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Zemanek T, Nova Z, Nicodemou A. Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Adoptive Cell Therapy: State of the Art in Colorectal, Breast and Lung Cancer. Physiol Res 2023; 72:S209-S224. [PMID: 37888965 PMCID: PMC10669950 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.935155] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Our knowledge of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is dramatically expanding. These cells have proven prognostic and therapeutic value for many cancer outcomes and potential to treat also disseminated breast, colorectal, or lung cancer. However, the therapeutical outcome of TILs is negatively affected by tumor mutational burden and neoantigens. On the other hand, it can be improved in combination with checkpoint blockade therapy. This knowledge and rapid detection techniques alongside gene editing allow us to classify and modify T cells in many ways. Hence, to tailor them precisely to the patient´s needs as to program T cell receptors to recognize specific tumor-associated neoantigens and to insert them into lymphocytes or to select tumor neoantigen-specific T cells, for the development of vaccines that recognize tumor-specific antigens in tumors or metastases. Further studies and clinical trials in the field are needed for an even better-detailed understanding of TILs interactions and aiming in the fight against multiple cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Zemanek
- Lambda Life, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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2
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Draghi A, Presti M, Jensen AWP, Chamberlain CA, Albieri B, Rasmussen ACK, Andersen MH, Crowther MD, Svane IM, Donia M. Uncoupling CD4+ TIL-Mediated Tumor Killing from JAK-Signaling in Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3937-3947. [PMID: 37126006 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-3853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Impaired MHCI-presentation and insensitivity to immune effector molecules are common features of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-resistant tumors and can be, respectively, associated with loss of β2 microglobulin (B2M) or impaired IFNγ signaling. Patients with ICB-resistant tumors can respond to alternative immunotherapies, such as infusion of autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). CD4+ T cells can exert cytotoxic functions against tumor cells; however, it is unclear whether CD4+ T-cell responses can be exploited to improve the clinical outcomes of patients affected by ICB-resistant tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Here, we exploited CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 gene editing to reproduce immune-resistant tumor phenotypes via gene knockout (KO). To determine the role of cytotoxic CD4+ TILs in ICB-resistant tumors, we investigated CD4+ TIL-mediated cytotoxicity in matched pairs of TILs and autologous melanoma cell lines, used as a model of patient-specific immune-tumor interaction. Around 40% of melanomas constitutively express MHC Class II molecules; hence, melanomas with or without natural constitutive MHC Class II expression (MHCIIconst+ or MHCIIconst-) were used. RESULTS CD4+ TIL-mediated cytotoxicity was not affected by B2M loss but was dependent on the expression of CIITA. MHCIIconst+ melanomas were killed by tumor-specific CD4+ TILs even in the absence of IFNγ-mediated MHCII upregulation, whereas IFNγ was necessary for CD4+ TIL-mediated cytotoxicity against MHCIIconst- melanomas. Notably, although tumor-specific CD4+ TILs did not kill JAK1KO MHCIIconst- melanomas even after IFNγ stimulation, sensitivity to CD4+ TIL-mediated cytotoxicity was maintained by JAK1KO MHCIIconst+ melanomas. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our data indicate that exploiting tumor-specific cytotoxic CD4+ TILs could help overcome resistance to ICB mediated by IFNγ-signaling loss in MHCIIconst+ melanomas. See related commentary by Betof Warner and Luke, p. 3829.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Draghi
- 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
| | - Agnete W P Jensen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Christopher A Chamberlain
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Benedetta Albieri
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Anne-Christine K Rasmussen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Mads H Andersen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Michael D Crowther
- 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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Massa C, Seliger B. Combination of multiple omics techniques for a personalized therapy or treatment selection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1258013. [PMID: 37828984 PMCID: PMC10565668 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1258013] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite targeted therapies and immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of cancer patients, only a limited number of patients have long-term responses. Moreover, due to differences within cancer patients in the tumor mutational burden, composition of the tumor microenvironment as well as of the peripheral immune system and microbiome, and in the development of immune escape mechanisms, there is no "one fit all" therapy. Thus, the treatment of patients must be personalized based on the specific molecular, immunologic and/or metabolic landscape of their tumor. In order to identify for each patient the best possible therapy, different approaches should be employed and combined. These include (i) the use of predictive biomarkers identified on large cohorts of patients with the same tumor type and (ii) the evaluation of the individual tumor with "omics"-based analyses as well as its ex vivo characterization for susceptibility to different therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Massa
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
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Larionova I, Tashireva L. Immune gene signatures as prognostic criteria for cancer patients. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2023; 15:17588359231189436. [PMID: 37547445 PMCID: PMC10399276 DOI: 10.1177/17588359231189436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, the possibility of using immune gene signatures (IGSs) has been considered as a novel prognostic tool for numerous cancer types. State-of-the-art methods of genomic, transcriptomic, and protein analysis have allowed the identification of a number of immune signatures correlated to disease outcome. The major adaptive and innate immune components are the T lymphocytes and macrophages, respectively. Herein, we collected essential data on IGSs consisting of subsets of T cells and tumor-associated macrophages and indicating cancer patient outcomes. We discuss factors that can introduce errors in the recognition of immune cell types and explain why the significance of immune signatures can be interpreted with uncertainty. The unidirectional functions of cell types should be entirely addressed in the signatures constructed by the combination of innate and adaptive immune cells. The state of the antitumor immune response is the key basis for IGSs and should be considered in gene signature construction. We also analyzed immune signatures for the prediction of immunotherapy response. Finally, we attempted to explain the present-day limitations in the use of immune signatures as robust criteria for prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Larionova
- Laboratory of Translational Cellular and Molecular Biomedicine, National Research Tomsk State University, 36 Lenina Av., Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy of Cancer, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Liubov Tashireva
- Laboratory of Molecular Therapy of Cancer, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
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Schina A, Sztupinszki Z, Marie Svane I, Szallasi Z, Jönsson G, Donia M. Intratumoral T-cell and B-cell receptor architecture associates with distinct immune tumor microenvironment features and clinical outcomes of anti-PD-1/L1 immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006941. [PMID: 37604641 PMCID: PMC10445359 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-006941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective cooperation between B-cells and T-cells within the tumor microenvironment may lead to the regression of established tumors. B-cells and T-cells can recognize tumor antigens with exquisite specificity via their receptor complexes. Nevertheless, whether a diverse intratumoral B-cells and T-cell receptor (BCR, TCR) repertoire affects the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and clinical outcomes in patients treated with immunotherapy is unclear. METHODS We extracted information on BCR and TCR repertoire diversity from large clinical datasets and measured the association between immune receptor diversity features, the TIME, and clinical outcomes of patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. RESULTS In multiple tumor types, an increasingly diverse TCR repertoire was strongly associated with a highly activated TIME, while BCR diversity was more associated with antibody responses but not with the overall B-cell infiltration nor with measures related to intratumoral CD8+T cell activity. Neither TCR nor BCR diversity was independent prognostic biomarkers of survival across multiple cancer types. However, both TCR and BCR diversity improved the performance of predictive models combined with established biomarkers of response to immunotherapy. CONCLUSION Overall, these data indicate a currently unexplored immunological role of intratumoral B-cells associated with BCR diversity and antibody responses but independent of classical anticancer T-cells intratumoral activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimilia Schina
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | - Inge Marie Svane
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | - Göran Jönsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marco Donia
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
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Franciosa G, Kverneland AH, Jensen AWP, Donia M, Olsen JV. Proteomics to study cancer immunity and improve treatment. Semin Immunopathol 2023; 45:241-251. [PMID: 36598558 PMCID: PMC10121539 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-022-00980-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer survival and progression depend on the ability of tumor cells to avoid immune recognition. Advances in the understanding of cancer immunity and tumor immune escape mechanisms enabled the development of immunotherapeutic approaches. In patients with otherwise incurable metastatic cancers, immunotherapy resulted in unprecedented response rates with the potential for durable complete responses. However, primary and acquired resistance mechanisms limit the efficacy of immunotherapy. Further therapeutic advances require a deeper understanding of the interplay between immune cells and tumors. Most high-throughput studies within the past decade focused on an omics characterization at DNA and RNA level. However, proteins are the molecular effectors of genomic information; therefore, the study of proteins provides deeper understanding of cellular functions. Recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics at a system-wide scale may allow translational and clinical discoveries by enabling the analysis of understudied post-translational modifications, subcellular protein localization, cell signaling, and protein-protein interactions. In this review, we discuss the potential contribution of MS-based proteomics to preclinical and clinical research findings in the context of tumor immunity and cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Franciosa
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Anders H Kverneland
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,National Center of Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Agnete W P Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marco Donia
- National Center of Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Jesper V Olsen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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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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