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Gerlini G, Susini P, Sestini S, Brandani P, Giannotti V, Borgognoni L. Langerhans Cells in Sentinel Lymph Nodes from Melanoma Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1890. [PMID: 38791968 PMCID: PMC11119378 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101890] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Langerhans cells (LCs) are professional Dendritic Cells (DCs) involved in immunoregulatory functions. At the skin level, LCs are immature. In response to tissue injuries, they migrate to regional Lymph Nodes (LNs), reaching a full maturation state. Then, they become effective antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that induce anti-cancer responses. Notably, melanoma patients present several DC alterations in the Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN), where primary antitumoral immunity is generated. LCs are the most represented DCs subset in melanoma SLNs and are expected to play a key role in the anti-melanoma response. With this paper, we aim to review the current knowledge and future perspectives regarding LCs and melanoma. METHODS A systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA statement using the PubMed (MEDLINE) library from January 2004 to January 2024, searching for original studies discussing LC in melanoma. RESULTS The final synthesis included 15 articles. Several papers revealed significant LCs-melanoma interactions. CONCLUSIONS Melanoma immune escape mechanisms include SLN LC alterations, favoring LN metastasis arrival/homing and melanoma proliferation. The SLN LCs of melanoma patients are defective but not irreversibly, and their function may be restored by appropriate stimuli. Thus, LCs represent a promising target for future immunotherapeutic strategies and cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Gerlini
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Regional Melanoma Referral Center and Melanoma & Skin Cancer Unit, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, 50012 Florence, Italy; (S.S.); (P.B.); (V.G.); (L.B.)
| | - Pietro Susini
- Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Serena Sestini
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Regional Melanoma Referral Center and Melanoma & Skin Cancer Unit, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, 50012 Florence, Italy; (S.S.); (P.B.); (V.G.); (L.B.)
| | - Paola Brandani
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Regional Melanoma Referral Center and Melanoma & Skin Cancer Unit, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, 50012 Florence, Italy; (S.S.); (P.B.); (V.G.); (L.B.)
| | - Vanni Giannotti
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Regional Melanoma Referral Center and Melanoma & Skin Cancer Unit, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, 50012 Florence, Italy; (S.S.); (P.B.); (V.G.); (L.B.)
| | - Lorenzo Borgognoni
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Regional Melanoma Referral Center and Melanoma & Skin Cancer Unit, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, 50012 Florence, Italy; (S.S.); (P.B.); (V.G.); (L.B.)
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2
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Scuderi M, Dermol-Cerne J, Scancar J, Markovic S, Rems L, Miklavcic D. The equivalence of different types of electric pulses for electrochemotherapy with cisplatin - an in vitro study. Radiol Oncol 2024; 58:51-66. [PMID: 38378034 PMCID: PMC10878774 DOI: 10.2478/raon-2024-0005] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a treatment involving the administration of chemotherapeutics drugs followed by the application of 8 square monopolar pulses of 100 μs duration at a repetition frequency of 1 Hz or 5000 Hz. However, there is increasing interest in using alternative types of pulses for ECT. The use of high-frequency short bipolar pulses has been shown to mitigate pain and muscle contractions. Conversely, the use of millisecond pulses is interesting when combining ECT with gene electrotransfer for the uptake of DNA-encoding proteins that stimulate the immune response with the aim of converting ECT from a local to systemic treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how alternative types of pulses affect the efficiency of the ECT. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed in vitro experiments, exposing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to conventional ECT pulses, high-frequency bipolar pulses, and millisecond pulses in the presence of different concentrations of cisplatin. We determined cisplatin uptake by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and cisplatin cytotoxicity by the clonogenic assay. RESULTS We observed that the three tested types of pulses potentiate the uptake and cytotoxicity of cisplatin in an equivalent manner, provided that the electric field is properly adjusted for each pulse type. Furthermore, we quantified that the number of cisplatin molecules, resulting in the eradication of most cells, was 2-7 × 107 per cell. CONCLUSIONS High-frequency bipolar pulses and millisecond pulses can potentially be used in ECT to reduce pain and muscle contraction and increase the effect of the immune response in combination with gene electrotransfer, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Scuderi
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Dermol-Cerne
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janez Scancar
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stefan Markovic
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lea Rems
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damijan Miklavcic
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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3
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Di Raimondo C, Lozzi F, Di Domenico PP, Campione E, Bianchi L. The Diagnosis and Management of Cutaneous Metastases from Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14535. [PMID: 37833981 PMCID: PMC10572973 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the deadliest skin tumors, accounting for almost 90% of skin cancer mortality. Although immune therapy and targeted therapy have dramatically changed the prognosis of metastatic melanoma, many patients experience disease progression despite the currently available new treatments. Skin metastases from melanoma represent a relatively common event as first sign of advanced disease or a sign of recurrence. Skin metastases are usually asymptomatic, although in advanced stages, they can present with ulceration, bleeding, and superinfection; furthermore, they can cause symptoms related to compression on nearby tissues. Treatments vary from simple surgery resections to topical or intralesional local injections, or a combination of these techniques with the most recent systemic immune or target therapies. New research and studies should focus on the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms of the cutaneous metastases of melanoma in order to shed light on the mechanisms underlying the different behavior and prognoses of different patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Di Raimondo
- Department of Dermatology, University of Roma Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (F.L.); (P.P.D.D.); (E.C.); (L.B.)
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4
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Milicevic S, Cemazar M, Ivancic AK, Gasljevic G, Bosnjak M, Sersa G, Peric B. Electrochemotherapy of Melanoma Cutaneous Metastases in Organ Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098335. [PMID: 37176042 PMCID: PMC10179383 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer. The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the management of advanced melanoma, led to durable responses, and improved overall survival. However, the success of ICIs in melanoma treatment is influenced by the tumor microenvironment (TME) which plays a critical role in regulating the immune response to the tumor. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this interaction is crucial to optimizing the efficiency of ICIs. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) has been shown to enhance the efficacy of ICIs in melanoma treatment by inducing tumor cell death and facilitating the release of tumor antigens which can subsequently be recognized and targeted by the immune system. Moreover, ECT has been reported to modulate the TME, leading to increased infiltration of immune cells and a more favorable immunological profile. In this review, we summarize the available knowledge of changes in TME after ECT of melanoma cutaneous metastasis and highlight the differences in tumor-infiltrating immune cells between immunocompetent and immunosuppressed organisms. In addition, we showed that ECT can be an effective and safe procedure for organ transplant recipients. Furthermore, repeated ECT may enhance immune activation and probably induce a bystander effect by trained immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Milicevic
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
| | | | - Gorana Gasljevic
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Masa Bosnjak
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva Cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena Pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Barbara Peric
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Malyško-Ptašinskė V, Staigvila G, Novickij V. Invasive and non-invasive electrodes for successful drug and gene delivery in electroporation-based treatments. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 10:1094968. [PMID: 36727038 PMCID: PMC9885012 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1094968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroporation is an effective physical method for irreversible or reversible permeabilization of plasma membranes of biological cells and is typically used for tissue ablation or targeted drug/DNA delivery into living cells. In the context of cancer treatment, full recovery from an electroporation-based procedure is frequently dependent on the spatial distribution/homogeneity of the electric field in the tissue; therefore, the structure of electrodes/applicators plays an important role. This review focuses on the analysis of electrodes and in silico models used for electroporation in cancer treatment and gene therapy. We have reviewed various invasive and non-invasive electrodes; analyzed the spatial electric field distribution using finite element method analysis; evaluated parametric compatibility, and the pros and cons of application; and summarized options for improvement. Additionally, this review highlights the importance of tissue bioimpedance for accurate treatment planning using numerical modeling and the effects of pulse frequency on tissue conductivity and relative permittivity values.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gediminas Staigvila
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre of Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Zhong S, Yao S, Zhao Q, Wang Z, Liu Z, Li L, Wang ZL. Electricity‐Assisted Cancer Therapy: From Traditional Clinic Applications to Emerging Methods Integrated with Nanotechnologies. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202200143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Songjing Zhong
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
- School of Nanoscience and Technology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
| | - Shuncheng Yao
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
- School of Nanoscience and Technology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
| | - Qinyu Zhao
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
- Center on Nanoenergy Research Guangxi University Nanning 530004 P.R. China
| | - Zhuo Wang
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
| | - Zhirong Liu
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
- School of Nanoscience and Technology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
| | - Linlin Li
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
- School of Nanoscience and Technology University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
- Center on Nanoenergy Research Guangxi University Nanning 530004 P.R. China
| | - Zhong Lin Wang
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 101400 P.R. China
- Center on Nanoenergy Research Guangxi University Nanning 530004 P.R. China
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Neagu M, Constantin C, Jugulete G, Cauni V, Dubrac S, Szöllősi AG, Zurac S. Langerhans Cells-Revising Their Role in Skin Pathologies. J Pers Med 2022; 12:2072. [PMID: 36556292 PMCID: PMC9782496 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12122072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Langerhans cells (LCs) constitute a cellular immune network across the epidermis. Because they are located at the skin barrier, they are considered immune sentinels of the skin. These antigen-presenting cells are capable of migrating to skin draining lymph nodes to prime adaptive immune cells, namely T- and B-lymphocytes, which will ultimately lead to a broad range of immune responses. Moreover, LCs have been shown to possess important roles in the anti-cancer immune responses. Indeed, the literature nicely highlights the role of LCs in melanoma. In line with this, LCs have been found in melanoma tissues where they contribute to the local immune response. Moreover, the immunogenic properties of LCs render them attractive targets for designing vaccines to treat melanoma and autoimmune diseases. Overall, future studies will help to enlarge the portfolio of immune properties of LCs, and aid the prognosis and development of novel therapeutic approaches to treating skin pathologies, including cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Neagu
- Immunology Department, “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 76201 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Carolina Constantin
- Immunology Department, “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gheorghita Jugulete
- Department of Infectious Diseases, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Clinical Section IX—Pediatrics, “Prof. Dr. Matei Balş” National Institute for Infectious Diseases, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Victor Cauni
- Department of Urology, Colentina University Hospital, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sandrine Dubrac
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Attila Gábor Szöllősi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sabina Zurac
- Department of Pathology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
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8
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Bendix MB, Houston A, Forde PF, Brint E. Defining optimal parameters to maximize the effect of electrochemotherapy on lung cancer cells whilst preserving the integrity of immune cells. Bioelectrochemistry 2022; 148:108257. [PMID: 36116295 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is becoming an established therapy for melanoma and is under investigation for application in additional cancer types. One potential cancer type that may benefit from ECT is lung cancer as lung cancer treatments remain unable to deliver long-lasting treatment responses. Given the importance of the immune system in lung cancer, here we have also examined the impact of ECT on immune populations. The impact of electroporation and ECT on three human lung cancer cell lines (A549, H460, SK-MES 1), one murine cell line (LLC) and murine T cells, dendritic cells and macrophages was examined. The viability, metabolic activity and recovery potential post-treatment of all cell types was determined to evaluate the potential utility of ECT as a lung cancer treatment. Our findings demonstrate that cisplatin at 11 µM would be the suggested drug of choice when using ECT for lung cancer treatment. Our study also shows that T cells are not impacted by any tested condition, whilst dendritic cells and macrophages are significantly negatively impacted by electric field strengths surpassing 800 V/cm in vitro. Therefore, current ECT protocols (using 1000 V/cm in vivo) might need to adapted to improve viability of the immune population, thus improving therapy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura B Bendix
- Cancer Research @ UCC, University College Cork, Ireland; Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Ireland; Department of Pathology, University College Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Ireland, Ireland
| | - Aileen Houston
- Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Ireland, Ireland
| | | | - Elizabeth Brint
- Department of Pathology, University College Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Ireland, Ireland.
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Justesen TF, Orhan A, Raskov H, Nolsoe C, Gögenur I. Electroporation and Immunotherapy-Unleashing the Abscopal Effect. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14122876. [PMID: 35740542 PMCID: PMC9221311 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Electrochemotherapy and irreversible electroporation are primarily used for treating patients with cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors and pancreatic cancer, respectively. Increasing numbers of studies have shown that the treatments may elicit an immune response in addition to eliminating the tumor cells. The purpose of this review is to give an in-depth introduction to the electroporation-induced immune response and the local and peripheral immune systems, and to describe the various studies investigating the combination of electroporation and immunotherapy. The review may help guide and inspire the design of future clinical trials investigating the potential synergy of electroporation and immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Abstract The discovery of electroporation in 1968 has led to the development of electrochemotherapy (ECT) and irreversible electroporation (IRE). ECT and IRE have been established as treatments of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors and locally advanced pancreatic cancer, respectively. Interestingly, the treatment modalities have been shown to elicit immunogenic cell death, which in turn can induce an immune response towards the tumor cells. With the dawn of the immunotherapy era, the potential of combining ECT and IRE with immunotherapy has led to the launch of numerous studies. Data from the first clinical trials are promising, and new combination regimes might change the way we treat tumors characterized by low immunogenicity and high levels of immunosuppression, such as melanoma and pancreatic cancer. In this review we will give an introduction to ECT and IRE and discuss the impact on the immune system. Additionally, we will present the results of clinical and preclinical trials, investigating the combination of electroporation modalities and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Freyberg Justesen
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark; (A.O.); (H.R.); (I.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Adile Orhan
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark; (A.O.); (H.R.); (I.G.)
| | - Hans Raskov
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark; (A.O.); (H.R.); (I.G.)
| | - Christian Nolsoe
- Center for Surgical Ultrasound, Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark;
- Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES), University of Copenhagen and the Capital Region of Denmark, Ryesgade 53B, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ismail Gögenur
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark; (A.O.); (H.R.); (I.G.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Electrochemotherapy and immune interactions; A boost to the system? EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY 2022; 48:1895-1900. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2022.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Claussen CS, Moir G, Bechara FG, Orlando A, Matteucci P, Mowatt D, Clover AJP, Mascherini M, Gehl J, Muir T, Sersa G, Groselj A, Odili J, Giorgione R, Campana LG, Bertino G, Curatolo P, Banerjee S, Kis E, Quaglino P, Pritchard-Jones R, De Terlizzi F, Grischke EM, Kunte C. Prospektive Kohortenstudie von InspECT zur Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit der Elektrochemotherapie bei Hauttumoren und Metastasen in Abhängigkeit von Ulzeration. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2022; 20:470-482. [PMID: 35446500 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14699_g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
HINTERGRUND Elektrochemotherapie (ECT) ist eine wirksame lokale Behandlung von Hauttumoren. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Wirksamkeit der ECT bei ulzerierten gegenüber nichtulzerierten Tumoren zu vergleichen und den Effekt auf tumorassoziierte Symptome zu untersuchen. METHODIK 20 Krebszentren des International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) sammelten prospektiv Daten. Die ECT wurde nach dem ESOPE-Protokoll durchgeführt. Das Therapieansprechen wurde anhand der Entwicklung der Läsionsgröße bewertet. Zusätzlich wurden Schmerzen, Symptome, Leistungsstatus (ECOG-Index) und Gesundheitszustand (EQ-5D-Fragebogen) untersucht. ERGEBNISSE 716 Patienten mit ulzerierten (n = 302) und nichtulzerierten (n = 414) Hauttumoren und Metastasen wurden eingeschlossen (Mindest-Nachsorge 45 Tage). Nicht-ulzerierte Läsionen sprachen besser auf die ECT an als ulzerierte Läsionen (vollständiges Ansprechen: 65 % gegenüber 51 %, p = 0,0061). Nur 38 % (115/302) der Patienten mit ulzerierten Läsionen vor der ECT wiesen bei der letzten Nachuntersuchung ulzerierte Läsionen auf. Patienten mit ulzerierten Läsionen berichteten über stärkere Schmerzen und schwerere Symptome im Vergleich zu Patienten mit nichtulzerierten Läsionen, die sich nach der ECT signifikant und kontinuierlich besserten. Bei Patienten mit nichtulzerierten Läsionen hingegen nahmen die Schmerzen während der Behandlung vorübergehend zu. Es wurden keine schwerwiegenden Nebenwirkungen beobachtet. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN Die ECT ist eine sichere und wirksame lokale Behandlung von Hauttumoren. Während die ECT die Symptome insbesondere bei Patienten mit ulzerierten Läsionen verbessert, sollte auf Basis der Daten die Implementation eines perioperativen Schmerzmanagements besonders bei nichtulzerierten Läsionen während der ECT erwogen werden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Sophie Claussen
- Department of Dermatosurgery and Dermatology, Artemed Clinic of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Graeme Moir
- The Royal London Hospital & QMUL, Bart's Health NHS Trust, Department of Cutaneous Medicine & Surgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - Falk G Bechara
- Department of Dermatologic Surgery, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Antonio Orlando
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Matteucci
- Department of Plastic surgery, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, United Kingdom
| | - David Mowatt
- Plastic Surgery Department, The Christie Hospital NHS Foundation trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony James P Clover
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.,Cancer Research@UCC, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Matteo Mascherini
- Clinica Chirurgica 1 - Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Julie Gehl
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer (C*EDGE), Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tobian Muir
- Plastic Surgery Department, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ales Groselj
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Joy Odili
- Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Luca Giovanni Campana
- Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy.,Department of Surgery, Royal Stoke University Hospital, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Bertino
- Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Pietro Curatolo
- Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Dermatologic Clinic, University of Roma "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy
| | - Shramana Banerjee
- Division of Surgery and interventional Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erika Kis
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Pietro Quaglino
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | | | | | - Eva-Maria Grischke
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Kunte
- Department of Dermatosurgery and Dermatology, Artemed Clinic of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
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12
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Claussen CS, Moir G, Bechara FG, Orlando A, Matteucci P, Mowatt D, Clover AJP, Mascherini M, Gehl J, Muir T, Sersa G, Groselj A, Odili J, Giorgione R, Campana LG, Bertino G, Curatolo P, Banerjee S, Kis E, Quaglino P, Pritchard-Jones R, De Terlizzi F, Grischke EM, Kunte C. Prospective cohort study by InspECT on safety and efficacy of electrochemotherapy for cutaneous tumors and metastases depending on ulceration. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2022; 20:470-481. [PMID: 35384261 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is an effective local treatment for cutaneous tumors. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ECT in ulcerated vs. non-ulcerated tumors and investigate the effect on tumor-associated symptoms. METHODS Twenty cancer centers in the International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) prospectively collected data. ECT was performed following ESOPE protocol. Response was evaluated by lesion size development. Pain, symptoms, performance status (ECOG-Index) and health status (EQ-5D questionnaire) were evaluated. RESULTS 716 patients with ulcerated (n = 302) and non-ulcerated (n = 414) cutaneous tumors and metastases were included (minimum follow-up of 45 days). Non-ulcerated lesions responded to ECT better than ulcerated lesions (complete response 65 % vs. 51 %, p = 0.0061). Only 38 % (115/302) with ulcerated lesions before ECT presented with ulcerated lesions at final follow-up. Patients with ulcerated lesions reported higher pain and more severe symptoms compared to non-ulcerated lesions, which significantly and continuously improved following ECT. In non-ulcerated lesions however, pain spiked during the treatment. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS ECT is a safe and effective local treatment for cutaneous tumors. While ECT improves symptoms especially in patients with ulcerated lesions, data suggest the implementation of a perioperative pain management in non-ulcerated lesions during ECT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Sophie Claussen
- Department of Dermatosurgery and Dermatology, Artemed Clinic of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Graeme Moir
- The Royal London Hospital & QMUL, Barts Health NHS Trust, Department of Cutaneous Medicine & Surgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - Falk G Bechara
- Department of Dermatologic Surgery, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Antonio Orlando
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Matteucci
- Department of Plastic surgery, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, United Kingdom
| | - David Mowatt
- Plastic Surgery Department, The Christie Hospital NHS Foundation trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony James P Clover
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.,Cancer Research@UCC, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Matteo Mascherini
- Clinica Chirurgica 1 - Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Julie Gehl
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer (C*EDGE), Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tobian Muir
- Plastic Surgery Department, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ales Groselj
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Joy Odili
- Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Luca Giovanni Campana
- Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy.,Department of Surgery, Royal Stoke University Hospital, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Bertino
- Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Pietro Curatolo
- Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Dermatologic Clinic, University of Roma "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy
| | - Shramana Banerjee
- Division of Surgery and interventional Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erika Kis
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Pietro Quaglino
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | | | | | - Eva-Maria Grischke
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Kunte
- Department of Dermatosurgery and Dermatology, Artemed Clinic of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
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13
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Das R, Langou S, Le TT, Prasad P, Lin F, Nguyen TD. Electrical Stimulation for Immune Modulation in Cancer Treatments. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:795300. [PMID: 35087799 PMCID: PMC8788921 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.795300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is becoming a very common treatment for cancer, using approaches like checkpoint inhibition, T cell transfer therapy, monoclonal antibodies and cancer vaccination. However, these approaches involve high doses of immune therapeutics with problematic side effects. A promising approach to reducing the dose of immunotherapeutic agents given to a cancer patient is to combine it with electrical stimulation, which can act in two ways; it can either modulate the immune system to produce the immune cytokines and agents in the patient's body or it can increase the cellular uptake of these immune agents via electroporation. Electrical stimulation in form of direct current has been shown to reduce tumor sizes in immune-competent mice while having no effect on tumor sizes in immune-deficient mice. Several studies have used nano-pulsed electrical stimulations to activate the immune system and drive it against tumor cells. This approach has been utilized for different types of cancers, like fibrosarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, human papillomavirus etc. Another common approach is to combine electrochemotherapy with immune modulation, either by inducing immunogenic cell death or injecting immunostimulants that increase the effectiveness of the treatments. Several therapies utilize electroporation to deliver immunostimulants (like genes encoded with cytokine producing sequences, cancer specific antigens or fragments of anti-tumor toxins) more effectively. Lastly, electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve can trigger production and activation of anti-tumor immune cells and immune reactions. Hence, the use of electrical stimulation to modulate the immune system in different ways can be a promising approach to treat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritopa Das
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Sofia Langou
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Thinh T. Le
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Pooja Prasad
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Feng Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Thanh D. Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
- Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
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14
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Russano F, Del Fiore P, Di Prata C, Pasqual A, Marconato R, Campana LG, Spina R, Gianesini CM, Collodetto A, Tropea S, Dall’Olmo L, Carraro S, Parisi A, Galuppo S, Scarzello G, De Terlizzi F, Rastrelli M, Mocellin S. The Role of Electrochemotherapy in the Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Metastases From Breast Cancer: Analysis of Predictive Factors to Treatment From an Italian Cohort of Patients. Front Oncol 2021; 11:772144. [PMID: 34993137 PMCID: PMC8724516 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.772144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous localizations from breast cancer (BC) is still a therapeutic challenge. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is one of the available options, and it is characterized by the association between the administration of a chemotherapic agent (Bleomycin) with the temporary raise of permeability of the cellular membrane induced by the local administration of electrical impulses (electroporation). ECT represents an effective therapy for loco-regional control of this disease. This study aimed to investigate the predictive factors of response in cutaneous and subcutaneous localizations from breast cancer treated with ECT. We decided to evaluate the response to this treatment in 55 patients who underwent ECT between January 2013 and March 2020 at our Institute. We performed a monocentric retrospective cohort study. ECT was administered following the ESOPE (European Standard Operative Procedure of Electrochemotherapy) guidelines, a set of criteria updated in 2018 by a panel of European experts on ECT who defined the indications for selecting the patients who can benefit from the ECT treatment and the ones for technically performing the procedure. The responses were evaluated with the RECIST criteria (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor). We found after 12 weeks of treatment a complete response (CR) in 64% of our patients. From the analysis divided for subgroups of covariates is emerged that lower BMI, reduced body surface, and absence of previous radiation treatment could be predictive for a better complete response. This study suggests that the efficacy of the ECT treatment is related to the concurrent systemic therapies while administering ECT. The association between ECT and immunotherapy has offered better results than the association between ECT and chemotherapy (p-value = 0.0463). So, ECT is a valuable tool in the treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases from breast cancer and its efficacy in local control of these lesions improves when it is well planned in a therapeutic scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Russano
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Del Fiore
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- *Correspondence: Paolo Del Fiore,
| | - Claudia Di Prata
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Pasqual
- Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Roberto Marconato
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Luca Giovanni Campana
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Romina Spina
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Carlo Maria Gianesini
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandra Collodetto
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Saveria Tropea
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Luigi Dall’Olmo
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Sabrina Carraro
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Parisi
- Radiotherapy Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Sara Galuppo
- Radiotherapy Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scarzello
- Radiotherapy Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Marco Rastrelli
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Simone Mocellin
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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15
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VEGF Expression, Cellular Infiltration, and Intratumoral Collagen Levels after Electroporation-Based Treatment of Dogs with Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121321. [PMID: 34947852 PMCID: PMC8708059 DOI: 10.3390/life11121321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type of skin cancer in tropical countries and is generally associated with exposure to solar ultraviolet light. It has a low metastatic rate, and local treatments, such as electrochemotherapy (ECT), promote long-term control or even complete remission. This study aimed to evaluate pre- and post-ECT treatment expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD31, cellular infiltration, and intratumoral collagen levels in dogs with cutaneous SCC. A prospective nonrandomized clinical study was performed using dogs with spontaneous SCC treated with ECT. Eighteen lesions from 11 dogs were included in the study. The expression levels of VEGF and CD31; cellular infiltration; and intratumoral collagen levels, as determined by Masson’s trichrome staining, were not significantly different from pre-treatment measurements on day 21 (p > 0.05). However, among cellular infiltration, the mixed subtype was correlated with better overall survival time when compared to lymphoplasmacytic and neutrophilic infiltration (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ECT had no effect on VEGF expression, cellular infiltration, or intratumoral collagen levels in dogs with cutaneous SCC at the time of evaluation, suggesting that early and late post-ECT-treatment phases should be considered.
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16
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Quaresmini D, Di Lauro A, Fucci L, Strippoli S, De Risi I, Sciacovelli AM, Albano A, Achille G, Montepara M, Russo S, Tassone G, Guida M. Electrochemotherapy as a Trigger to Overcome Primary Resistance to Anti-PD-1 Treatment: A Case Report of Melanoma of the Scalp. Front Oncol 2021; 11:742666. [PMID: 34604086 PMCID: PMC8481697 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.742666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors is one of the main therapies for advanced melanoma. Nevertheless, albeit remarkable, immunotherapy results are still unsatisfactory as more than half of patients progress, and resistance to treatment still has a dramatic impact on clinical outcomes. Local treatments such as radiotherapy or electrochemotherapy (ECT), in addition to local control with palliative intent, have been shown to release tumoral neoantigens that can stimulate a robust systemic antitumor immune response. Case Presentation We report the case of a patient with multiple nodular melanoma lesions of the scalp initially treated with local ECT. Soon after the procedure, multiple new lesions appeared close to the treated ones, therefore the patient started a systemic treatment with the anti-PD-1 nivolumab. The lesions of the scalp did not respond to immunotherapy, presenting a loco-regional spreading. To control the bleeding and painful lesions, we performed a second ECT, while continuing systemic immunotherapy. The treated lesions responded to the second procedure, while the other lesions continued progressing in number and dimension. Unexpectedly, after 2 months from the second ECT, the patient presented a progressive shrinkage of both treated and untreated lesions until complete remission. Concomitantly, he developed immune-related adverse events including grade 4 thyroid toxicity, grade 2 vitiligo-like depigmentation and grade 2 pemphigoid. At present, after 18 months from the first ECT and 14 months from the starting of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, the patient is in good clinical condition and complete remission of disease still persists. Conclusion This case highlights the potential role of ECT in increasing tumor immunogenicity and consequently in inducing a powerful immune response overcoming primary resistance to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Quaresmini
- Rare Tumors and Melanoma Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Livia Fucci
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Sabino Strippoli
- Rare Tumors and Melanoma Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Ivana De Risi
- Rare Tumors and Melanoma Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Anna Albano
- Rare Tumors and Melanoma Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Gaetano Achille
- Otolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Massimo Montepara
- Otolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Sabino Russo
- Otolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Gabriella Tassone
- Otolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Guida
- Rare Tumors and Melanoma Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
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17
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da Luz JCDS, Antunes F, Clavijo-Salomon MA, Signori E, Tessarollo NG, Strauss BE. Clinical Applications and Immunological Aspects of Electroporation-Based Therapies. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:727. [PMID: 34358144 PMCID: PMC8310106 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reversible electropermeabilization (RE) is an ultrastructural phenomenon that transiently increases the permeability of the cell membrane upon application of electrical pulses. The technique was described in 1972 by Neumann and Rosenheck and is currently used in a variety of applications, from medicine to food processing. In oncology, RE is applied for the intracellular transport of chemotherapeutic drugs as well as the delivery of genetic material in gene therapies and vaccinations. This review summarizes the physical changes of the membrane, the particularities of bleomycin, and the immunological aspects involved in electrochemotherapy and gene electrotransfer, two important EP-based cancer therapies in human and veterinary oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Carlos dos Santos da Luz
- Viral Vector Laboratory, Cancer Institute of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil; (J.C.d.S.d.L.); (F.A.); (N.G.T.)
| | - Fernanda Antunes
- Viral Vector Laboratory, Cancer Institute of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil; (J.C.d.S.d.L.); (F.A.); (N.G.T.)
| | | | - Emanuela Signori
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Nayara Gusmão Tessarollo
- Viral Vector Laboratory, Cancer Institute of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil; (J.C.d.S.d.L.); (F.A.); (N.G.T.)
| | - Bryan E. Strauss
- Viral Vector Laboratory, Cancer Institute of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil; (J.C.d.S.d.L.); (F.A.); (N.G.T.)
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18
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Gerlini G, Di Gennaro P, Borgognoni L. Enhancing anti-melanoma immunity by electrochemotherapy and in vivo dendritic-cell activation. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:1655-1657. [PMID: 23264927 PMCID: PMC3525636 DOI: 10.4161/onci.21991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Combining electrochemotherapy with dendritic cell-based immunotherapy is a promising strategy against human metastatic melanoma that deserves to be clinically assessed. While electrochemotherapy induces a rapid regression of metastases, immunotherapy generates systemic anticancer immunity, contributes to eradicate the tumor and maintains an immunological memory to control relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Gerlini
- Plastic Surgery Unit; Regional Melanoma Referral Center; Tuscan Tumor Institute (ITT); Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital; Florence, Italy
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19
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Djokic M, Cemazar M, Bosnjak M, Dezman R, Badovinac D, Miklavcic D, Kos B, Stabuc M, Stabuc B, Jansa R, Popovic P, Smid LM, Sersa G, Trotovsek B. A Prospective Phase II Study Evaluating Intraoperative Electrochemotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3778. [PMID: 33333941 PMCID: PMC7765454 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this clinical study was to investigate the effectiveness and long-term safety of electrochemotherapy as an emerging treatment for HCC in patients not suitable for other treatment options. A prospective phase II clinical study was conducted in patients with primary HCC who were not suitable for other treatment options according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification. A total of 24 patients with 32 tumors were treated by electrochemotherapy. The procedure was effective, feasible, and safe with some procedure-related side effects. The responses of the 32 treated nodules were: 84.4% complete response (CR), 12.5% partial response (PR), and 3.1% stable disease (SD). The treatment was equally effective for nodules located centrally and peripherally. Electrochemotherapy provided a durable response with local tumor control over 50 months of observation in 78.0% of nodules. The patient responses were: 79.2% CR and 16.6% PR. The median progression-free survival was 12 months (range 2.7-50), and the overall survival over 5 years of observation was 72.0%. This prospective phase II clinical study showed that electrochemotherapy was an effective, feasible, and safe option for treating HCC in patients not suitable for other treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihajlo Djokic
- Clinical Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.D.); (D.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.D.); (M.S.); (B.S.); (R.J.); (P.P.); (L.M.S.)
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.C.); (M.B.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, SI-6310 Izola, Slovenia
| | - Masa Bosnjak
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Rok Dezman
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.D.); (M.S.); (B.S.); (R.J.); (P.P.); (L.M.S.)
- Clinical Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - David Badovinac
- Clinical Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.D.); (D.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.D.); (M.S.); (B.S.); (R.J.); (P.P.); (L.M.S.)
| | - Damijan Miklavcic
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (D.M.); (B.K.)
| | - Bor Kos
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (D.M.); (B.K.)
| | - Miha Stabuc
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.D.); (M.S.); (B.S.); (R.J.); (P.P.); (L.M.S.)
- Clinical Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Borut Stabuc
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.D.); (M.S.); (B.S.); (R.J.); (P.P.); (L.M.S.)
- Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rado Jansa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.D.); (M.S.); (B.S.); (R.J.); (P.P.); (L.M.S.)
- Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Peter Popovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.D.); (M.S.); (B.S.); (R.J.); (P.P.); (L.M.S.)
- Clinical Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lojze M. Smid
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.D.); (M.S.); (B.S.); (R.J.); (P.P.); (L.M.S.)
- Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.C.); (M.B.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Blaz Trotovsek
- Clinical Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.D.); (D.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.D.); (M.S.); (B.S.); (R.J.); (P.P.); (L.M.S.)
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Boosting the Immune Response with the Combination of Electrochemotherapy and Immunotherapy: A New Weapon for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck? Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102781. [PMID: 32998297 PMCID: PMC7601050 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) represents a problem of utmost concern and, for many clinicians and surgeons, an enormous challenge. Currently, new generation immunotherapy which avails of check point inhibitors, namely molecules capable of restoring the host’s immune system strongly depressed by the presence of tumor cells, is gaining increasing importance. Nevertheless, immunotherapy alone is not always effective in some patients, in particular those having a bulky and highly symptomatic disease. These last require the addition of locoregional strategies able to reduce the tumor mass and to assist immunotherapy in producing its effect. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a strategy able to associate the electroporation of tumor cells and the simultaneous administration of antineoplastic drugs, so as to concentrate the latter directly in the tumor site. The combination of ECT and immunotherapy could be very effective particularly in patients having a bulky/highly symptomatic SCCHN. Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (SCCHN) are not rare malignancies and account for 7% of all solid tumors. Prognosis of SCCHN patients strongly depends on tumor extension, site of onset, and genetics. Advanced disease (recurrent/metastatic) is associated with poor prognosis, with a median overall survival of 13 months. In these patients, immunotherapy may represent an interesting option of treatment, given the good results reached by check-point inhibitors in clinical practice. Nevertheless, only a minor number of patients with advanced disease respond to immunotherapy, and, disease progressions/hyper-progressions are common. The latter could be a very difficult issue, especially in patients having a wide and highly symptomatic head/neck mass. Given the potentiality to boost the immune response of some local modalities, such as electrochemotherapy, a possible future approach may take into account the combination of electrochemotherapy and immunotherapy to treat patients affected by SCCHN, suffering from symptomatic lesions that need rapid debulking.
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Campana LG, Miklavčič D, Bertino G, Marconato R, Valpione S, Imarisio I, Dieci MV, Granziera E, Cemazar M, Alaibac M, Sersa G. Electrochemotherapy of superficial tumors - Current status:: Basic principles, operating procedures, shared indications, and emerging applications. Semin Oncol 2019; 46:173-191. [PMID: 31122761 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of superficial tumors with electrochemotherapy (ECT) has shown a steep rise over the past decade and indications range from skin cancers to locally advanced or metastatic neoplasms. Based on reversible electroporation, which is a physical method to achieve transient tumor cell membrane permeabilization by means of short electric pulses, ECT increases cellular uptake of bleomycin and cisplatin and their cytotoxicity by 8,000- and 80-fold, respectively. Standard operating procedures were established in 2006 and updated in 2018. Ease of administration, patient tolerability, efficacy across histotypes, and repeatability are peculiar advantages, which make standard ECT (ie, ECT using fixed-geometry electrodes) a reliable option for controlling superficial tumor growth locally and preventing their morbidity. Consolidated indications include superficial metastatic melanoma, breast cancer, head and neck skin tumors, nonmelanoma skin cancers, and Kaposi sarcoma. In well-selected patients with oropharyngeal cancers, ECT ensures appreciable symptom control. Emerging applications include skin metastases from visceral or hematological malignancies, vulvar cancer, and some noncancerous skin lesions (keloids and capillary vascular malformations). Repeatability and integration with other oncologic therapies allow for consolidation of response and sustained tumor control. In this review, we present the basic principles of ECT, recently updated operating procedures, anesthesiological management, and provide a synthesis of the efficacy of standard ECT across histotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca G Campana
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology (DISCOG), University of Padua, Italy; Surgical Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy.
| | - Damijan Miklavčič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Giulia Bertino
- Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Ilaria Imarisio
- Medical Oncology Unit, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Vittoria Dieci
- Surgical Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy; Medical Oncology-2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Elisa Granziera
- Anesthesiology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mauro Alaibac
- Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Grandi V, di Gennaro P, Torrigiani S, Basco L, Lastrucci I, Pimpinelli N. Ingenol mebutate-mediated reduction in p53-positive keratinocytes in skin cancerization field directly correlates with clinical response in patients with multiple actinic keratoses. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019; 33:1297-1303. [PMID: 30801837 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.15528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND UV radiation represents the main risk factor for non-melanoma skin cancers. Chronic UV exposure induces 'p53 patches', i.e. clonal outgrowths of keratinocytes with high nuclear expression of mutated p53, which might progress to actinic keratosis (AK) and ultimately squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). AIMS Analysis of ingenol mebutate gel (150 and 500 mcg/g) effects in the reduction in 'p53 patches' inside skin cancerization field (CF) in patients with multiple AKs of face/scalp or trunk/extremities, in order to investigate whether the expected reduction in p53+ keratinocytes might have a direct role in the long-term AK reduction in treated areas. RESULTS We enrolled n = 10 patients, treated with ingenol mebutate and evaluated at 2 and 6 months after treatment. We observed clinical responses in the majority of patients (n = 7), with AK reduction or complete clearance (n = 6 and n = 1, respectively). Notably, two patients did not respond to the treatment, and in one patient, after initial partial response, new lesion was recorded. In untreated skin CF samples (n = 3), we observed numerous p53+ keratinocytes, similar to those observed in invasive SCC samples (53.56 ± 8.79 and 74.34 ± 22.05, respectively; P = 0.2). After treatment, we observed a variable p53+ keratinocyte reduction in CF samples at 2 months (24.67 ± 31.19; P = 0.19). Importantly, the amount of p53+ keratinocytes strongly and directly correlated with AK number (R2 = 0.81). CONCLUSION Untreated skin CF expresses high level of p53+ keratinocytes as invasive SCC. Ingenol mebutate is able to reduce p53+ keratinocytes with variable efficacy, this reduction degree directly correlating with clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Grandi
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Florence School of Human Health Sciences, Florence, Italy
| | - P di Gennaro
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Florence School of Human Health Sciences, Florence, Italy.,Melanoma & Skin Cancer Unit, Tuscan Tumour Institute (ITT) - Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, Central Tuscany District, Florence, Italy
| | - S Torrigiani
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Florence School of Human Health Sciences, Florence, Italy
| | - L Basco
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Florence School of Human Health Sciences, Florence, Italy
| | - I Lastrucci
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Florence School of Human Health Sciences, Florence, Italy
| | - N Pimpinelli
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Florence School of Human Health Sciences, Florence, Italy.,Melanoma & Skin Cancer Unit, Tuscan Tumour Institute (ITT) - Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, Central Tuscany District, Florence, Italy
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Campana LG, Edhemovic I, Soden D, Perrone AM, Scarpa M, Campanacci L, Cemazar M, Valpione S, Miklavčič D, Mocellin S, Sieni E, Sersa G. Electrochemotherapy - Emerging applications technical advances, new indications, combined approaches, and multi-institutional collaboration. Eur J Surg Oncol 2018; 45:92-102. [PMID: 30528893 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2018.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment of tumors with electrochemotherapy (ECT) has surged over the past decade. Thanks to the transient cell membrane permeabilization induced by the short electric pulses used by ECT, cancer cells are exposed to otherwise poorly permeant chemotherapy agents, with consequent increased cytotoxicity. The codification of the procedure in 2006 led to a broad diffusion of the procedure, mainly in Europe, and since then, the progressive clinical experience, together with the emerging technologies, have extended the range of its application. Herein, we review the key advances in the ECT field since the European Standard Operating Procedures on ECT (ESOPE) 2006 guidelines and discuss the emerging clinical data on the new ECT indications. First, technical developments have improved ECT equipment, with custom electrode probes and dedicated tools supporting individual treatment planning in anatomically challenging tumors. Second, the feasibility and short-term efficacy of ECT has been established in deep-seated tumors, including bone metastases, liver malignancies, and pancreatic and prostate cancers (long-needle variable electrode geometry ECT), and gastrointestinal tumors (endoscopic ECT). Moreover, pioneering studies indicate lung and brain tumors as suitable future targets. A further advance relates to new combination strategies with immunotherapy, gene electro transfer (GET), calcium EP, and radiotherapy. Finally and fourth, cross-institutional collaborative groups have been established to refine procedural guidelines, promote clinical research, and explore new indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca G Campana
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology (DISCOG), University of Padua, Italy; Surgical Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy.
| | - Ibrahim Edhemovic
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Anna M Perrone
- Oncologic Gynecology Unit, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Scarpa
- Surgical Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Campanacci
- 3rd Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Clinic Prevalently Oncologic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sara Valpione
- Christie NHS Foundation Trust, CRUK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M20 4GJ, UK
| | - Damijan Miklavčič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Simone Mocellin
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology (DISCOG), University of Padua, Italy; Surgical Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Sieni
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Goggins CA, Khachemoune A. The use of electrochemotherapy in combination with immunotherapy in the treatment of metastatic melanoma: a focused review. Int J Dermatol 2018; 58:865-870. [PMID: 30479009 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.14314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2018] [Revised: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a treatment modality that combines low-dose chemotherapy with electroporation, thereby enhancing cytotoxicity. ECT was first utilized in the treatment of metastatic head and neck cancer. Today it is used as a local treatment for the cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of a variety of cancers, including melanoma. In addition, recent evidence indicates that ECT in combination with immunotherapy can lead to a systemic tumor response. This review aims to summarize the efficacy of ECT in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, with a specific focus on the combination of ECT with immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare A Goggins
- Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
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Tremble LF, O'Brien MA, Forde PF, Soden DM. ICOS activation in combination with electrochemotherapy generates effective anti-cancer immunological responses in murine models of primary, secondary and metastatic disease. Cancer Lett 2018; 420:109-115. [PMID: 29408339 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.01.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy is an evolving therapy which has recently been shown to induce an immunogenic form of cell death. It is hypothesized that the immunogenic cell death induced by electrochemotherapy may compliment the responses seen with anti-cancer immunotherapies. We therefore examined the effect of electrochemotherapy in combination with ICOS activation, which promotes the activity of previously activated T cells. In comparison to either monotherapy which resulted in no curative outcomes in any model, in a CT26 primary tumour 50% of mice were cured, with 100% of cured mice surviving tumour rechallenge. In a dual flank CT26 model mimicking secondary disease 20% of mice were cured, and 30% of mice were cured using an aggressively metastatic Lewis Lung Carcinoma model. We have shown the novel combination of electrochemotherapy with ICOS activation can inhibit local and distal tumour growth, including total tumour clearance with long lasting immunological memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam F Tremble
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - Morgan A O'Brien
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - Patrick F Forde
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Declan M Soden
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland
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26
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Electrochemotherapy with anti-PD-1 treatment induced durable complete response in heavily pretreated metastatic melanoma patient. Anticancer Drugs 2018; 29:190-196. [PMID: 29271783 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma (MM) is one of the most lethal types of cancer. Although novel immunotherapeutics have been developed recently, still, these drugs fail to save the lives of a third of MM patients. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a local treatment of cancer based on a combination of electroporesis and low-dose chemotherapy. In this case report, we present the treatment history of a MM patient treated successfully with ECT and immunotherapy combination as a fifth-line treatment. Our patient was a 39 year-old woman who was diagnosed with nodulary melanoma stage II. Due to a local recurrence, she was given interferon-α treatment. After 6 months, her disease relapsed in the axillary lymph nodes, and temozolamide treatment 150 mg/m2 was initiated. After six cycles on temozolamide, she progressed both in the axillary site and in the lungs. Her BRAF mutation analysis revealed V600E positivity. Hence, BRAF inhibitor-vemurafenib 2'4 tablets per day was initiated. Within 3 months, she responded dramatically both in the axillary site and in the lungs. At the ninth month of treatment, she progressed again, at which time ipilimumab 3 mg/kg was started as a fourth line treatment. However, shortly after, she progressed again and developed a solitary brain metastasis. She was operated and had whole brain radiotherapy. At that point, nivolumab, an antiprogrammed cell death ligand-1 blocker, was the only remaining option. She showed a biphenotypical response to nivolumab; a mass on the anterior axilla was progressing while the other lymph nodes had regressed. Owing to the accessibility of the subcutaneous lesion with external electrodes, ECT was performed using IGEA Cliniprator device through a hexagonal electrode on the progressive mass, while on nivolumab treatment. A complete response was achieved, with no evidence of disease at 4 years since her local recurrence. Eradication of symptomatic, refractory lesions using ECT meets an important clinical need. Whenever a disseminated disease presents with cutaneous/subcutaneous lesions, high efficacy of ECT should be deployed to augment tumor immunogenicity and complement systemic immunotherapies.
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Abstract
Anti-tumor electrochemotherapy, which consists in increasing anti-cancer drug uptake by means of electroporation, is now implanted in about 140 cancer treatment centers in Europe. Its use is supported by the English National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for the palliative treatment of skin metastases, and about 13,000 cancer patients were treated by this technology by the end of 2015. Efforts are now focused on turning this local anti-tumor treatment into a systemic one. Electrogenetherapy, that is the electroporation-mediated transfer of therapeutic genes, is currently under clinical evaluation and has brought excitement to enlarge the anti-cancer armamentarium. Among the promising electrogenetherapy strategies, DNA vaccination and cytokine-based immunotherapy aim at stimulating anti-tumor immunity. We review here the interests and state of development of both electrochemotherapy and electrogenetherapy. We then emphasize the potent beneficial outcome of the combination of electrochemotherapy with immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors or strategies based on electrogenetherapy, to simultaneously achieve excellent local debulking anti-tumor responses and systemic anti-metastatic effects.
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Bigi L, Galdo G, Cesinaro AM, Vaschieri C, Marconi A, Pincelli C, Fantini F. Electrochemotherapy induces apoptotic death in melanoma metastases: a histologic and immunohistochemical investigation. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2016; 9:451-459. [PMID: 27920565 PMCID: PMC5125800 DOI: 10.2147/ccid.s115984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is increasingly used in the treatment of primary and secondary skin tumors, but little is known about the pathologic mechanism responsible for tumor cell destruction in humans. Knowledge of detailed mechanism of host response after ECT may improve the treatment efficacy related to patient selection and technique refinements. Aim The aim of the study was to investigate the histopathology and mechanism of cell death after ECT in cutaneous melanoma metastases. Methods Skin biopsy specimens were sequentially obtained after ECT of cutaneous melanoma metastases, during a follow-up period of 2 months. Results from histologic evaluation and immunohistochemical characterization of the inflammatory infiltrate (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, Granzyme-B) were compared with a panel of apoptosis-related markers. Main outcome measures Evidence of the mechanism of tumor cell damage, identification of histological and immunohistochemical signs of apoptosis and/or necrosis underlining a possible time course of tumor destruction and inflammatory reaction after ECT. Results Early signs of epidermal degeneration, an increase of the inflammatory infiltrate, and initial tumor cell morphological changes were already detected 10 min after ECT. The cell damage progression, as demonstrated by histological and immunohistochemical evidence using apoptotic markers (TUNEL and caspase-3 staining), reached a climax 3 days after treatment, to continue until 10 days after. Scarring fibrosis and complete absence of tumor cells were observed in the late biopsy specimens. A rich inflammatory infiltrate with a prevalence of T-cytotoxic CD3/CD8-positive cells was detected 3 h after ECT and was still appreciable 3 months later. Conclusion This study attempts to define the time course and characteristics of tumor response to ECT. The observations suggest both a direct necrotic cell damage and a rapid activation of apoptotic mechanisms that occur in the early phases of the cutaneous reaction to ECT. A persistent immune response of T-cytotoxic lymphocytes could possibly explain the long-term local tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bigi
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, Dermatologic Clinic University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena
| | - Giovanna Galdo
- Plastic Surgery Unit, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Pz)
| | | | - Cristina Vaschieri
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, Dermatologic Clinic University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena
| | - Alessandra Marconi
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, Laboratory of Cutaneous Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena
| | - Carlo Pincelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, Laboratory of Cutaneous Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena
| | - Fabrizio Fantini
- Dermatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera "A. Manzoni", Lecco, Italy
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Testori A, Ribero S, Bataille V. Diagnosis and treatment of in-transit melanoma metastases. Eur J Surg Oncol 2016; 43:544-560. [PMID: 27923593 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2016.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In transit metastases (ITM) from extremity or trunk melanomas are subcutaneous or cutaneous lymphatic deposits of melanoma cells, distant from the primary site but not reaching the draining nodal basin. Superficial ITM metastases develop in 5-10% of melanoma patients and are thought to be caused by cells spreading along lymphatics; ITM appear biologically different from distant cutaneous metastases, these probably due to a haematogenous dissemination. The diagnosis is usually clinical and by patients, but patients need to be adequately educated in the recognition of this clinical situation. Ultrasound or more sophisticated instrumental devices may be required if the disease develops more deeply in the soft tissues. According to AJCC 2009 staging classification, ITM are included in stages IIIb and IIIc, which are considered local advanced disease with quite poor 5-year survival rates and outcomes of 24-54% at 5 years.2 Loco-regional recurrence is in fact an important risk factor for distant metastatic disease, either synchronous or metachronous. Therapy for this pattern of recurrence is less standardised then in most other clinical situations and options vary based on the volume and site of the disease. Definitive surgical resection remains the preferred therapeutic approach. However, when surgery cannot be performed with a reasonable cosmetic and functional outcome, other options must be utilized.3-6 Treatment options are classified as local, regional or systemic. The choice of therapy depends on the number of lesions, their anatomic location, whether or not these are dermal or subcutaneous, the size and the presence or absence of extra-regional disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Testori
- Divisione di Chirurgia Dermatoncologica, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milano, Italy.
| | - S Ribero
- Dermatologia, Dipartimentto di Scienze mediche, Università di Torino, Italy
| | - V Bataille
- West Herts NHS Trust, London, UK; Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, UK
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CD4 +FOXP3 + T regulatory cells decrease and CD3 +CD8 + T cells recruitment in TILs from melanoma metastases after electrochemotherapy. Clin Exp Metastasis 2016; 33:787-798. [PMID: 27475809 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-016-9814-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) represents an effective local treatment for skin unresectable melanoma metastases with high overall objective response rate. ECT is based on the combination of anti-neoplastic drugs administration and cancer cells electroporation. Whether ECT can also activate the immune system is a matter of debate, however a significant recruitment of dendritic cells in melanoma treated metastases has been described. Herein we investigated immediate and late effects of ECT treatment on T cell subsets in ECT-treated lesions by fluorescent immunohistochemistry. Biopsies from melanoma patients (n = 10) were taken before ECT (t0), at d1 and d14 from treatment. At t0, CD3+CD4+ T cells were the most represented T cells, well detected in the perilesional dermis, particularly at tumour margin, while CD3+CD8+ T cells were less represented. CD4+FOXP3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells were present in the perilesional dermis and within the lesion. ECT induced a significant decrease of CD4+FOXP3+ Treg cells percentage in the perilesional dermis, observed at d1 and at d14 (p < 0.001). CD3+CD8+ T cells frequency significantly increased at d14 from treatment in the perilesional dermis (p < 0.001). Furthermore calreticulin translocation to the plasma membrane, a hallmark of immunogenic cell death, was observed in metastatic cells after ECT. The data reported here confirm that ECT induces a local response, with a lymphoid infiltrate characterized by CD4+FOXP3+ Treg cells decrease and CD3+CD8+ T cells recruitment in the treated lesions. These results might contribute to design novel combinational therapeutic approaches with ECT and immunotherapy in order to generate a systemic long-lasting anti-melanoma immunity.
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31
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Impellizeri J, Aurisicchio L, Forde P, Soden DM. Electroporation in veterinary oncology. Vet J 2016; 217:18-25. [PMID: 27810205 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer treatments in veterinary medicine continue to evolve beyond the established standard therapies of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. New technologies in cancer therapy include a targeted mechanism to open the cell membrane based on electroporation, driving therapeutic agents, such as chemotherapy (electro-chemotherapy), for local control of cancer, or delivery of gene-based products (electro-gene therapy), directly into the cancer cell to achieve systemic control. This review examines electrochemotherapy and electro-gene therapy in veterinary medicine and considers future directions and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Impellizeri
- Veterinary Oncology Services, Hopewell Junction, New York 12533, USA
| | | | - P Forde
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - D M Soden
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, University College Cork, Ireland.
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Gardiner RE, Jahangeer S, Forde P, Ariffin AB, Bird B, Soden D, Hinchion J. Low immunogenicity in non-small cell lung cancer; do new developments and novel treatments have a role? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2016; 34:129-44. [PMID: 25726003 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-015-9550-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 1.6 million new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed annually (Jemal et al. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 61, 69-90, 2011) and it remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite decades of bench and clinical research to attempt to improve outcome for locally advanced, good performance status patients, the 5-year survival remains less than 15 % (Molina et al. 2008). Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICH) therapies have shown a significant promise in preclinical and clinical trails to date in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The idea of combining these systemic immune therapies with local ablative techniques is one that is gaining momentum. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a unique atraumatic local therapy that has had very promising objective response rates and a number of advantages including but not limited to its immunostimulatory effects. ECT in combination with ICHs offers a novel approach for dealing with this difficult disease process.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Gardiner
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland,
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Sersa G, Teissie J, Cemazar M, Signori E, Kamensek U, Marshall G, Miklavcic D. Electrochemotherapy of tumors as in situ vaccination boosted by immunogene electrotransfer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2015; 64:1315-27. [PMID: 26067277 PMCID: PMC4554735 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-015-1724-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Electroporation is a platform technology for drug and gene delivery. When applied to cell in vitro or tissues in vivo, it leads to an increase in membrane permeability for molecules which otherwise cannot enter the cell (e.g., siRNA, plasmid DNA, and some chemotherapeutic drugs). The therapeutic effectiveness of delivered chemotherapeutics or nucleic acids depends greatly on their successful and efficient delivery to the target tissue. Therefore, the understanding of different principles of drug and gene delivery is necessary and needs to be taken into account according to the specificity of their delivery to tumors and/or normal tissues. Based on the current knowledge, electrochemotherapy (a combination of drug and electric pulses) is used for tumor treatment and has shown great potential. Its local effectiveness is up to 80 % of local tumor control, however, without noticeable effect on metastases. In an attempt to increase systemic antitumor effectiveness of electrochemotherapy, electrotransfer of genes with immunomodulatory effect (immunogene electrotransfer) could be used as adjuvant treatment. Since electrochemotherapy can induce immunogenic cell death, adjuvant immunogene electrotransfer to peritumoral tissue could lead to locoregional effect as well as the abscopal effect on distant untreated metastases. Therefore, we propose a combination of electrochemotherapy with peritumoral IL-12 electrotransfer, as a proof of principle, using electrochemotherapy boosted with immunogene electrotransfer as in situ vaccination for successful tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia,
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Mozzillo N, Simeone E, Benedetto L, Curvietto M, Giannarelli D, Gentilcore G, Camerlingo R, Capone M, Madonna G, Festino L, Caracò C, Di Monta G, Marone U, Di Marzo M, Grimaldi AM, Mori S, Ciliberto G, Ascierto PA. Assessing a novel immuno-oncology-based combination therapy: Ipilimumab plus electrochemotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1008842. [PMID: 26155423 PMCID: PMC4485758 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1008842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is responsible for most skin cancer-related deaths and is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in young adults. In melanoma, tumors can become established by activation of the negative regulator of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), CTL antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Ipilimumab blocks the interaction of CTLA-4 with CD80/CD86 and augments T-cell activation and proliferation. In electrochemotherapy (ECT), local application of short high-voltage pulses renders cell membranes transiently permeable to chemotherapeutic drugs. The combination of ipilimumab and ECT may be beneficial for the treatment of metastatic melanoma; however, no prospective data are available to date. Here, we report the retrospective analysis of patients treated with ipilimumab in an expanded access program (EAP) who also received ECT. Fifteen patients with previously treated metastatic melanoma who received ipilimumab 3 mg/kg every three weeks for four cycles and underwent ECT for local disease control and/or palliation of cutaneous lesions with bleomycin 15 mg/m2 after the first ipilimumab infusion were included in the analysis. Over the study period, a local objective response was observed in 67% of patients (27% complete response [CR] and 40% partial response [PR]). According to immune-related response criteria, a systemic response was observed in nine patients (five PR and four stable disease [SD]), resulting in a disease control rate of 60%. Evaluation of circulating T-regulatory (T-reg) cells demonstrated significant differences between responders and non-responders. Overall, treatment was well-tolerated and without notable toxicity. In conclusion, the combination of ipilimumab and ECT appears to be beneficial to patients with advanced melanoma, warranting further investigation in prospective trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Mozzillo
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Surgery Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Ester Simeone
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy, and Innovative Therapy Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Benedetto
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Surgery Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Marcello Curvietto
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy, and Innovative Therapy Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Diana Giannarelli
- Statistical Unit; Regina Elena National Cancer Institute; Rome, Italy
| | - Giusy Gentilcore
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy, and Innovative Therapy Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Camerlingo
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy, and Innovative Therapy Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Mariaelena Capone
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy, and Innovative Therapy Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriele Madonna
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy, and Innovative Therapy Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Festino
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy, and Innovative Therapy Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Corrado Caracò
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Surgery Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Di Monta
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Surgery Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Ugo Marone
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Surgery Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Di Marzo
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Surgery Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio M Grimaldi
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy, and Innovative Therapy Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Mori
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Surgery Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Direction; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo A Ascierto
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy, and Innovative Therapy Unit; Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione “G. Pascale”; Naples, Italy
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Consolidation electrochemotherapy with bleomycin in metastatic melanoma during treatment with dabrafenib. Radiol Oncol 2015; 49:71-4. [PMID: 25810704 PMCID: PMC4362609 DOI: 10.2478/raon-2014-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Small molecules that inhibit V600 mutated BRAF protein, such as vemurafenib and dabrafenib, are effective in treatment of metastatic melanoma. CASE REPORT We here describe the clinical course of a V600E BRAF mutated metastatic melanoma patient with systemic disease, who developed tumor progression on superficial soft-tissue metastases during treatment with dabrafenib. Bleomycin electrochemotherapy during dabrafenib treatment was administered to control the soft-tissue progressing metastases and ensured sustained local control without significant toxicity. CONCLUSIONS The new combined approach maintained the patient quality of life and allowed for the prosecution of the target therapy, which proved to be still effective on systemic disease, up to 17 months.
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Cadossi R, Ronchetti M, Cadossi M. Locally enhanced chemotherapy by electroporation: clinical experiences and perspective of use of electrochemotherapy. Future Oncol 2014; 10:877-90. [PMID: 24799067 DOI: 10.2217/fon.13.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroporation is used to enhance drug diffusion and gene delivery into the cytosol. The combination of electroporation and cytotoxic drugs, electrochemotherapy (ECT), is used to treat metastatic tumor nodules located at the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The objective response rate following a single session of treatment exceeds 80%, with minimal toxicity for the patients. The efficacy of ECT in the bone and visceral metastasis is currently investigated, and Phase II studies have been completed. ECT has been used to treat skin primary tumors, except melanoma, and is under investigation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Early evidence suggests that treatment of tumor nodules with ECT recruits components of the immune system and eliciting a systemic immune response against cancer is a challenging clinical perspective. Considering the proven safety in several different clinical applications electroporation should be viewed as a clinical platform technology with wide perspectives for use in ECT, gene therapy and DNA vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruggero Cadossi
- Clinical Research, IGEA SpA, Via Parmenide 10/A, Carpi, Italy
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Olofsson Bagge R, Mattsson J, Hafström L. Regional hyperthermic perfusion with melphalan after surgery for recurrent malignant melanoma of the extremities – Long-term follow-up of a randomised trial. Int J Hyperthermia 2014; 30:295-8. [DOI: 10.3109/02656736.2014.931601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
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ELECTROCHEMOTHERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF FIBROPAPILLOMAS INCHELONIA MYDAS. J Zoo Wildl Med 2014; 45:213-8. [DOI: 10.1638/2010-0125.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Calvet CY, André FM, Mir LM. Dual therapeutic benefit of electroporation-mediated DNA vaccination in vivo: Enhanced gene transfer and adjuvant activity. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:e28540. [PMID: 25050220 PMCID: PMC4077865 DOI: 10.4161/onci.28540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccination consists of administering an antigen-coding nucleotide sequence. In order to improve the efficacy of DNA vaccines, electroporation is one of the most commonly used methods to enhance DNA uptake. Here, we discuss additional immunological effects of electroporation that are key aspects for inducing immunity in response to DNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Y Calvet
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
| | - Franck M André
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
| | - Lluis M Mir
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
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Calvet CY, Famin D, André FM, Mir LM. Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin induces hallmarks of immunogenic cell death in murine colon cancer cells. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:e28131. [PMID: 25083316 PMCID: PMC4111940 DOI: 10.4161/onci.28131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a local cancer treatment that has been used over the course of more than 2 decades for the removal of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors. Several lines of evidence support the premise that the immune system is an important factor underlying anticancer treatment efficacy, potentially including patient responses to ECT. The concept of immunogenic cell death (ICD) arose a few years ago, stating that some cancer treatments generate danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that trigger an adaptive immune response against tumors. Hence, dying cancer cells behave as a therapeutic vaccine, eliciting a cytotoxic immune response against surviving malignant cells. In our study, we sought to evaluate the ability of ECT to generate cancer cell death encompassing the immunostimulatory characteristics of ICD. To this end, we assayed CT26 murine colon cancer cells in vitro in response to either electric pulses (EPs) application only or in combination with the anticancer drug bleomycin (that is ECT) by quantification of calreticulin (CRT) membrane externalization, as well as the liberation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein. We show here that cell permeabilizing yet non-lethal electric pulses induce CRT exposure on the cell surface of EP-only treated cancer cells, as well as ATP release. However, the association of electric pulses along with the chemotherapeutic agent bleomycin was mandatory for HMGB1 release coincident with regimen-induced cell death. These data obtained in vitro were then substantiated by vaccination protocols performed in immunocompetent mice, showing that the injection of dying ECT-treated cells elicits an antitumor immune response that prevents the growth of a subsequent administration of viable cancer cells. We also confirmed previous results showing ECT treatment is much more efficient in immunocompetent animals than in immunodeficient ones, causing complete regressions in the former but not in the latter. This supports a central role for immunity in this beneficial outcome. In conclusion, we show that ECT not only possesses an intrinsic cytotoxic property toward cancer cells but also generates a systemic anticancer immune response via the activation of ICD. Hence, ECT may represent an interesting approach to treat solid tumors while preventing recurrence and metastasis, possibly in combination with immunostimulating agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Y Calvet
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS, Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
| | - Delphine Famin
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS, Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
| | - Franck M André
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS, Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
| | - Lluis M Mir
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS, Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses, UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
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41
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Electrochemotherapy for the management of melanoma skin metastasis: a review of the literature and possible combinations with immunotherapy. Arch Dermatol Res 2014; 306:521-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s00403-014-1462-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Revised: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Miklavčič D, Mali B, Kos B, Heller R, Serša G. Electrochemotherapy: from the drawing board into medical practice. Biomed Eng Online 2014; 13:29. [PMID: 24621079 PMCID: PMC3995705 DOI: 10.1186/1475-925x-13-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy is a local treatment of cancer employing electric pulses to improve transmembrane transfer of cytotoxic drugs. In this paper we discuss electrochemotherapy from the perspective of biomedical engineering and review the steps needed to move such a treatment from initial prototypes into clinical practice. In the paper also basic theory of electrochemotherapy and preclinical studies in vitro and in vivo are briefly reviewed. Following this we present a short review of recent clinical publications and discuss implementation of electrochemotherapy into standard of care for treatment of skin tumors, and use of electrochemotherapy for other targets such as head and neck cancer, deep-seated tumors in the liver and intestinal tract, and brain metastases. Electrodes used in these specific cases are presented with their typical voltage amplitudes used in electrochemotherapy. Finally, key points on what should be investigated in the future are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damijan Miklavčič
- Faculty of electrical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska 25, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia.
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Campana LG, Testori A, Mozzillo N, Rossi CR. Treatment of metastatic melanoma with electrochemotherapy. J Surg Oncol 2013; 109:301-7. [DOI: 10.1002/jso.23512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicola Mozzillo
- Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la cura dei Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale” (IRCCS); Naples Italy
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Ascierto PA, Grimaldi AM, Acquavella N, Borgognoni L, Calabrò L, Cascinelli N, Cesano A, Del Vecchio M, Eggermont AM, Faries M, Ferrone S, Fox BA, Gajewski TF, Galon J, Gnjatic S, Gogas H, Kashani-Sabet M, Kaufman HL, Larkin J, Lo RS, Mantovani A, Margolin K, Melief C, McArthur G, Palmieri G, Puzanov I, Ribas A, Seliger B, Sosman J, Suenaert P, Tarhini AA, Trinchieri G, Vidal-Vanaclocha F, Wang E, Ciliberto G, Mozzillo N, Marincola FM, Thurin M. Future perspectives in melanoma research. Meeting report from the "Melanoma Bridge. Napoli, December 2nd-4th 2012". J Transl Med 2013; 11:137. [PMID: 23731854 PMCID: PMC3681569 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-11-137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent insights into the genetic and somatic aberrations have initiated a new era of rapidly evolving targeted and immune-based treatments for melanoma. After decades of unsuccessful attempts to finding a more effective cure in the treatment of melanoma now we have several drugs active in melanoma. The possibility to use these drugs in combination to improve responses to overcome the resistance, to potentiate the action of immune system with the new immunomodulating antibodies, and identification of biomarkers that can predict the response to a particular therapy represent new concepts and approaches in the clinical management of melanoma. The third "Melanoma Research: "A bridge from Naples to the World" meeting, shortened as "Bridge Melanoma Meeting" took place in Naples, December 2 to 4th, 2012. The four topics of discussion at this meeting were: advances in molecular profiling and novel biomarkers, combination therapies, novel concepts toward integrating biomarkers and therapies into contemporary clinical management of patients with melanoma across the entire spectrum of disease stage, and the knowledge gained from the biology of tumor microenvironment across different tumors as a bridge to impact on prognosis and response to therapy in melanoma. This international congress gathered more than 30 international faculty members who in an interactive atmosphere which stimulated discussion and exchange of their experience regarding the most recent advances in research and clinical management of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo A Ascierto
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Fondazione “G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Nicolas Acquavella
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MA, USA
| | - Lorenzo Borgognoni
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Regional Melanoma Refferral Center – S.M. Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Luana Calabrò
- Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | - Michele Del Vecchio
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Mark Faries
- John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bernard A Fox
- Laboratory of Molecular and Tumor Immunology, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Jérôme Galon
- INSERM, U872, Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Paris F-75006, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, Paris, France
| | - Sacha Gnjatic
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Helen Gogas
- 1st Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Mohammed Kashani-Sabet
- Center for Melanoma Research and Treatment, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Roger S Lo
- Dermatology/Medicine, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Kim Margolin
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cornelis Melief
- Leiden University Medical Center and ISA Pharmaceuticals, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Grant McArthur
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Giuseppe Palmieri
- Unit of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Sassari, Italy
| | - Igor Puzanov
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Antoni Ribas
- Tumor Immunology Program, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Jeff Sosman
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Comprehensive Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Peter Suenaert
- Global Early Clinical Development, Clinical Immunotherapeutics, Immunotherapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Rixensart, Belgium
| | - Ahmad A Tarhini
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Giorgio Trinchieri
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Fernando Vidal-Vanaclocha
- Institute of Applied Molecular Medicine (IMMA), CEU-San Pablo University and HM-Hospitals School of Medicine, Boadilla del Monte, 28668, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ena Wang
- Infectious Disease and Immunogenetics Section (IDIS), Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center and Center for Human Immunology (CHI), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Nicola Mozzillo
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Fondazione “G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
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Schiavoni G, Gabriele L, Mattei F. The tumor microenvironment: a pitch for multiple players. Front Oncol 2013; 3:90. [PMID: 23616948 PMCID: PMC3628362 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cancer microenvironment may be conceptually regarded as a pitch where the main players are resident and non-resident cellular components, each covering a defined role and interconnected by a complex network of soluble mediators. The crosstalk between these cells and the tumor cells within this environment crucially determines the fate of tumor progression. Immune cells that infiltrate the tumor bed are transported there by blood circulation and exert a variety of effects, either counteracting or favoring tumor outgrowth. Here, we review and discuss the multiple populations composing the tumor bed, with special focus on immune cells subsets that positively or negatively dictate neoplastic progression. In this scenario, the contribution of cancer stem cells within the tumor microenvironment will also be discussed. Finally, we illustrate recent advances on new integrated approaches to investigate the tumor microenvironment in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità Rome, Italy
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