1
|
Hama Faraj GS, Hussen BM, Abdullah SR, Fatih Rasul M, Hajiesmaeili Y, Baniahmad A, Taheri M. Advanced approaches of the use of circRNAs as a replacement for cancer therapy. Noncoding RNA Res 2024; 9:811-830. [PMID: 38590433 PMCID: PMC10999493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a broad name for a group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow out of control and are characterized by their complexity and recurrence. Although there has been progress in cancer therapy with the entry of precision medicine and immunotherapy, cancer incidence rates have increased globally. Non-coding RNAs in the form of circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial roles in the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, and therapy of different diseases, including cancer. According to recent studies, circRNAs appear to serve as accurate indicators and therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. However, circRNAs are promising candidates for cutting-edge cancer therapy because of their distinctive circular structure, stability, and wide range of capabilities; many challenges persist that decrease the applications of circRNA-based cancer therapeutics. Here, we explore the roles of circRNAs as a replacement for cancer therapy, highlight the main challenges facing circRNA-based cancer therapies, and discuss the key strategies to overcome these challenges to improve advanced innovative therapies based on circRNAs with long-term health effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Goran Sedeeq Hama Faraj
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Komar University of Science and Technology, Sulaymaniyah, 46001, Iraq
| | - Bashdar Mahmud Hussen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, 44001, Iraq
- Department of Clinical Analysis, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, 44001, Iraq
| | - Snur Rasool Abdullah
- Medical Laboratory Science, Lebanese French University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, 44001, Iraq
| | - Mohammed Fatih Rasul
- Department of Pharmaceutical Basic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | | | - Aria Baniahmad
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dillman RO, Nistor GI, Keirstead HS. Autologous dendritic cells loaded with antigens from self-renewing autologous tumor cells as patient-specific therapeutic cancer vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023:2198467. [PMID: 37133853 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2198467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A promising personal immunotherapy is autologous dendritic cells (DC) loaded ex vivo with autologous tumor antigens (ATA) derived from self-renewing autologous cancer cells. DC-ATA are suspended in granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor at the time of each subcutaneous injection. Previously, irradiated autologous tumor cell vaccines have produced encouraging results in 150 cancer patients, but the DC-ATA vaccine demonstrated superiority in single-arm and randomized trials in metastatic melanoma. DC-ATA have been injected into more than 200 patients with melanoma, glioblastoma, and ovarian, hepatocellular, and renal cell cancers. Key observations include: [1] greater than 95% success rates for tumor cell cultures and monocyte collection for dendritic cell production; [2] injections are well-tolerated; [3] the immune response is rapid and includes primarily TH1/TH17 cellular responses; [4] efficacy has been suggested by delayed but durable complete tumor regressions in patients with measurable disease, by progression-free survival in glioblastoma, and by overall survival in melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriel I Nistor
- Research and Development, AIVITA Biomedical Inc, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhao M, Wang R, Yang K, Jiang Y, Peng Y, Li Y, Zhang Z, Ding J, Shi S. Nucleic acid nanoassembly-enhanced RNA therapeutics and diagnosis. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:916-941. [PMID: 36970219 PMCID: PMC10031267 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RNAs are involved in the crucial processes of disease progression and have emerged as powerful therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. However, efficient delivery of therapeutic RNA to the targeted location and precise detection of RNA markers remains challenging. Recently, more and more attention has been paid to applying nucleic acid nanoassemblies in diagnosing and treating. Due to the flexibility and deformability of nucleic acids, the nanoassemblies could be fabricated with different shapes and structures. With hybridization, nucleic acid nanoassemblies, including DNA and RNA nanostructures, can be applied to enhance RNA therapeutics and diagnosis. This review briefly introduces the construction and properties of different nucleic acid nanoassemblies and their applications for RNA therapy and diagnosis and makes further prospects for their development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengnan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Rujing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Kunmeng Yang
- The First Norman Bethune College of Clinical Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Yuhong Jiang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Yachen Peng
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Yuke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Jianxun Ding
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Sanjun Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Intravesical delivery of KDM6A-mRNA via mucoadhesive nanoparticles inhibits the metastasis of bladder cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2112696119. [PMID: 35131941 PMCID: PMC8851555 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112696119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This study provides proof-of-principle evidence for intravesical delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) via a mucoadhesive nanoparticle (NP) strategy and reveals the therapeutic potential of KDM6A in treating bladder cancer metastasis, which remains difficult due to the physiological bladder barriers. The mucoadhesive NPs could protect loaded mRNA, prolong exposure of mRNA in disease sites, and benefit the penetration and effective expression, which all represent challenging hurdles for intravesical delivery of mRNA therapeutics. mRNA local delivery can also avoid potential toxicity issues via systemic delivery and unwanted protein expression throughout the body. We expect this mucoadhesive mRNA nanotechnology can be useful for the effective up-regulation of targeted proteins in bladder tissues in situ for both mechanistic understanding and translational study of bladder-related diseases. Lysine-specific demethylase 6A (KDM6A), also named UTX, is frequently mutated in bladder cancer (BCa). Although known as a tumor suppressor, KDM6A’s therapeutic potential in the metastasis of BCa remains elusive. It also remains difficult to fulfill the effective up-regulation of KDM6A levels in bladder tumor tissues in situ to verify its potential in treating BCa metastasis. Here, we report a mucoadhesive messenger RNA (mRNA) nanoparticle (NP) strategy for the intravesical delivery of KDM6A-mRNA in mice bearing orthotopic Kdm6a-null BCa and show evidence of KDM6A’s therapeutic potential in inhibiting the metastasis of BCa. Through this mucoadhesive mRNA NP strategy, the exposure of KDM6A-mRNA to the in situ BCa tumors can be greatly prolonged for effective expression, and the penetration can be also enhanced by adhering to the bladder for sustained delivery. This mRNA NP strategy is also demonstrated to be effective for combination cancer therapy with other clinically approved drugs (e.g., elemene), which could further enhance therapeutic outcomes. Our findings not only report intravesical delivery of mRNA via a mucoadhesive mRNA NP strategy but also provide the proof-of-concept for the usefulness of these mRNA NPs as tools in both mechanistic understanding and translational study of bladder-related diseases.
Collapse
|
5
|
Fu X, Chen T, Song Y, Feng C, Chen H, Zhang Q, Chen G, Zhu X. mRNA Delivery by a pH-Responsive DNA Nano-Hydrogel. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2101224. [PMID: 34145748 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202101224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The delivery of mRNA to manipulate protein expression has attracted widespread attention, since that mRNA overcomes the problem of infection and mutation risks in transgenes and can work as drugs for the treatment of diseases. Although there are currently some vehicles that deliver mRNA into cells, they have not yet reached a good balance in terms of expression efficiency and biocompatibility. Here, a DNA nano-hydrogel system for mRNA delivery is developed. The nano-hydrogel is all composed of DNA except the target mRNA, so it has superior biocompatibility compared with those chemical vehicles. In parallel, the nano-hydrogel can be compacted into a nanosphere under the crosslinking by well-designed "X"-shaped DNA scaffolds and DNA linkers, facilitating the delivery into cells through endocytosis. In addition, smart intracellular release of the mRNA is achieved by incorporating a pH-responsive i-motif structure into the nano-hydrogel. Thus, taking the efficient delivery and release together, mRNA can be translated into the corresponding protein with a high efficiency, which is comparable to that of the commercial liposome but with a much better biocompatibility. Due to the excellent biocompatibility and efficiency, this nano-hydrogel system is expected to become a competitive alternative for delivering functional mRNA in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Fu
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Tianshu Chen
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Yuchen Song
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Chang Feng
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Huinan Chen
- College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Guifang Chen
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoli Zhu
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hu Y, Tang Y, Zhang XJ, Yang XT, Tang YY, Li S, Hu L, Chen P, Zhu D. Dendritic cells reprogrammed by CEA messenger RNA loaded multi-functional silica nanospheres for imaging-guided cancer immunotherapy. Biomater Sci 2020; 8:3026-3031. [PMID: 32347238 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm00395f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The application and understanding of dendritic cell (DC) based immune cancer therapy are largely hindered by insufficient or improper presentation of antigens and the inability to track the homing of reprogrammed DCs to draining lymph nodes in real-time. To tackle these challenges, multi-functional and hierarchically structured silica nanospheres are rationally designed and fabricated, which encapsulate quantum dots to permit near infrared deep tissue imaging and are loaded with carcinoembryonic antigen messenger RNA (CEAmRNA) to enable stable and abundant antigen expression in DCs. After being injected into animals and inducing an antigen-specific immune response, the homing process of reprogrammed labelled DCs from peripheral tissues to draining lymph nodes can be simultaneously and precisely tracked. Significant inhibition of tumor growth is achieved via strong antigen-specific immune responses including induced DC maturation, enhanced T cell proliferation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated responses. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate the high effectiveness of this new strategy of imaging-guided cancer immunotherapy by using reprogrammed DCs as immunotherapeutic and tracking agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P. R. China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dong P, Xu D, Xiong Y, Yue J, Ihira K, Konno Y, Watari H. The Expression, Functions and Mechanisms of Circular RNAs in Gynecological Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1472. [PMID: 32512912 PMCID: PMC7352180 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed, endogenous non-coding RNAs and certain circRNAs are linked to human tumors. Owing to their circular form, circRNAs are protected from degradation by exonucleases, and therefore, they are more stable than linear RNAs. Many circRNAs have been shown to sponge microRNAs, interact with RNA-binding proteins, regulate gene transcription, and be translated into proteins. Mounting evidence suggests that circRNAs are dysregulated in cancer tissues and can mediate various signaling pathways, thus affecting tumorigenesis, metastasis, and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. First, we review the characteristics, biogenesis, and biological functions of circRNAs, and describe various mechanistic models of circRNAs. Then, we provide a systematic overview of the functional roles of circRNAs in gynecological cancers. Finally, we describe the potential future applications of circRNAs as biomarkers for prognostic stratification and as therapeutic targets in gynecological cancers. Although the function of most circRNAs remains elusive, some individual circRNAs have biologically relevant functions in cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. Certain circRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in gynecological cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peixin Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; (D.X.); (K.I.); (Y.K.)
| | - Daozhi Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; (D.X.); (K.I.); (Y.K.)
| | - Ying Xiong
- Department of Gynecology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China;
| | - Junming Yue
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA;
- Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Kei Ihira
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; (D.X.); (K.I.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yosuke Konno
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; (D.X.); (K.I.); (Y.K.)
| | - Hidemichi Watari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; (D.X.); (K.I.); (Y.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tarakanchikova Y, Muslimov A, Sergeev I, Lepik K, Yolshin N, Goncharenko A, Vasilyev K, Eliseev I, Bukatin A, Sergeev V, Pavlov S, Popov A, Meglinski I, Afanasiev B, Parakhonskiy B, Sukhorukov G, Gorin D. A highly efficient and safe gene delivery platform based on polyelectrolyte core–shell nanoparticles for hard-to-transfect clinically relevant cell types. J Mater Chem B 2020; 8:9576-9588. [DOI: 10.1039/d0tb01359e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The polyelectrolyte nanocarriers’ based on nanosized vaterite particles as a novel tool for genetic material delivery into the clinically relevant cell types and potential application of described technology in gene therapy approaches.
Collapse
|
9
|
Sprooten J, Ceusters J, Coosemans A, Agostinis P, De Vleeschouwer S, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L, Garg AD. Trial watch: dendritic cell vaccination for cancer immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1638212. [PMID: 31646087 PMCID: PMC6791419 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1638212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic- cells (DCs) have received considerable attention as potential targets for the development of anticancer vaccines. DC-based anticancer vaccination relies on patient-derived DCs pulsed with a source of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) in the context of standardized maturation-cocktails, followed by their reinfusion. Extensive evidence has confirmed that DC-based vaccines can generate TAA-specific, cytotoxic T cells. Nonetheless, clinical efficacy of DC-based vaccines remains suboptimal, reflecting the widespread immunosuppression within tumors. Thus, clinical interest is being refocused on DC-based vaccines as combinatorial partners for T cell-targeting immunotherapies. Here, we summarize the most recent preclinical/clinical development of anticancer DC vaccination and discuss future perspectives for DC-based vaccines in immuno-oncology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Sprooten
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) unit, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Ceusters
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Coosemans
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrizia Agostinis
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) unit, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven De Vleeschouwer
- Research Group Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosurgery, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France
- INSERM, Villejuif, France
- Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 1428, Villejuif, France
- Université Paris Sud/Paris XI, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- 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 Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France
- Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Suzhou Institute for Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Université de Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Abhishek D. Garg
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) unit, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Alriquet M, Martínez-Limón A, Hanspach G, Hengesbach M, Tartaglia GG, Calloni G, Vabulas RM. Assembly of Proteins by Free RNA during the Early Phase of Proteostasis Stress. J Proteome Res 2019; 18:2835-2847. [PMID: 31244213 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
At any stage of their lifecycle, mRNAs are coated by specialized proteins. One of few circumstances when free mRNA appears in the cytosol is the disassembly of polysomes during the stress-induced shutdown of protein synthesis. Using quantitative mass spectrometry, we sought to identify the free RNA-interacting cellular machinery in heat-shocked mammalian cells. Free RNA-associated proteins displayed higher disorder and larger size, which supports the role of multivalent interactions during the initial phase of the association with RNAs during stress. Structural features of the free RNA interactors defined them as a subset of RNA-binding proteins. The interaction between these assembled proteins in vivo required RNA. Reconstitution of the association process in vitro indicated a multimolecular basis for increased binding to RNA upon heat shock in the cytosol. Our study represents a step toward understanding how free RNA is processed in the cytosol during proteostasis stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Alriquet
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany.,Institute of Biophysical Chemistry , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Adrían Martínez-Limón
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany.,Institute of Biophysical Chemistry , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Gerd Hanspach
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Martin Hengesbach
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Gian G Tartaglia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology , Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) , 08002 Barcelona , Spain
| | - Giulia Calloni
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany.,Institute of Biophysical Chemistry , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - R Martin Vabulas
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany.,Institute of Biophysical Chemistry , Goethe University Frankfurt , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Feng Z, Meng S, Zhou H, Xu Z, Tang Y, Li P, Liu C, Huang Y, Wu M. Functions and Potential Applications of Circular RNAs in Cancer Stem Cells. Front Oncol 2019; 9:500. [PMID: 31263676 PMCID: PMC6584801 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) were discovered in the 1970s, but they have drawn increasing attention in recent years. Currently, we know that circRNAs are not "wrongly spliced" during transcription but play important roles in the initiation and development of various diseases, including cancers. Recently, a growing number of studies have suggested that cancer stem cells (CSCs) may contribute to the origination and maintenance of cancers. This review briefly introduces the major functions of circRNAs, including interacting with other noncoding RNAs, competing with pre-mRNA splicing, binding with proteins to form a scaffold, promoting protein nuclear translocation and even translating proteins in a cap-independent manner. Furthermore, we describe the regulatory mechanism of circRNAs in CSC phenotypes and discuss the potential clinical applications of circRNAs in CSC-targeted therapy, including functioning as new biomarkers, acting as vaccines and breaking the therapeutic resistance of CSCs. Finally, we discuss the major limitations and challenges in the field, which will be beneficial for the future clinical use of circRNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Feng
- Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital and the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shujuan Meng
- Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital and the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hecheng Zhou
- Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital and the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zihao Xu
- Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital and the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital and the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Peiyao Li
- The Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Changhong Liu
- Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital and the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yongkai Huang
- The Affiliated Zhuzhou Hospital Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Minghua Wu
- Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital and the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Islam MA, Xu Y, Tao W, Ubellacker JM, Lim M, Aum D, Lee GY, Zhou K, Zope H, Yu M, Cao W, Oswald JT, Dinarvand M, Mahmoudi M, Langer R, Kantoff PW, Farokhzad OC, Zetter BR, Shi J. Restoration of tumour-growth suppression in vivo via systemic nanoparticle-mediated delivery of PTEN mRNA. Nat Biomed Eng 2018; 2:850-864. [PMID: 31015614 PMCID: PMC6486184 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-018-0284-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
PTEN is a well-characterized tumour-suppressor gene that is lost or mutated in about half of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers and in many other human cancers. The restoration of functional PTEN as a treatment for prostate cancer has however proven difficult. Here, we show that PTEN mRNA can be reintroduced into PTEN-null prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo via its encapsulation in polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles coated with a poly(ethylene glycol) shell. The nanoparticles are stable in serum, elicit low toxicity, enable high PTEN mRNA transfection in prostate cancer cells, and lead to significant inhibition of tumour growth when delivered systemically in multiple mouse models of prostate cancer. We also show that the restoration of PTEN function in PTEN-null prostate cancer cells inhibits the PI3K-AKT pathway and enhances apoptosis. Our findings provide proof-of-principle evidence of the restoration of mRNA-based tumour suppression in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ariful Islam
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Oncology Division, Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc., Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Yingjie Xu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wei Tao
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessalyn M Ubellacker
- Hematology Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Lim
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Nanotechnology Engineering Program, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Aum
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gha Young Lee
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kun Zhou
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harshal Zope
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mikyung Yu
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wuji Cao
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Nanotechnology Engineering Program, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Trevor Oswald
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Nanotechnology Engineering Program, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Meshkat Dinarvand
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Morteza Mahmoudi
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert Langer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Institute of Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Philip W Kantoff
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Omid C Farokhzad
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Bruce R Zetter
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Jinjun Shi
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Brown MC, Holl EK, Boczkowski D, Dobrikova E, Mosaheb M, Chandramohan V, Bigner DD, Gromeier M, Nair SK. Cancer immunotherapy with recombinant poliovirus induces IFN-dominant activation of dendritic cells and tumor antigen-specific CTLs. Sci Transl Med 2017; 9:eaan4220. [PMID: 28931654 PMCID: PMC6034685 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan4220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tumors thrive in an immunosuppressive microenvironment that impedes antitumor innate and adaptive immune responses. Thus, approaches that can overcome immunosuppression and engage antitumor immunity are needed. This study defines the adjuvant and cancer immunotherapy potential of the recombinant poliovirus/rhinovirus chimera PVSRIPO. PVSRIPO is currently in clinical trials against recurrent World Health Organization grade IV malignant glioma, a notoriously treatment-refractory cancer. Cytopathogenic infection of neoplastic cells releases the proteome and exposes pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns. At the same time, sublethal infection of antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages, yields potent, sustained type I interferon-dominant activation in an immunosuppressed microenvironment and promotes the development of tumor antigen-specific T cell responses in vitro and antitumor immunity in vivo. PVSRIPO's immune adjuvancy stimulates canonical innate anti-pathogen inflammatory responses within the tumor microenvironment that culminate in dendritic cell and T cell infiltration. Our findings provide mechanistic evidence that PVSRIPO functions as a potent intratumor immune adjuvant that generates tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Brown
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Eda K Holl
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - David Boczkowski
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Elena Dobrikova
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Mubeen Mosaheb
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Vidya Chandramohan
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Darell D Bigner
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Matthias Gromeier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Smita K Nair
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Liu Y, Xu CF, Iqbal S, Yang XZ, Wang J. Responsive Nanocarriers as an Emerging Platform for Cascaded Delivery of Nucleic Acids to Cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2017; 115:98-114. [PMID: 28396204 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cascades of systemic and intracellular obstacles, including low stability in blood, little tumor accumulation, weak tumor penetration, poor cellular uptake, inefficient endosomal escape and deficient disassembly in the cytoplasm, must be overcome in order to deliver nucleic acid drugs for cancer therapy. Nanocarriers that are sensitive to a variety of physiological stimuli, such as pH, redox status, and cell enzymes, are substantially changing the landscape of nucleic acid drug delivery by helping to overcome cascaded systemic and intracellular barriers. This review discusses nucleic acid-based therapeutics, systemic and intracellular barriers to efficient nucleic acid delivery, and nanocarriers responsive to extracellular and intracellular biological stimuli to overcome individual barriers. In particular, responsive nanocarriers for the cascaded delivery of nucleic acids in vivo are highlighted. Developing novel cascaded nanocarriers that transform their physicochemical properties in response to various stimuli in a timely and spatially controlled manner for nucleic acid drug delivery holds great potential for translating the promise of nucleic acid drugs and achieving clinically successful cancer therapy.
Collapse
|
15
|
Garg AD, Vara Perez M, Schaaf M, Agostinis P, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial watch: Dendritic cell-based anticancer immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1328341. [PMID: 28811970 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1328341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines against cancer have been extensively developed over the past two decades. Typically DC-based cancer immunotherapy entails loading patient-derived DCs with an appropriate source of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and efficient DC stimulation through a so-called "maturation cocktail" (typically a combination of pro-inflammatory cytokines and Toll-like receptor agonists), followed by DC reintroduction into patients. DC vaccines have been documented to (re)activate tumor-specific T cells in both preclinical and clinical settings. There is considerable clinical interest in combining DC-based anticancer vaccines with T cell-targeting immunotherapies. This reflects the established capacity of DC-based vaccines to generate a pool of TAA-specific effector T cells and facilitate their infiltration into the tumor bed. In this Trial Watch, we survey the latest trends in the preclinical and clinical development of DC-based anticancer therapeutics. We also highlight how the emergence of immune checkpoint blockers and adoptive T-cell transfer-based approaches has modified the clinical niche for DC-based vaccines within the wide cancer immunotherapy landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek D Garg
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Monica Vara Perez
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marco Schaaf
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrizia Agostinis
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) Lab, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France.,Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 1428, Villejuif, France.,Université Paris Sud/Paris XI, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,INSERM, U1138, Paris, France.,Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,Karolinska Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Pôle de Biologie, Hopitâl Européen George Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Paris, France.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Differential Induction of Immunogenic Cell Death and Interferon Expression in Cancer Cells by Structured ssRNAs. Mol Ther 2017; 25:1295-1305. [PMID: 28372998 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of the RNA-sensing pattern recognition receptor (PRR) in cancer cells leads to cell death and cytokine expression. This cancer cell death releases tumor antigens and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that induce anti-tumor immunity. However, these cytokines and DAMPs also cause adverse inflammatory and thrombotic complications that can limit the overall therapeutic benefits of PRR-targeting anti-cancer therapies. To overcome this problem, we generated and evaluated two novel and distinct ssRNA molecules (immunogenic cell-killing RNA [ICR]2 and ICR4). ICR2 and ICR4 differentially stimulated cell death and PRR signaling pathways and induced different patterns of cytokine expression in cancer and innate immune cells. Interestingly, DAMPs released from ICR2- and ICR4-treated cancer cells had distinct patterns of stimulation of innate immune receptors and coagulation. Finally, ICR2 and ICR4 inhibited in vivo tumor growth as effectively as poly(I:C). ICR2 and ICR4 are potential therapeutic agents that differentially induce cell death, immune stimulation, and coagulation when introduced into tumors.
Collapse
|
17
|
del Pozo-Rodríguez A, Solinís MÁ, Rodríguez-Gascón A. Applications of lipid nanoparticles in gene therapy. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2016; 109:184-193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
18
|
Mokhtarzadeh A, Parhiz H, Hashemi M, Abnous K, Ramezani M. P53-Derived peptides conjugation to PEI: an approach to producing versatile and highly efficient targeted gene delivery carriers into cancer cells. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2016; 13:477-91. [DOI: 10.1517/17425247.2016.1126245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
|
19
|
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) has recently emerged with remarkable potential as an effective alternative to DNA-based therapies because of several unique advantages. mRNA does not require nuclear entry for transfection activity and has a negligible chance of integrating into the host genome which excludes the possibility of potentially detrimental genomic alternations. Chemical modification of mRNA has further enhanced its stability and decreased its activation of innate immune responses. Additionally, mRNA has been found to have rapid expression and predictable kinetics. Nevertheless, the ubiquitous application of mRNA remains challenging given its unfavorable attributes, such as large size, negative charge and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation. Further refinement of mRNA delivery modalities is therefore essential for its development as a therapeutic tool. This review provides an exclusive overview of current state-of-the-art biomaterials and nanotechnology platforms for mRNA delivery, and discusses future prospects to bring these exciting technologies into clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ariful Islam
- Laboratory for Nanoengineering & Drug Delivery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Nair SK, Driscoll T, Boczkowski D, Schmittling R, Reynolds R, Johnson LA, Grant G, Fuchs H, Bigner DD, Sampson JH, Gururangan S, Mitchell DA. Ex vivo generation of dendritic cells from cryopreserved, post-induction chemotherapy, mobilized leukapheresis from pediatric patients with medulloblastoma. J Neurooncol 2015; 125:65-74. [PMID: 26311248 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-015-1890-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Generation of patient-derived, autologous dendritic cells (DCs) is a critical component of cancer immunotherapy with ex vivo-generated, tumor antigen-loaded DCs. An important factor in the ability to generate DCs is the potential impact of prior therapies on DC phenotype and function. We investigated the ability to generate DCs using cells harvested from pediatric patients with medulloblastoma for potential evaluation of DC-RNA based vaccination approach in this patient population. Cells harvested from medulloblastoma patient leukapheresis following induction chemotherapy and granulocyte colony stimulating factor mobilization were cryopreserved prior to use in DC generation. DCs were generated from the adherent CD14+ monocytes using standard procedures and analyzed for cell recovery, phenotype and function. To summarize, 4 out of 5 patients (80%) had sufficient monocyte recovery to permit DC generation, and we were able to generate DCs from 3 out of these 4 patient samples (75%). Overall, we successfully generated DCs that met phenotypic requisites for DC-based cancer therapy from 3 out of 5 (60%) patient samples and met both phenotypic and functional requisites from 2 out of 5 (40%) patient samples. This study highlights the potential to generate functional DCs for further clinical treatments from refractory patients that have been heavily pretreated with myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Here we demonstrate the utility of evaluating the effect of the currently employed standard-of-care therapies on the ex vivo generation of DCs for DC-based clinical studies in cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Smita K Nair
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Timothy Driscoll
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - David Boczkowski
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Robert Schmittling
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Renee Reynolds
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14222, USA.
| | - Laura A Johnson
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Gerald Grant
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94303, USA.
| | - Herbert Fuchs
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Darell D Bigner
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John H Sampson
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sridharan Gururangan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Duane A Mitchell
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103035, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32605, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Pratico ED, Feger BJ, Watson MJ, Sullenger BA, Bowles DE, Milano CA, Nair SK. RNA-Mediated Reprogramming of Primary Adult Human Dermal Fibroblasts into c-kit(+) Cardiac Progenitor Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 24:2622-33. [PMID: 26176491 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2015.0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Heart failure is a common, costly, and potentially fatal condition that is inadequately managed by pharmaceuticals. Cardiac repair therapies are promising alternative options. A potential cardiac repair therapy involves reprogramming human fibroblasts toward an induced cardiac progenitor-like state. We developed a clinically useful and safer reprogramming method by nonintegrative delivery of a cocktail of cardiac transcription factor-encoding mRNAs into autologous human dermal fibroblasts obtained from skin biopsies. Using this method, adult and neonatal dermal fibroblasts were reprogrammed into cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) that expressed c-kit, Isl-1, and Nkx2.5. Furthermore, these reprogrammed CPCs differentiated into cardiomyocytes (CMs) in vitro as judged by increased expression of cardiac troponin T, α-sarcomeric actinin, RyR2, and SERCA2 and displayed enhanced caffeine-sensitive calcium release. The ability to reprogram patient-derived dermal fibroblasts into c-kit(+) CPCs and differentiate them into functional CMs provides clinicians with a potential new source of CPCs for cardiac repair from a renewable source and an alternative therapy in the treatment of heart failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth D Pratico
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina
| | - Bryan J Feger
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michael J Watson
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina
| | - Bruce A Sullenger
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina
| | - Dawn E Bowles
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina
| | - Carmelo A Milano
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina
| | - Smita K Nair
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Bloy N, Pol J, Aranda F, Eggermont A, Cremer I, Fridman WH, Fučíková J, Galon J, Tartour E, Spisek R, Dhodapkar MV, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial watch: Dendritic cell-based anticancer therapy. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:e963424. [PMID: 25941593 DOI: 10.4161/21624011.2014.963424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of patient-derived dendritic cells (DCs) as a means to elicit therapeutically relevant immune responses in cancer patients has been extensively investigated throughout the past decade. In this context, DCs are generally expanded, exposed to autologous tumor cell lysates or loaded with specific tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), and then reintroduced into patients, often in combination with one or more immunostimulatory agents. As an alternative, TAAs are targeted to DCs in vivo by means of monoclonal antibodies, carbohydrate moieties or viral vectors specific for DC receptors. All these approaches have been shown to (re)activate tumor-specific immune responses in mice, often mediating robust therapeutic effects. In 2010, the first DC-based preparation (sipuleucel-T, also known as Provenge®) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in humans. Reflecting the central position occupied by DCs in the regulation of immunological tolerance and adaptive immunity, the interest in harnessing them for the development of novel immunotherapeutic anticancer regimens remains high. Here, we summarize recent advances in the preclinical and clinical development of DC-based anticancer therapeutics.
Collapse
Key Words
- DC, dendritic cell
- DC-based vaccination
- FDA, Food and Drug Administration
- IFN, interferon
- MRC1, mannose receptor, C type 1
- MUC1, mucin 1
- TAA, tumor-associated antigen
- TLR, Toll-like receptor
- Toll-like receptor agonists
- Treg, regulatory T cell
- WT1, Wilms tumor 1
- antigen cross-presentation
- autophagy
- iDC, immature DC
- immunogenic cell death
- mDC, mature DC
- pDC, plasmacytoid DC
- regulatory T cells
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Norma Bloy
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus ; Villejuif, France ; INSERM , U1138; Paris France ; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers ; Paris France ; Université Paris-Sud/Paris XI ; Orsay, France
| | - Jonathan Pol
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus ; Villejuif, France ; INSERM , U1138; Paris France ; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers ; Paris France
| | - Fernando Aranda
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus ; Villejuif, France ; INSERM , U1138; Paris France ; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers ; Paris France
| | | | - Isabelle Cremer
- INSERM , U1138; Paris France ; Equipe 13; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers ; Paris France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI ; Paris France
| | - Wolf Hervé Fridman
- INSERM , U1138; Paris France ; Equipe 13; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers ; Paris France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI ; Paris France
| | - Jitka Fučíková
- Department of Immunology; 2nd Medical School Charles University and University Hospital Motol ; Prague, Czech Republic ; Sotio a.s. ; Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jérôme Galon
- INSERM , U1138; Paris France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI ; Paris France ; Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers ; Paris France ; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V; Sorbonne Paris Cité ; Paris France
| | - Eric Tartour
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V; Sorbonne Paris Cité ; Paris France ; INSERM , U970; Paris France ; Pôle de Biologie; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP ; Paris France
| | - Radek Spisek
- Department of Immunology; 2nd Medical School Charles University and University Hospital Motol ; Prague, Czech Republic ; Sotio a.s. ; Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Madhav V Dhodapkar
- Department of Medicine; Immunobiology and Yale Cancer Center; Yale University ; New Haven, CT USA
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus ; Villejuif, France ; INSERM, U1015, CICBT507 ; Villejuif, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- INSERM , U1138; Paris France ; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers ; Paris France ; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V; Sorbonne Paris Cité ; Paris France ; Pôle de Biologie; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP ; Paris France ; Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms; Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus ; Villejuif, France
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus ; Villejuif, France ; INSERM , U1138; Paris France ; Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers ; Paris France ; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V; Sorbonne Paris Cité ; Paris France
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
Use of mRNA-based vaccines for tumour immunotherapy has gained increasing attention in recent years. A growing number of studies applying nanomedicine concepts to mRNA tumour vaccination show that the mRNA delivered in nanoparticle format can generate a more robust immune response. Advances in the past decade have deepened our understanding of gene delivery barriers, mRNA's biological stability and immunological properties, and support the notion for engineering innovations tailored towards a more efficient mRNA nanoparticle vaccine delivery system. In this review we will first examine the suitability of mRNA for engineering manipulations, followed by discussion of a model framework that highlights the barriers to a robust anti-tumour immunity mediated by mRNA encapsulated in nanoparticles. Finally, by consolidating existing literature on mRNA nanoparticle tumour vaccination within the context of this framework, we aim to identify bottlenecks that can be addressed by future nanoengineering research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle K L Phua
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Nair SK, Tomaras GD, Sales AP, Boczkowski D, Chan C, Plonk K, Cai Y, Dannull J, Kepler TB, Pruitt SK, Weinhold KJ. High-throughput identification and dendritic cell-based functional validation of MHC class I-restricted Mycobacterium tuberculosis epitopes. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4632. [PMID: 24755960 PMCID: PMC4894389 DOI: 10.1038/srep04632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Emergence of drug-resistant strains of the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and the ineffectiveness of BCG in curtailing Mtb infection makes vaccine development for tuberculosis an important objective. Identifying immunogenic CD8+ T cell peptide epitopes is necessary for peptide-based vaccine strategies. We present a three-tiered strategy for identifying and validating immunogenic peptides: first, identify peptides that form stable complexes with class I MHC molecules; second, determine whether cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) raised against the whole protein antigen recognize and lyse target cells pulsed with peptides that passed step 1; third, determine whether peptides that passed step 2, when administered in vivo as a vaccine in HLA-A2 transgenic mice, elicit CTLs that lyse target cells expressing the whole protein antigen. Our innovative approach uses dendritic cells transfected with Mtb antigen-encoding mRNA to drive antigen expression. Using this strategy, we have identified five novel peptide epitopes from the Mtb proteins Apa, Mtb8.4 and Mtb19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Smita K Nair
- 1] Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 [2]
| | - Georgia D Tomaras
- 1] Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 [2]
| | - Ana Paula Sales
- 1] Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 [2]
| | - David Boczkowski
- Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Cliburn Chan
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Kelly Plonk
- Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Yongting Cai
- 1] Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 [2]
| | - Jens Dannull
- Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Thomas B Kepler
- 1] Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 [2]
| | - Scott K Pruitt
- 1] Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 [2]
| | - Kent J Weinhold
- Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Vacchelli E, Vitale I, Eggermont A, Fridman WH, Fučíková J, Cremer I, Galon J, Tartour E, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial watch: Dendritic cell-based interventions for cancer therapy. Oncoimmunology 2013; 2:e25771. [PMID: 24286020 PMCID: PMC3841205 DOI: 10.4161/onci.25771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) occupy a privileged position at the interface between innate and adaptive immunity, orchestrating a large panel of responses to both physiological and pathological cues. In particular, whereas the presentation of antigens by immature DCs generally results in the development of immunological tolerance, mature DCs are capable of priming robust, and hence therapeutically relevant, adaptive immune responses. In line with this notion, functional defects in the DC compartment have been shown to etiologically contribute to pathological conditions including (but perhaps not limited to) infectious diseases, allergic and autoimmune disorders, graft rejection and cancer. Thus, the possibility of harnessing the elevated immunological potential of DCs for anticancer therapy has attracted considerable interest from both researchers and clinicians over the last decade. Alongside, several methods have been developed not only to isolate DCs from cancer patients, expand them, load them with tumor-associated antigens and hence generate highly immunogenic clinical grade infusion products, but also to directly target DCs in vivo. This intense experimental effort has culminated in 2010 with the approval by the US FDA of a DC-based preparation (sipuleucel-T, Provenge®) for the treatment of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castration-refractory prostate cancer. As an update to the latest Trial Watch dealing with this exciting field of research (October 2012), here we summarize recent advances in DC-based anticancer regimens, covering both high-impact studies that have been published during the last 13 mo and clinical trials that have been launched in the same period to assess the antineoplastic potential of this variant of cellular immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Vacchelli
- Gustave Roussy; Villejuif, France ; Université Paris-Sud/Paris XI; Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France ; INSERM, U848; Villejuif, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|