the requirement to break tolerance against over-expressed self-antigens, a potentially risky procedure but necessary for several cancer targets. A study in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology attempts to do this by using xenogeneic antigens, albeit with variable outcome. The unstated goal is to activate T-cell help but this can be achieved more effectively by harnessing a predictable anti-microbial repertoire. The second issue lies in the delivery of antigen. One strategy is "prime/boost" using DNA priming and boosting with a viral vector; however, this induces blocking immunity against viral proteins, and must be used judiciously. There are other physical methods to increase immunity such as electroporation, which can itself be used in 'prime/boost' sequence. These twin problems of engagement of T-cell help and delivery of adequate antigen can now be addressed by applying immunological logic to cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freda K Stevenson
- Molecular Immunology Group, Cancer Sciences Division, Southampton University Hospitals Trust, Southampton, UK.
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