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Sun W, Xie S, Liu SF, Hu X, Xing D. Evolving Tumor Characteristics and Smart Nanodrugs for Tumor Immunotherapy. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:3919-3942. [PMID: 38708176 PMCID: PMC11070166 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s453265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Typical physiological characteristics of tumors, such as weak acidity, low oxygen content, and upregulation of certain enzymes in the tumor microenvironment (TME), provide survival advantages when exposed to targeted attacks by drugs and responsive nanomedicines. Consequently, cancer treatment has significantly progressed in recent years. However, the evolution and adaptation of tumor characteristics still pose many challenges for current treatment methods. Therefore, efficient and precise cancer treatments require an understanding of the heterogeneity degree of various factors in cancer cells during tumor evolution to exploit the typical TME characteristics and manage the mutation process. The highly heterogeneous tumor and infiltrating stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular components collectively form a unique TME, which plays a crucial role in tumor malignancy, including proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and immune escape. Therefore, the development of new treatment methods that can adapt to the evolutionary characteristics of tumors has become an intense focus in current cancer treatment research. This paper explores the latest understanding of cancer evolution, focusing on how tumors use new antigens to shape their "new faces"; how immune system cells, such as cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells, help tumors become "invisible", that is, immune escape; whether the diverse cancer-associated fibroblasts provide support and coordination for tumors; and whether it is possible to attack tumors in reverse. This paper discusses the limitations of targeted therapy driven by tumor evolution factors and explores future strategies and the potential of intelligent nanomedicines, including the systematic coordination of tumor evolution factors and adaptive methods, to meet this therapeutic challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshe Sun
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaowei Xie
- Department of Ultrasound, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shi Feng Liu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaokun Hu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dongming Xing
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
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2
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Huang X, Zhu X, Yang H, Li Q, Gai L, Sui X, Lu H, Feng J. Nanomaterial Delivery Vehicles for the Development of Neoantigen Tumor Vaccines for Personalized Treatment. Molecules 2024; 29:1462. [PMID: 38611742 PMCID: PMC11012694 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor vaccines have been considered a promising therapeutic approach for treating cancer in recent years. With the development of sequencing technologies, tumor vaccines based on neoantigens or genomes specifically expressed in tumor cells, mainly in the form of peptides, nucleic acids, and dendritic cells, are beginning to receive widespread attention. Therefore, in this review, we have introduced different forms of neoantigen vaccines and discussed the development of these vaccines in treating cancer. Furthermore, neoantigen vaccines are influenced by factors such as antigen stability, weak immunogenicity, and biosafety in addition to sequencing technology. Hence, the biological nanomaterials, polymeric nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, etc., used as vaccine carriers are principally summarized here, which may contribute to the design of neoantigen vaccines for improved stability and better efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiaolong Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Huan Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Qinyi Li
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Lizhi Gai
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology of Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Material Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China;
| | - Xinbing Sui
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Hua Lu
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology of Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Material Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China;
| | - Jiao Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (X.H.); (X.Z.); (H.Y.); (Q.L.); (X.S.)
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3
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Jin Y, Huang Y, Ren H, Huang H, Lai C, Wang W, Tong Z, Zhang H, Wu W, Liu C, Bao X, Fang W, Li H, Zhao P, Dai X. Nano-enhanced immunotherapy: Targeting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Biomaterials 2024; 305:122463. [PMID: 38232643 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122463] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME), which is mostly composed of tumor cells, immune cells, signaling molecules, stromal tissue, and the vascular system, is an integrated system that is conducive to the formation of tumors. TME heterogeneity makes the response to immunotherapy different in different tumors, such as "immune-cold" and "immune-hot" tumors. Tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and regulatory T cells are the major suppressive immune cells and their different phenotypes interact and influence cancer cells by secreting different signaling factors, thus playing a key role in the formation of the TME as well as in the initiation, growth, and metastasis of cancer cells. Nanotechnology development has facilitated overcoming the obstacles that limit the further development of conventional immunotherapy, such as toxic side effects and lack of targeting. In this review, we focus on the role of three major suppressive immune cells in the TME as well as in tumor development, clinical trials of different drugs targeting immune cells, and different attempts to combine drugs with nanomaterials. The aim is to reveal the relationship between immunotherapy, immunosuppressive TME and nanomedicine, thus laying the foundation for further development of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhi Jin
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China; National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yangyue Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Cancer Center, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510315, China
| | - Hui Ren
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China; National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Huanhuan Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Postgraduate Training Base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, 310022, China
| | - Chunyu Lai
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China; National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wenjun Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Zhou Tong
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Hangyu Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China; National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Xuanwen Bao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China; National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Weijia Fang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China; National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hongjun Li
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China; National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Xiaomeng Dai
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China; National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Tan Y, Chen H, Gou X, Fan Q, Chen J. Tumor vaccines: Toward multidimensional anti-tumor therapies. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2271334. [PMID: 37905395 PMCID: PMC10760370 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2271334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
For decades, immunotherapies have offered hope for patients with advanced cancer. However, they show distinct benefits and limited clinical effects. Tumor vaccines have the potential to prime tumor-antigen-specific T cells and induce broad subsets of immune responses, ultimately eradicating tumor cells. Here, we classify tumor vaccines by their anti-tumor mechanisms, which include boosting the immune system, overcoming tumor immunosuppression, and modulating tumor angiogenesis. We focus on multidimensional tumor vaccine strategies using combinations of two or three of the above mechanisms, as these are superior to single-dimensional treatments. This review offers a perspective on tumor vaccine strategies and the future role of vaccine therapies in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanfang Tan
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Huiyuan Chen
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xi Gou
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiuying Fan
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Juanjuan Chen
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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5
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Liu Q, Zou J, Chen Z, He W, Wu W. Current research trends of nanomedicines. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:4391-4416. [PMID: 37969727 PMCID: PMC10638504 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Owing to the inherent shortcomings of traditional therapeutic drugs in terms of inadequate therapeutic efficacy and toxicity in clinical treatment, nanomedicine designs have received widespread attention with significantly improved efficacy and reduced non-target side effects. Nanomedicines hold tremendous theranostic potential for treating, monitoring, diagnosing, and controlling various diseases and are attracting an unfathomable amount of input of research resources. Against the backdrop of an exponentially growing number of publications, it is imperative to help the audience get a panorama image of the research activities in the field of nanomedicines. Herein, this review elaborates on the development trends of nanomedicines, emerging nanocarriers, in vivo fate and safety of nanomedicines, and their extensive applications. Moreover, the potential challenges and the obstacles hindering the clinical translation of nanomedicines are also discussed. The elaboration on various aspects of the research trends of nanomedicines may help enlighten the readers and set the route for future endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyue Liu
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiahui Zou
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Zhongjian Chen
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Wei He
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
- Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Shanghai 201399, China
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
- Fudan Zhangjiang Institute, Shanghai 201203, China
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6
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Xu M, Li S. Nano-drug delivery system targeting tumor microenvironment: A prospective strategy for melanoma treatment. Cancer Lett 2023; 574:216397. [PMID: 37730105 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma, the most aggressive form of cutaneous malignancy arising from melanocytes, is frequently characterized by metastasis. Despite considerable progress in melanoma therapies, patients with advanced-stage disease often have a poor prognosis due to the limited efficacy, off-target effects, and toxicity associated with conventional drugs. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges with nanoparticles capable of delivering therapeutic agents specifically to the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the clinical approval of nanomedicines for melanoma treatment remains limited, necessitating further research to develop nanoparticles with improved biocompatibility and precise targeting capabilities. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the current research on nano-drug delivery systems for melanoma treatment, focusing on liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and inorganic nanoparticles. It discusses the potential of these nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery, as well as their ability to enhance the efficacy of conventional drugs while minimizing toxicity. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers from various fields to advance the development of nanomedicines. Overall, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians interested in the potential of nano-drug delivery systems for melanoma treatment and offers insights into future directions for research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdan Xu
- Department of Hematology and Breast Cancer, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang 110042, China
| | - Shenglong Li
- Second Ward of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang 110042, China; The Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research on Gastrointestinal Tumor Combining Medicine with Engineering, China.
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7
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Yao M, Liu X, Qian Z, Fan D, Sun X, Zhong L, Wu P. Research progress of nanovaccine in anti-tumor immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1211262. [PMID: 37692854 PMCID: PMC10484753 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1211262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor vaccines aim to activate dormant or unresponsive tumor-specific T lymphocytes by using tumor-specific or tumor-associated antigens, thus enhancing the body's natural defense against cancer. However, the effectiveness of tumor vaccines is limited by the presence of tumor heterogeneity, low immunogenicity, and immune evasion mechanisms. Fortunately, multifunctional nanoparticles offer a unique chance to address these issues. With the advantages of their small size, high stability, efficient drug delivery, and controlled surface chemistry, nanomaterials can precisely target tumor sites, improve the delivery of tumor antigens and immune adjuvants, reshape the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and enhance the body's anti-tumor immune response, resulting in improved efficacy and reduced side effects. Nanovaccine, a type of vaccine that uses nanotechnology to deliver antigens and adjuvants to immune cells, has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy due to its ability to stimulate immune responses and induce tumor-specific immunity. In this review, we discussed the compositions and types of nanovaccine, and the mechanisms behind their anti-tumor effects based on the latest research. We hope that this will provide a more scientific basis for designing tumor vaccines and enhancing the effectiveness of tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Zhangbo Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Dianfa Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xinjun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Liping Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Pan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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Ren H, Jia W, Xie Y, Yu M, Chen Y. Adjuvant physiochemistry and advanced nanotechnology for vaccine development. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:5172-5254. [PMID: 37462107 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00848c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines comprising innovative adjuvants are rapidly reaching advanced translational stages, such as the authorized nanotechnology adjuvants in mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 worldwide, offering new strategies to effectively combat diseases threatening human health. Adjuvants are vital ingredients in vaccines, which can augment the degree, extensiveness, and longevity of antigen specific immune response. The advances in the modulation of physicochemical properties of nanoplatforms elevate the capability of adjuvants in initiating the innate immune system and adaptive immunity, offering immense potential for developing vaccines against hard-to-target infectious diseases and cancer. In this review, we provide an essential introduction of the basic principles of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination, key roles of adjuvants in augmenting and shaping immunity to achieve desired outcomes and effectiveness, and the physiochemical properties and action mechanisms of clinically approved adjuvants for humans. We particularly focus on the preclinical and clinical progress of highly immunogenic emerging nanotechnology adjuvants formulated in vaccines for cancer treatment or infectious disease prevention. We deliberate on how the immune system can sense and respond to the physicochemical cues (e.g., chirality, deformability, solubility, topology, and chemical structures) of nanotechnology adjuvants incorporated in the vaccines. Finally, we propose possible strategies to accelerate the clinical implementation of nanotechnology adjuvanted vaccines, such as in-depth elucidation of nano-immuno interactions, antigen identification and optimization by the deployment of high-dimensional multiomics analysis approaches, encouraging close collaborations among scientists from different scientific disciplines and aggressive exploration of novel nanotechnologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongze Ren
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China.
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Wencong Jia
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China.
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Yujie Xie
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China.
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Meihua Yu
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China.
| | - Yu Chen
- Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China.
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
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Zhang MH, Scotland BL, Jiao Y, Slaby EM, Truong N, Cottingham AL, Stephanie G, Szeto GL, Pearson RM. Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles Utilize B Cells and Dendritic Cells to Elicit Distinct Antigen-Specific CD4 + and CD8 + T Cell Responses. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023:10.1021/acsabm.3c00229. [PMID: 37219857 PMCID: PMC10665545 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00229] [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] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are widely studied for treating immune-mediated diseases, and dendritic cells (DCs) are potent APCs that uptake and present antigens (Ags). However, DCs face several challenges that hinder their clinical translation due to their inability to control Ag dosing and low abundance in peripheral blood. B cells are a potential alternative to DCs, but their poor nonspecific Ag uptake capabilities compromise controllable priming of T cells. Here, we developed phospholipid-conjugated Ags (L-Ags) and lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (L/P-Ag NPs) as delivery platforms to expand the range of accessible APCs for use in T cell priming. These delivery platforms were evaluated using DCs, CD40-activated B cells, and resting B cells to understand the impacts of various Ag delivery mechanisms for generation of Ag-specific T cell responses. L-Ag delivery (termed depoting) of MHC class I- and II-restricted Ags successfully loaded all APC types in a tunable manner and primed both Ag-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, respectively. Incorporating L-Ags and polymer-conjugated Ags (P-Ag) into NPs can direct Ags to different uptake pathways to engineer the dynamics of presentation and shape T cell responses. DCs were capable of processing and presenting Ag delivered from both L- and P-Ag NPs, yet B cells could only utilize Ag delivered from L-Ag NPs, which led to differential cytokine secretion profiles in coculture studies. Altogether, we show that L-Ags and P-Ags can be rationally paired within a single NP to leverage distinct delivery mechanisms to access multiple Ag processing pathways in two APC types, offering a modular delivery platform for engineering Ag-specific immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H. Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250
- Co-first authors
| | - Brianna L. Scotland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201
- Co-first authors
| | - Yun Jiao
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250
| | - Emily M. Slaby
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250
| | - Nhu Truong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Andrea L. Cottingham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Georgina Stephanie
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250
| | - Gregory L. Szeto
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250
- Allen Institute for Immunology, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Ryan M. Pearson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201
- University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21201
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201
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10
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Li Y, Li X, Yi J, Cao Y, Qin Z, Zhong Z, Yang W. Nanoparticle-Mediated STING Activation for Cancer Immunotherapy. Adv Healthc Mater 2023:e2300260. [PMID: 36905358 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
As the first line of host defense against pathogenic infections, innate immunity plays a key role in antitumor immunotherapy. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) (cGAS-STING) pathway has attracted much attention because of the secretion of various proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Many STING agonists have been identified and applied into preclinical or clinical trials for cancer immunotherapy. However, the fast excretion, low bioavailability, nonspecificity, and adverse effects of the small molecule STING agonists limit their therapeutic efficacy and in vivo application. Nanodelivery systems with appropriate size, charge, and surface modification are capable of addressing these dilemmas. In this review, the mechanism of the cGAS-STING pathway is discussed and the STING agonists, focusing on nanoparticle-mediated STING therapy and combined therapy for cancers, are summarized. Finally, the future direction and challenges of nano-STING therapy are expounded, emphasizing the pivotal scientific problems and technical bottlenecks and hoping to provide general guidance for its clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjuan Li
- Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.,The Center of Infection and Immunity, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Xinyan Li
- Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.,The Center of Infection and Immunity, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Jinmeng Yi
- Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.,The Center of Infection and Immunity, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Yongjian Cao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Zhihai Qin
- Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.,The Center of Infection and Immunity, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhong
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Weijing Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
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11
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Wu Y, Feng L. Biomaterials-assisted construction of neoantigen vaccines for personalized cancer immunotherapy. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2023; 20:323-333. [PMID: 36634017 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2168640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cancer vaccine represents a promising strategy toward personalized immunotherapy, and its therapeutic potency highly relies on the specificity of tumor antigens. Among these extensively studied tumor antigens, neoantigens, a type of short synthetic peptides derived from random somatic mutations, have been shown to be able to elicit tumor-specific antitumor immune response for tumor suppression. However, challenges remain in the efficient and safe delivery of neoantigens to antigen-presenting cells inside lymph nodes for eliciting potent and sustained antitumor immune responses. The rapid advance of biomaterials including various nanomaterials, injectable hydrogels, and macroscopic scaffolds has been found to hold great promises to facilitate the construction of efficient cancer vaccines attributing to their high loading and controllable release capacities. AREAS COVERED In this review, we will summarize and discuss the recent advances in the utilization of different types of biomaterials to construct neoantigen-based cancer vaccines, followed by a simple perspective on the future development of such biomaterial-assisted cancer neoantigen vaccination and personalized immunotherapy. EXPERT OPINION These latest progresses in biomaterial-assisted cancer vaccinations have shown great promises in boosting substantially potentiated tumor-specific antitumor immunity to suppress tumor growth, thus preventing tumor metastasis and recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumin Wu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, PR China
| | - Liangzhu Feng
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, PR China
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12
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Bahreyni A, Mohamud Y, Luo H. Recent advancements in immunotherapy of melanoma using nanotechnology-based strategies. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 159:114243. [PMID: 36641926 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114243] [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: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a malignant tumor that accounts for the deadliest form of skin cancers. Despite the significant efforts made recently for development of immunotherapeutic strategies including using immune checkpoint inhibitors and cancer vaccines, the clinical outcomes are unsatisfying. Different factors affect efficient cancer immunotherapy such as side-effects, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and tumor heterogeneity. In the past decades, various nanotechnology-based approaches have been developed to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, in addition to diminishing the toxicity associated with it. Several studies have shown that proper application of nanomaterials can revolutionize the outcome of immunotherapy in diverse melanoma models. This review summarizes the recent advancement in the integration of nanotechnology and cancer immunotherapy in melanoma treatment. The importance of nanomaterials and their therapeutic advantages for patients with melanoma are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Bahreyni
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Yasir Mohamud
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Honglin Luo
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
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13
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Emerging Trends in Nano-Driven Immunotherapy for Treatment of Cancer. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020458. [PMID: 36851335 PMCID: PMC9968063 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advancements in the development of anticancer medications and therapies, cancer still has the greatest fatality rate due to a dismal prognosis. Traditional cancer therapies include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy. The conventional treatments have a number of shortcomings, such as a lack of selectivity, non-specific cytotoxicity, suboptimal drug delivery to tumour locations, and multi-drug resistance, which results in a less potent/ineffective therapeutic outcome. Cancer immunotherapy is an emerging and promising strategy to elicit a pronounced immune response against cancer. Immunotherapy stimulates the immune system with cancer-specific antigens or immune checkpoint inhibitors to overcome the immune suppressive tumour microenvironment and kill the cancer cells. However, delivery of the antigen or immune checkpoint inhibitors and activation of the immune response need to circumvent the issues pertaining to short lifetimes and effect times, as well as adverse effects associated with off-targeting, suboptimal, or hyperactivation of the immune system. Additional challenges posed by the tumour suppressive microenvironment are less tumour immunogenicity and the inhibition of effector T cells. The evolution of nanotechnology in recent years has paved the way for improving treatment efficacy by facilitating site-specific and sustained delivery of the therapeutic moiety to elicit a robust immune response. The amenability of nanoparticles towards surface functionalization and tuneable physicochemical properties, size, shape, and surfaces charge have been successfully harnessed for immunotherapy, as well as combination therapy, against cancer. In this review, we have summarized the recent advancements made in choosing different nanomaterial combinations and their modifications made to enable their interaction with different molecular and cellular targets for efficient immunotherapy. This review also highlights recent trends in immunotherapy strategies to be used independently, as well as in combination, for the destruction of cancer cells, as well as prevent metastasis and recurrence.
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14
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Yang X, Wei Y, Zheng L, You J, Li H, Gao L, Gong C, Yi C. Polyethyleneimine-based immunoadjuvants for designing cancer vaccines. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:8166-8180. [PMID: 36217765 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb01358d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive efforts to improve the effectiveness of cancer vaccines, the lack of immunogenicity remains an issue. Adjuvants are required to enhance the immunogenicity of antigens and activate the immune response. However, only a few adjuvants with acceptable toxicity have sufficient potency for use in cancer vaccines, necessitating the discovery of potent adjuvants. The most well-known cationic polymer polyethyleneimine (PEI) acts as a carrier for delivering antigens, and as an immunoadjuvant for enhancing the innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, we have summarized PEI-based adjuvants and discussed how to improve and boost the immune response to vaccines. We further focused on PEI-based adjuvants in cancer vaccines. Finally, we have proposed the potential challenges and future issues of PEI-based adjuvants to elicit the effectiveness of cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Yang
- Division of Radiotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yuanfeng Wei
- Division of Radiotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Lingnan Zheng
- Division of Radiotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Jia You
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Huawei Li
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Gao
- Department of Health Ward, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Changyang Gong
- Division of Radiotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Cheng Yi
- Division of Radiotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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15
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Abdelgalil RM, Elmorshedy YM, Elkhodairy KA, Teleb M, Bekhit AA, Khattab SN, Elzoghby AO. Engineered nanomedicines for augmenting the efficacy of colorectal cancer immunotherapy. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2022; 17:1721-1745. [PMID: 36621872 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2022-0214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most devastating diseases worldwide. Immunotherapeutic agents for CRC treatment have shown limited efficacy due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). In this context, various types of nanoparticles (NPs) have been used to reverse the immunosuppressive TME, potentiate the effect of immunotherapeutic agents and reduce their systemic side effects. Many advantages could be offered by NPs, related to drug-loading efficiency, particle size and others that can potentially aid the delivery of immunotherapeutic agents. The recent research on how nano-based immunotherapy can remodel the immunosuppressive TME of CRC and hence boost the antitumor immune response, as well as the challenges that face clinical translation of NPs and future perspectives, are summarized in this review article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riham M Abdelgalil
- Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt.,Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Yomna M Elmorshedy
- Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt.,Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Kadria A Elkhodairy
- Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt.,Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Teleb
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Adnan A Bekhit
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt.,Pharmacy Program, Allied Health Department, College of Health & Sport Sciences, University of Bahrain, 32038, Riffa, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Sherine N Khattab
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ahmed O Elzoghby
- Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt.,Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521, Alexandria, Egypt.,Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA 02115, Boston, USA
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16
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Neoantigen Cancer Vaccines: Generation, Optimization, and Therapeutic Targeting Strategies. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020196. [PMID: 35214655 PMCID: PMC8877108 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternatives to conventional cancer treatments are highly sought after for high-risk malignancies that have a poor response to established treatment modalities. With research advancing rapidly in the past decade, neoantigen-based immunotherapeutic approaches represent an effective and highly tolerable therapeutic option. Neoantigens are tumor-specific antigens that are not expressed in normal cells and possess significant immunogenic potential. Several recent studies have described the conceptual framework and methodologies to generate neoantigen-based vaccines as well as the formulation of appropriate clinical trials to advance this approach for patient care. This review aims to describe some of the key studies in the recent literature in this rapidly evolving field and summarize the current advances in neoantigen identification and selection, vaccine generation and delivery, and the optimization of neoantigen-based therapeutic strategies, including the early data from pivotal clinical studies.
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