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Panagi M, Mpekris F, Voutouri C, Hadjigeorgiou AG, Symeonidou C, Porfyriou E, Michael C, Stylianou A, Martin JD, Cabral H, Constantinidou A, Stylianopoulos T. Stabilizing Tumor-Resident Mast Cells Restores T-Cell Infiltration and Sensitizes Sarcomas to PD-L1 Inhibition. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:2582-2597. [PMID: 38578281 PMCID: PMC11145177 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-24-0246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the cellular cross-talk of tumor-resident mast cells (MC) in controlling the activity of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) to overcome tumor microenvironment (TME) abnormalities, enhancing the efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in sarcoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used a coculture system followed by further validation in mouse models of fibrosarcoma and osteosarcoma with or without administration of the MC stabilizer and antihistamine ketotifen. To evaluate the contribution of ketotifen in sensitizing tumors to therapy, we performed combination studies with doxorubicin chemotherapy and anti-PD-L1 (B7-H1, clone 10F.9G2) treatment. We investigated the ability of ketotifen to modulate the TME in human sarcomas in the context of a repurposed phase II clinical trial. RESULTS Inhibition of MC activation with ketotifen successfully suppressed CAF proliferation and stiffness of the extracellular matrix accompanied by an increase in vessel perfusion in fibrosarcoma and osteosarcoma as indicated by ultrasound shear wave elastography imaging. The improved tissue oxygenation increased the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy, supported by enhanced T-cell infiltration and acquisition of tumor antigen-specific memory. Importantly, the effect of ketotifen in reducing tumor stiffness was further validated in sarcoma patients, highlighting its translational potential. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests the targeting of MCs with clinically administered drugs, such as antihistamines, as a promising approach to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrofora Panagi
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Fotios Mpekris
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Chrysovalantis Voutouri
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Andreas G. Hadjigeorgiou
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | | | - Christina Michael
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Andreas Stylianou
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center, School of Sciences, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Horacio Cabral
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Anastasia Constantinidou
- Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Cyprus Cancer Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Huang R, Kang T, Chen S. The role of tumor-associated macrophages in tumor immune evasion. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:238. [PMID: 38713256 PMCID: PMC11076352 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05777-4] [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: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor growth is closely linked to the activities of various cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly immune cells. During tumor progression, circulating monocytes and macrophages are recruited, altering the TME and accelerating growth. These macrophages adjust their functions in response to signals from tumor and stromal cells. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), similar to M2 macrophages, are key regulators in the TME. METHODS We review the origins, characteristics, and functions of TAMs within the TME. This analysis includes the mechanisms through which TAMs facilitate immune evasion and promote tumor metastasis. Additionally, we explore potential therapeutic strategies that target TAMs. RESULTS TAMs are instrumental in mediating tumor immune evasion and malignant behaviors. They release cytokines that inhibit effector immune cells and attract additional immunosuppressive cells to the TME. TAMs primarily target effector T cells, inducing exhaustion directly, influencing activity indirectly through cellular interactions, or suppressing through immune checkpoints. Additionally, TAMs are directly involved in tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Developing innovative tumor-targeted therapies and immunotherapeutic strategies is currently a promising focus in oncology. Given the pivotal role of TAMs in immune evasion, several therapeutic approaches have been devised to target them. These include leveraging epigenetics, metabolic reprogramming, and cellular engineering to repolarize TAMs, inhibiting their recruitment and activity, and using TAMs as drug delivery vehicles. Although some of these strategies remain distant from clinical application, we believe that future therapies targeting TAMs will offer significant benefits to cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhe Huang
- Department of Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Ting Kang
- Department of Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Department of Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Yang K, Li S, Ding Y, Meng X, Zhang C, Sun X. Effect of smoking-related features and 731 immune cell phenotypes on esophageal cancer: a two-sample and mediated Mendelian randomized study. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1336817. [PMID: 38601154 PMCID: PMC11004242 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1336817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Numerous observational studies have indicated that smoking is a substantial risk factor for esophageal cancer. However, there is a shortage of research that delves into the specific causal relationship and potential mediators between the two. Our study aims to validate the correlation between smoking-related traits and esophageal cancer while exploring the possible mediating effects of immune factors. Methods Initially, we conducted bidirectional univariate Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses to forecast the causal effects linking smoking-related traits and esophageal cancer. Subsequently, we employed a two-step MR analysis to scrutinize immune cell phenotypes that could mediate these effects. Finally, the coefficient product method was employed to determine the precise mediating impact. Additionally, we have refined our sensitivity analysis to ensure the reliability of the outcomes. Results After analysis, Smoking status: Never had a significant negative association with the incidence of esophageal cancer (inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, p=1.82e-05, OR=0.10, 95%CI=0.04~0.29). Ever smoked (IVW, p=1.49e-02, OR=4.31, 95%CI=1.33~13.94) and Current tobacco smoking (IVW, p=1.49e-02, OR=4.31, 95%CI=1.33~13.94) showed the promoting effect on the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer. Through further examination, researchers discovered 21 immune cell phenotypes that have a causal relationship with esophageal cancer. After careful screening, two immune cell phenotypes were found to have potential mediating effects. In particular, it was observed that in the case of the preventive effect of Smoking status: Never on esophageal cancer, the absolute count of CD62L plasmacytoid dendritic cells mediated a reduction of 4.21%, while the mediating effect of CD27 in CD20-CD38-B cells was -4.12%. In addition, sensitivity analyses did not reveal significant heterogeneity or level pleiotropy. Conclusion The study provides new evidence for the causal relationship between smoking-related features and esophageal cancer and proposes immune factors with potential mediating effects. However, this finding needs to be further demonstrated by more extensive clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xiujing Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing Digestive Disease Center, Beijing Key Laboratory for Precancerous Lesion of Digestive Disease, Beijing, China
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Jiang J, Lin C, Chang T, Lo L, Lin C, Lu R, Yang C. Decreased interleukin-17RA expression is associated with good prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer and inhibits tumor growth and vascularity in mice. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7059. [PMID: 38491831 PMCID: PMC10943367 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7059] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a vital role in the promotion of tumorigenesis in various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Based on current evidence, IL-17 binds to interleukin-17 receptor A (IL-17RA); however, the role of IL-17RA has not been elucidated in previous studies on CRC. In this study, we explored the role of IL-17RA in human CRC tissues and the progression of CRC in humans and mice. METHODS The expressions of IL-17RA and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes were examined in CRC cells and tissue samples by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The role of IL-17RA in pathogenesis and prognosis was evaluated using a Chi-squared test, Kaplan-Meier analysis, univariate, and multivariate Cox regression analysis in 133 CRC patients. A tumor-bearing mice model was executed to evaluate the role of IL-17RA in tumor growth, vascularity and population of infiltrating immune cells. RESULTS IL-17RA expression was found to be significantly higher in CRC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. The expression of IL-17RA in Stage IV patients was significantly higher than that in Stages I and II patients. Patients with high IL-17RA expression exhibited significantly worse overall and CRC-specific survival than those with low IL-17RA expression. Functional assessment suggested that the knockdown of IL-17RA expression distinctly suppressed cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT-related gene expression. In a tumor-bearing mouse model, decreased IL-17RA expression significantly repressed tumor growth and vascularity and reduced the population of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). CONCLUSION Reduced IL-17RA expression also suppressed cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion, and the expression of EMT genes. Knockdown of IL-17RA inhibited tumor growth and vascularity and decreased the population of Tregs and MDSCs in mouse tumors. Overall, IL-17RA expression was identified to be independently associated with the prognosis of patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeng‐Kai Jiang
- School of MedicineNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of SurgeryTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chi‐Hung Lin
- Institute of Microbiology and ImmunologyNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Biological Science and TechnologyNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityHsinchuTaiwan
- Cancer Progression Research CenterNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ting‐An Chang
- Department of Pathology, Ren‐Ai BranchTaipei City HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Liang‐Chuan Lo
- National Genomics Center for Clinical and Biotechnological Applications, Cancer and Immunology Research CenterNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chien‐Ping Lin
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of SurgeryTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ruey‐Hwa Lu
- Department of Surgery, Zhongxing BranchTaipei City HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chih‐Yung Yang
- Commission for General EducationNational United UniversityMiaoliTaiwan
- General Education CenterUniversity of TaipeiTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Education and ResearchTaipei City HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
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Kaur S, Saini AK, Tuli HS, Garg N, Joshi H, Varol M, Kaur J, Chhillar AK, Saini RV. Polymer-mediated nanoformulations: a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:1311-1326. [PMID: 37695334 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02699-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Engineering polymer-based nano-systems have attracted many researchers owing to their unique qualities like shape, size, porosity, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Both natural and synthetic polymers can be tuned to get desired surface chemistry and functionalization to improve the efficacy of cancer therapy by promoting targeted delivery to the tumor site. Recent advancements in cancer immunoediting have been able to manage both primary tumor and metastatic lesions via activation of the immune system. The combinations of nano-biotechnology and immunotherapeutic agents have provided positive outcomes by enhancing the host immune response in cancer therapy. The nanoparticles have been functionalized using antibodies, targeted antigens, small molecule ligands, and other novel agents that can interact with biological systems at nanoscale levels. Several polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and chitosan, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical use in biomedicine. The polymeric nanoformulations such as polymers-antibody/antigen conjugates and polymeric drug conjugates are currently being explored as nanomedicines that can target cancer cells directly or target immune cells to promote anti-cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we focus on scientific developments and advancements on engineered polymeric nano-systems in conjugation with immunotherapeutic agents targeting the tumor microenvironment to improve their efficacy and the safety for better clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simranjit Kaur
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
| | - Adesh K Saini
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
- Central Research Cell, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
| | - Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
| | - Nancy Garg
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
| | - Hemant Joshi
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Mehmet Varol
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey
| | - Jagjit Kaur
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Anil K Chhillar
- Centre for Biotechnology, M.D. University, Rohtak, Haryana, 124 001, India
| | - Reena V Saini
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India.
- Central Research Cell, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India.
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Xia Y, Yang M, Xiao X, Tang W, Deng J, Wu L, Xu H, Tang Y, Chen W, Wang Y. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound activated the anti-tumor immunity by irradiating the spleen of mice in 4 T-1 breast cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:50. [PMID: 38349555 PMCID: PMC10864467 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03613-1] [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: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy is booming around the world. However, strategies to activate the immune system and alleviate the immunosuppression still need to be refined. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS, spatial average time average intensity (Isata) is 200 mW/cm2, frequency is 0.3 MHz, repetition frequency is 1 kHz, and duty cycle is 20%) triggers the immune system and further reverses the immunosuppressive state in the mouse models of breast cancer by irradiating the spleen of mice. LIPUS inhibited tumor growth and extended survival in mice with 4 T-1 tumors. Further studies had previously shown that LIPUS enhanced the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleen and led to significant changes in cytokines, as well as induced upregulation of mRNA levels involved in multiple immune regulatory pathways in the spleen. In addition, LIPUS promoted tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte accumulation and CD8+ T cell activation and improved the dynamics of cytokines/chemokines in the tumor microenvironment, resulting in a reversal of the immunosuppressive state of the tumor microenvironment. These results suggest a novel approach to activate the immune response by irradiating the spleen with LIPUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Meijie Yang
- College of Medical Informatics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinfang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Wentao Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Juan Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Liu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Haopeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yilin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Wenzhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Rd, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Amaria R, Knisely A, Vining D, Kopetz S, Overman MJ, Javle M, Antonoff MB, Tzeng CWD, Wolff RA, Pant S, Lito K, Rangel K, Fellman B, Yuan Y, Lu KH, Sakellariou-Thompson D, Haymaker CL, Forget MA, Hwu P, Bernatchez C, Jazaeri AA. Efficacy and safety of autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in recurrent or refractory ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e006822. [PMID: 38309721 PMCID: PMC10840042 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-006822] [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] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy has shown efficacy in metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and other solid tumors. Our preclinical work demonstrated more robust CD8 predominant TIL production when agonistic anti-4-1BB and CD3 antibodies were used in early ex vivo TIL culture. METHODS Patients with treatment-refractory metastatic colorectal (CRC), pancreatic (PDAC) and ovarian (OVCA) cancers were eligible. Lymphodepleting chemotherapy was followed by infusion of ex vivo expanded TIL, manufactured at MD Anderson Cancer Center with IL-2 and agonistic stimulation of CD3 and 4-1BB (urelumab). Patients received up to six doses of high-dose IL-2 after TIL infusion. Primary endpoint was evaluation of objective response rate at 12 weeks using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 with secondary endpoints including disease control rate (DCR), duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. RESULTS 17 patients underwent TIL harvest and 16 were treated on protocol (NCT03610490), including 8 CRC, 5 PDAC, and 3 OVCA patients. Median age was 57.5 (range 33-70) and 50% were females. Median number of lines of prior therapy was 2 (range 1-8). No responses were observed at 12 weeks. Ten subjects achieved at least one stable disease (SD) assessment for a DCR of 62.5% (95% CI 35.4% to 84.8%). Best response included prolonged SD in a patient with PDAC lasting 17 months. Median PFS and OS across cohorts were 2.53 months (95% CI 1.54 to 4.11) and 18.86 months (95% CI 4.86 to NR), respectively. Grade 3 or higher toxicities attributable to therapy were seen in 14 subjects (87.5%; 95% CI 61.7% to 98.4%). Infusion product analysis showed the presence of effector memory cells with high expression of CD39 irrespective of tumor type and low expression of checkpoint markers. CONCLUSIONS TIL manufactured with assistance of 4-1BB and CD3 agonism is feasible and treatment is associated with no new safety signals. While no responses were observed, a significant portion of patients achieved SD suggesting early/partial immunological effect. Further research is required to identify factors associated with resistance and functionally enhance T cells for a more effective therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodabe Amaria
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anne Knisely
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - David Vining
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Scott Kopetz
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael J Overman
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Milind Javle
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mara B Antonoff
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ching-Wei D Tzeng
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Robert A Wolff
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Shubham Pant
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kathryn Lito
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kelly Rangel
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Bryan Fellman
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ying Yuan
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Karen H Lu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Cara L Haymaker
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marie-Andrée Forget
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Chantale Bernatchez
- SVP Discovery & Platforms, Therapeutics Discovery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Amir A Jazaeri
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Fantini M, Arlen PM, Tsang KY. Potentiation of natural killer cells to overcome cancer resistance to NK cell-based therapy and to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1275904. [PMID: 38077389 PMCID: PMC10704476 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275904] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cellular components of the innate immune system that can recognize and suppress the proliferation of cancer cells. NK cells can eliminate cancer cells through direct lysis, by secreting perforin and granzymes, or through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). ADCC involves the binding of the Fc gamma receptor IIIa (CD16), present on NK cells, to the constant region of an antibody already bound to cancer cells. Cancer cells use several mechanisms to evade antitumor activity of NK cells, including the accumulation of inhibitory cytokines, recruitment and expansion of immune suppressor cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), modulation of ligands for NK cells receptors. Several strategies have been developed to enhance the antitumor activity of NK cells with the goal of overcoming cancer cells resistance to NK cells. The three main strategies to engineer and boost NK cells cytotoxicity include boosting NK cells with modulatory cytokines, adoptive NK cell therapy, and the employment of engineered NK cells to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy. Although the first two strategies improved the efficacy of NK cell-based therapy, there are still some limitations, including immune-related adverse events, induction of immune-suppressive cells and further cancer resistance to NK cell killing. One strategy to overcome these issues is the combination of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that mediate ADCC and engineered NK cells with potentiated anti-cancer activity. The advantage of using mAbs with ADCC activity is that they can activate NK cells, but also favor the accumulation of immune effector cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Several clinical trials reported that combining engineered NK cells with mAbs with ADCC activity can result in a superior clinical response compared to mAbs alone. Next generation of clinical trials, employing engineered NK cells with mAbs with higher affinity for CD16 expressed on NK cells, will provide more effective and higher-quality treatments to cancer patients.
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Ramezani F, Panahi Meymandi AR, Akbari B, Tamtaji OR, Mirzaei H, Brown CE, Mirzaei HR. Outsmarting trogocytosis to boost CAR NK/T cell therapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:183. [PMID: 37974170 PMCID: PMC10652537 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01894-9] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK and T cell therapy are promising immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer. However, the efficacy of CAR NK/T cell therapy is often hindered by various factors, including the phenomenon of trogocytosis, which involves the bidirectional exchange of membrane fragments between cells. In this review, we explore the role of trogocytosis in CAR NK/T cell therapy and highlight potential strategies for its modulation to improve therapeutic efficacy. We provide an in-depth analysis of trogocytosis as it relates to the fate and function of NK and T cells, focusing on its effects on cell activation, cytotoxicity, and antigen presentation. We discuss how trogocytosis can mediate transient antigen loss on cancer cells, thereby negatively affecting the effector function of CAR NK/T cells. Additionally, we address the phenomenon of fratricide and trogocytosis-associated exhaustion, which can limit the persistence and effectiveness of CAR-expressing cells. Furthermore, we explore how trogocytosis can impact CAR NK/T cell functionality, including the acquisition of target molecules and the modulation of signaling pathways. To overcome the negative effects of trogocytosis on cellular immunotherapy, we propose innovative approaches to modulate trogocytosis and augment CAR NK/T cell therapy. These strategies encompass targeting trogocytosis-related molecules, engineering CAR NK/T cells to resist trogocytosis-induced exhaustion and leveraging trogocytosis to enhance the function of CAR-expressing cells. By overcoming the limitations imposed by trogocytosis, it may be possible to unleash the full potential of CAR NK/T therapy against cancer. The knowledge and strategies presented in this review will guide future research and development, leading to improved therapeutic outcomes in the field of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Ramezani
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Panahi Meymandi
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnia Akbari
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid Reza Tamtaji
- Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Christine E Brown
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Hamid Reza Mirzaei
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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10
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Zhang F, Dong J, Huang K, Duan B, Li C, Yang R, Li J, Zhi F, Zhou Z, Sun M. "Dominolike" Barriers Elimination with an Intratumoral Adenosine-Triphosphate-Supersensitive Nanogel to Enhance Cancer Chemoimmunotherapy. ACS NANO 2023; 17:18805-18817. [PMID: 37769188 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Pathophysiological barriers in "cold" tumors seriously limit the clinical outcomes of chemoimmunotherapy. These barriers distribute in a spatial order in tumors, including immunosuppressive microenvironment, overexpressed chemokine receptors, and dense tumor mesenchyme, which require a sequential elimination in therapeutics. Herein, we reported a "dominolike" barriers elimination strategy by an intratumoral ATP supersensitive nanogel (denoted as BBLZ-945@PAC-PTX) for enhanced chemoimmunotherapy. Once it has reached the tumor site, BBLZ-945@PAC-PTX nanogel undergoes supersensitive collapse triggered by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in perivascular regions and releases BLZ-945 conjugated albumin (BBLZ-945) to deplete tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Deeper spatial penetration of shrunk nanogel (PAC-PTX) could not only block CXCR4 on the cell membrane to decrease immunosuppressive cell recruitment but also internalize into tumor cells for tumor-killing and T cell priming. The strategy of "dominolike" barriers elimination in tumors enables immune cell infiltration for a potentiated immune response and offers a high-responsive treatment opinion for chemoimmunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
- Nanjing Branch, Jiangsu Yuanchuang Pharmaceutical Research and Development Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, China
| | - Jingwen Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Kan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Bowen Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Chenzi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Ruoxi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Feng Zhi
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, China
| | - Zhanwei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Minjie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
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11
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Visalakshan RM, Lowrey MK, Sousa MGC, Helms HR, Samiea A, Schutt CE, Moreau JM, Bertassoni LE. Opportunities and challenges to engineer 3D models of tumor-adaptive immune interactions. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1162905. [PMID: 37081897 PMCID: PMC10110941 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1162905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Augmenting adaptive immunity is a critical goal for developing next-generation cancer therapies. T and B cells infiltrating the tumor dramatically influence cancer progression through complex interactions with the local microenvironment. Cancer cells evade and limit these immune responses by hijacking normal immunologic pathways. Current experimental models using conventional primary cells, cell lines, or animals have limitations for studying cancer-immune interactions directly relevant to human biology and clinical translation. Therefore, engineering methods to emulate such interplay at local and systemic levels are crucial to expedite the development of better therapies and diagnostic tools. In this review, we discuss the challenges, recent advances, and future directions toward engineering the tumor-immune microenvironment (TME), including key elements of adaptive immunity. We first offer an overview of the recent research that has advanced our understanding of the role of the adaptive immune system in the tumor microenvironment. Next, we discuss recent developments in 3D in-vitro models and engineering approaches that have been used to study the interaction of cancer and stromal cells with B and T lymphocytes. We summarize recent advancement in 3D bioengineering and discuss the need for 3D tumor models that better incorporate elements of the complex interplay of adaptive immunity and the tumor microenvironment. Finally, we provide a perspective on current challenges and future directions for modeling cancer-immune interactions aimed at identifying new biological targets for diagnostics and therapeutics.
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12
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Liu Y, Li L, Wang L, Lu L, Li Y, Huang G, Song J. 'Two-faces' of hyaluronan, a dynamic barometer of disease progression in tumor microenvironment. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:11. [PMID: 36698043 PMCID: PMC9877274 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00618-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyaluronan (HA) is a linear polysaccharide consisting of disaccharide units which are the D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. As the largest component of the extracellular matrix in microenvironment, HA polymers with different molecular weights vary in properties to molecular biology function. High molecular weight HA (HMW-HA) is mainly found in normal tissue or physiological condition, and exhibits lubrication and protection properties due to its good water retention and viscoelasticity. On the other hand, an increase in HA catabolism leads to the accumulation of low molecular weight HA (LMW-HA) under pathological circumstances such as inflammation, pre-cancerous and tumor microenvironment. LMW-HA acts as extracellular signals to enhance tumorigenic and metastatic phenotype, such as energy reprogramming, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. This review discusses the basic properties of this simplest carbohydrate molecule in ECM with enormous potential, and its regulatory role between tumorigenesis and microenvironmental homeostasis. The extensive discoveries of the mechanisms underlying the roles of HA in various physiological and pathological processes would provide more information for future research in the fields of biomimetic materials, pharmaceutical and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Standards, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Standards, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Standards, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Lu
- School of Medicine & Health, Guangxi Vocational & Technical Institute of Industry, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Guangxi Orthopaedics and Traumatology Hospital, Nanning, 530012, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Guolin Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, Nanning, 530022, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjing Song
- Department of Pharmacy, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, Nanning, 530022, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
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13
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Remote Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Cells of Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma Generate a Similar Malignant Microenvironment of the Lung Stromal Counterpart. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2023; 2023:1011063. [PMID: 36733673 PMCID: PMC9889152 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1011063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Cancer alters both local and distant tissue by influencing the microenvironment. In this regard, the interplay with the stromal fraction is considered critical as this latter can either foster or hamper the progression of the disease. Accordingly, the modality by which tumors may alter distant niches of stromal cells is still unclear, especially at early stages. In this short report, we attempt to better understand the biology of this cross-talk. In our "autologous stromal experimental setting," we found that remote adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mediastinal AMSC) obtained from patients with lung adenocarcinoma sustain proliferation and clonogenic ability of A549 and human primary lung adenocarcinoma cells similarly to the autologous stromal lung counterpart (LMSC). This effect is not observed in lung benign diseases such as the hamartochondroma. This finding was validated by conditioning benign AMSC with supernatants from LAC for up to 21 days. The new reconditioned media of the stromal fraction so obtained, was able to increase cell proliferation of A549 cells at 14 and 21 days similar to that derived from AMSC of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The secretome generated by remote AMSC revealed overlapping to the corresponding malignant microenvironment of the autologous local LMSC. Among the plethora of 80 soluble factors analyzed by arrays, a small pool of 5 upregulated molecules including IL1-β, IL-3, MCP-1, TNF-α, and EGF, was commonly shared by both malignant-like autologous A- and L-MSC derived microenvironments vs those benign. The bioinformatics analysis revealed that these proteins were strictly and functionally interconnected to lung fibrosis and proinflammation and that miR-126, 101, 486, and let-7-g were their main targets. Accordingly, we found that in lung cancer tissues and blood samples from the same set of patients here employed, miR-126 and miR-486 displayed the highest expression levels in tissue and blood, respectively. When the miR-126-3p was silenced in A549 treated with AMSC-derived conditioned media from patients with lung adenocarcinoma, cell proliferation decreased compared to control media.
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14
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Breast cancer tumor microenvironment affects Treg/IL-17-producing Treg/Th17 cell axis: Molecular and therapeutic perspectives. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 28:132-157. [PMID: 36816749 PMCID: PMC9922830 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises a variety of immune cells, among which T cells exert a prominent axial role in tumor development or anti-tumor responses in patients with breast cancer (BC). High or low levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as transforming growth factor β, in the absence or presence of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), delineate the fate of T cells toward either regulatory T (Treg) or T helper 17 (Th17) cells, respectively. The transitional state of RORγt+Foxp3+ Treg (IL-17-producing Treg) resides in the middle of this reciprocal polarization, which is known as Treg/IL-17-producing Treg/Th17 cell axis. TME secretome, including microRNAs, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles, can significantly affect this axis. Furthermore, immune checkpoint inhibitors may be used to reconstruct immune cells; however, some of these novel therapies may favor tumor development. Therefore, understanding secretory and cell-associated factors involved in their differentiation or polarization and functions may be targeted for BC management. This review discusses microRNAs, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles (as secretome), as well as transcription factors and immune checkpoints (as cell-associated factors), which influence the Treg/IL-17-producing Treg/Th17 cell axis in BC. Furthermore, approved or ongoing clinical trials related to the modulation of this axis in the TME of BC are described to broaden new horizons of promising therapeutic approaches.
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15
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Fibroblasts Impair Migration and Antitumor Activity of NK-92 Lymphocytes in a Melanoma-on-Chip Model. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 10:bioengineering10010052. [PMID: 36671624 PMCID: PMC9854880 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy in solid tumors, such as melanoma, is impaired, but little is known about the role that the fibroblasts present in the tumor microenvironment could exert. However, the mechanism at play is not well understood, partly due to the lack of relevant pre-clinical models. Three-dimensional culture and microfluidic chips are used to recapitulate the dynamic interactions among different types of cells in the tumor microenvironment in controlled and physiological settings. In this brief report, we propose a reductionist melanoma-on-a-chip model for evaluating the essential role of fibroblasts in the antitumor activity of lymphocytes. To this end, 3D melanoma spheroids were monocultured and co-cultured with human dermal fibroblasts and the NK-92 cell migration towards the tumor compartment was tested in a commercially available microfluidic device. Utilizing confocal microscopy, we observed the different recruitment of NK-92 cells in the presence and absence of fibroblasts. Our results show that fibroblasts' presence inhibits immune effector recruiting by exploiting a 3D pre-clinical tumor model.
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16
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PD-L1 Activity Is Associated with Partial EMT and Metabolic Reprogramming in Carcinomas. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:8285-8301. [PMID: 36354714 PMCID: PMC9688938 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29110654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune evasion and metabolic reprogramming are hallmarks of cancer progression often associated with a poor prognosis and frequently present significant challenges for cancer therapies. Recent studies have highlighted the dynamic interaction between immunosuppression and the dysregulation of energy metabolism in modulating the tumor microenvironment to promote cancer aggressiveness. However, a pan-cancer association among these two hallmarks, and a potent common driver for them-epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-remains to be done. This meta-analysis across 184 publicly available transcriptomic datasets as well as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data reveals that an enhanced PD-L1 activity signature along with other immune checkpoint markers correlate positively with a partial EMT and an elevated glycolysis signature but a reduced OXPHOS signature in many carcinomas. These trends were also recapitulated in single-cell, RNA-seq, time-course EMT induction data across cell lines. Furthermore, across multiple cancer types, concurrent enrichment of glycolysis and PD-L1 results in worse outcomes in terms of overall survival as compared to enrichment for only PD-L1 activity or expression. These results highlight potential functional synergy among these interconnected axes of cellular plasticity in enabling metastasis and multi-drug resistance in cancer.
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17
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Lu Z, McBrearty N, Chen J, Tomar VS, Zhang H, De Rosa G, Tan A, Weljie AM, Beiting DP, Miao Z, George SS, Berger A, Saggu G, Diehl JA, Koumenis C, Fuchs SY. ATF3 and CH25H regulate effector trogocytosis and anti-tumor activities of endogenous and immunotherapeutic cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Cell Metab 2022; 34:1342-1358.e7. [PMID: 36070682 PMCID: PMC10496461 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Effector trogocytosis between malignant cells and tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) contributes to immune evasion through antigen loss on target cells and fratricide of antigen-experienced CTLs by other CTLs. The mechanisms regulating these events in tumors remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that tumor-derived factors (TDFs) stimulated effector trogocytosis and restricted CTLs' tumoricidal activity and viability in vitro. TDFs robustly altered the CTL's lipid profile, including depletion of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC). 25HC inhibited trogocytosis and prevented CTL's inactivation and fratricide. Mechanistically, TDFs induced ATF3 transcription factor that suppressed the expression of 25HC-regulating gene-cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H). Stimulation of trogocytosis in the intratumoral CTL by the ATF3-CH25H axis attenuated anti-tumor immunity, stimulated tumor growth, and impeded the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell adoptive therapy. Through use of armored CAR constructs or pharmacologic agents restoring CH25H expression, we reversed these phenotypes and increased the efficacy of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Lu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Noreen McBrearty
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jinyun Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Vivek S Tomar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hongru Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gianluca De Rosa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Aiwen Tan
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Aalim M Weljie
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel P Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhen Miao
- Department of Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Subin S George
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Allison Berger
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Lexington, MA 02421, USA
| | - Gurpanna Saggu
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Lexington, MA 02421, USA
| | - J Alan Diehl
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Constantinos Koumenis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Serge Y Fuchs
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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18
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Harris BHL, Macaulay VM, Harris DA, Klenerman P, Karpe F, Lord SR, Harris AL, Buffa FM. Obesity: a perfect storm for carcinogenesis. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2022; 41:491-515. [PMID: 36038791 PMCID: PMC9470699 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-022-10046-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Obesity-related cancers account for 40% of the cancer cases observed in the USA and obesity is overtaking smoking as the most widespread modifiable risk factor for carcinogenesis. Here, we use the hallmarks of cancer framework to delineate how obesity might influence the carcinogenic hallmarks in somatic cells. We discuss the effects of obesity on (a) sustaining proliferative signaling; (b) evading growth suppressors; (c) resisting cell death; (d) enabling replicative immortality; (e) inducing angiogenesis; (f) activating invasion and metastasis; (g) reprogramming energy metabolism; and (h) avoiding immune destruction, together with its effects on genome instability and tumour-promoting inflammation. We present the current understanding and controversies in this evolving field, and highlight some areas in need of further cross-disciplinary focus. For instance, the relative importance of the many potentially causative obesity-related factors is unclear for each type of malignancy. Even within a single tumour type, it is currently unknown whether one obesity-related factor consistently plays a predominant role, or if this varies between patients or, even in a single patient with time. Clarifying how the hallmarks are affected by obesity may lead to novel prevention and treatment strategies for the increasingly obese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H L Harris
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK. .,St Anne's College, 56 Woodstock Rd, Oxford, OX2 6HS, UK.
| | - Valentine M Macaulay
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | | | - Paul Klenerman
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Fredrik Karpe
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Simon R Lord
- Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Adrian L Harris
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
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19
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Maimaitiyiming Y, Ye L, Yang T, Yu W, Naranmandura H. Linear and Circular Long Non-Coding RNAs in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: From Pathogenesis to Classification and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084442. [PMID: 35457264 PMCID: PMC9033105 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The coding regions account for only a small part of the human genome, and the remaining vast majority of the regions generate large amounts of non-coding RNAs. Although non-coding RNAs do not code for any protein, they are suggested to work as either tumor suppressers or oncogenes through modulating the expression of genes and functions of proteins at transcriptional, posttranscriptional and post-translational levels. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) originates from malignant transformed B/T-precursor-stage lymphoid progenitors in the bone marrow (BM). The pathogenesis of ALL is closely associated with aberrant genetic alterations that block lymphoid differentiation and drive abnormal cell proliferation as well as survival. While treatment of pediatric ALL represents a major success story in chemotherapy-based elimination of a malignancy, adult ALL remains a devastating disease with relatively poor prognosis. Thus, novel aspects in the pathogenesis and progression of ALL, especially in the adult population, need to be further explored. Accumulating evidence indicated that genetic changes alone are rarely sufficient for development of ALL. Recent advances in cytogenic and sequencing technologies revealed epigenetic alterations including that of non-coding RNAs as cooperating events in ALL etiology and progression. While the role of micro RNAs in ALL has been extensively reviewed, less attention, relatively, has been paid to other non-coding RNAs. Herein, we review the involvement of linear and circular long non-coding RNAs in the etiology, maintenance, and progression of ALL, highlighting the contribution of these non-coding RNAs in ALL classification and diagnosis, risk stratification as well as treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasen Maimaitiyiming
- The Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, and Department of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.M.); (L.Y.); (T.Y.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Linyan Ye
- The Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, and Department of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.M.); (L.Y.); (T.Y.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Tao Yang
- The Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, and Department of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.M.); (L.Y.); (T.Y.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wenjuan Yu
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Correspondence: (W.Y.); (H.N.)
| | - Hua Naranmandura
- The Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, and Department of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.M.); (L.Y.); (T.Y.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Correspondence: (W.Y.); (H.N.)
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20
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Granhøj JS, Witness Præst Jensen A, Presti M, Met Ö, Svane IM, Donia M. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for adoptive cell therapy: recent advances, challenges, and future directions. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2022; 22:627-641. [PMID: 35414331 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2064711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is a highly personalized type of cancer immunotherapy. TIL-based ACT exploits naturally occurring TILs, derived from the patients' tumor. This treatment has shown consistent clinical responses in melanoma, and recent results point toward a potential use in multiple cancer diagnoses. However, several limitations have restricted the clinical development and adaptation of TIL-based ACT. AREAS COVERED In this review, we present the principles of TIL-based ACT and discuss the most significant limitations for therapeutic efficacy and its widespread application. The topics of therapeutic resistance (both innate and acquired), treatment-related toxicity, and the novel research topic of metabolic barriers in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are covered. EXPERT OPINION There are many ongoing areas of research focusing on improving clinical efficacy and optimizing TIL-based ACT. Many strategies have shown great potential, particularly strategies advancing TIL efficacy (such as increasing and harnessing ex vivo the sub-population of tumor-reactive TILs) and manufacturing processes. Novel approaches can help overcome current limitations and potentially result in TIL-based ACT entering the mainstream of cancer therapy across tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Stoltenborg Granhøj
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Agnete Witness Præst Jensen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Mario Presti
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Özcan Met
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Marco Donia
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
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21
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Lee H, Choi H. Investigating the Clinico-Molecular and Immunological Evolution of Lung Adenocarcinoma Using Pseudotime Analysis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:828505. [PMID: 35311086 PMCID: PMC8931203 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.828505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction As the molecular features of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have been evaluated as a cross-sectional study, the course of tumor characteristics has not been modeled. The temporal evolution of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), as well as the clinico-molecular features of LUAD, could provide a precise strategy for immunotherapy and surrogate biomarkers for the course of LUAD. Methods A pseudotime trajectory was constructed in patients with LUAD from the Cancer Genome Atlas and non-small cell lung cancer radiogenomics datasets. Correlation analyses were performed between clinical features and pseudotime. Genes associated with pseudotime were selected, and gene ontology analysis was performed. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography images of subjects were collected, and imaging parameters, including standardized uptake value (SUV), were obtained. Correlation analyses were performed between imaging parameters and pseudotime. Correlation analyses were performed between the enrichment scores of various immune cell types and pseudotime. In addition, correlation analyses were performed between the expression of PD-L1, tumor mutation burden, and pseudotime. Results Pseudotime trajectories of LUAD corresponded to clinical stages. Molecular profiles related to cell division and natural killer cell activity were changed along the pseudotime. The maximal SUV of LUAD tumors showed a positive correlation with pseudotime. Type 1 helper T (Th1) cells showed a positive correlation, whereas M2 macrophages showed a negative correlation with pseudotime. PD-L1 expression showed a negative correlation, whereas tumor mutation burden showed a positive correlation with pseudotime. Conclusion The estimated pseudotime associated with the stage suggested that it could reflect the clinico-molecular evolution of LUAD. Specific immune cell types in the TIME as well as cell division and glucose metabolism were dynamically changed according to the progression of the pseudotime. As a molecular progression of LUAD, different cellular targets should be considered for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjong Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hongyoon Choi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Hongyoon Choi,
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22
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Zhang H, Feng Y, Xie X, Song T, Yang G, Su Q, Li T, Li S, Wu C, You F, Liu Y, Yang H. Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Biotherapy Platform for Targeted Photodynamic Immunotherapy of Breast Cancer. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2101375. [PMID: 34981675 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-12 (IL12) is a pleiotropic cytokine with promising prospects for cancer immunotherapy. Though IL12 gene-based therapy can overcome the fatal hurdle of severe systemic toxicity, targeted delivery and tumor-located expression of IL12 gene remain the challenging issues yet to be solved. Photo-immunotherapy emerging as a novel and precise therapeutic strategy, which elaborately combines immune-activating agents with light-triggered photosensitizers for potentiated anticancer efficacy. Herein, an engineered stem cell-based biotherapy platform (MB/IL12-MSCs) incorporating immune gene plasmid IL12 (pIL12) and photosensitizer methylene blue (MB) is developed to realize tumor-homing delivery of therapeutic agents and photo-immunotherapy efficacy enhancement. The biotherapy platform retained tumor-tropic migration and penetration functions, which improved the intratumoral distribution of therapeutic agents, thereby promoting photodynamic effects and reinforcing immune responses. Importantly, MB/IL12-MSCs restricted the expression and distribution of IL12 at tumor site, which minimized potential toxicity while eliciting sufficient anticancer immunity. In noteworthy, activation of immunity induced by MB/IL12-MSCs established long-term systemic immunologic memory to prevent tumor relapse. The MB/IL12-MSCs outperform their monotherapy counterparts in breast tumor models, and the growth of tumor significantly arrested as well as re-challenging abscopal tumor growth slowdown. Collectively, this work reveals that MSCs-based strategy may advance more efficient, durable, and safer cancer photo-immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanxi Zhang
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
| | - Yi Feng
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxue Xie
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
| | - Ting Song
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
| | - Geng Yang
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
| | - Qingqing Su
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
| | - Shun Li
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
| | - Chunhui Wu
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
| | - Fengming You
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine No. 39 Shi‐er‐qiao Road Chengdu Sichuan 610072 P. R. China
| | - Yiyao Liu
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine No. 39 Shi‐er‐qiao Road Chengdu Sichuan 610072 P. R. China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Biophysics School of Life Science and Technology University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 P. R. China
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CCL5 Deficiency Enhanced Cryo–Thermal-Triggered Long-Term Anti-Tumor Immunity in 4T1 Murine Breast Cancer. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030559. [PMID: 35327361 PMCID: PMC8945488 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer remains one of the most common solid tumors. Tumor immunosuppressive factors mainly hinder the control of tumors. We previously developed an innovative cryo–thermal therapy that was shown to significantly suppress distal metastasis and improve long-term survival in murine B16F10 melanoma and 4T1 mammary carcinoma models. However, the effect of cryo–thermal therapy on the 4T1 model was not excellent. CCL5 has been reported to help the progression of breast cancer, so in this study, CCL5−/− was used to explore the role of host-derived CCL5 after cryo–thermal therapy. CCL5−/− could not completely resist tumor development, but it significantly improved survival rates when combined with cryo–thermal therapy. Mechanically, CCL5−/− mildly decreases the percentage of MDSCs, increases DC maturation and macrophage’s inflammatory function at an early stage after tumor inoculation, and later up-regulate the level of Th1 and down-regulate the level of Tregs. When combined with cryo–thermal therapy, CCL5−/− dramatically down-regulated the proportion of MDSCs and induced full M1 macrophage polarization, which further promoted Th1 differentiation and the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells. Our results indicated that CCL5−/− contributed to cryo–thermal-triggered, long-lasting anti-tumor memory immunity. The combination of cryo–thermal therapy and CCL5 blockades might extend the survival rates of patients with aggressive breast cancer.
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Zhang F, Liang J, Feng D, Liu S, Wu J, Tang Y, Liu Z, Lu Y, Wang X, Wei X. Integrated Analysis of Energy Metabolism Signature-Identified Distinct Subtypes of Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:814735. [PMID: 35281080 PMCID: PMC8905247 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.814735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is the most common type of bladder cancer. In this study, the correlation between the metabolic status and the outcome of patients with BLCA was evaluated using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus datasets. Methods: The clinical and transcriptomic data of patients with BLCA were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas and cBioPortal datasets, and energy metabolism-related gene sets were obtained from the Molecular Signature Database. A consensus clustering algorithm was then conducted to classify the patients into two clusters. Tumor prognosis, clinicopathological features, mutations, functional analysis, ferroptosis status analysis, immune infiltration, immune checkpoint-related gene expression level, chemotherapy resistance, and tumor stem cells were analyzed between clusters. An energy metabolism-related signature was further developed and verified using data from cBioPortal datasets. Results: Two clusters (C1 and C2) were identified using a consensus clustering algorithm based on an energy metabolism-related signature. The patients with subtype C1 had more metabolism-related pathways, different ferroptosis status, higher cancer stem cell scores, higher chemotherapy resistance, and better prognosis. Subtype C2 was characterized by an increased number of advanced BLCA cases and immune-related pathways. Higher immune and stromal scores were also observed for the C2 subtype. A signature containing 16 energy metabolism-related genes was then identified, which can accurately predict the prognosis of patients with BLCA. Conclusion: We found that the energy metabolism-associated subtypes of BLCA are closely related to the immune microenvironment, immune checkpoint-related gene expression, ferroptosis status, CSCs, chemotherapy resistance, prognosis, and progression of BLCA patients. The established energy metabolism-related gene signature was able to predict survival in patients with BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zhang
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiayu Liang
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dechao Feng
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengzhuo Liu
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiapei Wu
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongquan Tang
- Department of Pediatric Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yiping Lu
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianding Wang
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Xianding Wang, ; Xin Wei,
| | - Xin Wei
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Xianding Wang, ; Xin Wei,
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25
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Therapeutic Effect of Catgut Implantation at Acupoint in a Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Suppressing Immune Escape. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:5572869. [PMID: 35178106 PMCID: PMC8846981 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5572869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background The occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are closely related to immune function, as is the capacity of hepatoma cells to escape. Immunosurveillance is a key mechanism. Catgut implantation at acupoint (CIAA) is a promising acupuncture improvement method that can regulate immunity and has been widely used in the clinical treatment of a variety of diseases. The aim of this study is to observe the therapeutic effect of CIAA on HCC and to investigate the potential mechanism of immune escape. Materials and Methods A total of 40 mice were randomly divided into three groups: the HCC model group (n = 15), the CIAA treatment group (n = 15), and the control group (n = 10). HCC was chemically induced in 30 mice by the combination of DEN, carbon tetrachloride, and ethanol for 150 days. Among them, 15 were selected for CIAA treatment to ascertain the therapeutic effect. The mRNA expression levels of AFP, IL-10, PD-1, and CTLA-4 in three groups were examined by using RT-PCR. AFP and AKT expressions were measured by using western blotting. PD1, CTLA-4, IL-10, CD4+, and CD8+ protein expression levels were evaluated by using IHC. The mortality rate, body weight, and psychological conditions of three groups were also compared. Results The mRNA and protein expression levels of AFP, PD-1, CTLA-4, and IL-10 were significantly downregulated in the CIAA-treated mice in comparison with HCC mice. IHC assay shows that CD4+ and CD8+ expression levels were notably upregulated after CIAA treatment. Western blotting assay shows that AKT pathway was deactivated in CIAA-treated mice. CIAA notably reduced the mortality rate and inhibited weight loss caused by HCC and improved the overall psychological condition of the mice. Conclusions Taken together, our data corroborate the effective potency of CIAA in the treatment of HCC by and inhibiting immune escape and deactivating the AKT pathway.
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26
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Mandó P, Rivero SG, Rizzo MM, Pinkasz M, Levy EM. Targeting ADCC: A different approach to HER2 breast cancer in the immunotherapy era. Breast 2021; 60:15-25. [PMID: 34454323 PMCID: PMC8399304 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical outcome of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplified breast carcinoma (BC) has improved with the development of anti-HER2 targeted therapies. However, patients can experience disease recurrence after curative intent and disease progression in the metastatic setting. In the current era of evolving immunotherapy agents, the understanding of the immune response against HER2 tumor cells developed by anti-HER2 antibodies (Abs) is rapidly evolving. Trastuzumab therapy promotes Natural Killer (NK) cell activation in patients with BC overexpressing HER2, indicating that the efficacy of short-term trastuzumab monotherapy, albeit direct inhibition of HER, could also be related with antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Currently, dual HER2 blockade using trastuzumab and pertuzumab is the standard of care in early and advanced disease as this combination could confer an additive effect in ADCC. In patients with disease relapse or progression, ADCC may be hampered by several factors such as FcγRIIIa polymorphism and an immunosuppressive environment, among others. Hence, new drug development strategies are being investigated aiming to boost the ADCC response triggered by anti-HER2 therapy. In this review, we summarize these strategies and the rationale, through mAbs engineering and combinatorial strategies, focusing on clinical results and ongoing trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Mandó
- Fundación Cáncer, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno" (CEMIC), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Sergio G Rivero
- Instituto Alexander Fleming, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manglio M Rizzo
- Cancer Immunobiology, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina; Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina
| | - Marina Pinkasz
- Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Fundación Cáncer, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Estrella M Levy
- Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Fundación Cáncer, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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27
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Ferreira Branquinho MS, Silva MBB, Castilho GA, Cavalcante J, Barros SBDM, Clara RO, Maria-Engler SS, Campa A. Kynurenine inhibits melanogenesis in human melanocyte-keratinocyte co-cultures and in a reconstructed 3D skin model. Exp Dermatol 2021; 31:427-432. [PMID: 34710259 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenine (KYN), the most abundant metabolite of tryptophan, is classically associated with immune tolerance and tumor immune escape. In the last years, KYN is in the spotlight in other biological processes. Here, we showed that KYN inhibited tyrosinase expression and melanin content in primary human melanocyte and keratinocyte co-cultures. Furthermore, KYN decreased melanosome content in a 3D human skin reconstruction model. In these experiments, we used tyrosine + NH4 Cl to induce pigmentation. We compared the inhibitory effect of KYN on melanogenesis with the already known inhibitory effect promoted by IFN-γ. Since increased KYN production depends on the IFN-γ-inducible enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), we propose that part of the effect of IFN-γ on melanogenesis involves KYN production. From that, we tested if, during melanogenesis, changes in tryptophan metabolism would occur. For this purpose, we measured tryptophan, KYN and downstream products along with pigmentation. There were no significant changes in Trp metabolism, except for the high consumption of kynurenic acid. Our data identify the skin as a potential target for the action of KYN relevant for skin physiology and pigmentation. The results are discussed concerning the high production of KYN in skin inflammatory disorders and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maysa Braga Barros Silva
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Ansanelo Castilho
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jacqueline Cavalcante
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvia Berlanga de Moraes Barros
- Skin Lab, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renan Orsati Clara
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvya Stuchi Maria-Engler
- Skin Lab, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Campa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Pauli G, Chao PH, Qin Z, Böttger R, Lee SE, Li SD. Liposomal Resiquimod for Enhanced Immunotherapy of Peritoneal Metastases of Colorectal Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1696. [PMID: 34683992 PMCID: PMC8540734 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastases is currently treated by cytoreductive surgery and locoregional chemotherapeutics. This standard treatment is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and recurrence rate. To augment the existing therapy, we developed a liposome-based delivery system containing 1,2-stearoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane chloride (DSTAP), a cationic lipid, to localize a toll-like receptor agonist, resiquimod (R848), in the peritoneal cavity (PerC) for enhancing the immune response against cancer that had spread to the PerC. The liposomes delivered by intraperitoneal injection increased peritoneal retention of R848 by 14-fold while retarding its systemic absorption, leading to a 5-fold decreased peak plasma concentration compared to free R848 in mice. Within the PerC, the DSTAP-liposomes were found in ~40% of the dendritic cells by flow cytometry. DSTAP-R848 significantly upregulated interferon α (IFN-α) in the peritoneal fluid by 2-fold compared to free R848, without increasing the systemic level. Combined with oxaliplatin, a cytotoxic agent inducing immunogenic cell death, DSTAP-R848 effectively inhibited the progression of CT26 murine colorectal tumor in the PerC, while the combination with free R848 only showed a mild effect. Moreover, the combination of oxaliplatin and DSTAP-R848 significantly increased infiltration of CD8+ T cells in the PerC compared to oxaliplatin combined with free R848, indicating enhanced immune response against the tumor. The results suggest that DSTAP-R848 exhibits potential in augmenting existing therapies for treating colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastases via immune activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griffin Pauli
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; (G.P.); (P.-H.C.); (Z.Q.); (R.B.); (S.E.L.)
| | - Po-Han Chao
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; (G.P.); (P.-H.C.); (Z.Q.); (R.B.); (S.E.L.)
| | - Zhu Qin
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; (G.P.); (P.-H.C.); (Z.Q.); (R.B.); (S.E.L.)
- Institute of Veterinary Immunology & Engineering, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Roland Böttger
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; (G.P.); (P.-H.C.); (Z.Q.); (R.B.); (S.E.L.)
| | - Suen Ern Lee
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; (G.P.); (P.-H.C.); (Z.Q.); (R.B.); (S.E.L.)
| | - Shyh-Dar Li
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; (G.P.); (P.-H.C.); (Z.Q.); (R.B.); (S.E.L.)
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Garcia JH, Jain S, Aghi MK. Metabolic Drivers of Invasion in Glioblastoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:683276. [PMID: 34277624 PMCID: PMC8281286 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.683276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a primary malignant brain tumor with a median survival under 2 years. The poor prognosis glioblastoma caries is largely due to cellular invasion, which enables escape from resection, and drives inevitable recurrence. While most studies to date have focused on pathways that enhance the invasiveness of tumor cells in the brain microenvironment as the primary driving forces behind GBM’s ability to invade adjacent tissues, more recent studies have identified a role for adaptations in cellular metabolism in GBM invasion. Metabolic reprogramming allows invasive cells to generate the energy necessary for colonizing surrounding brain tissue and adapt to new microenvironments with unique nutrient and oxygen availability. Historically, enhanced glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen (the Warburg effect) has dominated glioblastoma research with respect to tumor metabolism. More recent global profiling experiments, however, have identified roles for lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism in tumor growth and invasion. A thorough understanding of the metabolic traits that define invasive GBM cells may provide novel therapeutic targets for this devastating disease. In this review, we focus on metabolic alterations that have been characterized in glioblastoma, the dynamic nature of tumor metabolism and how it is shaped by interaction with the brain microenvironment, and how metabolic reprogramming generates vulnerabilities that may be ripe for exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H Garcia
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Saket Jain
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Manish K Aghi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Chen S, Zhang J, Shen M, Han X, Li S, Hu C, Wang W, Li L, Du L, Pang D, Tao K, Jin A. p38 inhibition enhances TCR-T cell function and antagonizes the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-β. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 98:107848. [PMID: 34126342 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) relies on the abilities of T cells in self-expansion, survival and the secretion of effector molecules. Here, we presented an optimized method to generate T cells with improved functions by supplementing the culture medium with p38 inhibitor and the combination of IL-7 and IL-15 or IL-2 alone. The addition of p38 inhibitor, Doramapimod or SB202190, to IL-7 and IL-15 culture largely increased the capacity of T cells in the proliferation with enrichment of the naïve-like subsets and expression of CD62L. Importantly, we found this regimen has generated complete T cell resistance to TGF-β-induced functional suppression, with sustained levels of the IFN-γ and Granzyme-B productions. Such findings were also validated in the melanoma-associated antigen recognized by T cells (MART-1) specific T cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cells, which were expanded in Doramapimod and IL-7 + IL-15 added media. In conclusion, we have established and optimized a protocol with the combination of p38 inhibitor, IL-7 and IL-15, rather than IL-2, for the generation of functionally enhanced T cells applicable for ACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyin Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Meiying Shen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xiaojian Han
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Shenglong Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Chao Hu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Wang Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Luo Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Li Du
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Da Pang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Kun Tao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
| | - Aishun Jin
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
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Akkın S, Varan G, Bilensoy E. A Review on Cancer Immunotherapy and Applications of Nanotechnology to Chemoimmunotherapy of Different Cancers. Molecules 2021; 26:3382. [PMID: 34205019 PMCID: PMC8199882 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinically, different approaches are adopted worldwide for the treatment of cancer, which still ranks second among all causes of death. Immunotherapy for cancer treatment has been the focus of attention in recent years, aiming for an eventual antitumoral effect through the immune system response to cancer cells both prophylactically and therapeutically. The application of nanoparticulate delivery systems for cancer immunotherapy, which is defined as the use of immune system features in cancer treatment, is currently the focus of research. Nanomedicines and nanoparticulate macromolecule delivery for cancer therapy is believed to facilitate selective cytotoxicity based on passive or active targeting to tumors resulting in improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced side effects. Today, with more than 55 different nanomedicines in the market, it is possible to provide more effective cancer diagnosis and treatment by using nanotechnology. Cancer immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to respond to cancer cells; however, this may lead to increased immune response and immunogenicity. Selectivity and targeting to cancer cells and tumors may lead the way to safer immunotherapy and nanotechnology-based delivery approaches that can help achieve the desired success in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safiye Akkın
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey;
| | - Gamze Varan
- Department of Vaccine Technology, Hacettepe University Vaccine Institute, 06100 Ankara, Turkey;
| | - Erem Bilensoy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey;
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Varayathu H, Sarathy V, Thomas BE, Mufti SS, Naik R. Combination Strategies to Augment Immune Check Point Inhibitors Efficacy - Implications for Translational Research. Front Oncol 2021; 11:559161. [PMID: 34123767 PMCID: PMC8193928 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.559161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has revolutionized the field of cancer immunotherapy. Even though it has shown a durable response in some solid tumors, several patients do not respond to these agents, irrespective of predictive biomarker (PD-L1, MSI, TMB) status. Multiple preclinical, as well as early-phase clinical studies are ongoing for combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with anti-cancer and/or non-anti-cancer drugs for beneficial therapeutic interactions. In this review, we discuss the mechanistic basis behind the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors with other drugs currently being studied in early phase clinical studies including conventional chemotherapy drugs, metronomic chemotherapy, thalidomide and its derivatives, epigenetic therapy, targeted therapy, inhibitors of DNA damage repair, other small molecule inhibitors, anti-tumor antibodies hormonal therapy, multiple checkpoint Inhibitors, microbiome therapeutics, oncolytic viruses, radiotherapy, drugs targeting myeloid-derived suppressor cells, drugs targeting Tregs, drugs targeting renin-angiotensin system, drugs targeting the autonomic nervous system, metformin, etc. We also highlight how translational research strategies can help better understand the true therapeutic potential of such combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hrishi Varayathu
- Department of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited, Bangalore, India
| | - Vinu Sarathy
- Department of Medical Oncology, HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited, Bangalore, India
| | - Beulah Elsa Thomas
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited, Bangalore, India
| | - Suhail Sayeed Mufti
- Department of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited, Bangalore, India
| | - Radheshyam Naik
- Department of Medical Oncology, HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited, Bangalore, India
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Kim HS, Kim MG, Min KW, Jung US, Kim DH. High MMP-11 expression associated with low CD8+ T cells decreases the survival rate in patients with breast cancer. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252052. [PMID: 34038440 PMCID: PMC8153507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) promote cancer invasion and metastasis through degrading the extracellular matrix. Protein degradation by MMP-11 in tumor cells may progressively suppress cancer surveillance activities with blocking immune response in breast cancer. The aim of study is to analyze clinicopathological parameters, molecular interactions and anticancer immune response in patients with MMP-11 expression and to provide candidate target drugs. We investigated the clinicopathologic parameters, specific gene sets, tumor antigenicity, and immunologic relevance according to MMP-11 expression in 226 and 776 breast cancer patients from the Hanyang University Guri Hospital (HUGH) cohort and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, respectively. We analyzed pathway networks and in vitro drug response. High MMP-11 expression was associated with worse survival rate in breast cancer from HUGH cohort and TCGA data (all p < 0.05). In analysis of immunologic gene sets, high MMP-11 expression was related to low immune response such as CD8+T cell, CD4+T cell and B cell. In silico cytometry, there was a decrease of cancer testis antigen and low tumor infiltrating lymphocyte in patient with high MMP-11 expression: activated dendritic cell, CD8+T cell, CD4+ memory T cell, and memory B cell. In pathway networks, MMP-11 was linked to the pathways including low immune response, response to growth hormone and catabolic process. We found that pictilisib and AZ960 effectively inhibited the breast cancer cell lines with high MMP-11 expression. Strategies making use of MMP-11-related hub genes could contribute to better clinical management/research for patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyung Suk Kim
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Gyu Kim
- Department of Surgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyueng-Whan Min
- Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Un Suk Jung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (USJ); (DHK)
| | - Dong-Hoon Kim
- Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (USJ); (DHK)
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Lee GH, An HJ, Kim TH, Kim G, Park KS, Park H, Lee TH, Kwon AY. Clinical Impact of Natural Killer Group 2D Receptor Expression and That of Its Ligand in Ovarian Carcinomas: A Retrospective Study. Yonsei Med J 2021; 62:288-297. [PMID: 33779082 PMCID: PMC8007423 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2021.62.4.288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells with antitumor activity. NKG2D is the most important activating receptor expressed on the NK cell surface; this receptor binds to the ligands MICA/B and ULBPs to activate NK cells. The current study aimed to evaluate the expression of NKG2D by NK cells, and to the evaluate expression of its ligands in ovarian carcinomas; it also examined the clinical relevance of NK receptor/ligand expression by analyzing the relationship between expression, clinicopathological parameters, and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC, n=79) tissue samples were used for tissue microarray analysis. The expressions of NK cell markers (CD56 and NKG2D) and NKG2D ligands (MICA/B, ULBP1, ULBP3, and ULBP2/5/6) in carcinoma tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining, and the association between these results and clinical prognostic parameters was analyzed statistically. RESULTS ULBP1 was highly expressed in 51 cases (64.6%), and ULBP2/5/6 was highly expressed in 56 cases (70.9%) of HGSC. High expression of ULBP1 and ULBP2/5/6 was significantly associated with lower recurrence of HGSC, whereas high expression of ULBP3 was significantly associated with higher recurrence. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that high expression of ULBP1 was associated with increased overall survival and a decreased hazard ratio (0.150, p=0.044), suggesting that it is an independent predictor of better survival. CONCLUSION High expression of ULBP1 predicts a better prognosis for HGSC, suggesting that ULBP1 expression could be a novel prognostic indicator in this subset of carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gee Hoon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hee Jung An
- Institute for Clinical Research, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Tae Hoen Kim
- Institute for Clinical Research, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Gwangil Kim
- Institute for Clinical Research, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Kyung Soon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hyun Park
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Tae Ho Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Ah Young Kwon
- Institute for Clinical Research, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
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Cantoni C, Serra M, Parisi E, Azzarone B, Sementa AR, Nasto LA, Moretta L, Candiano G, Bottino C, Ghiggeri GM, Spaggiari GM. Stromal-like Wilms tumor cells induce human Natural Killer cell degranulation and display immunomodulatory properties towards NK cells. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1879530. [PMID: 33758675 PMCID: PMC7946041 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1879530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The similarity of stromal-like Wilms tumor (str-WT) cells with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), suggests their relevant role in the interplay with immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. We investigated the interaction between str-WT cells and NK cells. We observed that str-WT cells expressed some major ligands for activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors. Moreover, they expressed inhibitory checkpoint molecules involved in the negative regulation of anti-tumor immune response. The analysis of the interaction between str-WT cells and NK lymphocytes revealed that activated NK cells could efficiently degranulate upon interaction with str-WT cells. On the other hand, str-WT cells could exert potent inhibitory effects on cytokine-induced activation of NK cell proliferation and phenotype, which were mediated by the production of IDO and PGE2 inhibitory factors. Our data provide insight into the molecular interactions between str-WT cells and NK lymphocytes that may result in different outcomes possibly occurring in the WT microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cantoni
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Martina Serra
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Erica Parisi
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Bruno Azzarone
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Aurelio Nasto
- Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Candiano
- Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cristina Bottino
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Ghiggeri
- Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Division of Nephrology, Dialysis & Transplantation, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Grazia Maria Spaggiari
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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Jia Q, Qin D, He F, Xie Q, Ying Z, Zhang Y, Song Y, Cheng JN, Zuo X, Xu L, Fang H, Hu C, Peng L, Jin T, Shi Z, Alexander PB, Wang Y, Liu Y, Han W, Zhu J, Wang P, Li QJ, Zhu B. Peripheral eosinophil counts predict efficacy of anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy against B-lineage non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:4699-4709. [PMID: 33754022 PMCID: PMC7978305 DOI: 10.7150/thno.54546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: The onset of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and in vivo persistence of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells after infusion correlate with clinical responsiveness. However, there are no known baseline biomarkers that can predict the prognosis of patients with B-lineage non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). The aim of this study was to identify blood cell populations associated with beneficial outcomes in B-NHL patients administered CAR-T cell immunotherapies. Methods: We enumerated peripheral blood and CAR-T cells by retrospectively analyzing three CAR-T cell trials involving 65 B-NHL patients. We used a preclinical model to elucidate the eosinophil mechanism in CAR-T cell therapy. Results: During an observation period up to 30 mo, B-NHL patients with higher baseline eosinophil counts had higher objective response rates than those with low eosinophil counts. Higher baseline eosinophil counts were also significantly associated with durable progression-free survival (PFS). The predictive significance of baseline eosinophil counts was validated in two independent cohorts. A preclinical model showed that eosinophil depletion impairs the intratumoral infiltration of transferred CAR-T cells and reduces CAR-T cell antitumor efficacy. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that peripheral eosinophils could serve as stratification biomarkers and a recruitment machinery to facilitate anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy in B-NHL patients.
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Li Y, Zhang X, Liu X, Pan W, Li N, Tang B. Intelligent stimuli-responsive nano immunomodulators for cancer immunotherapy. Chem Sci 2021; 12:3130-3145. [PMID: 34164080 PMCID: PMC8179382 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06557a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is a revolutionary treatment method in oncology, which uses a human's own immune system against cancer. Many immunomodulators that trigger an immune response have been developed and applied in cancer immunotherapy. However, there is the risk of causing an excessive immune response upon directly injecting common immunomodulators into the human body to trigger an immune response. Therefore, the development of intelligent stimuli-responsive immunomodulators to elicit controlled immune responses in cancer immunotherapy is of great significance. Nanotechnology offers the possibility of designing smart nanomedicine to amplify the antitumor response in a safe and effective manner. Progress relating to intelligent stimuli-responsive nano immunomodulators for cancer immunotherapy is highlighted as a new creative direction in the field. Considering the clinical demand for cancer immunotherapy, we put forward some suggestions for constructing new intelligent stimuli-responsive nano immunomodulators, which will advance the development of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Li
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Institute of Molecular and Nano Science, Shandong Normal University Jinan 250014 P. R. China
| | - Xia Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Institute of Molecular and Nano Science, Shandong Normal University Jinan 250014 P. R. China
| | - Xiaohan Liu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Institute of Molecular and Nano Science, Shandong Normal University Jinan 250014 P. R. China
| | - Wei Pan
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Institute of Molecular and Nano Science, Shandong Normal University Jinan 250014 P. R. China
| | - Na Li
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Institute of Molecular and Nano Science, Shandong Normal University Jinan 250014 P. R. China
| | - Bo Tang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Institute of Molecular and Nano Science, Shandong Normal University Jinan 250014 P. R. China
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Survival outcomes associated with corticosteroid use before chemoimmunotherapy in patients with advanced lung cancer. Eur J Cancer 2021; 145:234-244. [PMID: 33431285 PMCID: PMC7935747 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND How corticosteroid use affects treatment response to chemotherapy and immune-checkpoint inhibitors (CICPIs) remains unknown. We assessed how systemic corticosteroid exposure before CICPI modifies the effect of CICPI on outcomes among patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) or extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records to examine patients with mNSCLC or ES-SCLC who received chemotherapy (CT) between 1st April 2015 and 31st January 2018 or CICPI between 1st February 2018 and 31st August 2019. We excluded those with an actionable driver mutation. Baseline corticosteroid use was defined as systemic corticosteroids within 28 days before the initiation of CT or CICPI, not including premedications. Coprimary outcomes included overall survival (OS), real-world progression (rwP), and real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) in CICPI-treated corticosteroid users versus non-users. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPW) to adjust for potential confounding. RESULTS The cohort of 316 patients (median [interquartile range] age, 67 [61-73] years; 156 [49%] male) included 228 CT-treated and 88 CICPI-treated patients. After applying IPW, characteristics were well-balanced between the CT and CICPI groups, and steroid users and non-users. Using CT-treated steroid non-users as a common comparator, CICPI-treated steroid users were as likely as CICPI-treated steroid non-users to die (users IPW hazard ratio [HR] = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.35-1.28 versus non-users IPW-HR = 0.88, 95% C = I0.55-1.42; p = 0.49), have rwP (IPW-HR = 0.35, 95% C = I0.12-0.99 versus IPW-HR = 0.41, 95% C = I0.24-0.70; p = 0.77), or experience rwPFS (IPW-HR = 0.56, 95% C = I0.29-1.09 versus IPW-HR = 0.69, 95% CI0.46-1.03; p = 0.59). CONCLUSION Corticosteroid use before CICPIs was not associated with worse outcomes, suggesting that corticosteroids should be used with CICPIs when indicated.
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Zeng Z, Yang B, Liao Z. Progress and prospects of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced gastric cancer. Future Oncol 2021; 17:1553-1569. [PMID: 33397136 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-0829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer, a digestive malignancy, is the sixth most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of tumor-related deaths worldwide. The emergence and advancement of immunotherapeutic agents has brought significant survival benefits for patients with gastric cancer and increasingly challenged the conventional therapy pattern involving chemotherapy and target drugs. Furthermore, these breakthroughs have paved the way for immunotherapy, especially with immune checkpoint inhibitors, which act by blocking specific signaling pathways, in particular the CTLA4 pathway and the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. In this review, we summarize the current trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors in GC and their predictive biomarkers, and discuss their present limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zeng
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Biao Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhengyin Liao
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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40
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Papale M. A Review of Proteomics Strategies to Study T-Cell Activation and Function in Cancer Disease. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2325:125-136. [PMID: 34053055 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1507-2_9] [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] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Cytotoxic T-cells play a key role in natural response to cancer and in immunotherapy. Understanding in an ever more thorough and complete way the mechanisms underlying their activation and/or those that prevent it is a crucial challenge for the success of the therapy. Proteomics can make a decisive contribution to achieving this goal as it brings together a range of technologies that potentially allow the expression levels of thousands of proteins to be analyzed at the same time. In the first part of this chapter, after an overview of the main mechanisms that determine T-cell dysfunction, new MS-based approaches to characterizing T-cell subpopulations in the tumor microenvironment will be described. The second part of the chapter will focus on the main strategies for cancer immunotherapy, from the selective blockage of inhibitory receptor to CAR T therapy. Examples of proteomics application to tumor microenvironment analysis will be reported to illustrate how these innovative approaches can contribute significantly to understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate an effective response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Papale
- Clinical Pathology Unit, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Policlinic University Hospital "Riuniti", Foggia, Italy.
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41
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Soheilifar MH, Vaseghi H, Seif F, Ariana M, Ghorbanifar S, Habibi N, Papari Barjasteh F, Pornour M. Concomitant overexpression of mir-182-5p and mir-182-3p raises the possibility of IL-17-producing Treg formation in breast cancer by targeting CD3d, ITK, FOXO1, and NFATs: A meta-analysis and experimental study. Cancer Sci 2020; 112:589-603. [PMID: 33283362 PMCID: PMC7893989 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are polarized toward regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumor microenvironment by the shuttling of microRNAs that target T cell–activating signaling pathways. We evaluated the expression of the miR‐182 cluster (miR‐96, 182, and 183) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with breast cancer (BC), and T cell polarization by the expression of FOXO1, NFATs, ITK, TCR/CD3 complex, and IL‐2/IL‐2RA. Twenty‐six microRNAs overexpressed in tumor tissues and sera of these patients were extracted by a meta‐analysis. Then, the expression of the miR‐182 cluster was investigated in PBMCs and sera of these patients and correlated with their targets in PBMCs. Finally, miR‐182 was cloned into Jurkat cells to evaluate its effects on T cell polarization. FOXO1, CD3d, ITK, NFATc3, NFATc4, and IL‐2RA were targeted by miR‐182, due to which their expression decreased in PBMCs of patients. Although IL‐6, IL‐17, and TGF‐β increased after miR‐182 transduction, IL‐2 dramatically decreased. We revealed CD4+FOXP3+ T cell differentiation in the miR‐182–transduced group. Although miR‐182 has inhibitory effects on T cells by the inhibition of FOXO1, TCR/CD3 complex, NFATs, and IL‐2/IL‐2RA signaling pathways, it increases FOXP3, TGF‐β, and IL‐17 expression to possibly drive T cell deviation toward the transitional state of IL‐17–producing Tregs and Treg formation in the end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hasan Soheilifar
- Department of Photo Healing and Regeneration, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hajar Vaseghi
- Medical Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhad Seif
- Department of Immunology and Allergy, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ariana
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shima Ghorbanifar
- Department of Photo Healing and Regeneration, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazanin Habibi
- Department of Photo Healing and Regeneration, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Papari Barjasteh
- Department of Photo Healing and Regeneration, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Pornour
- Department of Photo Healing and Regeneration, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
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Sinha D, Smith C, Khanna R. Joining Forces: Improving Clinical Response to Cellular Immunotherapies with Small-Molecule Inhibitors. Trends Mol Med 2020; 27:75-90. [PMID: 33011081 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) has emerged as a powerful therapeutic tool against both hematological and virus-associated cancers. However, extension of this success to solid cancers has been challenging owing to intratumoral mechanisms that induce a hostile immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Delineating the impact of tumor-intrinsic adaptive resistance mechanisms on immune-based therapies is essential to improve long-term efficacy. We discuss the different tumor-intrinsic factors that lead to resistance to ACT. We highlight the potential of repurposing molecular targeted therapies to modulate immune responses and override intratumor resistance to ACT. Finally, we discuss the potential of combining targeted therapy and ACT as a new paradigm to improve the clinical efficacy of cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debottam Sinha
- QIMR Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Corey Smith
- QIMR Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Rajiv Khanna
- QIMR Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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43
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Chen Y, Nagarajan C, Tan MS, Martinelli G, Cerchione C. BCMA-targeting approaches for treatment of multiple myeloma. Panminerva Med 2020; 63:28-36. [PMID: 32955181 DOI: 10.23736/s0031-0808.20.04121-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in treatment modalities have led to improved survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, despite these, MM remains an incurable disease. Many MM patients relapse through and become refractory to current treatment strategies or are intolerant due to toxicities arising from therapy. As such, novel strategies addressing new targets are crucial in improving care for MM patients. BCMA has emerged as a rationale therapeutic target for treatment of MM as it is preferentially expressed in mature B-lymphocytes and plasma cells with the overexpression and activation of BCMA via its ligands associated with the disease progression in multiple myeloma. Given the high expression of BCMA in malignant Plasma cells compared to those from normal healthy volunteers, targeting BCMA should reduce risks of on-target off-tumor toxicities. The main BCMA-targeting approaches currently used for treatment of MM include: 1) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy; 2) bi- and multi- specific antibodies; and 3) monoclonal antibodies and their drug conjugates. This review will outline these therapeutic agents and present their emerging clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxin Chen
- Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore - .,SingHealth Duke NUS Blood Cancer Center, Singapore, Singapore -
| | - Chandramouli Nagarajan
- Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,SingHealth Duke NUS Blood Cancer Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Melinda S Tan
- Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Unit of Hematology, IRCCS Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola, Forlì-Cesena, Italy
| | - Claudio Cerchione
- Unit of Hematology, IRCCS Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola, Forlì-Cesena, Italy
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44
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Chen M, Tan Y, Dong Z, Lu J, Han X, Jin Q, Zhu W, Shen J, Cheng L, Liu Z, Chen Q. Injectable Anti-inflammatory Nanofiber Hydrogel to Achieve Systemic Immunotherapy Post Local Administration. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:6763-6773. [PMID: 32787149 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c02684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite the great promise achieved by immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in harnessing the immune system to combat different tumors, limitations such as low objective response rates and adverse effects remain to be resolved. Here, an anti-inflammatory nanofiber hydrogel self-assembled by steroid drugs is developed for local delivery of antiprogrammed cell death protein ligand 1 (αPDL1). Interestingly, on the one hand this carrier-free system based on steroid drugs can reprogram the pro-tumoral immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) to antitumoral TME; on the other hand, it would serve as a reservoir for sustained release of αPDL1 so as to synergistically boost the immune system. By local injection of such αPDL1-loaded hydrogel, effective therapeutic effects were observed in inhibiting both local tumors and abscopal tumors without any treatment. This work presents a unique hydrogel-based delivery system using clinically approved drugs, showing promise in improving the objective response rate of ICB therapy and minimizing its systemic toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muchao Chen
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Yanjun Tan
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Ziliang Dong
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Jiaqi Lu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Han
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Qiutong Jin
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Jingjing Shen
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Liang Cheng
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Zhuang Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Qian Chen
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
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45
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Larsen AMH, Kuczek DE, Kalvisa A, Siersbæk MS, Thorseth ML, Johansen AZ, Carretta M, Grøntved L, Vang O, Madsen DH. Collagen Density Modulates the Immunosuppressive Functions of Macrophages. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:1461-1472. [PMID: 32839214 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) support tumor growth by suppressing the activity of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Consistently, TAMs are considered a major limitation for the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. However, the molecular reason behind the acquisition of an immunosuppressive TAM phenotype is not fully clarified. During tumor growth, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is degraded and substituted with a tumor-specific collagen-rich ECM. The collagen density of this tumor ECM has been associated with poor patient prognosis but the reason for this is not well understood. In this study, we investigated whether the collagen density could modulate the immunosuppressive activity of TAMs. The murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 was three-dimensionally cultured in collagen matrices of low and high collagen densities mimicking healthy and tumor tissue, respectively. Collagen density did not affect proliferation or viability of the macrophages. However, whole-transcriptome analysis revealed a striking response to the surrounding collagen density, including the regulation of immune regulatory genes and genes encoding chemokines. These transcriptional changes were shown to be similar in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages and TAMs isolated from murine tumors. Strikingly, coculture assays with primary T cells showed that macrophages cultured in high-density collagen were less efficient at attracting cytotoxic T cells and capable of inhibiting T cell proliferation more than macrophages cultured in low-density collagen. Our study demonstrates that a high collagen density can instruct macrophages to acquire an immunosuppressive phenotype. This mechanism could reduce the efficacy of immunotherapy and explain the link between high collagen density and poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Mette H Larsen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.,Department for Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Dorota E Kuczek
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Adrija Kalvisa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark; and
| | - Majken S Siersbæk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark; and
| | - Marie-Louise Thorseth
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Astrid Z Johansen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.,Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Marco Carretta
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Lars Grøntved
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark; and
| | - Ole Vang
- Department for Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Daniel H Madsen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; .,Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
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Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) metabolism is important for health and disease. Metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid metabolism, determine vasculature formation. These metabolic pathways have different roles in securing the production of energy and biomass and the maintenance of redox homeostasis in vascular migratory tip cells, proliferating stalk cells, and quiescent phalanx cells, respectively. Emerging evidence demonstrates that perturbation of EC metabolism results in EC dysfunction and vascular pathologies. Here, we summarize recent insights into EC metabolic pathways and their deregulation in vascular diseases. We further discuss the therapeutic implications of targeting EC metabolism in various pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuri Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; ,
| | - Anil Kumar
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; ,
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; , .,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven B-3000, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven B-3000, Belgium
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47
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Tran AP, Ali Al-Radhawi M, Kareva I, Wu J, Waxman DJ, Sontag ED. Delicate Balances in Cancer Chemotherapy: Modeling Immune Recruitment and Emergence of Systemic Drug Resistance. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1376. [PMID: 32695118 PMCID: PMC7338613 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Metronomic chemotherapy can drastically enhance immunogenic tumor cell death. However, the mechanisms responsible are still incompletely understood. Here, we develop a mathematical model to elucidate the underlying complex interactions between tumor growth, immune system activation, and therapy-mediated immunogenic cell death. Our model is conceptually simple, yet it provides a surprisingly excellent fit to empirical data obtained from a GL261 SCID mouse glioma model treated with cyclophosphamide on a metronomic schedule. The model includes terms representing immune recruitment as well as the emergence of drug resistance during prolonged metronomic treatments. Strikingly, a single fixed set of parameters, adjusted neither for individuals nor for drug schedule, recapitulates experimental data across various drug regimens remarkably well, including treatments administered at intervals ranging from 6 to 12 days. Additionally, the model predicts peak immune activation times, rediscovering experimental data that had not been used in parameter fitting or in model construction. Notably, the validated model suggests that immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive intermediates are responsible for the observed phenomena of resistance and immune cell recruitment, and thus for variation of responses with respect to different schedules of drug administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh Phong Tran
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - M Ali Al-Radhawi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Irina Kareva
- Mathematical and Computational Sciences Center, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Junjie Wu
- Clinical Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - David J Waxman
- Department of Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Eduardo D Sontag
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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48
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Roy S, Sethi TK, Taylor D, Kim YJ, Johnson DB. Breakthrough concepts in immune-oncology: Cancer vaccines at the bedside. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 108:1455-1489. [PMID: 32557857 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5bt0420-585rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical approval of the immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents for multiple cancer types has reinvigorated the long-standing work on cancer vaccines. In the pre-ICB era, clinical efforts focused on the Ag, the adjuvants, the formulation, and the mode of delivery. These translational efforts on therapeutic vaccines range from cell-based (e.g., dendritic cells vaccine Sipuleucel-T) to DNA/RNA-based platforms with various formulations (liposome), vectors (Listeria monocytogenes), or modes of delivery (intratumoral, gene gun, etc.). Despite promising preclinical results, cancer vaccine trials without ICB have historically shown little clinical activity. With the anticipation and expansion of combinatorial immunotherapeutic trials with ICB, the cancer vaccine field has entered the personalized medicine arena with recent advances in immunogenic neoantigen-based vaccines. In this article, we review the literature to organize the different cancer vaccines in the clinical space, and we will discuss their advantages, limits, and recent progress to overcome their challenges. Furthermore, we will also discuss recent preclinical advances and clinical strategies to combine vaccines with checkpoint blockade to improve therapeutic outcome and present a translational perspective on future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohini Roy
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Tarsheen K Sethi
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - David Taylor
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Young J Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Douglas B Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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49
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Safety and Long-Term Outcome of Intratumoral Injection of OK432-Stimulated Dendritic Cells for Hepatocellular Carcinomas After Radiofrequency Ablation. Transl Oncol 2020; 13:100777. [PMID: 32413834 PMCID: PMC7226894 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC)–based immunotherapies are believed to help eradicate residual tumor cells, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we assessed the safety and clinical response to OK432-stimulated monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) in treating HCC after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). MoDCs were derived from 30 HCC patients in the presence of interleukin-4 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor for 5 days and then cultured for 2 more days in the medium (basic protocol) or stimulated with OK432. On day 7, DCs were harvested and percutaneously injected into HCC tumors after RFA. We observed no grade 3 or 4 National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria adverse events. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients treated with RFA + OK432-stimulated DCs transfer had longer recurrence-free survival than those treated with RFA + basic-protocol DCs (median: 24.8 vs 13.0 months; P = .003). RFA with DC infusion can enhance various tumor-associated antigen (TAA)–specific T-cell responses. Additionally, the 5-year RFS rate for patients with significantly increased TAA-specific T-cell responses was much higher than for other patients (50.0% vs. 7.7%; P = .030). Our study provides useful information for development of HCC immunotherapies (trial registration: UMIN000001701).
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50
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Wang L, Li X. Identification of an energy metabolism‑related gene signature in ovarian cancer prognosis. Oncol Rep 2020; 43:1755-1770. [PMID: 32186777 PMCID: PMC7160557 DOI: 10.3892/or.2020.7548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in energy metabolism may be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer as they frequently occur within cancer cells. However, basic cancer research has failed to reach a consistent conclusion on the function(s) of mitochondria in energy metabolism. The significance of energy metabolism in the prognosis of ovarian cancer remains unclear; thus, there remains an urgent need to systematically analyze the characteristics and clinical value of energy metabolism in ovarian cancer. Based on gene expression patterns, the present study aimed to analyze energy metabolism-associated characteristics to evaluate the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. A total of 39 energy metabolism-related genes significantly associated with prognosis were obtained, and three molecular subtypes were identified by nonnegative matrix factorization clustering, among which the C1 subtype was associated with poor clinical outcomes of ovarian cancer. The immune response was enhanced in the tumor microenvironment. A total of 888 differentially expressed genes were identified in C1 compared with the other subtypes, and the results of the pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that they were enriched in the ‘PI3K-Akt signaling pathway’, ‘cAMP signaling pathway’, ‘ECM-receptor interaction’ and other pathways associated with the development and progression of tumors. Finally, eight characteristic genes (tolloid-like 1 gene, type XVI collagen, prostaglandin F2α, cartilage intermediate layer protein 2, kinesin family member 26b, interferon inducible protein 27, growth arrest-specific gene 1 and chemokine receptor 7) were obtained through LASSO feature selection; and a number of them have been demonstrated to be associated with ovarian cancer progression. In addition, Cox regression analysis was performed to establish an 8-gene signature, which was determined to be an independent prognostic factor for patients with ovarian cancer and could stratify sample risk in the training, test and external validation datasets (P<0.01; AUC >0.8). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis results revealed that the 8-gene signature was involved in important biological processes and pathways of ovarian cancer. In conclusion, the present study established an 8-gene signature associated with metabolic genes, which may provide new insights into the effects of energy metabolism on ovarian cancer. The 8-gene signature may serve as an independent prognostic factor for ovarian cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ShengJing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Xiuqin Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ShengJing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
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