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Wang X, Niu Y, Bian F. The progress of tumor vaccines clinical trials in non-small cell lung cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03678-z. [PMID: 39179939 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03678-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a significant global health challenge, with high mortality rates and limited treatment options. Tumor vaccines have emerged as a potential therapeutic approach, aiming to stimulate the immune system to specifically target tumor cells. METHODS This study screened 283 clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov through July 31, 2023. After excluding data that did not meet the inclusion criteria, a total of 108 trials were assessed. Data on registered number, study title, study status, vaccine types, study results, conditions, interventions, outcome measures, sponsor, collaborators, drug target, phases, enrollment, start date, completion date and locations were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS The number of vaccines clinical trials for NSCLC has continued to increase in recent years, the majority of which were conducted in the United States. Most of the clinical trials were at stages ranging from Phase I to Phase II. Peptide-based vaccines accounted for the largest proportion. Others include tumor cell vaccines, DNA/RNA vaccines, viral vector vaccines, and DC vaccines. Several promising tumor vaccine candidates have shown encouraging results in early-phase clinical trials. However, challenges such as heterogeneity of tumor antigens and immune escape mechanisms still need to be addressed. CONCLUSION Tumor vaccines represent a promising avenue in the treatment of NSCLC. Ongoing clinical trials are crucial for optimizing vaccine strategies and identifying the most effective combinations. Further research is needed to overcome existing limitations and translate these promising findings into clinical practice, offering new hope for NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomu Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangyang Key Laboratory of Special Preparation of Vitiligo, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Yunping Niu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Xiangyang, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Fang Bian
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangyang Key Laboratory of Special Preparation of Vitiligo, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China.
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2
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Wang Y, Zhang X, Chen G, Shao M. Clinical research progress of telomerase targeted cancer immunotherapy: a literature review. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:3904-3921. [PMID: 39145070 PMCID: PMC11319969 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-24-196] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objective Telomerase is activated or overexpressed in 85-90% of tumors, which maintains the length of telomere and has become an important anti-cancer target. Increasing clinical and preclinical data suggest that telomerase-targeted cancer immunotherapy could achieve effective killing of tumor cells in vivo. This article reviews the research progress of telomerase targeted cancer immunotherapy in clinical and pre-clinical trials, aiming to provide a reference for further clinical research and treatment of cancers. Methods We investigated the research progress of telomerase immunotherapy in the last 20 years from four electronic databases. Key Content and Findings Telomerase-targeted immunotherapies have been developed with the arising of a new era in immuno-oncology, including peptide vaccines, DNA vaccines, dendritic cells (DCs), adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapies, antibodies, etc. Some of them have been approved for undergoing clinical trials by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of various cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, leukaemia. Of all the treatment modalities, vaccines are the primary treatment methods, some of which have been even entered into phase III clinical trials. The main clinical application direction of telomerase vaccine is the combination with other drugs and treatment modalities, including combination with other vaccines targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), traditional chemotherapy drugs and immunosuppressors. We also summarized the recent findings of immunotherapy targeting hTERT, focusing on various vaccines and the current status of associated clinical trials. We further discussed the advantages, disadvantages and potential developmental directions of various telomerase-targeted immunotherapies. Conclusions Telomerase-targeted cancer immunotherapy has promising prospects in improving patient survival expectancy. This review may provide data support and design ideas for all researchers and pharmaceutical enterprises in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
| | - Guangming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
| | - Mingzhe Shao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Multidisciplinary Collaboration Group of Diabetic Foot, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Tao HY, Zhao CY, Wang Y, Sheng WJ, Zhen YS. Targeting Telomere Dynamics as an Effective Approach for the Development of Cancer Therapeutics. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:3805-3825. [PMID: 38708177 PMCID: PMC11069074 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s448556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomere is a protective structure located at the end of chromosomes of eukaryotes, involved in maintaining the integrity and stability of the genome. Telomeres play an essential role in cancer progression; accordingly, targeting telomere dynamics emerges as an effective approach for the development of cancer therapeutics. Targeting telomere dynamics may work through multifaceted molecular mechanisms; those include the activation of anti-telomerase immune responses, shortening of telomere lengths, induction of telomere dysfunction and constitution of telomerase-responsive drug release systems. In this review, we summarize a wide variety of telomere dynamics-targeted agents in preclinical studies and clinical trials, and reveal their promising therapeutic potential in cancer therapy. As shown, telomere dynamics-active agents are effective as anti-cancer chemotherapeutics and immunotherapeutics. Notably, these agents may display efficacy against cancer stem cells, reducing cancer stem levels. Furthermore, these agents can be integrated with the capability of tumor-specific drug delivery by the constitution of related nanoparticles, antibody drug conjugates and HSA-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-yu Tao
- Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chun-yan Zhao
- Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Wang
- Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei-jin Sheng
- Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yong-su Zhen
- Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Li HY, Zheng LL, Hu N, Wang ZH, Tao CC, Wang YR, Liu Y, Aizimuaji Z, Wang HW, Zheng RQ, Xiao T, Rong WQ. Telomerase-related advances in hepatocellular carcinoma: A bibliometric and visual analysis. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:1224-1236. [PMID: 38577190 PMCID: PMC10989492 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i9.1224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a critical early event in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, telomerase activation might be a promising and critical biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and its function in the genesis and treatment of HCC has gained much attention over the past two decades. AIM To perform a bibliometric analysis to systematically assess the current state of research on HCC-related telomerase. METHODS The Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed were systematically searched to retrieve publications pertaining to HCC/telomerase limited to "articles" and "reviews" published in English. A total of 873 relevant publications related to HCC and telomerase were identified. We employed the Bibliometrix package in R to extract and analyze the fundamental information of the publications, such as the trends in the publications, citation counts, most prolific or influential writers, and most popular journals; to screen for keywords occurring at high frequency; and to draw collaboration and cluster analysis charts on the basis of coauthorship and co-occurrences. VOSviewer was utilized to compile and visualize the bibliometric data. RESULTS A surge of 51 publications on HCC/telomerase research occurred in 2016, the most productive year from 1996 to 2023, accompanied by the peak citation count recorded in 2016. Up to December 2023, 35226 citations were made to all publications, an average of 46.6 citations to each paper. The United States received the most citations (n = 13531), followed by China (n = 7427) and Japan (n = 5754). In terms of national cooperation, China presented the highest centrality, its strongest bonds being to the United States and Japan. Among the 20 academic institutions with the most publications, ten came from China and the rest of Asia, though the University of Paris Cité, Public Assistance-Hospitals of Paris, and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) were the most prolific. As for individual contributions, Hisatomi H, Kaneko S, and Ide T were the three most prolific authors. Kaneko S ranked first by H-index, G-index, and overall publication count, while Zucman-Rossi J ranked first in citation count. The five most popular journals were the World Journal of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Journal of Hepatology, Oncotarget, and Oncogene, while Nature Genetics, Hepatology, and Nature Reviews Disease Primers had the most citations. We extracted 2293 keywords from the publications, 120 of which appeared more than ten times. The most frequent were HCC, telomerase and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Keywords such as mutational landscape, TERT promoter mutations, landscape, risk, and prognosis were among the most common issues in this field in the last three years and may be topics for research in the coming years. CONCLUSION Our bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of HCC/telomerase research and insights into promising upcoming research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Lin-Lin Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Nan Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Zhi-Hao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Hernia Surgery, Liaocheng Dongcangfu People’s Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Chang-Cheng Tao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Ya-Ru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Zulihumaer Aizimuaji
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Hong-Wei Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Rui-Qi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Ting Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Wei-Qi Rong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
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Zareian N, Eremin O, Pandha H, Baird R, Kwatra V, Funingana G, Verma C, Choy D, Hargreaves S, Moghimi P, Shepherd A, Lobo DN, Eremin J, Farzaneh F, Kordasti S, Spicer J. A phase 1 trial of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) vaccination combined with therapeutic strategies to control immune-suppressor mechanisms. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2024; 249:10021. [PMID: 38463391 PMCID: PMC10911124 DOI: 10.3389/ebm.2024.10021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The presence of inhibitory immune cells and difficulty in generating activated effector T cells remain obstacles to development of effective cancer vaccines. We designed a vaccine regimen combining human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) peptides with concomitant therapies targeting regulatory T cells (Tregs) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2)-mediated immunosuppression. This Phase 1 trial combined an hTERT-derived 7-peptide library, selected to ensure presentation by both HLA class-I and class-II in 90% of patients, with oral low-dose cyclophosphamide (to modulate Tregs) and the COX2 inhibitor celecoxib. Adjuvants were Montanide and topical TLR-7 agonist, to optimise antigen presentation. The primary objective was determination of the safety and tolerability of this combination therapy, with anti-cancer activity, immune response and detection of antigen-specific T cells as additional endpoints. Twenty-nine patients with advanced solid tumours were treated. All were multiply-pretreated, and the majority had either colorectal or prostate cancer. The most common adverse events were injection-site reactions, fatigue and nausea. Median progression-free survival was 9 weeks, with no complete or partial responses, but 24% remained progression-free for ≥6 months. Immunophenotyping showed post-vaccination expansion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with effector phenotypes. The in vitro re-challenge of T cells with hTERT peptides, TCR sequencing, and TCR similarity index analysis demonstrated the expansion following vaccination of oligoclonal T cells with specificity for hTERT. However, a population of exhausted PD-1+ cytotoxic T cells was also expanded in vaccinated patients. This vaccine combination regimen was safe and associated with antigen-specific immunological responses. Clinical activity could be improved in future by combination with anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibition to address the emergence of an exhausted T cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahid Zareian
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oleg Eremin
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hardev Pandha
- Department of Microbiology and Cellular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Baird
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Vineet Kwatra
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Chandan Verma
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Desmond Choy
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Hargreaves
- Research Department of Pathology, UCL Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom
| | - Pejvak Moghimi
- The Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB), Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Shepherd
- The Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB), Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dileep N Lobo
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- MRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Queen's Medical Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Eremin
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Farzin Farzaneh
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shahram Kordasti
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Spicer
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Liu M, Zhang Y, Jian Y, Gu L, Zhang D, Zhou H, Wang Y, Xu ZX. The regulations of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) in cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:90. [PMID: 38278800 PMCID: PMC10817947 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06454-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal activation of telomerase occurs in most cancer types, which facilitates escaping from cell senescence. As the key component of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is regulated by various regulation pathways. TERT gene changing in its promoter and phosphorylation respectively leads to TERT ectopic expression at the transcription and protein levels. The co-interacting factors play an important role in the regulation of TERT in different cancer types. In this review, we focus on the regulators of TERT and these downstream functions in cancer regulation. Determining the specific regulatory mechanism will help to facilitate the development of a cancer treatment strategy that targets telomerase and cancer cell senescence. As the most important catalytic subunit component of telomerase, TERT is rapidly regulated by transcriptional factors and PTM-related activation. These changes directly influence TERT-related telomere maintenance by regulating telomerase activity in telomerase-positive cancer cells, telomerase assembly with telomere-binding proteins, and recruiting telomerase to the telomere. Besides, there are also non-canonical functions that are influenced by TERT, including the basic biological functions of cancer cells, such as proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, initiating cell formation, EMT, and cell invasion. Other downstream effects are the results of the influence of transcriptional factors by TERT. Currently, some small molecular inhibitors of TERT and TERT vaccine are under research as a clinical therapeutic target. Purposeful work is in progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingdi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yuning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yongping Jian
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Liting Gu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Honglan Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Yishu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Zhi-Xiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
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Jo JH, Kim YT, Choi HS, Kim HG, Lee HS, Choi YW, Kim DU, Lee KH, Kim EJ, Han JH, Lee SO, Park CH, Choi EK, Kim JW, Cho JY, Lee WJ, Moon HR, Park MS, Kim S, Song SY. Efficacy of GV1001 with gemcitabine/capecitabine in previously untreated patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma having high serum eotaxin levels (KG4/2015): an open-label, randomised, Phase 3 trial. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:43-52. [PMID: 37903909 PMCID: PMC10781743 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02474-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The TeloVac study indicated GV1001 did not improve the survival of advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the cytokine examinations suggested that high serum eotaxin levels may predict responses to GV1001. This Phase III trial assessed the efficacy of GV1001 with gemcitabine/capecitabine for eotaxin-high patients with untreated advanced PDAC. METHODS Patients recruited from 16 hospitals received gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2, D 1, 8, and 15)/capecitabine (830 mg/m2 BID for 21 days) per month either with (GV1001 group) or without (control group) GV1001 (0.56 mg; D 1, 3, and 5, once on week 2-4, 6, then monthly thereafter) at random in a 1:1 ratio. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and secondary end points included time to progression (TTP), objective response rate, and safety. RESULTS Total 148 patients were randomly assigned to the GV1001 (n = 75) and control groups (n = 73). The GV1001 group showed improved median OS (11.3 vs. 7.5 months, P = 0.021) and TTP (7.3 vs. 4.5 months, P = 0.021) compared to the control group. Grade >3 adverse events were reported in 77.3% and 73.1% in the GV1001 and control groups (P = 0.562), respectively. CONCLUSIONS GV1001 plus gemcitabine/capecitabine improved OS and TTP compared to gemcitabine/capecitabine alone in eotaxin-high patients with advanced PDAC. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02854072.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Hyun Jo
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-Tae Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ho Soon Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ho Gak Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hong Sik Lee
- Department of Gastroenterology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Woo Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Dong Uk Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Kwang Hyuck Lee
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eui Joo Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
| | - Joung-Ho Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine & Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Seung Ok Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Research Institute for Medical Science, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Chang-Hwan Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Eun Kwang Choi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea
| | - Jae Woo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Yong Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Woo Jin Lee
- Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
| | - Hyungsik Roger Moon
- Department of Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Economics, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi-Suk Park
- Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sangjae Kim
- GemVax & KAEL Co., Ltd. 58, Techno 11-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Si Young Song
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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8
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Kim JY, Yang DW, Kim S, Choi JG. Retrospective Analysis of the Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Breast Cancer Treated with Telomerase Peptide Immunotherapy Combined with Cytotoxic Chemotherapy. BREAST CANCER (DOVE MEDICAL PRESS) 2023; 15:955-966. [PMID: 38146419 PMCID: PMC10749539 DOI: 10.2147/bctt.s431333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Telomerase activation, a critical step in cancer progression, occurs in approximately 95% of breast cancer cases. Telomerase is an attractive therapeutic target for breast cancer owing to its unique expression pattern. GV1001, a telomerase-derived peptide, is loaded onto human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II antigen-presenting cells and binds to CD4+ T cell activating immune responses. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of co-administration of GV1001 and cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with heavily-treated metastatic breast cancer. Patients and methods We analyzed 63 patients with breast cancer who received both GV1001 and cytotoxic chemotherapy. The GV 1001 administration methods involves 0.56 mg intradermal injection three times during the first week, one time at weeks 2, 3, 4, and 6, and then once every 28 days. The primary endpoint of this study was quality of life according to EORTC QLO-C30 and EQ-5D, while the secondary endpoint was the antitumor response according to RECIST 1.1, progression-free survival, overall survival, and toxicity profile. Results In 34 patients with HR+ breast cancer evaluable for tumor response, the disease control rate (DCR) and overall response rate (ORR) were 58.8% and 26.4%, respectively. The DCR and ORR were 66.6% and 28.5% in 21 patients with HER-2+ and 50% and 25% in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), respectively. The median progression free survival was 10.4, 8.7, and 5.6 months in HR+, HER-2+, TNBC, respectively. The overall survival was 19.7, 13.2, and 9.4 months for patients with HR+, HER-2+, and TNBC, respectively. Most patients had an improved quality of life with statistically significant differences in some variables. The patients in this study experienced no additional toxicities other than the cytotoxic chemotherapy-associated side effects. Conclusion GV1001 is a relatively safe anticancer vaccine for patients with heavily-treated breast cancer and can to improve the quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Yeup Kim
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Won Yang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangjae Kim
- Department of Research and Development, Teloid Inc., Los Angeles, CA, 90010, USA
| | - Jong Gwon Choi
- Department of Oncology-Hematology, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Choi W, Lee Y, Choi BK, Park BM, Kim YH, Yun T, Lee WJ, Yoo H, Baek JY, Woo SM, Lim MC, Kwon BS. Phase 1 trial of 4-1BB-based adoptive T-cell therapy targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase in patients with advanced refractory solid tumors. Cytotherapy 2023; 25:1236-1241. [PMID: 37632518 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is an attractive target for anti-cancer therapies. We developed an effective method for generating hTERT-specific CD8+ T cells (hTERT-induced natural T cells [TERTiNTs]) using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with solid cancers and investigated their feasibility and safety. METHODS This was a single-center phase 1 trial using a 3 + 3 dose escalation design to evaluate six dose levels of TERTiNTs. PBMCs from each patient were screened using an hTERT peptide panel to select those that stimulated CD8+ T cells. The four most stimulatory peptides were used to produce autologous CD8+ T cells from patients refractory or intolerant to standard therapies. Eligible patients received a single intravenous infusion of TERTiNTs at different dose levels (4 × 108 cells/m2, 8 × 108 cells/m2 and 16 × 108 cells/m2). Pre-conditioning chemotherapy, including cyclophosphamide alone or in combination with fludarabine, was administered to induce lymphodepletion. RESULTS From January 2014 to October 2019, a total of 24 patients with a median of three prior lines of therapy were enrolled. The most common adverse events were lymphopenia (79.2%), nausea (58.3%) and neutropenia (54.2%), mostly caused by pre-conditioning chemotherapy. The TERTiNT infusion was well tolerated, and dose-limiting toxicities were not observed. None of the patients showed objective responses. Seven patients (30.4%) achieved stable disease with a median progression-free survival of 3.9 months (range, 3.2-11.3). At the highest dose level (16 × 108 cells/m2), four of five patients showed disease stabilization. CONCLUSIONS The generation of TERTiNTs was feasible and safe and provided an interesting disease control rate in heavily pre-treated cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonyoung Choi
- Center for Clinical Trials, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea; Center for Rare Cancers, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngjoo Lee
- Center for Clinical Trials, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea; Center for Lung Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Beom K Choi
- Immuno-Oncology Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Mi Park
- Biomedicine Production Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Young H Kim
- Eutilex Institute for Biomedical Research, Eutilex Co, Ltd, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tak Yun
- Center for Clinical Trials, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea; Center for Rare Cancers, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Jin Lee
- Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Heon Yoo
- Neuro-Oncology Clinic, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Yeon Baek
- Center for Clinical Trials, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea; Center for Colorectal Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Myung Woo
- Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong Cheol Lim
- Center for Gynecologic Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung S Kwon
- Eutilex Institute for Biomedical Research, Eutilex Co, Ltd, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Xie L, Fang J, Yu J, Zhang W, He Z, Ye L, Wang H. The role of CD4 + T cells in tumor and chronic viral immune responses. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e390. [PMID: 37829505 PMCID: PMC10565399 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies are mainly aimed to promote a CD8+ T cell response rather than a CD4+ T cell response as cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) can directly kill target cells. Recently, CD4+ T cells have received more attention due to their diverse roles in tumors and chronic viral infections. In antitumor and antichronic viral responses, CD4+ T cells relay help signals through dendritic cells to indirectly regulate CD8+ T cell response, interact with B cells or macrophages to indirectly modulate humoral immunity or macrophage polarization, and inhibit tumor blood vessel formation. Additionally, CD4+ T cells can also exhibit direct cytotoxicity toward target cells. However, regulatory T cells exhibit immunosuppression and CD4+ T cells become exhausted, which promote tumor progression and chronic viral persistence. Finally, we also outline immunotherapies based on CD4+ T cells, including adoptive cell transfer, vaccines, and immune checkpoint blockade. Overall, this review summarizes diverse roles of CD4+ T cells in the antitumor or protumor and chronic viral responses, and also highlights the immunotherapies based on CD4+ T cells, giving a better understanding of their roles in tumors and chronic viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luoyingzi Xie
- Institute of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryChongqing General HospitalChongqingChina
- The Institute of ImmunologyThird Military Medical University (Army Medical University)ChongqingChina
| | - Jingyi Fang
- The Institute of ImmunologyThird Military Medical University (Army Medical University)ChongqingChina
| | - Juncheng Yu
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryXinqiao Hospital Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University)ChongqingChina
| | - Weinan Zhang
- Department of Plastic & Cosmetic SurgeryArmy Medical Center of PLAAmy Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Zhiqiang He
- Department of Plastic & Cosmetic SurgeryArmy Medical Center of PLAAmy Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Lilin Ye
- The Institute of ImmunologyThird Military Medical University (Army Medical University)ChongqingChina
| | - Huaizhi Wang
- Institute of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryChongqing General HospitalChongqingChina
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11
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Ali JH, Walter M. Combining old and new concepts in targeting telomerase for cancer therapy: transient, immediate, complete and combinatory attack (TICCA). Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:197. [PMID: 37679807 PMCID: PMC10483736 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03041-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase can overcome replicative senescence by elongation of telomeres but is also a specific element in most cancer cells. It is expressed more vastly than any other tumor marker. Telomerase as a tumor target inducing replicative immortality can be overcome by only one other mechanism: alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). This limits the probability to develop resistance to treatments. Moreover, telomerase inhibition offers some degree of specificity with a low risk of toxicity in normal cells. Nevertheless, only one telomerase antagonist reached late preclinical studies. The underlying causes, the pitfalls of telomerase-based therapies, and future chances based on recent technical advancements are summarized in this review. Based on new findings and approaches, we propose a concept how long-term survival in telomerase-based cancer therapies can be significantly improved: the TICCA (Transient Immediate Complete and Combinatory Attack) strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaber Haj Ali
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Michael Walter
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
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12
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Wang Y, Deng B. Hepatocellular carcinoma: molecular mechanism, targeted therapy, and biomarkers. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:629-652. [PMID: 36729264 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10084-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. The biological process of HCC is complex, with multiple factors leading to the broken of the balance of inactivation and activation of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, the abnormal activation of molecular signaling pathways, the differentiation of HCC cells, and the regulation of angiogenesis. Due to the insidious onset of HCC, at the time of first diagnosis, less than 30% of HCC patients are candidates for radical treatment. Systematic antitumor therapy is the hope for the treatment of patients with middle-advanced HCC. Despite the emergence of new systemic therapies, survival rates for advanced HCC patients remain low. The complex pathogenesis of HCC has inspired researchers to explore a variety of biomolecular targeted therapeutics targeting specific targets. Correct understanding of the molecular mechanism of HCC occurrence is key to seeking effective targeted therapy. Research on biomarkers for HCC treatment is also advancing. Here, we explore the molecular mechanism that are associated with HCC development, summarize targeted therapies for HCC, and discuss potential biomarkers that may drive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Baocheng Deng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning Province, China.
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13
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Ellingsen EB, Bjørheim J, Gaudernack G. Therapeutic cancer vaccination against telomerase: clinical developments in melanoma. Curr Opin Oncol 2023; 35:100-106. [PMID: 36700456 PMCID: PMC9894137 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have revolutionized treatment outcomes for patients with malignant melanoma. Long-term follow-up shows that a substantial subset of patients who exhibit clinical responses achieve extended overall survival. Nevertheless, most patients do not achieve durable benefit from CPIs, and improvements are urgently needed. The clinical efficacy of CPIs depends on highly variable preexisting spontaneous T-cell immune responses. Cancer vaccines represent an independent treatment modality uniquely capable of expanding the repertoire of tumor-specific T cells in cancer patients and thus have the capacity to compensate for the variability in spontaneous T-cell responses. Vaccines are, therefore, considered attractive components in a CPI-combination strategy. RECENT FINDINGS Here we discuss recent results obtained through therapeutic vaccination against telomerase human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Recent publications on translational research and clinical results from phase I trials indicate that vaccination against telomerase in combination with CPIs provides relevant immune responses, negligible added toxicity, and signals of clinical efficacy. CONCLUSION In the near future, randomized data from clinical trials involving therapeutic cancer vaccines and checkpoint inhibitors will be available. Positive readout may spark broad development and allow cancer vaccines to find their place in the clinic as an important component in multiple future CPI combinations.
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14
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Adotévi O, Vernerey D, Jacoulet P, Meurisse A, Laheurte C, Almotlak H, Jacquin M, Kaulek V, Boullerot L, Malfroy M, Orillard E, Eberst G, Lagrange A, Favier L, Gainet-Brun M, Doucet L, Teixeira L, Ghrieb Z, Clairet AL, Guillaume Y, Kroemer M, Hocquet D, Moltenis M, Limat S, Quoix E, Mascaux C, Debieuvre D, Fagnoni-Legat C, Borg C, Westeel V. Safety, Immunogenicity, and 1-Year Efficacy of Universal Cancer Peptide-Based Vaccine in Patients With Refractory Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase Ib/Phase IIa De-Escalation Study. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:373-384. [PMID: 36070539 DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Universal cancer peptide-based vaccine (UCPVax) is a therapeutic vaccine composed of two highly selected helper peptides to induce CD4+ T helper-1 response directed against telomerase. This phase Ib/IIa trial was designed to test the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of a three-dose schedule in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with refractory NSCLC were assigned to receive three vaccination doses of UCPVax (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg) using a Bayesian-based phase Ib followed by phase IIa de-escalating design. The primary end points were dose-limiting toxicity and immune response after three first doses of vaccine. Secondary end points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival at 1 year. RESULTS A total of 59 patients received UCPVax; 95% had three prior lines of systemic therapy. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed in 15 patients treated in phase Ib. The maximum tolerated dose was 1 mg. Fifty-one patients were eligible for phase IIa. The third and sixth dose of UCPVax induced specific CD4+ T helper 1 response in 56% and 87.2% of patients, respectively, with no difference between three dose levels. Twenty-one (39%) patients achieved disease control (stable disease, n = 20; complete response, n = 1). The 1-year OS was 34.1% (95% CI, 23.1 to 50.4), and the median OS was 9.7 months, with no significant difference between dose levels. The 1-year progression-free survival and the median OS were 17.2% (95% CI, 7.8 to 38.3) and 11.6 months (95% CI, 9.7 to 16.7) in immune responders (P = .015) and 4.5% (95% CI, 0.7 to 30.8) and 5.6 months (95% CI, 2.5 to 10) in nonresponders (P = .005), respectively. CONCLUSION UCPVax was highly immunogenic and safe and provide interesting 1-year OS rate in heavily pretreated advanced NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Adotévi
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France.,INSERM, EFS BFC, UMR1098, RIGHT, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Dewi Vernerey
- INSERM, EFS BFC, UMR1098, RIGHT, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Department of Medical Oncology, Methodology and Quality of Life Unit in Oncology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Pascale Jacoulet
- Department of Pneumology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Aurélia Meurisse
- Department of Medical Oncology, Methodology and Quality of Life Unit in Oncology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Caroline Laheurte
- INSERM, EFS BFC, UMR1098, RIGHT, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR1098, Plateforme de Biomonitoring, Besançon, France
| | - Hamadi Almotlak
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Marion Jacquin
- INSERM CIC-1431, Clinical Investigation Center in Biotherapy, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Vincent Kaulek
- Department of Pneumology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Laura Boullerot
- INSERM, EFS BFC, UMR1098, RIGHT, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR1098, Plateforme de Biomonitoring, Besançon, France.,INSERM CIC-1431, Clinical Investigation Center in Biotherapy, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Marine Malfroy
- INSERM, EFS BFC, UMR1098, RIGHT, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Emeline Orillard
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France.,Department of Pneumology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Guillaume Eberst
- INSERM, EFS BFC, UMR1098, RIGHT, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Department of Pneumology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Aurélie Lagrange
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges François Leclerc Cancer Center-UNICANCER, Dijon, France
| | - Laure Favier
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges François Leclerc Cancer Center-UNICANCER, Dijon, France
| | - Marie Gainet-Brun
- Department of Pneumology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Ludovic Doucet
- Department of Medical Oncology, AP-HP Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France
| | - Luis Teixeira
- Department of Medical Oncology, AP-HP Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France
| | - Zineb Ghrieb
- INSERM CIC 1427, Centre d'Investigations Cliniques, Université de Paris Cité, AP-HP Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Laure Clairet
- Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Yves Guillaume
- Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Marie Kroemer
- Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Didier Hocquet
- Hygiène Hospitalière, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Besançon, France
| | - Mélanie Moltenis
- Vigilance Unit, Department of Clinical Research and Innovation, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Samuel Limat
- INSERM, EFS BFC, UMR1098, RIGHT, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Elisabeth Quoix
- Department of Pneumology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Céline Mascaux
- University of Strasbourg, Inserm UMR_S1113, IRFAC, Laboratory Streinth (Stress rEsponse and iNnovative therapy against cancer), ITI InnoVec, Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | - Christophe Borg
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France.,INSERM, EFS BFC, UMR1098, RIGHT, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,INSERM CIC-1431, Clinical Investigation Center in Biotherapy, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Virginie Westeel
- INSERM, EFS BFC, UMR1098, RIGHT, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Department of Pneumology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
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15
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Kim JH, Cho YR, Ahn EK, Kim S, Han S, Kim SJ, Bae GU, Oh JS, Seo DW. A novel telomerase-derived peptide GV1001-mediated inhibition of angiogenesis: Regulation of VEGF/VEGFR-2 signaling pathways. Transl Oncol 2022; 26:101546. [PMID: 36183673 PMCID: PMC9526227 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101546] [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: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
GV1001, a human telomerase reverse transcriptase catalytic subunit-derived 16-mer peptide, has been developed as a novel anticancer vaccine against various cancers including pancreatic cancer. In the current study, we demonstrate the regulatory roles and mechanisms of GV1001 in endothelial cell responses in vitro and microvessel sprouting ex vivo. GV1001 markedly inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A)-stimulated endothelial cell permeability, proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation as well as microvessel outgrowth from rat aortic rings. These anti-angiogenic effects of GV1001 were associated with the inhibition of VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling pathways, redistribution of vascular endothelial-cadherin to cell-cell contacts, and down-regulation of VEGFR-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-2. Furthermore, GV1001 suppresses the proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells, and the release of VEGF from the cells, suggesting the regulatory role of GV1001 in tumor-derived angiogenesis as well as cancer cell growth and progression. Collectively, our study reports the pharmacological potential of GV1001 in the regulation of angiogenesis, and warrants further evaluation and development of GV1001 as a promising therapeutic agent for a variety of angiogenesis-related diseases including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hyeon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Rak Cho
- Biocenter, Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator, Suwon 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Kyung Ahn
- Biocenter, Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator, Suwon 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunho Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Surim Han
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Joon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyu-Un Bae
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Joa Sub Oh
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Wan Seo
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea.
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16
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Zulfiqar B, Farooq A, Kanwal S, Asghar K. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy for lung cancer: Current status and future perspectives. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1035171. [PMID: 36518665 PMCID: PMC9742438 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1035171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer has the highest incidence of morbidity and mortality throughout the globe. A large number of patients are diagnosed with lung cancer at the later stages of the disease. This eliminates surgery as an option and places complete dependence on radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and/or a combination of both, to halt disease progression by targeting the tumor cells. Unfortunately, these therapies have rarely proved to be effective, and this necessitates the search for alternative preventive approaches to reduce the mortality rate of lung cancer. One of the effective therapies against lung cancer comprises targeting the tumor microenvironment. Like any other cancer cells, lung cancer cells tend to use multiple pathways to maintain their survival and suppress different immune responses from the host's body. This review comprehensively covers the role and the mechanisms that involve the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in lung adenocarcinoma and methods of treating it by altering the tumor microenvironment. It focuses on the insight and understanding of the lung cancer tumor microenvironment and chemokines, cytokines, and activating molecules that take part in angiogenesis and metastasis. The review paper accounts for the novel and current immunotherapy and targeted therapy available for lung cancer in clinical trials and in the research phases in depth. Special attention is being paid to mark out single or multiple genes that are required for malignancy and survival while developing targeted therapies for lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Zulfiqar
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Asim Farooq
- Department of Clinical Research, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Shahzina Kanwal
- Institute of Molecular Physiology at Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kashif Asghar
- Department of Basic Sciences Research, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan
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17
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Tornesello ML, Tornesello AL, Starita N, Cerasuolo A, Izzo F, Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM. Telomerase: a good target in hepatocellular carcinoma? An overview of relevant preclinical data. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:767-780. [PMID: 36369706 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2147062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Anna Lucia Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Noemy Starita
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Cerasuolo
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesco Izzo
- Hepatobiliary Surgical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale-IRCCS di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Franco Maria Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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18
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Maggadóttir SM, Kvalheim G, Wernhoff P, Sæbøe-Larssen S, Revheim ME, Josefsen D, Wälchli S, Helland Å, Inderberg EM. A phase I/II escalation trial design T-RAD: Treatment of metastatic lung cancer with mRNA-engineered T cells expressing a T cell receptor targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Front Oncol 2022; 12:1031232. [PMID: 36439452 PMCID: PMC9685610 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1031232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) with genetically modified T cells aims to redirect T cells against resistant cancers through introduction of a T cell receptor (TCR). The Radium-4 TCR was isolated from a responding patient in a cancer vaccination study and recognizes the enzymatic component of human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) presented on MHC class II (HLA-DP04). hTERT is a constitutively overexpressed tumor-associated antigen present in most human cancers, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is the second most common type of cancer worldwide. Treatment alternatives for relapsing NSCLC are limited and survival is poor. To improve patient outcome we designed a TCR-based ACT study targeting hTERT. Methods T-RAD is a phase I/II study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Radium-4 mRNA electroporated autologous T cells in the treatment of metastatic NSCLC with no other treatment option. Transient TCR expression is applied for safety considerations. Participants receive two intravenous injections with escalating doses of redirected T cells weekly for 6 consecutive weeks. Primary objectives are safety and tolerability. Secondary objectives include progression-free survival, time to progression, overall survival, patient reported outcomes and overall radiological response. Discussion Treatment for metastatic NSCLC is scarce and new personalized treatment options are in high demand. hTERT is a tumor target applicable to numerous cancer types. This proof-of-concept study will explore for the first time the safety and efficacy of TCR mRNA electroporated autologous T cells targeting hTERT. The T-RAD study will thus evaluate an attractive candidate for future immunotherapy of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sólrún Melkorka Maggadóttir
- Translational Research Unit, Department of Oncology, Section for Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gunnar Kvalheim
- Translational Research Unit, Department of Oncology, Section for Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Patrik Wernhoff
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stein Sæbøe-Larssen
- Translational Research Unit, Department of Oncology, Section for Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Dag Josefsen
- Translational Research Unit, Department of Oncology, Section for Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sébastien Wälchli
- Translational Research Unit, Department of Oncology, Section for Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åslaug Helland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Else Marit Inderberg
- Translational Research Unit, Department of Oncology, Section for Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- *Correspondence: Else Marit Inderberg,
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19
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Jiang C, Li J, Zhang W, Zhuang Z, Liu G, Hong W, Li B, Zhang X, Chao CC. Potential association factors for developing effective peptide-based cancer vaccines. Front Immunol 2022; 13:931612. [PMID: 35967400 PMCID: PMC9364268 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.931612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide-based cancer vaccines have been shown to boost immune systems to kill tumor cells in cancer patients. However, designing an effective T cell epitope peptide-based cancer vaccine still remains a challenge and is a major hurdle for the application of cancer vaccines. In this study, we constructed for the first time a library of peptide-based cancer vaccines and their clinical attributes, named CancerVaccine (https://peptidecancervaccine.weebly.com/). To investigate the association factors that influence the effectiveness of cancer vaccines, these peptide-based cancer vaccines were classified into high (HCR) and low (LCR) clinical responses based on their clinical efficacy. Our study highlights that modified peptides derived from artificially modified proteins are suitable as cancer vaccines, especially for melanoma. It may be possible to advance cancer vaccines by screening for HLA class II affinity peptides may be an effective therapeutic strategy. In addition, the treatment regimen has the potential to influence the clinical response of a cancer vaccine, and Montanide ISA-51 might be an effective adjuvant. Finally, we constructed a high sensitivity and specificity machine learning model to assist in designing peptide-based cancer vaccines capable of providing high clinical responses. Together, our findings illustrate that a high clinical response following peptide-based cancer vaccination is correlated with the right type of peptide, the appropriate adjuvant, and a matched HLA allele, as well as an appropriate treatment regimen. This study would allow for enhanced development of cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongming Jiang
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX, United States
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Chongming Jiang, ; Cheng-Chi Chao,
| | - Jianrong Li
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX, United States
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Wei Zhang
- Institute of Super Cell, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Geng Liu
- Institute of Super Cell, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Hong
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX, United States
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bo Li
- Institute of Super Cell, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiuqing Zhang
- Institute of Super Cell, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cheng-Chi Chao
- Department of Pipeline Development, Biomap, Inc, San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Chongming Jiang, ; Cheng-Chi Chao,
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20
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Harnessing Antitumor CD4 + T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14010260. [PMID: 35008422 PMCID: PMC8750687 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Diverse evidence revealed that CD4+ T cells play an important role in antitumor immunity by promoting or suppressing cytotoxic T cell responses. This review outlines the role of CD4+ T subsets within the tumor microenvironment and summarizes the latest progress regarding their potentials in cancer immunotherapy and methods for improving outcomes in cancer strategies by modulating CD4+ T responses. Abstract Over the past decades, CD4+ T cells have been considered as a supporting actor in the fields of cancer immunotherapy. Until recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated the critical role of CD4+ T cells during antitumor immunity. CD4+ T cells can either suppress or promote the antitumor cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses, either in secondary lymphoid organs or in the tumor. In this review, we provide an overview of the multifaceted role of different CD4+ T cell subsets in cancer immune response and their contribution during cancer therapies. Specifically, we focus on the latest progress regarding the impact of CD4+ T cell modulation on immunotherapies and other cancer therapies and discuss the prospect for harnessing CD4+ T cells to control tumor progression and prevent recurrence in patients.
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21
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Telomeres and Cancer. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121405. [PMID: 34947936 PMCID: PMC8704776 DOI: 10.3390/life11121405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and are indispensable chromatin structures for genome protection and replication. Telomere length maintenance has been attributed to several functional modulators, including telomerase, the shelterin complex, and the CST complex, synergizing with DNA replication, repair, and the RNA metabolism pathway components. As dysfunctional telomere maintenance and telomerase activation are associated with several human diseases, including cancer, the molecular mechanisms behind telomere length regulation and protection need particular emphasis. Cancer cells exhibit telomerase activation, enabling replicative immortality. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) activation is involved in cancer development through diverse activities other than mediating telomere elongation. This review describes the telomere functions, the role of functional modulators, the implications in cancer development, and the future therapeutic opportunities.
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22
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Non-small cell lung cancer: Emerging molecular targeted and immunotherapeutic agents. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1876:188636. [PMID: 34655692 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents the most common and fatal type of primary lung malignancies. NSCLC is often diagnosed at later stages and requires systemic therapies. Despite recent advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted molecular therapies the outcomes of NSCLC remain disproportionately poor. Immunotherapy is a rapidly developing area in NSCLC management and presents opportunities for potential improvements in clinical outcomes. Indeed, different immunotherapeutics have been approved for clinical use in various settings for NSCLC. Their promise is especially poignant in light of improved survival and quality of life outcomes. Herein, we comprehensively review emerging NSCLC therapeutics. We discuss the limitations of such strategies and summarize the present status of various immunotherapeutic agents in key patient populations. We also examine the data from ongoing studies in immunotherapy and consider future areas of study, including novel inhibition targets, therapeutic vaccination, tumor genome modification, and improvements to drug delivery systems.
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23
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Yang L, Li N, Wang M, Zhang YH, Yan LD, Zhou W, Yu ZQ, Peng XC, Cai J. Tumorigenic effect of TERT and its potential therapeutic target in NSCLC (Review). Oncol Rep 2021; 46:182. [PMID: 34278503 DOI: 10.3892/or.2021.8133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for ~85% of all lung cancer cases, is commonly diagnosed at an advanced stage and has a high patient mortality rate. Despite the increasing availability of treatment strategies, the prognosis of patients with NSCLC remains poor, with a low 5‑year survival rate. This poor prognosis may be associated with the tumor heterogeneity of NSCLC, as well as its acquisition and intrinsic resistance to therapeutic drugs. It has been suggested that combination therapy with telomerase inhibition may be an effective strategy for the treatment of drug‑sensitive and drug‑resistant types of cancer. Telomerase is the key enzyme for cell survival, and ~90% of human cancers maintain telomeres by activating telomerase, which is driven by the upregulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). Several mechanisms of telomerase reactivation have been described in a variety of cancer types, including TERT promoter mutation, epigenetic modifications via a TERT promoter, TERT amplification, and TERT rearrangement. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively review telomerase activity and its association with the clinical characteristics and prognosis of NSCLC, as well as analyze the potential mechanism via which TERT activates telomerase and determine its potential clinical application in NSCLC. More importantly, current treatment strategies targeting TERT in NSCLC have been summarized with the aim to promote discovery of novel strategies for the future treatment of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Hua Zhang
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Lu-Da Yan
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Wen Zhou
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Qiong Yu
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Chun Peng
- Laboratory of Oncology, Center for Molecular Medicine, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Jun Cai
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
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24
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Mokhtari RB, Sambi M, Qorri B, Baluch N, Ashayeri N, Kumar S, Cheng HLM, Yeger H, Das B, Szewczuk MR. The Next-Generation of Combination Cancer Immunotherapy: Epigenetic Immunomodulators Transmogrify Immune Training to Enhance Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3596. [PMID: 34298809 PMCID: PMC8305317 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy harnesses the immune system by targeting tumor cells that express antigens recognized by immune system cells, thus leading to tumor rejection. These tumor-associated antigens include tumor-specific shared antigens, differentiation antigens, protein products of mutated genes and rearrangements unique to tumor cells, overexpressed tissue-specific antigens, and exogenous viral proteins. However, the development of effective therapeutic approaches has proven difficult, mainly because these tumor antigens are shielded, and cells primarily express self-derived antigens. Despite innovative and notable advances in immunotherapy, challenges associated with variable patient response rates and efficacy on select tumors minimize the overall effectiveness of immunotherapy. Variations observed in response rates to immunotherapy are due to multiple factors, including adaptative resistance, competency, and a diversity of individual immune systems, including cancer stem cells in the tumor microenvironment, composition of the gut microbiota, and broad limitations of current immunotherapeutic approaches. New approaches are positioned to improve the immune response and increase the efficacy of immunotherapies, highlighting the challenges that the current global COVID-19 pandemic places on the present state of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Bayat Mokhtari
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.S.); (B.Q.)
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01852, USA;
| | - Manpreet Sambi
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.S.); (B.Q.)
| | - Bessi Qorri
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.S.); (B.Q.)
| | - Narges Baluch
- Department of Immunology and Allergy, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada;
| | - Neda Ashayeri
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Ali-Asghar Children Hospital, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran 1449614535, Iran;
| | - Sushil Kumar
- QPS, Holdings LLC, Pencader Corporate Center, 110 Executive Drive, Newark, DE 19702, USA;
| | - Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng
- The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada;
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Herman Yeger
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada;
| | - Bikul Das
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01852, USA;
- KaviKrishna Laboratory, Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, GBP, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 781039, India
| | - Myron R. Szewczuk
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.S.); (B.Q.)
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25
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Inflammation and tumor progression: signaling pathways and targeted intervention. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:263. [PMID: 34248142 PMCID: PMC8273155 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00658-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 765] [Impact Index Per Article: 255.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer development and its response to therapy are regulated by inflammation, which either promotes or suppresses tumor progression, potentially displaying opposing effects on therapeutic outcomes. Chronic inflammation facilitates tumor progression and treatment resistance, whereas induction of acute inflammatory reactions often stimulates the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and antigen presentation, leading to anti-tumor immune responses. In addition, multiple signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT), toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways, cGAS/STING, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK); inflammatory factors, including cytokines (e.g., interleukin (IL), interferon (IFN), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α), chemokines (e.g., C-C motif chemokine ligands (CCLs) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligands (CXCLs)), growth factors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β), and inflammasome; as well as inflammatory metabolites including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxane, and specialized proresolving mediators (SPM), have been identified as pivotal regulators of the initiation and resolution of inflammation. Nowadays, local irradiation, recombinant cytokines, neutralizing antibodies, small-molecule inhibitors, DC vaccines, oncolytic viruses, TLR agonists, and SPM have been developed to specifically modulate inflammation in cancer therapy, with some of these factors already undergoing clinical trials. Herein, we discuss the initiation and resolution of inflammation, the crosstalk between tumor development and inflammatory processes. We also highlight potential targets for harnessing inflammation in the treatment of cancer.
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26
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Ellingsen EB, Mangsbo SM, Hovig E, Gaudernack G. Telomerase as a Target for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines and Considerations for Optimizing Their Clinical Potential. Front Immunol 2021; 12:682492. [PMID: 34290704 PMCID: PMC8288190 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.682492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase-based therapeutic cancer vaccines (TCVs) have been under clinical investigation for the past two decades. Despite past failures, TCVs have gained renewed enthusiasm for their potential to improve the efficacy of checkpoint inhibition. Telomerase stands as an attractive target for TCVs due to its almost universal presence in cancer and its essential function promoting tumor growth. Herein, we review tumor telomerase biology that may affect the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination and provide insights on optimal vaccine design and treatment combinations. Tumor types possessing mechanisms of increased telomerase expression combined with an immune permissive tumor microenvironment are expected to increase the therapeutic potential of telomerase-targeting cancer vaccines. Regardless, rational treatment combinations, such as checkpoint inhibitors, are likely necessary to bring out the true clinical potential of TCVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Espen Basmo Ellingsen
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Research and Development, Ultimovacs ASA, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara M Mangsbo
- Research and Development, Ultimovacs AB, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eivind Hovig
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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27
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GV1001 interacts with androgen receptor to inhibit prostate cell proliferation in benign prostatic hyperplasia by regulating expression of molecules related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:3202-3217. [PMID: 33539321 PMCID: PMC7906190 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cell proliferation, driven by testosterone, is a major characteristic of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). GV1001, a human telomerase reverse transcriptase catalytic subunit, is an injectable formulation used as a cancer vaccine. It functions as a cell penetrating peptide to regulate cell proliferation. Here, we found that GV1001 effectively suppressed proliferation of prostatic stromal myofibroblasts (WPMY-1) and prostatic epithelial cells (RWPE-1 and WPE-NA22) treated with dihydrotestosterone. Also, GV1001 bound to androgen receptors (ARs) in the cytosol of stromal and epithelial cells. In an experimental animal model implanted with an infusion pump for spontaneous and continuous release of testosterone, revealed that GV1001 reduced prostatic hypertrophy and inhibited the cell proliferation and the expression of Ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and prostate specific antigen. In addition, GV1001 prevented fibrosis of the prostate by downregulating expression of prostatic epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, Snail, Slug, N-cadherin, and Vimentin, and by up-regulating E-cadherin. Taken together, these results suggest that GV1001, which suppresses TGF-β-mediated EMT by outcompeting testosterone for binding to AR, is a potential therapeutic drug for BPH accompanied by prostatic fibrosis.
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28
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Vacchelli E, Martins I, Eggermont A, Fridman WH, Galon J, Sautès-Fridman C, Tartour E, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial watch: Peptide vaccines in cancer therapy. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:1557-1576. [PMID: 23264902 PMCID: PMC3525611 DOI: 10.4161/onci.22428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prophylactic vaccination constitutes one of the most prominent medical achievements of history. This concept was first demonstrated by the pioneer work of Edward Jenner, dating back to the late 1790s, after which an array of preparations that confer life-long protective immunity against several infectious agents has been developed. The ensuing implementation of nation-wide vaccination programs has de facto abated the incidence of dreadful diseases including rabies, typhoid, cholera and many others. Among all, the most impressive result of vaccination campaigns is surely represented by the eradication of natural smallpox infection, which was definitively certified by the WHO in 1980. The idea of employing vaccines as anticancer interventions was first theorized in the 1890s by Paul Ehrlich and William Coley. However, it soon became clear that while vaccination could be efficiently employed as a preventive measure against infectious agents, anticancer vaccines would have to (1) operate as therapeutic, rather than preventive, interventions (at least in the vast majority of settings), and (2) circumvent the fact that tumor cells often fail to elicit immune responses. During the past 30 y, along with the recognition that the immune system is not irresponsive to tumors (as it was initially thought) and that malignant cells express tumor-associated antigens whereby they can be discriminated from normal cells, considerable efforts have been dedicated to the development of anticancer vaccines. Some of these approaches, encompassing cell-based, DNA-based and purified component-based preparations, have already been shown to exert conspicuous anticancer effects in cohorts of patients affected by both hematological and solid malignancies. In this Trial Watch, we will summarize the results of recent clinical trials that have evaluated/are evaluating purified peptides or full-length proteins as therapeutic interventions against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Vacchelli
- Institut Gustave Roussy; Villejuif, France ; Université Paris-Sud/Paris XI; Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France ; INSERM, U848; Villejuif, France
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29
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Inderberg-Suso EM, Trachsel S, Lislerud K, Rasmussen AM, Gaudernack G. Widespread CD4+ T-cell reactivity to novel hTERT epitopes following vaccination of cancer patients with a single hTERT peptide GV1001. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:670-686. [PMID: 22934259 PMCID: PMC3429571 DOI: 10.4161/onci.20426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the basis of a successful clinical response after treatment with therapeutic cancer vaccines is essential for the development of more efficacious therapy. After vaccination with the single telomerase (hTERT) 16-mer peptide, GV1001, some patients experienced clinical responses and long-term survival. This study reports in-depth immunological analysis of the T-cell response against telomerase (hTERT) in clinically responding patients compared with clinical non-responders following vaccination with the single hTERT 16-mer peptide, GV1001. Extensive characterization of CD4+ T-cell clones specific for GV1001 generated from a lung cancer patient in complete remission after vaccination demonstrated a very broad immune response to this single peptide vaccine with differences in fine specificity, HLA restriction, affinity and function. Some CD4+ T-cell clones were cytotoxic against peptide-loaded target cells and also recognized processed recombinant hTERT protein. Furthermore, T-cell responses against several unrelated hTERT epitopes, some of which are novel, were detected, indicating extensive epitope spreading which was confirmed in other clinical responders. In contrast, patients responding immunologically, but not clinically, after vaccination did not display this intramolecular epitope spreading. Multifunctional CD4+ T-cell clones specific for novel hTERT epitopes were generated and shown to recognize a melanoma cell line. Pentamer analysis of T cells in peripheral blood also demonstrated the presence of an important CD8+ T-cell response recognizing an HLA-B7 epitope embedded in GV1001 not previously described. These results indicate that the highly diverse hTERT-specific T-cell response, integrating both T helper and CTL responses, is essential for tumor regression and the generation of long-term T-cell memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Else-Marit Inderberg-Suso
- Unit for Immunotherapy; Section for Immunology; Institute for Cancer Research; Oslo University Hospital; Norwegian Radium Hospital; Oslo, Norway
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30
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Johnson DK, Magoffin W, Myers SJ, Finnell JG, Hancock JC, Orton TS, Persaud SP, Christensen KA, Weber KS. CD4 Inhibits Helper T Cell Activation at Lower Affinity Threshold for Full-Length T Cell Receptors Than Single Chain Signaling Constructs. Front Immunol 2021; 11:561889. [PMID: 33542711 PMCID: PMC7851051 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.561889] [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: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T cells are crucial for effective repression and elimination of cancer cells. Despite a paucity of CD4+ T cell receptor (TCR) clinical studies, CD4+ T cells are primed to become important therapeutics as they help circumvent tumor antigen escape and guide multifactorial immune responses. However, because CD8+ T cells directly kill tumor cells, most research has focused on the attributes of CD8+ TCRs. Less is known about how TCR affinity and CD4 expression affect CD4+ T cell activation in full length TCR (flTCR) and TCR single chain signaling (TCR-SCS) formats. Here, we generated an affinity panel of TCRs from CD4+ T cells and expressed them in flTCR and three TCR-SCS formats modeled after chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to understand the contributions of TCR-pMHCII affinity, TCR format, and coreceptor CD4 interactions on CD4+ T cell activation. Strikingly, the coreceptor CD4 inhibited intermediate and high affinity TCR-construct activation by Lck-dependent and -independent mechanisms. These inhibition mechanisms had unique affinity thresholds dependent on the TCR format. Intracellular construct formats affected the tetramer staining for each TCR as well as IL-2 production. IL-2 production was promoted by increased TCR-pMHCII affinity and the flTCR format. Thus, CD4+ T cell therapy development should consider TCR affinity, CD4 expression, and construct format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah K Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Wyatt Magoffin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Sheldon J Myers
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Jordan G Finnell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - John C Hancock
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Taylor S Orton
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Stephen P Persaud
- Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kenneth A Christensen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - K Scott Weber
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
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31
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Relitti N, Saraswati AP, Federico S, Khan T, Brindisi M, Zisterer D, Brogi S, Gemma S, Butini S, Campiani G. Telomerase-based Cancer Therapeutics: A Review on their Clinical Trials. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:433-457. [PMID: 31894749 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200102104930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are protective chromosomal ends that shield the chromosomes from DNA damage, exonucleolytic degradation, recombination, and end-to-end fusion. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that adds TTAGGG tandem repeats to the telomeric ends. It has been observed that 85 to 90% of human tumors express high levels of telomerase, playing a crucial role in the development of cancers. Interestingly, the telomerase activity is generally absent in normal somatic cells. This selective telomerase expression has driven scientists to develop novel anti-cancer therapeutics with high specificity and potency. Several advancements have been made in this area, which is reflected by the enormous success of the anticancer agent Imetelstat. Since the discovery of Imetelstat, several research groups have contributed to enrich the therapeutic arsenal against cancer. Such contributions include the application of new classes of small molecules, peptides, and hTERT-based immunotherapeutic agents (p540, GV1001, GRNVAC1 or combinations of these such as Vx-001). Many of these therapeutic tools are under different stages of clinical trials and have shown promising outcomes. In this review, we highlight the current status of telomerase-based cancer therapeutics and the outcome of these investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Relitti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Akella P Saraswati
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Federico
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Tuhina Khan
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Margherita Brindisi
- Department of Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Daniela Zisterer
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, via Aldo Moro 2, I- 53100 Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Brunsvig PF, Guren TK, Nyakas M, Steinfeldt-Reisse CH, Rasch W, Kyte JA, Juul HV, Aamdal S, Gaudernack G, Inderberg EM. Long-Term Outcomes of a Phase I Study With UV1, a Second Generation Telomerase Based Vaccine, in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Front Immunol 2020; 11:572172. [PMID: 33324397 PMCID: PMC7726017 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.572172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is a target antigen for cancer immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have tested a novel hTERT vaccine, UV1, designed to give high population coverage. UV1 is composed of three synthetic long peptides containing multiple epitopes identified by epitope spreading data from long-term survivors from previous hTERT vaccination trials. Eighteen non-HLA-typed patients with stage III/IV NSCLC with no evidence of progression after prior treatments, were enrolled in a phase I dose-escalation study of UV1 vaccination with GM-CSF as adjuvant, evaluating safety, immune response, and long-term clinical outcome. Treatment with UV1 was well tolerated with no serious adverse events observed. Seventeen patients were evaluable for tumor response; 15 patients had stable disease as best response. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 10.7 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 28.2 months. The OS at 4 years was 39% (7/18). Five patients are alive (median survival 5.6 years), and none of these are known to have received checkpoint therapy after vaccination. UV1 induced specific T-cell responses in the majority (67%) of patients. Immune responses were dynamic and long lasting. Both immune response (IR) and OS were dose related. More patients in the highest UV1 dosage group (700 μg) developed IRs compared to the other groups, and the IRs were stronger and occurred earlier. Patients in this group had a 4-year OS of 83%. The safety and clinical outcome data favor 700 μg as the preferred UV1 dose in this patient population. These results provide a rationale for further clinical studies in NSCLC with UV1 vaccination in combination with immune checkpoint blockade. Clinical Trial Registration https://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT0178909.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paal F Brunsvig
- Department of Clinical Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tormod Kyrre Guren
- Department of Clinical Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marta Nyakas
- Department of Clinical Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Jon Amund Kyte
- Department of Clinical Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hedvig Vidarsdotter Juul
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Else Marit Inderberg
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Dillard P, Köksal H, Maggadottir SM, Winge-Main A, Pollmann S, Menard M, Myhre MR, Mælandsmo GM, Flørenes VA, Gaudernack G, Kvalheim G, Wälchli S, Inderberg EM. Targeting Telomerase with an HLA Class II-Restricted TCR for Cancer Immunotherapy. Mol Ther 2020; 29:1199-1213. [PMID: 33212301 PMCID: PMC7934585 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cell therapy is a promising cancer treatment approach. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is overexpressed in the majority of tumors and a potential target for adoptive cell therapy. We isolated a novel hTERT-specific TCR sequence, named Radium-4, from a clinically responding pancreatic cancer patient vaccinated with a long hTERT peptide. Radium-4 TCR-redirected primary CD4+ and CD8+ T cells demonstrated in vitro efficacy, producing inflammatory cytokines and killing hTERT+ melanoma cells in both 2D and 3D settings, as well as malignant, patient-derived ascites cells. Importantly, T cells expressing Radium-4 TCR displayed no toxicity against bone marrow stem cells or mature hematopoietic cells. Notably, Radium-4 TCR+ T cells also significantly reduced tumor growth and improved survival in a xenograft mouse model. Since hTERT is a universal cancer antigen, and the very frequently expressed HLA class II molecules presenting the hTERT peptide to this TCR provide a very high (>75%) population coverage, this TCR represents an attractive candidate for immunotherapy of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Dillard
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Hakan Köksal
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Anna Winge-Main
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sylvie Pollmann
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mathilde Menard
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Marit Renée Myhre
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Gunhild M Mælandsmo
- Department of Tumor Biology, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Vivi Ann Flørenes
- Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Gustav Gaudernack
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Gunnar Kvalheim
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sébastien Wälchli
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Else Marit Inderberg
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway.
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Kamal S, Junaid M, Ejaz A, Bibi I, Akash MSH, Rehman K. The secrets of telomerase: Retrospective analysis and future prospects. Life Sci 2020; 257:118115. [PMID: 32698073 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase plays a significant role to maintain and regulate the telomere length, cellular immortality and senescence by the addition of guanine-rich repetitive sequences. Chronic inflammation or oxidative stress-induced infection downregulates TERT gene modifying telomerase activity thus contributing to the early steps of gastric carcinogenesis process. Furthermore, telomere-telomerase system performs fundamental role in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetes mellitus as well as in its vascular intricacy. The cessation of cell proliferation in cultured cells by inhibiting the telomerase activity of transformed cells renders the rationale for culling of telomerase as a target therapy for the treatment of metabolic disorders and various types of cancers. In this article, we have briefly described the role of immune system and malignant cells in the expression of telomerase with critical analysis on the gaps and potential for future studies. The key findings regarding the secrets of the telomerase summarized in this article will help in future treatment modalities for the prevention of various types of cancers and metabolic disorders notably diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shagufta Kamal
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Junaid
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Arslan Ejaz
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ismat Bibi
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | | | - Kanwal Rehman
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
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Anti-cancer Immunotherapies Targeting Telomerase. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082260. [PMID: 32806719 PMCID: PMC7465444 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase that maintains telomeres length, compensating for the attrition of chromosomal ends that occurs during each replication cycle. Telomerase is expressed in germ cells and stem cells, whereas it is virtually undetectable in adult somatic cells. On the other hand, telomerase is broadly expressed in the majority of human tumors playing a crucial role in the replicative behavior and immortality of cancer cells. Several studies have demonstrated that telomerase-derived peptides are able to bind to HLA (human leukocyte antigen) class I and class II molecules and effectively activate both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells subsets. Due to its broad and selective expression in cancer cells and its significant immunogenicity, telomerase is considered an ideal universal tumor-associated antigen, and consequently, a very attractive target for anti-cancer immunotherapy. To date, different telomerase targeting immunotherapies have been studied in pre-clinical and clinical settings, these approaches include peptide vaccination and cell-based vaccination. The objective of this review paper is to discuss the role of human telomerase in cancer immunotherapy analyzing recent developments and future perspectives in this field.
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Fernandes SG, Dsouza R, Pandya G, Kirtonia A, Tergaonkar V, Lee SY, Garg M, Khattar E. Role of Telomeres and Telomeric Proteins in Human Malignancies and Their Therapeutic Potential. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1901. [PMID: 32674474 PMCID: PMC7409176 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are the ends of linear chromosomes comprised of repetitive nucleotide sequences in humans. Telomeres preserve chromosomal stability and genomic integrity. Telomere length shortens with every cell division in somatic cells, eventually resulting in replicative senescence once telomere length becomes critically short. Telomere shortening can be overcome by telomerase enzyme activity that is undetectable in somatic cells, while being active in germline cells, stem cells, and immune cells. Telomeres are bound by a shelterin complex that regulates telomere lengthening as well as protects them from being identified as DNA damage sites. Telomeres are transcribed by RNA polymerase II, and generate a long noncoding RNA called telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA), which plays a key role in regulating subtelomeric gene expression. Replicative immortality and genome instability are hallmarks of cancer and to attain them cancer cells exploit telomere maintenance and telomere protection mechanisms. Thus, understanding the role of telomeres and their associated proteins in cancer initiation, progression and treatment is very important. The present review highlights the critical role of various telomeric components with recently established functions in cancer. Further, current strategies to target various telomeric components including human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as a therapeutic approach in human malignancies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina George Fernandes
- Sunandan Divatia School of Science, SVKM’s NMIMS (Deemed to be University), Vile Parle West, Mumbai 400056, India; (S.G.F.); (R.D.)
| | - Rebecca Dsouza
- Sunandan Divatia School of Science, SVKM’s NMIMS (Deemed to be University), Vile Parle West, Mumbai 400056, India; (S.G.F.); (R.D.)
| | - Gouri Pandya
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201313, India; (G.P.); (A.K.)
| | - Anuradha Kirtonia
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201313, India; (G.P.); (A.K.)
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- Laboratory of NF-κB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore; (V.T.); (S.Y.L.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore 117597, Singapore
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Sook Y. Lee
- Laboratory of NF-κB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore; (V.T.); (S.Y.L.)
| | - Manoj Garg
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201313, India; (G.P.); (A.K.)
| | - Ekta Khattar
- Sunandan Divatia School of Science, SVKM’s NMIMS (Deemed to be University), Vile Parle West, Mumbai 400056, India; (S.G.F.); (R.D.)
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Dosset M, Castro A, Carter H, Zanetti M. Telomerase and CD4 T Cell Immunity in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061687. [PMID: 32630460 PMCID: PMC7352225 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a conserved self-tumor antigen which is overexpressed in most tumors and plays a critical role in tumor formation and progression. As such, TERT is an antigen of great relevance to develop widely applicable immunotherapies. CD4 T cells play a major role in the anti-cancer response alone or with other effector cells such as CD8 T cells and NK cells. To date, efforts have been made to identify TERT peptides capable of stimulating CD4 T cells that are also able to bind diverse MHC-II alleles to ease immune status monitoring and immunotherapies. Here, we review the current status of TERT biology, TERT/MHC-II immunobiology, and past and current vaccine clinical trials. We propose that monitoring CD4 T cell immunity against TERT is a simple and direct way to assess immune surveillance in cancer patients and a new way to predict the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPi). Finally, we present the initial results of a systematic discovery of TERT peptides able to bind the most common HLA Class II alleles worldwide and show that the repertoire of MHC-II TERT peptides is wider than currently appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magalie Dosset
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-081, USA;
| | - Andrea Castro
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine and Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (A.C.); (H.C.)
- Health Science, Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Hannah Carter
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine and Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (A.C.); (H.C.)
| | - Maurizio Zanetti
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-081, USA;
- Correspondence:
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Jansons J, Bayurova E, Skrastina D, Kurlanda A, Fridrihsone I, Kostyushev D, Kostyusheva A, Artyuhov A, Dashinimaev E, Avdoshina D, Kondrashova A, Valuev-Elliston V, Latyshev O, Eliseeva O, Petkov S, Abakumov M, Hippe L, Kholodnyuk I, Starodubova E, Gorodnicheva T, Ivanov A, Gordeychuk I, Isaguliants M. Expression of the Reverse Transcriptase Domain of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Induces Lytic Cellular Response in DNA-Immunized Mice and Limits Tumorigenic and Metastatic Potential of Murine Adenocarcinoma 4T1 Cells. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8020318. [PMID: 32570805 PMCID: PMC7350266 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a classic tumor-associated antigen overexpressed in majority of tumors. Several TERT-based cancer vaccines are currently in clinical trials, but immune correlates of their antitumor activity remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized fine specificity and lytic potential of immune response against rat TERT in mice. BALB/c mice were primed with plasmids encoding expression-optimized hemagglutinin-tagged or nontagged TERT or empty vector and boosted with same DNA mixed with plasmid encoding firefly luciferase (Luc DNA). Injections were followed by electroporation. Photon emission from booster sites was assessed by in vivo bioluminescent imaging. Two weeks post boost, mice were sacrificed and assessed for IFN-γ, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production by T-cells upon their stimulation with TERT peptides and for anti-TERT antibodies. All TERT DNA-immunized mice developed cellular and antibody response against epitopes at the N-terminus and reverse transcriptase domain (rtTERT) of TERT. Photon emission from mice boosted with TERT/TERT-HA+Luc DNA was 100 times lower than from vector+Luc DNA-boosted controls. Bioluminescence loss correlated with percent of IFN-γ/IL-2/TNF-α producing CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells specific to rtTERT, indicating immune clearance of TERT/Luc-coexpressing cells. We made murine adenocarcinoma 4T1luc2 cells to express rtTERT by lentiviral transduction. Expression of rtTERT significantly reduced the capacity of 4T1luc2 to form tumors and metastasize in mice, while not affecting in vitro growth. Mice which rejected the tumors developed T-cell response against rtTERT and low/no response to the autoepitope of TERT. This advances rtTERT as key component of TERT-based therapeutic vaccines against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juris Jansons
- Department of Research, and Department of Pathology, Pathology, Rīga Stradiņš University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia; (J.J.); (A.K.); (I.F.); (L.H.); (I.K.)
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia;
| | - Ekaterina Bayurova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow 127994, Russia; (E.B.); (O.L.); (O.E.); (M.A.); (A.I.); (I.G.)
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia; (D.A.); (A.K.)
| | - Dace Skrastina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia;
| | - Alisa Kurlanda
- Department of Research, and Department of Pathology, Pathology, Rīga Stradiņš University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia; (J.J.); (A.K.); (I.F.); (L.H.); (I.K.)
| | - Ilze Fridrihsone
- Department of Research, and Department of Pathology, Pathology, Rīga Stradiņš University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia; (J.J.); (A.K.); (I.F.); (L.H.); (I.K.)
| | - Dmitry Kostyushev
- National Medical Research Center of Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health, Moscow 127994, Russia; (D.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Anastasia Kostyusheva
- National Medical Research Center of Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health, Moscow 127994, Russia; (D.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Alexander Artyuhov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow 127994, Russia; (A.A.); (E.D.)
| | - Erdem Dashinimaev
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow 127994, Russia; (A.A.); (E.D.)
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia
| | - Darya Avdoshina
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia; (D.A.); (A.K.)
| | - Alla Kondrashova
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia; (D.A.); (A.K.)
| | - Vladimir Valuev-Elliston
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia; (V.V.-E.); (E.S.)
| | - Oleg Latyshev
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow 127994, Russia; (E.B.); (O.L.); (O.E.); (M.A.); (A.I.); (I.G.)
| | - Olesja Eliseeva
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow 127994, Russia; (E.B.); (O.L.); (O.E.); (M.A.); (A.I.); (I.G.)
| | - Stefan Petkov
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Maxim Abakumov
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow 127994, Russia; (E.B.); (O.L.); (O.E.); (M.A.); (A.I.); (I.G.)
- Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials, National University of Science and Technology MISIS, Moscow 127994, Russia
- Department of Medical Nanobiotechnologies, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow 127994, Russia
| | - Laura Hippe
- Department of Research, and Department of Pathology, Pathology, Rīga Stradiņš University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia; (J.J.); (A.K.); (I.F.); (L.H.); (I.K.)
| | - Irina Kholodnyuk
- Department of Research, and Department of Pathology, Pathology, Rīga Stradiņš University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia; (J.J.); (A.K.); (I.F.); (L.H.); (I.K.)
| | - Elizaveta Starodubova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia; (V.V.-E.); (E.S.)
| | | | - Alexander Ivanov
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow 127994, Russia; (E.B.); (O.L.); (O.E.); (M.A.); (A.I.); (I.G.)
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia; (V.V.-E.); (E.S.)
| | - Ilya Gordeychuk
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow 127994, Russia; (E.B.); (O.L.); (O.E.); (M.A.); (A.I.); (I.G.)
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia; (D.A.); (A.K.)
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 127994, Russia
| | - Maria Isaguliants
- Department of Research, and Department of Pathology, Pathology, Rīga Stradiņš University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia; (J.J.); (A.K.); (I.F.); (L.H.); (I.K.)
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow 127994, Russia; (E.B.); (O.L.); (O.E.); (M.A.); (A.I.); (I.G.)
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia; (D.A.); (A.K.)
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Correspondence:
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Berei J, Eckburg A, Miliavski E, Anderson AD, Miller RJ, Dein J, Giuffre AM, Tang D, Deb S, Racherla KS, Patel M, Vela MS, Puri N. Potential Telomere-Related Pharmacological Targets. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:458-484. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200109114339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres function as protective caps at the terminal portion of chromosomes, containing
non-coding nucleotide sequence repeats. As part of their protective function, telomeres preserve genomic
integrity and minimize chromosomal exposure, thus limiting DNA damage responses. With
continued mitotic divisions in normal cells, telomeres progressively shorten until they reach a threshold
at a point where they activate senescence or cell death pathways. However, the presence of the enzyme
telomerase can provide functional immortality to the cells that have reached or progressed past
senescence. In senescent cells that amass several oncogenic mutations, cancer formation can occur due
to genomic instability and the induction of telomerase activity. Telomerase has been found to be expressed
in over 85% of human tumors and is labeled as a near-universal marker for cancer. Due to this
feature being present in a majority of tumors but absent in most somatic cells, telomerase and telomeres
have become promising targets for the development of new and effective anticancer therapeutics.
In this review, we evaluate novel anticancer targets in development which aim to alter telomerase
or telomere function. Additionally, we analyze the progress that has been made, including preclinical
studies and clinical trials, with therapeutics directed at telomere-related targets. Furthermore, we review
the potential telomere-related therapeutics that are used in combination therapy with more traditional
cancer treatments. Throughout the review, topics related to medicinal chemistry are discussed,
including drug bioavailability and delivery, chemical structure-activity relationships of select therapies,
and the development of a unique telomere assay to analyze compounds affecting telomere elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Berei
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Adam Eckburg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Edward Miliavski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Austin D. Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Rachel J. Miller
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Joshua Dein
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Allison M. Giuffre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Diana Tang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Shreya Deb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Kavya Sri Racherla
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Meet Patel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Monica Saravana Vela
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Neelu Puri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
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Roggisch J, Ecke T, Koch S. Molecular identification of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promotor mutations in primary and recurrent tumors of invasive and noninvasive urothelial bladder cancer. Urol Oncol 2020; 38:77.e17-77.e25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2019.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Lee EK, Kim YJ, Shon WJ, Yu HG. A telomerase-derived peptide vaccine inhibits laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in a rat model. Transl Res 2020; 216:30-42. [PMID: 31655029 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
GV1001, a novel peptide derived from human telomerase reverse transcriptase, reportedly has anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a complex pathogenic process that involves angiogenesis, inflammation, cellular immunity, and other factors. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of GV1001 on laser-induced CNV in a rat model. Brown Norway rats were subcutaneously administered GV1001 (0.1 nM, 1 nM, and 10 nM) daily, beginning 3 days prior, and ending 14 days after laser photocoagulation. Optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, choroidal flat mount, and histologic analysis were performed to analyze CNV. The protein level of IκB-α and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was analyzed via immunohistochemistry of p65. Multiplex immunoassay was performed to evaluate the interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels. The GV1001-treated group had significantly lower CNV thickness, smaller CNV area, and lower proportion of CNV lesions with clinically significant fluorescein leakage than vehicle-treated group. GV1001 treatment inhibited IκB-α degradation and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. At 1 nM concentration, GV1001 had highest inhibitory effect on CNV and NF-κB signaling activation; moreover, it suppressed the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and VEGF significantly. The present study demonstrates that GV1001 treatment led to significant suppression of laser-induced CNV, alongside inhibition of inflammatory processes including NF-κB activation and subsequent upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, this provides molecular evidence of potential validity of GV1001 treatment as a therapeutic strategy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Kyoung Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Joo Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Jun Shon
- Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeong Gon Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Long-term surviving cancer patients as a source of therapeutic TCR. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:859-865. [PMID: 31915853 PMCID: PMC7183495 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02468-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We have established a platform for the isolation of tumour-specific TCR from T cells of patients who experienced clinical benefit from cancer vaccination. In this review we will present the rationale behind this strategy and discuss the advantages of working with “natural” wild type TCRs. Indeed, the general trend in the field has been to use various modifications to enhance the affinity of such therapeutic TCRs. This was done to obtain stronger T cell responses, often at the cost of safety. We further describe antigen targets and recent in vitro and in vivo results obtained to validate them. We finally discuss the use of MHC class II-restricted TCR in immunotherapy. Typically cellular anti-tumour immune responses have been attributed to CD8 T cells; however, we isolated mainly CD4 T cells. Importantly, these MHC class II-restricted TCRs have the potential to induce broad, long lasting immune responses that enable cancer control. The use of CD4 T cell-derived TCRs for adoptive immunotherapy has so far been limited and we will here discuss their therapeutic potential.
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Giangaspero F, Minasi S, Gianno F, Alzoubi H, Antonelli M, Buttarelli F. Mechanisms of telomere maintenance in pediatric brain tumors: Promising targets for therapy – A narrative review. GLIOMA 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/glioma.glioma_20_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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The Novel Peptide Vaccine GV1001 Protects Hearing in a Kanamycin-induced Ototoxicity Mouse Model. Otol Neurotol 2019; 39:e731-e737. [PMID: 30015752 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000001911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS We tested whether GV1001 has any ototoxic side effects at different doses and whether it protects hearing in an aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity mouse model. BACKGROUND GV1001, a novel peptide vaccine currently being examined in a Phase 3 clinical trial to treat pancreatic cancer, also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. METHODS In the first experiment, C57/BL6 mice were injected with GV1001 preparations at concentrations of 0.1 to 100 mg/kg for 7 days to evaluate the toxicity of GV1001 on the inner ear and kidneys. In the second experiment, the protective effect of GV1001 was tested in an ototoxicity mouse model that was generated by injecting 800 mg/kg kanamycin (KM) for 2 weeks. The hearing threshold and hair cell loss were compared between the KM + GV1001 group (treated with 10 mg/kg GV1001 for 2 wk) and the KM + saline group. The hearing threshold was measured before, and 7, 14, and 21 days after the initial treatment. The blood urea nitrogen level was measured. RESULTS No ototoxicity or renal toxicity was found following treatment with different doses of GV1001 (0.1-100 mg/kg). The KM + saline group showed impaired auditory function and markedly disoriented and missing cochlear hair cells, while the KM + GV1001 group showed significant hearing and hair cell preservation in comparison (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION GV1001 itself did not have any detrimental effects on the inner ear or kidney. In the KM induced ototoxicity model, concomitant administration of GV1001 protected against cochlear hair cell damage and preserve hearing.
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Yang Z, Ma Y, Zhao H, Yuan Y, Kim BYS. Nanotechnology platforms for cancer immunotherapy. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 12:e1590. [PMID: 31696664 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Various cancer therapies have advanced remarkably over the past decade. Unlike the direct therapeutic targeting of tumor cells, cancer immunotherapy is a new strategy that boosts the host's immune system to detect specific cancer cells for efficient elimination. Nanoparticles incorporating immunomodulatory agents can activate immune cells and modulate the tumor microenvironment to enhance antitumor immunity. Such nanoparticle-based cancer immunotherapies have received considerable attention and have been extensively studied in recent years. This review thus focuses on nanoparticle-based platforms (especially naturally derived nanoparticles and synthetic nanoparticles) utilized in recent advances; summarizes delivery systems that incorporate various immune-modulating agents, including peptides and nucleic acids, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and other small immunostimulating agents; and introduces combinational cancer immunotherapy with nanoparticles, especially nanoparticle-based photo-immunotherapy and nanoparticle-based chemo-immunotherapy. Undoubtedly, the recent studies introduced in this review prove that nanoparticle-incorporated cancer immunotherapy is a highly promising treatment modality for patients with cancer. Nonetheless further research is needed to solve safety concerns and improve efficacy of nanoplatform-based cancer immunotherapy for future clinical application. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaogang Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Yifan Ma
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Hai Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials of Ministry of Education, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Betty Y S Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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Park YH, Jung AR, Kim GE, Kim MY, Sung JW, Shin D, Cho HJ, Ha US, Hong SH, Kim SW, Lee JY. GV1001 inhibits cell viability and induces apoptosis in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells through the AKT/NF-κB/VEGF pathway. J Cancer 2019; 10:6269-6277. [PMID: 31772660 PMCID: PMC6856754 DOI: 10.7150/jca.34859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: We examined the effect of GV1001 in castration castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cell growth and invasion and explored the potential molecular mechanisms of action. Materials and Methods: The in vitro anti-cancer effects of GV1001 in CRPC cells were examined using cell viability assay, TUNEL assay, and flow cytometry analysis. To evaluate the effects of GV1001 on different steps of angiogenesis, wound healing assay, transwell invasion assay, endothelial cell tube formation assay, and western blot analysis were performed. Finally, the anti-cancer effects of GV1001 on tumor growth in vivo were examined in a CRPC xenograft model. Results: GV1001 inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in CRPC cells in vitro, accompanied by down-regulation of Bcl-2 and caspase-3. GV1001 also inhibited different steps of angiogenesis, such as migration, invasion, and endothelial tube formation, along with decreased expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and CD31 and increased expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Mechanistically, GV1001 significantly decreased the levels of phosphorylated AKT, phosphorylated p65, and VEGF in CRPC cells in a dose-dependent manner. GV1001 was effective in suppressing tumor growth and inducing apoptosis in a CRPC xenograft mouse model. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that GV1001 inhibited cell viability, induced apoptosis, and inhibited angiogenesis in CRPC cells by inhibition of the AKT/NF-κB/VEGF signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Hyun Park
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - Ae Ryang Jung
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - Ga Eun Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - Mee Young Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - Jae Woo Sung
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - Dongho Shin
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - Hyuk Jin Cho
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - U-Syn Ha
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - Sung-Hoo Hong
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - Sae Woong Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
| | - Ji Youl Lee
- Department of Urology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
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Chen X, Tang WJ, Shi JB, Liu MM, Liu XH. Therapeutic strategies for targeting telomerase in cancer. Med Res Rev 2019; 40:532-585. [PMID: 31361345 DOI: 10.1002/med.21626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Telomere and telomerase play important roles in abnormal cell proliferation, metastasis, stem cell maintenance, and immortalization in various cancers. Therefore, designing of drugs targeting telomerase and telomere is of great significance. Over the past two decades, considerable knowledge regarding telomere and telomerase has been accumulated, which provides theoretical support for the design of therapeutic strategies such as telomere elongation. Therefore, the development of telomere-based therapies such as nucleoside analogs, non-nucleoside small molecules, antisense technology, ribozymes, and dominant negative human telomerase reverse transcriptase are being prioritized for eradicating a majority of tumors. While the benefits of telomere-based therapies are obvious, there is a need to address the limitations of various therapeutic strategies to improve the possibility of clinical applications. In this study, current knowledge of telomere and telomerase is discussed, and therapeutic strategies based on recent research are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Jian Tang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Bo Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Ming Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Hua Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
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Bazmara S, Shadmani M, Ghasemnejad A, Aghazadeh H, Pooshang Bagheri K. In silico rational design of a novel tetra-epitope tetanus vaccine with complete population coverage using developed immunoinformatics and surface epitope mapping approaches. Med Hypotheses 2019; 130:109267. [PMID: 31383332 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Presentation of many unwanted epitopes within tetanus toxoid vaccine to lymphocyte clones may lead to production of many unwanted antibodies. Moreover an ideal vaccine must cover all individuals in a population that is dependent to the kinds of human leukocyte antigen alleles. Concerning these issues, our study was aimed to in silico design of a multi-epitope tetanus vaccine (METV) in order to improve population coverage and protectivity of tetanus vaccine as well as reduction of complications. Concerning these issues, a novel rational filtration was implemented to design a novel METV using immunoinformatics and surface epitope mapping approaches. Prediction of epitopes for tetanus toxin was performed in the candidate country in which the frequency had been gathered from almost all geographical distributions. The most strong binder epitopes for major histocompatibility complex class II were selected and among them the surface epitopes of native toxin were selected. The population coverage of the selected epitopes was estimated. The final candidate epitopes had highly population coverage. Molecular docking was performed to prediction of binding affinity of our candidate epitopes to the HLA-DRB1 alleles. At first, 680 strong binder epitopes were predicted. Among them 11 epitopes were selected. Finally, 4 epitopes had the most population coverage and suggested as a tetra-epitope tetanus vaccine. 99.41% of inessential strong binders were deleted using our tree steps filtration. HLA-DP had the most roles in epitope presentation. Molecular docking analysis proved the strong binding affinity of candidate epitopes to the HLA-DRB1 alleles. In conclusion, we theoretically reduced 99.41% of unwanted antibodies using our novel filtration strategies. Our tetra-epitope tetanus vaccine showed 100% population coverage in the candidate country. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that HLA-DP and HLA-DQ had more potential in epitope presentation in comparison to HLA-DRB1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Bazmara
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab., Biotechnology Dept., Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Shadmani
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab., Biotechnology Dept., Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atefeh Ghasemnejad
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab., Biotechnology Dept., Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Aghazadeh
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab., Biotechnology Dept., Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kamran Pooshang Bagheri
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab., Biotechnology Dept., Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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49
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Telomerase-Targeted Cancer Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20081823. [PMID: 31013796 PMCID: PMC6515163 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20081823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase, an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of telomeres, is activated in many cancer cells and is involved in the maintenance of telomeres. The activity of telomerase allows cancer cells to replicate and proliferate in an uncontrolled manner, to infiltrate tissue, and to metastasize to distant organs. Studies to date have examined the mechanisms involved in the survival of cancer cells as targets for cancer therapeutics. These efforts led to the development of telomerase inhibitors as anticancer drugs, drugs targeting telomere DNA, viral vectors carrying a promoter for human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) genome, and immunotherapy targeting hTERT. Among these novel therapeutics, this review focuses on immunotherapy targeting hTERT and discusses the current evidence and future perspectives.
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50
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Systemic Management for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review of the Molecular Pathways of Carcinogenesis, Current and Emerging Therapies, and Novel Treatment Strategies. Dig Dis Sci 2019; 64:1016-1029. [PMID: 30887150 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-019-05582-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arises from a number of cirrhosis-related and non-cirrhosis-related exposures and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Achieving a durable cure currently relies on either resection or transplantation, but since most patients will be diagnosed with inoperable disease, there is great interest in achieving more effective systemic therapies. At a molecular level, HCC is heterogeneous, but initial treatment strategies, including the use of multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors and checkpoint inhibitors, have been fairly homogenous, depending on general host factors and overall tumor burden rather than specific molecular signatures. Over the past 2 decades, however, there has been significant success in identifying key molecular targets, including driver mutations involving the telomerase reverse transcriptase, p53, and beta-catenin genes, and significant work is now being devoted to translating these discoveries into the development of robust and well-tolerated targeted therapies. Furthermore, multi-modal therapies have also begun to emerge, harnessing possible synergism amongst a variety of different treatment classes. As the findings of these landmark trials become available over the next several years, the landscape of the systemic management of advanced HCC will change significantly.
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