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Ren D, Xiong S, Ren Y, Yang X, Zhao X, Jin J, Xu M, Liang T, Guo L, Weng L. Advances in therapeutic cancer vaccines: Harnessing immune adjuvants for enhanced efficacy and future perspectives. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:1833-1843. [PMID: 38707540 PMCID: PMC11066472 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.04.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Preventive cancer vaccines are highly effective in preventing viral infection-induced cancer, but advances in therapeutic cancer vaccines with a focus on eliminating cancer cells through immunotherapy are limited. To develop therapeutic cancer vaccines, the integration of optimal adjuvants is a potential strategy to enhance or complement existing therapeutic approaches. However, conventional adjuvants do not satisfy the criteria of clinical trials for therapeutic cancer vaccines. To improve the effects of adjuvants in therapeutic cancer vaccines, effective vaccination strategies must be formulated and novel adjuvants must be identified. This review offers an overview of the current advancements in therapeutic cancer vaccines and highlights in situ vaccination approaches that can be synergistically combined with other immunotherapies by harnessing the adjuvant effects. Additionally, the refinement of adjuvant systems using cutting-edge technologies and the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying immunogenic cell death to facilitate the development of innovative adjuvants have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dekang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shizheng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yujie Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xueni Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xinmiao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiaming Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Miaomiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tingming Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Li Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lixing Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
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Xu X, Gan M, Ge Y, Yi C, Feng T, Liu M, Wu C, Chen X, Zhang W, Zhao L, Zou J. Multifaceted glycoadjuvant@AuNPs inhibits tumor metastasis through promoting T cell activation and remodeling tumor microenvironment. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:376. [PMID: 34794428 PMCID: PMC8600715 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-01129-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTARCT BACKGROUND: Cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides has been used as adjuvants for cancer immunotherapy. However, unmodified CpG are not very efficient in clinical trials. Glucose, ligand of C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), can promote DC maturation and antigen presentation, which is the first step of induction of adaptive immune responses. Therefore, conjugation of type B CpG DNA to glucose-containing glycopolymers may enhance the therapeutic effects against tumor by CpG-based vaccine. METHODS gCpG was developed by chemical conjugation of type B CpG DNA to glucose-containing glycopolymers. The therapeutic effects of gCpG-based vaccine were tested in both murine primary melanoma model and its metastasis model. RESULTS gCpG based tumor vaccine inhibited both primary and metastasis of melanoma in mice which was dependent on CD8 + T cells and IFNγ. In tumor microenvironment, gCpG treatment increased Th1 and CTL infiltration, increased M1 macrophages, decreased Tregs and MDSCs populations, and promoted inflammatory milieu with enhanced secretion of IFNγ and TNFα. The anti-tumor efficacy of gCpG was dramatically enhanced when combined with anti-PD1 immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that gCpG was a promising adjuvant for vaccine formulation by activating both tumor-specific Th1 and Tc1 responses, and regulating tumor microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Xu
- College of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical Department, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Minfeng Gan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Youzhen Ge
- College of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical Department, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Hematology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Yi
- College of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical Department, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Hematology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianyun Feng
- College of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical Department, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Hematology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengjie Liu
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, People's Republic of China
| | - Cenhao Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lixiang Zhao
- College of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical Department, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jun Zou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China.
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Retrovirus-Based Virus-Like Particle Immunogenicity and Its Modulation by Toll-Like Receptor Activation. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.01230-17. [PMID: 28794025 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01230-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Retrovirus-derived virus-like particles (VLPs) are particularly interesting vaccine platforms, as they trigger efficient humoral and cellular immune responses and can be used to display heterologous antigens. In this study, we characterized the intrinsic immunogenicity of VLPs and investigated their possible adjuvantization by incorporation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. We designed a noncoding single-stranded RNA (ncRNA) that could be encapsidated by VLPs and induce TLR7/8 signaling. We found that VLPs efficiently induce in vitro dendritic cell activation, which can be improved by ncRNA encapsidation (ncRNAVLPs). Transcriptome studies of dendritic cells harvested from the spleens of immunized mice identified antigen presentation and immune activation as the main gene expression signatures induced by VLPs, while TLR signaling and Th1 signatures characterize ncRNAVLPs. In vivo and compared with standard VLPs, ncRNAVLPs promoted Th1 responses and improved CD8+ T cell proliferation in a MyD88-dependent manner. In an HIV vaccine mouse model, HIV-pseudotyped ncRNAVLPs elicited stronger antigen-specific cellular and humoral responses than VLPs. Altogether, our findings provide molecular evidence for a strong vaccine potential of retrovirus-derived VLPs that can be further improved by harnessing TLR-mediated immune activation.IMPORTANCE We previously reported that DNA vaccines encoding antigens displayed in/on retroviral VLPs are more efficient than standard DNA vaccines at inducing cellular and humoral immune responses. We aimed to decipher the mechanisms and investigated the VLPs' immunogenicity independently of DNA vaccination. We show that VLPs have the ability to activate antigen-presenting cells directly, thus confirming their intrinsic immunostimulatory properties and their potential to be used as an antigenic platform. Notably, this immunogenicity can be further improved and/or oriented by the incorporation into VLPs of ncRNA, which provides further TLR-mediated activation and Th1-type CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response orientation. Our results highlight the versatility of retrovirus-derived VLP design and the value of using ncRNA as an intrinsic vaccine adjuvant.
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Wojtowicz ME, Dunn BK, Umar A. Immunologic approaches to cancer prevention-current status, challenges, and future perspectives. Semin Oncol 2015; 43:161-172. [PMID: 26970135 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The potential of the immune system to recognize and reject tumors has been investigated for more than a century. However, only recently impressive breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy have been seen with the use of checkpoint inhibitors. The experience with various immune-based strategies in the treatment of late cancer highlighted the importance of negative impact advanced disease has on immunity. Consequently, use of immune modulation for cancer prevention rather than therapy has gained considerable attention, with many promising results seen already in preclinical and early clinical studies. Although not without challenges, these results provide much excitement and optimism that successful cancer immunoprevention could be within our reach. In this review we will discuss the current state of predominantly primary and secondary cancer immunoprevention, relevant research, potential barriers, and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata E Wojtowicz
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Barbara K Dunn
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Asad Umar
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Swaminathan G, Thoryk EA, Cox KS, Meschino S, Dubey SA, Vora KA, Celano R, Gindy M, Casimiro DR, Bett AJ. A novel lipid nanoparticle adjuvant significantly enhances B cell and T cell responses to sub-unit vaccine antigens. Vaccine 2015; 34:110-9. [PMID: 26555351 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.10.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Sub-unit vaccines are primarily designed to include antigens required to elicit protective immune responses and to be safer than whole-inactivated or live-attenuated vaccines. But their purity and inability to self-adjuvant often result in weaker immunogenicity. Emerging evidence suggests that bio-engineered nanoparticles can be used as immunomodulatory adjuvants. Therefore, in this study we explored the potential of novel Merck-proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations to enhance immune responses to sub-unit viral antigens. Immunization of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice revealed that LNPs alone or in combination with a synthetic TLR9 agonist, immune-modulatory oligonucleotides, IMO-2125 (IMO), significantly enhanced immune responses to hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and ovalbumin (OVA). LNPs enhanced total B-cell responses to both antigens tested, to levels comparable to known vaccine adjuvants including aluminum based adjuvant, IMO alone and a TLR4 agonist, 3-O-deactytaled monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL). Investigation of the quality of B-cell responses demonstrated that the combination of LNP with IMO agonist elicited a stronger Th1-type response (based on the IgG2a:IgG1 ratio) than levels achieved with IMO alone. Furthermore, the LNP adjuvant significantly enhanced antigen specific cell-mediated immune responses. In ELISPOT assays, depletion of specific subsets of T cells revealed that the LNPs elicited potent antigen-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+)T cell responses. Intracellular FACS analyses revealed that LNP and LNP+IMO formulated antigens led to higher frequency of antigen-specific IFNγ(+)TNFα(+)IL-2(+), multi-functional CD8(+)T cell responses, than unadjuvanted vaccine or vaccine with IMO only. Overall, our results demonstrate that lipid nanoparticles can serve as future sub-unit vaccine adjuvants to boost both B-cell and T-cell responses in vivo, and that addition of IMO can be used to manipulate the quality of immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokul Swaminathan
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, PA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Thoryk
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, PA, United States
| | - Kara S Cox
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, PA, United States
| | - Steven Meschino
- Medical Affairs, Merck Global Human Health, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., North Wales, PA, United States
| | - Sheri A Dubey
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, PA, United States
| | - Kalpit A Vora
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, PA, United States
| | - Robert Celano
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, PA, United States
| | - Marian Gindy
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, PA, United States
| | - Danilo R Casimiro
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, PA, United States
| | - Andrew J Bett
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., West Point, PA, United States.
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