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Lautert-Dutra W, M Melo C, Chaves LP, Crozier C, P Saggioro F, B Dos Reis R, Bayani J, Bonatto SL, Squire JA. Loss of heterozygosity impacts MHC expression on the immune microenvironment in CDK12-mutated prostate cancer. Mol Cytogenet 2024; 17:11. [PMID: 38704603 PMCID: PMC11070094 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-024-00680-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In prostate cancer (PCa), well-established biomarkers such as MSI status, TMB high, and PDL1 expression serve as reliable indicators for favorable responses to immunotherapy. Recent studies have suggested a potential association between CDK12 mutations and immunotherapy response; however, the precise mechanisms through which CDK12 mutation may influence immune response remain unclear. A plausible explanation for immune evasion in this subset of CDK12-mutated PCa may be reduced MHC expression. RESULTS Using genomic data of CDK12-mutated PCa from 48 primary and 10 metastatic public domain samples and a retrospective cohort of 53 low-intermediate risk primary PCa, we investigated how variation in the expression of the MHC genes affected associated downstream pathways. We classified the patients based on gene expression quartiles of MHC-related genes and categorized the tumors into "High" and "Low" expression levels. CDK12-mutated tumors with higher MHC-expressed pathways were associated with the immune system and elevated PD-L1, IDO1, and TIM3 expression. Consistent with an inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) phenotype, digital cytometric analyses identified increased CD8 + T cells, B cells, γδ T cells, and M1 Macrophages in this group. In contrast, CDK12-mutated tumors with lower MHC expression exhibited features consistent with an immune cold TME phenotype and immunoediting. Significantly, low MHC expression was also associated with chromosome 6 loss of heterozygosity (LOH) affecting the entire HLA gene cluster. These LOH events were observed in both major clonal and minor subclonal populations of tumor cells. In our retrospective study of 53 primary PCa cases from this Institute, we found a 4% (2/53) prevalence of CDK12 mutations, with the confirmation of this defect in one tumor through Sanger sequencing. In keeping with our analysis of public domain data this tumor exhibited low MHC expression at the RNA level. More extensive studies will be required to determine whether reduced HLA expression is generally associated with primary tumors or is a specific feature of CDK12 mutated PCa. CONCLUSIONS These data show that analysis of CDK12 alteration, in the context of MHC expression levels, and LOH status may offer improved predictive value for outcomes in this potentially actionable genomic subgroup of PCa. In addition, these findings highlight the need to explore novel therapeutic strategies to enhance MHC expression in CDK12-defective PCa to improve immunotherapy responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Lautert-Dutra
- Department of Genetics, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil
| | - Camila M Melo
- Department of Genetics, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz P Chaves
- Department of Genetics, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil
| | - Cheryl Crozier
- Diagnostic Development, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fabiano P Saggioro
- Department of Pathology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo B Dos Reis
- Department of Pathology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, Brazil
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, Brazil
| | - Jane Bayani
- Diagnostic Development, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sandro L Bonatto
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul - PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 668, Porto Alegre, RS, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Jeremy A Squire
- Department of Genetics, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil.
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L3N6, Canada.
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Cannarile MA, Karanikas V, Reis B, Mancao C, Lagkadinou E, Rüttinger D, Rieder N, Ribeiro FR, Kao H, Dziadek S, Gomes B. Facts and Hopes on Biomarkers for Successful Early Clinical Immunotherapy Trials: Innovative Patient Enrichment Strategies. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:1448-1456. [PMID: 38100047 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-1530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Despite the clinical validation and unequivocal benefit to patients, the development of cancer immunotherapies is facing some key challenges and the attrition rate in early phases of development remains high. Identifying the appropriate patient population that would benefit most from the drug is on the critical path for successful clinical development. We believe that a systematic implementation of patient enrichment strategies early in the drug development process and trial design, is the basis for an innovative, more efficient, and leaner clinical development to achieve earlier a clear proof of concept or proof of failure. In this position article, we will describe and propose key considerations for the implementation of patient enrichment strategies as an opportunity to provide decision-enabling data earlier in the drug development process. We introduce an innovative multidimensional tool for immuno-oncology drug development that focuses on facilitating the identification and prioritization of enrichment-relevant biomarkers, based on the drug mechanism of action. To illustrate its utility, we discuss patient enrichment examples and use a case in the field of cancer immunotherapy, together with technical and regulatory considerations. Overall, we propose to implement fit for purpose enrichment strategies for all investigational drugs as early as possible in the development process. We believe that this will increase the success rate of immuno-oncology clinical trials, and eventually bring new and better medicines to patients faster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Cannarile
- Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Vaios Karanikas
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Reis
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Mancao
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eleni Lagkadinou
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominik Rüttinger
- Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Natascha Rieder
- Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Franclim R Ribeiro
- Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Henry Kao
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Dziadek
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Gomes
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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3
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Maia A, Tarannum M, Lérias JR, Piccinelli S, Borrego LM, Maeurer M, Romee R, Castillo-Martin M. Building a Better Defense: Expanding and Improving Natural Killer Cells for Adoptive Cell Therapy. Cells 2024; 13:451. [PMID: 38474415 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have gained attention as a promising adoptive cell therapy platform for their potential to improve cancer treatments. NK cells offer distinct advantages over T-cells, including major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-independent tumor recognition and low risk of toxicity, even in an allogeneic setting. Despite this tremendous potential, challenges persist, such as limited in vivo persistence, reduced tumor infiltration, and low absolute NK cell numbers. This review outlines several strategies aiming to overcome these challenges. The developed strategies include optimizing NK cell expansion methods and improving NK cell antitumor responses by cytokine stimulation and genetic manipulations. Using K562 cells expressing membrane IL-15 or IL-21 with or without additional activating ligands like 4-1BBL allows "massive" NK cell expansion and makes multiple cell dosing and "off-the-shelf" efforts feasible. Further improvements in NK cell function can be reached by inducing memory-like NK cells, developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells, or isolating NK-cell-based tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Memory-like NK cells demonstrate higher in vivo persistence and cytotoxicity, with early clinical trials demonstrating safety and promising efficacy. Recent trials using CAR-NK cells have also demonstrated a lack of any major toxicity, including cytokine release syndrome, and, yet, promising clinical activity. Recent data support that the presence of TIL-NK cells is associated with improved overall patient survival in different types of solid tumors such as head and neck, colorectal, breast, and gastric carcinomas, among the most significant. In conclusion, this review presents insights into the diverse strategies available for NK cell expansion, including the roles played by various cytokines, feeder cells, and culture material in influencing the activation phenotype, telomere length, and cytotoxic potential of expanded NK cells. Notably, genetically modified K562 cells have demonstrated significant efficacy in promoting NK cell expansion. Furthermore, culturing NK cells with IL-2 and IL-15 has been shown to improve expansion rates, while the presence of IL-12 and IL-21 has been linked to enhanced cytotoxic function. Overall, this review provides an overview of NK cell expansion methodologies, highlighting the current landscape of clinical trials and the key advancements to enhance NK-cell-based adoptive cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Maia
- Molecular and Experimental Pathology Laboratory, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mubin Tarannum
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joana R Lérias
- ImmunoTherapy/ImmunoSurgery, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara Piccinelli
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Luis Miguel Borrego
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), NOVA University of Lisbon, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
- Immunoallergy Department, Hospital da Luz, 1600-209 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Markus Maeurer
- ImmunoTherapy/ImmunoSurgery, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- I Medical Clinic, University of Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rizwan Romee
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mireia Castillo-Martin
- Molecular and Experimental Pathology Laboratory, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- Pathology Service, Champalimaud Clinical Center, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
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4
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Kwon MJ, Park HY, Lim H, Son IT, Kim MJ, Kim NY, Kim MJ, Nam ES, Cho SJ, Bang WJ, Kang HS. Potential Molecular Markers Related to Lymph Node Metastasis and Stalk Resection Margins in Pedunculated T1 Colorectal Cancers Using Digital Spatial Profiling: A Pilot Study with a Small Case Series. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1103. [PMID: 38256174 PMCID: PMC10816845 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021103] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a debate regarding the prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in pedunculated T1 colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study with four cases of pedunculated T1 CRCs, we aimed to investigate gene expression variations based on the distance from the Haggitt line (HL) and identify potential molecular risk factors for LNM. By leveraging the Cancer Transcriptome Atlas and digital spatial profiling technology, we meticulously analyzed discrete regions, including the head, HL, proximal stalk region (300-1000 μm from HL), and distal stalk region (1500-2000 μm from HL) to identify spatially sequential molecular changes. Our findings showed significant overall gene expression variations among the head, proximal stalk, and distal stalk regions of pedunculated T1 CRCs compared to the control adenoma. Compared to LNM-negative T1 CRCs, LNM-positive T1 CRC showed that the expression of genes involved in immune-related pathways such as B2M, HLA-B, and HLA-E were significantly downregulated in the distal stalk region compared to the proximal stalk region. In summary, our results may tentatively suggest considering endoscopic resection of the stalk with a minimum 2000 μm margin from the HL, taking into account the gene expression alterations related to immune-related pathways. However, we acknowledge the limitations of this pilot study, notably the small case series, which may restrict the depth of interpretation. Further validation is imperative to substantiate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Jung Kwon
- Department of Pathology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea;
| | - Ha Young Park
- Department of Pathology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Lim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Il Tae Son
- Department of Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Jeong Kim
- Department of Radiology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Nan Young Kim
- Hallym Institute of Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jeong Kim
- Department of Surgery, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Gangdong-gu, Seoul 05355, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Sook Nam
- Department of Pathology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Gangdong-gu, Seoul 05355, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Jin Cho
- Department of Pathology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Gangdong-gu, Seoul 05355, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Jin Bang
- Department of Urology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Suk Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
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5
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Yakubovich E, Cook DP, Rodriguez GM, Vanderhyden BC. Mesenchymal ovarian cancer cells promote CD8 + T cell exhaustion through the LGALS3-LAG3 axis. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2023; 9:61. [PMID: 38086828 PMCID: PMC10716312 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-023-00322-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells often metastasize by undergoing an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Although abundance of CD8+ T-cells in the tumor microenvironment correlates with improved survival, mesenchymal cancer cells acquire greater resistance to antitumor immunity in some cancers. We hypothesized the EMT modulates the immune response to ovarian cancer. Here we show that cancer cells from infiltrated/inflamed tumors possess more mesenchymal cells, than excluded and desert tumors. We also noted high expression of LGALS3 is associated with EMT in vivo, a finding validated with in vitro EMT models. Dissecting the cellular communications among populations in the tumor revealed that mesenchymal cancer cells in infiltrated tumors communicate through LGALS3 to LAG3 receptor expressed by CD8+ T cells. We found CD8+ T cells express high levels of LAG3, a marker of T cell exhaustion. The results indicate that EMT in ovarian cancer cells promotes interactions between cancer cells and T cells through the LGALS3 - LAG3 axis, which could increase T cell exhaustion in infiltrated tumors, dampening antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Yakubovich
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Center for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - David P Cook
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Galaxia M Rodriguez
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Center for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Barbara C Vanderhyden
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Center for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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6
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Olejarz W, Basak G. Emerging Therapeutic Targets and Drug Resistance Mechanisms in Immunotherapy of Hematological Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5765. [PMID: 38136311 PMCID: PMC10741639 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245765] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies with high remission rates in the case of ALL and NHL. This therapy has some limitations such as long manufacturing periods, persistent restricted cell sources and high costs. Moreover, combination regimens increase the risk of immune-related adverse events, so the identification new therapeutic targets is important to minimize the risk of toxicities and to guide more effective approaches. Cancer cells employ several mechanisms to evade immunosurveillance, which causes resistance to immunotherapy; therefore, a very important therapeutic approach is to focus on the development of rational combinations of targeted therapies with non-overlapping toxicities. Recent progress in the development of new inhibitory clusters of differentiation (CDs), signaling pathway molecules, checkpoint inhibitors, and immunosuppressive cell subsets and factors in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has significantly improved anticancer responses. Novel strategies regarding combination immunotherapies with CAR-T cells are the most promising approach to cure cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wioletta Olejarz
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
- Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Basak
- Department of Hematology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland;
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7
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Meng Z, Rodriguez Ehrenfried A, Tan CL, Steffens LK, Kehm H, Zens S, Lauenstein C, Paul A, Schwab M, Förster JD, Salek M, Riemer AB, Wu H, Eckert C, Leonhardt CS, Strobel O, Volkmar M, Poschke I, Offringa R. Transcriptome-based identification of tumor-reactive and bystander CD8 + T cell receptor clonotypes in human pancreatic cancer. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadh9562. [PMID: 37967201 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh9562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is generally refractory to immune checkpoint blockade, although patients with genetically unstable tumors can show modest therapeutic benefit. We previously demonstrated the presence of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells in PDAC samples. Here, we charted the tumor-infiltrating T cell repertoire in PDAC by combining single-cell transcriptomics with functional testing of T cell receptors (TCRs) for reactivity against autologous tumor cells. On the basis of a comprehensive dataset including 93 tumor-reactive and 65 bystander TCR clonotypes, we delineated a gene signature that effectively distinguishes between these T cell subsets in PDAC, as well as in other tumor indications. This revealed a high frequency of tumor-reactive TCR clonotypes in three genetically unstable samples. In contrast, the T cell repertoire in six genetically stable PDAC tumors was largely dominated by bystander T cells. Nevertheless, multiple tumor-reactive TCRs were successfully identified in each of these samples, thereby providing a perspective for personalized immunotherapy in this treatment-resistant indication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zibo Meng
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Sino-German Laboratory of Personalized Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430022 Wuhan, China
| | - Aaron Rodriguez Ehrenfried
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Translational Oncology by DKFZ (HI-TRON), 55131 Mainz, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chin Leng Tan
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura K Steffens
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hannes Kehm
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Zens
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Claudia Lauenstein
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alina Paul
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marius Schwab
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas D Förster
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Immunotherapy & Immunoprevention, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Vaccine Design, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mogjiborahman Salek
- Division of Immunotherapy & Immunoprevention, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Vaccine Design, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Angelika B Riemer
- Division of Immunotherapy & Immunoprevention, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Vaccine Design, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Heshui Wu
- Sino-German Laboratory of Personalized Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430022 Wuhan, China
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430022 Wuhan, China
| | - Christoph Eckert
- Pathology Institute, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carl-Stephan Leonhardt
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Strobel
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Volkmar
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Translational Oncology by DKFZ (HI-TRON), 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Isabel Poschke
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Immune Monitoring Unit, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rienk Offringa
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Sino-German Laboratory of Personalized Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430022 Wuhan, China
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8
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Mohammadzadeh V, Rahiman N, Cabral H, Quader S, Zirak MR, Taghavizadeh Yazdi ME, Jaafari MR, Alavizadeh SH. Poly-γ-glutamic acid nanoparticles as adjuvant and antigen carrier system for cancer vaccination. J Control Release 2023; 362:278-296. [PMID: 37640110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination is an innovative strategy for cancer treatment by leveraging various components of the patients' immunity to boost an anti-tumor immune response. Rationally designed nanoparticles are well suited to maximize cancer vaccination by the inclusion of immune stimulatory adjuvants. Also, nanoparticles might control the pharmacokinetics and destination of the immune potentiating compounds. Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) based nanoparticles (NPs), which have a natural origin, can be easily taken up by dendritic cells (DCs), which leads to the secretion of cytokines which ameliorates the stimulation capacity of T cells. The intrinsic adjuvant properties and antigen carrier properties of γ-PGA NPs have been the focus of recent investigations as they can modulate the tumor microenvironment, can contribute to systemic anti-tumor immunity and subsequently inhibit tumor growth. This review provides a comprehensive overview on the potential of γ-PGA NPs as antigen carriers and/or adjuvants for anti-cancer vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahideh Mohammadzadeh
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Niloufar Rahiman
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Horacio Cabral
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Sabina Quader
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Mohammad Reza Zirak
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Mahmoud Reza Jaafari
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Hoda Alavizadeh
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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9
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Wang Y, Jasinski-Bergner S, Wickenhauser C, Seliger B. Cancer Immunology: Immune Escape of Tumors-Expression and Regulation of HLA Class I Molecules and Its Role in Immunotherapies. Adv Anat Pathol 2023; 30:148-159. [PMID: 36517481 DOI: 10.1097/pap.0000000000000389] [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: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The addition of "avoiding immune destruction" to the hallmarks of cancer demonstrated the importance of cancer immunology and in particular the role of immune surveillance and escape from malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms contributing to immune impairment and immune responses are diverse. Loss or reduced expression of the HLA class I molecules are major characteristics of human cancers resulting in an impaired recognition of tumor cells by CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This is of clinical relevance and associated with worse patients outcome and limited efficacy of T-cell-based immunotherapies. Here, we summarize the role of HLA class I antigens in cancers by focusing on the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for HLA class I defects, which are caused by either structural alterations or deregulation at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational levels. In addition, the influence of HLA class I abnormalities to adaptive and acquired immunotherapy resistances will be described. The in-depth knowledge of the different strategies of malignancies leading to HLA class I defects can be applied to design more effective cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Jasinski-Bergner
- Institute of Medical Immunology
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Medical School "Theodor Fontane", Brandenburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Wickenhauser
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale)
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology
- Department of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Development & Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) Design, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, GermanyLeipzig, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Medical School "Theodor Fontane", Brandenburg, Germany
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10
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Tímár J, Honn KV, Hendrix MJC, Marko-Varga G, Jalkanen S. Newly identified form of phenotypic plasticity of cancer: immunogenic mimicry. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:323-334. [PMID: 36754910 PMCID: PMC10014767 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10087-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer plasticity is now a recognized new hallmark of cancer which is due to disturbances of cell differentiation programs. It is manifested not only in various forms like the best-known epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) but also in vasculogenic and megakaryocytic mimicries regulated by EMT-specific or less-specific transcription factors such as HIF1a or STAT1/2. Studies in the past decades provided ample data that cancer plasticity can be manifested also in the expression of a vast array of immune cell genes; best-known examples are PDL1/CD274, CD47, or IDO, and we termed it immunogenic mimicry (IGM). However, unlike other types of plasticities which are epigenetically regulated, expression of IGM genes are frequently due to gene amplifications. It is important that the majority of the IGM genes are regulated by interferons (IFNs) suggesting that their protein expressions are regulated by the immune microenvironment. Most of the IGM genes have been shown to be involved in immune escape of cancers broadening the repertoire of these mechanisms and offering novel targets for immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- József Tímár
- Department of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Kenneth V Honn
- Departments of Pathology, Oncology and Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.,Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Mary J C Hendrix
- Department of Biology, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, USA
| | - György Marko-Varga
- Clinical Protein Science and Imaging, Biomedical Centre, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sirpa Jalkanen
- Medicity Research Laboratories, Turku, Finland.,InFLAMES Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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11
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Ziogas DC, Theocharopoulos C, Koutouratsas T, Haanen J, Gogas H. Mechanisms of resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma: What we have to overcome? Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 113:102499. [PMID: 36542945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Marching into the second decade after the approval of ipilimumab, it is clear that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically improved the prognosis of melanoma. Although the current edge is already high, with a 4-year OS% of 77.9% for adjuvant nivolumab and a 6.5-year OS% of 49% for nivolumab/ipilimumab combination in the metastatic setting, a high proportion of patients with advanced melanoma have no benefit from immunotherapy, or experience an early disease relapse/progression in the first few months of treatment, surviving much less. Reasonably, the primary and acquired resistance to ICIs has entered into the focus of clinical research with positive (e.g., nivolumab and relatlimab combination) and negative feedbacks (e.g., nivolumab with pegylated-IL2, pembrolizumab with T-VEC, nivolumab with epacadostat, and combinatorial triplets of BRAF/MEK inhibitors with immunotherapy). Many intrinsic (intracellular or intra-tumoral) but also extrinsic (systematic) events are considered to be involved in the development of this resistance to ICIs: i) melanoma cell immunogenicity (e.g., tumor mutational burden, antigen-processing machinery and immunogenic cell death, neoantigen affinity and heterogeneity, genomic instability, melanoma dedifferentiation and phenotypic plasticity), ii) immune cell trafficking, T-cell priming, and cell death evasion, iii) melanoma neovascularization, cellular TME components(e.g., Tregs, CAFs) and extracellular matrix modulation, iv) metabolic antagonism in the TME(highly glycolytic status, upregulated CD39/CD73/adenosine pathway, iDO-dependent tryptophan catabolism), v) T-cell exhaustion and negative immune checkpoints, and vi) gut microbiota. In the present overview, we discuss how these parameters compromise the efficacy of ICIs, with an emphasis on the lessons learned by the latest melanoma studies; and in parallel, we describe the main ongoing approaches to overcome the resistance to immunotherapy. Summarizing this information will improve the understanding of how these complicated dynamics contribute to immune escape and will help to develop more effective strategies on how anti-tumor immunity can surpass existing barriers of ICI-refractory melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios C Ziogas
- First Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
| | - Charalampos Theocharopoulos
- First Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
| | - Tilemachos Koutouratsas
- First Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
| | - John Haanen
- Division of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Helen Gogas
- First Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
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12
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Prognostic Implications of the Residual Tumor Microenvironment after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients without Pathological Complete Response. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030597. [PMID: 36765559 PMCID: PMC9913578 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030597] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
With a high risk of relapse and death, and a poor or absent response to therapeutics, the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype is particularly challenging, especially in patients who cannot achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Although the tumor microenvironment (TME) is known to influence disease progression and the effectiveness of therapeutics, its predictive and prognostic potential remains uncertain. This work aimed to define the residual TME profile after NAC of a retrospective cohort with 96 TNBC patients by immunohistochemical staining (cell markers) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (genetic markers). Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate the influence of the selected TME markers on five-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) probabilities. The risks of each variable being associated with relapse and death were determined through univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. We describe a unique tumor-infiltrating immune profile with high levels of lymphocytes (CD4, FOXP3) and dendritic cells (CD21, CD1a and CD83) that are valuable prognostic factors in post-NAC TNBC patients. Our study also demonstrates the value of considering not only cellular but also genetic TME markers such as MUC-1 and CXCL13 in routine clinical diagnosis to refine prognosis modelling.
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13
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Tietscher S, Wagner J, Anzeneder T, Langwieder C, Rees M, Sobottka B, de Souza N, Bodenmiller B. A comprehensive single-cell map of T cell exhaustion-associated immune environments in human breast cancer. Nat Commun 2023; 14:98. [PMID: 36609566 PMCID: PMC9822999 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35238-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapy in breast cancer remains restricted to triple negative patients, and long-term clinical benefit is rare. The primary aim of immune checkpoint blockade is to prevent or reverse exhausted T cell states, but T cell exhaustion in breast tumors is not well understood. Here, we use single-cell transcriptomics combined with imaging mass cytometry to systematically study immune environments of human breast tumors that either do or do not contain exhausted T cells, with a focus on luminal subtypes. We find that the presence of a PD-1high exhaustion-like T cell phenotype is associated with an inflammatory immune environment with a characteristic cytotoxic profile, increased myeloid cell activation, evidence for elevated immunomodulatory, chemotactic, and cytokine signaling, and accumulation of natural killer T cells. Tumors harboring exhausted-like T cells show increased expression of MHC-I on tumor cells and of CXCL13 on T cells, as well as altered spatial organization with more immature rather than mature tertiary lymphoid structures. Our data reveal fundamental differences between immune environments with and without exhausted T cells within luminal breast cancer, and show that expression of PD-1 and CXCL13 on T cells, and MHC-I - but not PD-L1 - on tumor cells are strong distinguishing features between these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Tietscher
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Life Science Zurich Graduate School, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Wagner
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Division of Translational Medical Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Bettina Sobottka
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Natalie de Souza
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Bodenmiller
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Institute for Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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14
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Targeted nanomedicines remodeling immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment for enhanced cancer immunotherapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:4327-4347. [PMID: 36561994 PMCID: PMC9764075 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has significantly flourished and revolutionized the limited conventional tumor therapies, on account of its good safety and long-term memory ability. Discouragingly, low patient response rates and potential immune-related side effects make it rather challenging to literally bring immunotherapy from bench to bedside. However, it has become evident that, although the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in facilitating tumor progression and metastasis, it also provides various potential targets for remodeling the immunosuppressive TME, which can consequently bolster the effectiveness of antitumor response and tumor suppression. Additionally, the particular characteristics of TME, in turn, can be exploited as avenues for designing diverse precise targeting nanomedicines. In general, it is of urgent necessity to deliver nanomedicines for remodeling the immunosuppressive TME, thus improving the therapeutic outcomes and clinical translation prospects of immunotherapy. Herein, we will illustrate several formation mechanisms of immunosuppressive TME. More importantly, a variety of strategies concerning remodeling immunosuppressive TME and strengthening patients' immune systems, will be reviewed. Ultimately, we will discuss the existing obstacles and future perspectives in the development of antitumor immunotherapy. Hopefully, the thriving bloom of immunotherapy will bring vibrancy to further exploration of comprehensive cancer treatment.
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15
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Aptsiauri N, Garrido F. The Challenges of HLA Class I Loss in Cancer Immunotherapy: Facts and Hopes. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:5021-5029. [PMID: 35861868 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-3501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
HLA class I molecules are key in tumor recognition and T cell-mediated elimination. Loss of tumor HLA class I expression with different underlying molecular defects results in reduced antigen presentation and facilitates cancer immune evasion. It is also linked to significant changes in tumor microenvironment and tissue architecture. In this review, we summarize the current advances and future perspectives in the understanding of the mechanisms of MHC/HLA class I alterations during the natural history of tumor progression from a primary lesion to distant metastases. We also focus on recent clinical and experimental data demonstrating that lack of response to cancer immunotherapy frequently depends on the molecular nature of tumor HLA class I aberrations. Finally, we highlight the relevance of detecting and correcting the absence of tumor HLA expression to improve immunotherapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Aptsiauri
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology III and Immunology, University of Granada Medical School, Granada, Spain.,Institute of Biosanitary Research of Granada (IBS), Granada, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology III and Immunology, University of Granada Medical School, Granada, Spain.,Institute of Biosanitary Research of Granada (IBS), Granada, Spain
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16
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Schoutrop E, Moyano-Galceran L, Lheureux S, Mattsson J, Lehti K, Dahlstrand H, Magalhaes I. Molecular, cellular and systemic aspects of epithelial ovarian cancer and its tumor microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:207-223. [PMID: 35395389 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer encompasses a heterogeneous group of malignancies that involve the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the peritoneal cavity. Despite major advances made within the field of cancer, the majority of patients with ovarian cancer are still being diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease due to lack of effective screening tools. The overall survival of these patients has, therefore, not substantially improved over the past decades. Most patients undergo debulking surgery and treatment with chemotherapy, but often micrometastases remain and acquire resistance to the therapy, eventually leading to disease recurrence. Here, we summarize the current knowledge in epithelial ovarian cancer development and metastatic progression. For the most common subtypes, we focus further on the properties and functions of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, including the extracellular matrix. Current and future treatment modalities are discussed and finally we provide an overview of the different experimental models used to develop novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Schoutrop
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lidia Moyano-Galceran
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stephanie Lheureux
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonas Mattsson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Gloria and Seymour Epstein Chair in Cell Therapy and Transplantation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kaisa Lehti
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Hanna Dahlstrand
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Medical unit Pelvic Cancer, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Isabelle Magalhaes
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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17
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Li Z, Duan Y, Ke Q, Wang M, Cen H, Zhu X. Gene set-based identification of two immune subtypes of diffuse large B cell lymphoma for guiding immune checkpoint blocking therapy. Front Genet 2022; 13:1000460. [PMID: 36276947 PMCID: PMC9585251 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1000460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common lymphoma in adults. Tumour microenvironment is closely related to tumour prognosis and immune checkpoint blocking therapy (ICBT). This study aimed to investigate the immunological and prognostic characteristics of the tumour microenvironment (TME), as well as the regulatory mechanisms. Methods: Gene expression profiles and clinical data of patients with DLBCL were obtained from GEO database. ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA analyses were used to explore microenvironment characteristics and regulatory mechanism of the immune subtypes, which were identified by consistent clustering. The differences in enriched pathways were showed by GSEA. Hub genes associated with CD8+ T cells, which were identified by WCGNA, were exhibited biological functions through GO and KEGG. Immune-related gene scores (IRGSs) based on hub genes were used to evaluate the prediction of immune subtypes and ICBT, and retrospective analysis was used for validation. Finally, prognostic genes were screened to construct risk models. Results: Consensus clustering divided patients with DLBCL into two subtypes with significant heterogeneities in prognosis and immune microenvironment. Low immune infiltration was associated with poor prognosis. Subtype C1 with high immune infiltration was enriched in multiple immune pathways. We observed that two common mutated genes (B2M and EZH2) in DLBCL were closely related to MHC-I and microenvironment. Our further analysis manifested that MYD88L265P may be the main cause of TLR signalling pathway activation in subtype C1. Hub genes (SH2D1A, CD8A, GBP2, ITK, CD3D, RORA, IL1R2, CD28, CD247, CD3G, PRKCQ, CXCR6, and CD3E) in relation with CD8+ T cells were used to establish IRGS, which was proved an accurate predictor of immune subtypes, and patients in high-IRGS group were more likely to benefit from ICBT. Retrospective analysis showed that absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) was higher in the group that responded to the PD-1 inhibitor. Finally, the risk model was constructed based on two genes (CD3G and CD3D), and the low-risk group showed better prognosis. Conclusion: DLBCL immune classifications with highly heterogeneity are a powerful predictor of prognosis and ICBT. The IRGS is proved to be a reliable tool to distinguish immune subtypes as a substitute for gene expression profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Li
- Department of Haematology/Oncology and Paediatric Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Ying Duan
- Department of Haematology/Oncology and Paediatric Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Qing Ke
- Department of Haematology/Oncology and Paediatric Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Mingyue Wang
- Department of Haematology/Oncology and Paediatric Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Hong Cen
- Department of Haematology/Oncology and Paediatric Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Cen, ; Xiaodong Zhu,
| | - Xiaodong Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Wuming Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Cen, ; Xiaodong Zhu,
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18
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Yamada Y, Sato Y, Nakamura T, Harashima H. Innovative cancer nanomedicine based on immunology, gene editing, intracellular trafficking control. J Control Release 2022; 348:357-369. [PMID: 35623492 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.05.033] [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: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The recent rapid progress in the area of drug delivery systems (DDS) has opened a new era in medicine with a strong linkage to understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with cancer survival. In this review, we summarize new cancer strategies that have recently been developed based on our DDS technology. Cancer immunotherapy will be improved based on the concept of the cancer immunity cycle, which focuses on dynamic interactions between various types of cancer and immune cells in our body. The new technology of genome editing will also be discussed with reference to how these new DDS technologies can be used to introduce therapeutic cargoes into our body. Lastly, a new organelle, mitochondria will be the focus of creating a new cancer treatment strategy by a MITO-Porter which can deliver macromolecules directly to mitochondria of cancer cells via a membrane fusion approach and the impact of controlled intracellular trafficking will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuma Yamada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Fusion Oriented REsearch for disruptive Science and Technology (FOREST) Program, Japan
| | - Yusuke Sato
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakamura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Hideyoshi Harashima
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
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19
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Shin HG, Yang HR, Yoon A, Lee S. Bispecific Antibody-Based Immune-Cell Engagers and Their Emerging Therapeutic Targets in Cancer Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5686. [PMID: 35628495 PMCID: PMC9146966 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. Harnessing the power of immune cells is a promising strategy to improve the antitumor effect of cancer immunotherapy. Recent progress in recombinant DNA technology and antibody engineering has ushered in a new era of bispecific antibody (bsAb)-based immune-cell engagers (ICEs), including T- and natural-killer-cell engagers. Since the first approval of blinatumomab by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), various bsAb-based ICEs have been developed for the effective treatment of patients with cancer. Simultaneously, several potential therapeutic targets of bsAb-based ICEs have been identified in various cancers. Therefore, this review focused on not only highlighting the action mechanism, design and structure, and status of bsAb-based ICEs in clinical development and their approval by the US FDA for human malignancy treatment, but also on summarizing the currently known and emerging therapeutic targets in cancer. This review provides insights into practical considerations for developing next-generation ICEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Gyeong Shin
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Korea; (H.G.S.); (H.R.Y.)
| | - Ha Rim Yang
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Korea; (H.G.S.); (H.R.Y.)
| | - Aerin Yoon
- R&D Division, GC Biopharma, Yongin 16924, Korea
| | - Sukmook Lee
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Korea; (H.G.S.); (H.R.Y.)
- Biopharmaceutical Chemistry Major, School of Applied Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Korea
- Antibody Research Institute, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Korea
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20
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Paschen A, Melero I, Ribas A. Central Role of the Antigen-Presentation and Interferon-γ Pathways in Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CANCER BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cancerbio-070220-111016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to immunotherapy is due in some instances to the acquired stealth mechanisms of tumor cells that lose expression of MHC class I antigen–presenting molecules or downregulate their class I antigen–presentation pathways. Most dramatically, biallelic β2-microglobulin (B2M) loss leads to complete loss of MHC class I expression and to invisibility to CD8+ T cells. MHC class I expression and antigen presentation are potently upregulated by interferon-γ (IFNγ) in a manner that depends on IFNγ receptor (IFNGR) signaling via JAK1 and JAK2. Mutations in these molecules lead to IFNγ unresponsiveness and mediate loss of recognition and killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Loss of MHC class I augments sensitivity of tumor cells to be killed by natural killer (NK) lymphocytes, and this mechanism could be exploited to revert resistance, for instance, with interleukin-2 (IL-2)-based agents. Moreover, in some experimental models,potent local type I interferon responses, such as those following intratumoral injection of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) or TLR3 agonists, revert resistance due to mutations of JAKs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Paschen
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Ignacio Melero
- University Clinic of Navarre (CUN) and Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERONC (Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer), Madrid, Spain
| | - Antoni Ribas
- Department of Medicine, Department of Surgery, and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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21
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Fei F, Rong L, Jiang N, Wayne AS, Xie J. Targeting HLA-DR loss in hematologic malignancies with an inhibitory chimeric antigen receptor. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1215-1226. [PMID: 34801727 PMCID: PMC8899520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cells have remarkable cytotoxicity against hematologic malignancies; however, they may also attack normal cells sharing the target antigen. Since human leukocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR) is reportedly lost or downregulated in a substantial proportion of hematologic malignancies, presumably a mechanism to escape immune surveillance, we hypothesize that the anti-cancer specificity of CAR-NK cells can be enhanced by activating them against cancer antigens while inhibiting them against HLA-DR. Here, we report the development of an anti-HLA-DR inhibitory CAR (iCAR) that can effectively suppress NK cell activation against HLA-DR-expressing cells. We show that dual CAR-NK cells, which co-express the anti-CD19 or CD33 activating CAR and the anti-HLA-DR iCAR, can preferentially target HLA-DR-negative cells over HLA-DR-positive cells in vitro. We find that the HLA-DR-mediated inhibition is positively correlated with both iCAR and HLA-DR densities. We also find that HLA-DR-expressing surrounding cells do not affect the target selectivity of dual CAR-NK cells. Finally, we confirm that HLA-DR-positive cells are resistant to dual CAR-NK cell-mediated killing in a xenograft mouse model. Our approach holds great promise for enhancing CAR-NK and CAR-T cell specificity against malignancies with HLA-DR loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Fei
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Liang Rong
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Nan Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Alan S. Wayne
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA,Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Jianming Xie
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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22
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Zhu L, Liu J, Chen J, Zhou Q. The developing landscape of combinatorial therapies of immune checkpoint blockade with DNA damage repair inhibitors for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancers. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:206. [PMID: 34930377 PMCID: PMC8686226 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01218-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) using antibodies against programmed death receptor (PD)-1, PD ligand (PD-L)-1, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) has redefined the therapeutic landscape in solid tumors, including skin, lung, bladder, liver, renal, and breast tumors. However, overall response rates to ICB therapy remain limited in PD-L1-negative patients. Thus, rational and effective combination therapies will be needed to address ICB treatment resistance in these patients, as well as in PD-L1-positive patients who have progressed under ICB treatment. DNA damage repair inhibitors (DDRis) may activate T-cell responses and trigger inflammatory cytokines release and eventually immunogenic cancer cell death by amplifying DNA damage and generating immunogenic neoantigens, especially in DDR-defective tumors. DDRi may also lead to adaptive PD-L1 upregulation, providing a rationale for PD-L1/PD-1 blockade. Thus, based on preclinical evidence of efficacy and no significant overlapping toxicity, some ICB/DDRi combinations have rapidly progressed to clinical testing in breast and ovarian cancers. Here, we summarize the available clinical data on the combination of ICB with DDRi agents for treating breast and ovarian cancers and discuss the mechanisms of action and other lessons learned from translational studies conducted to date. We also review potential biomarkers to select patients most likely to respond to ICB/DDRi combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Zhu
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jiewei Liu
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Qinghua Zhou
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
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Maggs L, Sadagopan A, Moghaddam AS, Ferrone S. HLA class I antigen processing machinery defects in antitumor immunity and immunotherapy. Trends Cancer 2021; 7:1089-1101. [PMID: 34489208 PMCID: PMC8651070 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigen-processing machinery (APM) plays a crucial role in the synthesis and expression of HLA class I tumor antigen-derived peptide complexes; the latter mediate the recognition and elimination of malignant cells by cognate T cells. Defects in HLA class I APM component expression and/or function are frequently found in cancer cells, providing them with an immune escape mechanism that has relevance in the clinical course of the disease and in the response to T-cell-based immunotherapy. The majority of HLA class I APM defects (>75%) are caused by epigenetic mechanisms or dysregulated signaling and therefore can be corrected by strategies that counteract the underlying mechanisms. Their application in oncology is likely to improve responses to T-cell-based immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Maggs
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ananthan Sadagopan
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ali Sanjari Moghaddam
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Hope A, Wade SJ, Aghmesheh M, Vine KL. Localized delivery of immunotherapy via implantable scaffolds for breast cancer treatment. J Control Release 2021; 341:399-413. [PMID: 34863842 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.11.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer remains a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. While the field of immunotherapy is a promising avenue of investigation and has revolutionized the standard of care for melanoma and lung cancer, modest response rates and a high incidence of immune-related adverse events often necessitate the administration of a sub-therapeutic dose or treatment cessation. Injectable and implantable drug delivery devices present a novel strategy to achieve sustained delivery of potent concentrations of drug directly to the tumor site and minimize systemic toxicity. This review will address the current limitations with conventional immunotherapy for breast cancer treatment, and the recent developments and future prospects in localized delivery strategies. We describe implantable scaffolds and injectable biomaterials for the localized delivery of immunotherapy, which can improve the safety and efficacy of immunotherapies. We discuss the limitations of these delivery systems, such as the influence of shape and material type on drug release and tumor uptake. The challenges of clinical translation, such as the availability of appropriate preclinical animal models and accurate reporting are also discussed. Considerations of these issues will pave the way for effective new therapies that will improve treatment response, patient survival and quality of life for breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh Hope
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Samantha J Wade
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Morteza Aghmesheh
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Illawarra Cancer Care Centre, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Kara L Vine
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
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Checkpoint Inhibition in Bladder Cancer: Clinical Expectations, Current Evidence, and Proposal of Future Strategies Based on a Tumor-Specific Immunobiological Approach. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13236016. [PMID: 34885126 PMCID: PMC8656785 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In contrast with other strategies, immunotherapy is a treatment aimed at empowering the patient’s immune system in order to increase immunity and the response against cancer. Recently, a new class of drugs, immune checkpoint inhibitors, has shown potential in increasing treatment chances for patients with bladder cancers, improving their survival. However, predicting the response to immune checkpoint inhibition is important, since only a group of patients develop a good response. Biomarkers to predict the response to checkpoint inhibition must identify tumors’ and patients’ specific profiles. This study reviews the current knowledge on this most relevant clinical topic, focusing on bladder cancer, going from basic science to ongoing clinical trials and available clinical evidence. Finally, a critical analysis of published data is provided, and an original panel of biomarkers, able to select the right patients for treatments, based on patient-specific immune profiling, is proposed. Abstract In contrast with other strategies, immunotherapy is the only treatment aimed at empowering the immune system to increase the response against tumor growth. Immunotherapy has a role in the treatment of bladder cancer (BC) due to these tumors’ high tumor mutational burden (TMB) and mostly prominent immune infiltrate. The therapy or combination has to be adjusted to the tumor’s immunobiology. Recently, a new class of immunotherapeutic agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), has shown potential in increasing treatment chances for patients with genitourinary cancers, improving their oncological outcomes. The clinical efficacy of ICI has been shown in both the first-line treatment of cisplatin-ineligible patients, with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive tumors (atezolizumab, pembrolizumab), and in second-line settings, for progression after platinum-based chemotherapy (atezolizumab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab for FDA and EMA; durvalumab and avelumab for FDA alone). Predicting the response to ICI is important since only a subset of patients undergoing ICI therapy develop a concrete and lasting response. Most of the patients require a different therapy or therapy combination to achieve tumor control. The cancer immunity cycle provides a conceptual framework to assist therapy selection. Biomarkers to predict response to ICI must identify where the cancer immunity cycle is disrupted. We reviewed the current knowledge on ICI treatment in BC, going from basic science to current data and available clinical evidence. Secondly, a critical analysis of published data is provided, and an original panel of biomarkers able to predict response to ICI treatment, based on tumor-specific immune profiling, is proposed.
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Liang H, Lu T, Liu H, Tan L. The Relationships between HLA-A and HLA-B Genes and the Genetic Susceptibility to Breast Cancer in Guangxi. RUSS J GENET+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795421100069] [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]
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27
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Recurrence biomarkers of triple negative breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and anti-EGFR antibodies. NPJ Breast Cancer 2021; 7:124. [PMID: 34535679 PMCID: PMC8448841 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-021-00334-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To find metastatic recurrence biomarkers of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and anti-EGFR antibodies (NAT), we evaluated tumor genomic, transcriptomic, and immune features, using MSK-IMPACT assay, gene arrays, Nanostring technology, and TIL assessment on H&E. Six patients experienced a rapid fatal recurrence (RR) and other 6 had later non-fatal recurrences (LR). Before NAT, RR had low expression of 6 MHC class I and 13 MHC class II genes but were enriched in upregulated genes involved in the cell cycle-related pathways. Their TIL number before NAT in RR was very low (<5%) and did not increase after treatment. In post-NAT residual tumors, RR cases showed high expression of SOX2 and CXCR4. Our results indicate that high expression of cell cycle genes, combined with cold immunological phenotype, may predict strong TNBC resistance to NAT and rapid progression after it. This biomarker combination is worth validation in larger studies.
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Iwasaki A, Shinozaki-Ushiku A, Kunita A, Yamazawa S, Sato Y, Yamashita H, Fukayama M, Seto Y, Ushiku T. Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Deficiency in Gastric Carcinoma: An Adaptive Immune Evasion Strategy Most Common in Microsatellite Instable Tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 2021; 45:1213-1220. [PMID: 34310369 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is effective only for a subset of patients with gastric cancer. Impaired neoantigen presentation caused by deficiency of human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) has been reported as a common mechanism of immune evasion which is associated with resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. To elucidate the significance of HLA-I deficiency in gastric cancer with special focus on microsatellite instable (MSI) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive tumors, we examined HLA-I expression on tumor cells and correlated the results with clinicopathologic features, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, and degree of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. This study included 58 MSI, 44 EBV-positive, and 107 non-EBV non-MSI tumors for comparison. The frequency of HLA-I deficiency (≥1% tumor cells) was significantly higher in MSI tumors (52%) compared with EBV-positive tumors (23%) and the other tumors (28%). In contrast, PD-L1 expression levels were highest in EBV-positive tumors, followed by MSI tumors, with the lowest prevalence in the other tumors in both Tumor Proportion Score and Combined Positive Score. HLA-I deficiency was significantly more frequent in advanced tumors (pT2-4) than in early tumors (pT1) in MSI and non-EBV non-MSI subtypes. In addition, the degree of CD8-positive cells infiltration was significantly reduced in HLA-I deficient tumor areas compared with HLA-I preserved tumor area within a tumor. Based on our observations, HLA-I, as well as PD-L1, should be considered as a common mechanism of immune escape especially in the MSI subtype, and therefore could be a biomarker predicting response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Hiroharu Yamashita
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo
| | - Masashi Fukayama
- Asahi TelePathology Center, Asahi General Hospital, Asahi, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
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Pan-cancer association of HLA gene expression with cancer prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:422-432. [PMID: 33981015 PMCID: PMC8329209 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01400-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules is to bind peptide fragments derived from genomic mutations or pathogens and display them on the cell surface for recognition by cognate T cells to initiate an immune response. METHODS In this study, we provide a comprehensive investigation of HLA gene expression in a pan-cancer manner involving 33 cancer types. We utilised gene expression data from several databases and immune checkpoint blockade-treated patient cohorts. RESULTS We show that MHC expression varies strongly among cancer types and is associated with several genomic and immunological features. While immune cell infiltration was generally higher in tumours with higher HLA gene expression, CD4+ T cells showed significantly different correlations among cancer types, separating them into two clusters. Furthermore, we show that increased HLA gene expression is associated with prolonged survival in the majority of cancer types. Lastly, HLA gene expression is associated with patient response to immune checkpoint blockade, which is especially prominent for HLA class II expression in tumour biopsies taken during treatment. CONCLUSION We show that HLA gene expression is an important feature of tumour biology that has significant impact on patient prognosis.
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Wang S, Xie K, Liu T. Cancer Immunotherapies: From Efficacy to Resistance Mechanisms - Not Only Checkpoint Matters. Front Immunol 2021; 12:690112. [PMID: 34367148 PMCID: PMC8335396 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.690112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The immunotherapeutic treatment of various cancers with an increasing number of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has profoundly improved the clinical management of advanced diseases. However, just a fraction of patients clinically responds to and benefits from the mentioned therapies; a large proportion of patients do not respond or quickly become resistant, and hyper- and pseudoprogression occur in certain patient populations. Furthermore, no effective predictive factors have been clearly screened or defined. In this review, we discuss factors underlying the elucidation of potential immunotherapeutic resistance mechanisms and the identification of predictive factors for immunotherapeutic responses. Considering the heterogeneity of tumours and the complex immune microenvironment (composition of various immune cell subtypes, disease processes, and lines of treatment), checkpoint expression levels may not be the only factors underlying immunotherapy difficulty and resistance. Researchers should consider the tumour microenvironment (TME) landscape in greater depth from the aspect of not only immune cells but also the tumour histology, molecular subtype, clonal heterogeneity and evolution as well as micro-changes in the fine structural features of the tumour area, such as myeloid cell polarization, fibroblast clusters and tertiary lymphoid structure formation. A comprehensive analysis of the immune and molecular profiles of tumour lesions is needed to determine the potential predictive value of the immune landscape on immunotherapeutic responses, and precision medicine has become more important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyue Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Druggable Gene and Protein Screening, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Kun Xie
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tengfei Liu
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Lv L, Wei Q, Wang Z, Zhao Y, Chen N, Yi Q. Clinical and Molecular Correlates of NLRC5 Expression in Patients With Melanoma. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:690186. [PMID: 34307322 PMCID: PMC8299757 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.690186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
NLRC5 is an important regulator in antigen presentation and inflammation, and its dysregulation promotes tumor progression. In melanoma, the impact of NLRC5 expression on molecular phenotype, clinical characteristics, and tumor features is largely unknown. In the present study, public datasets from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and cBioPortal were used to address these issues. We identify that NLRC5 is expressed in both immune cells and melanoma cells in melanoma samples and its expression is regulated by SPI1 and DNA methylation. NLRC5 expression is closely associated with Breslow thickness, Clark level, recurrence, pathologic T stage, and ulceration status in melanoma. Truncating/splice mutations rather than missense mutations in NLRC5 could compromise the expression of downstream genes. Low expression of NLRC5 is associated with poor prognosis, low activity of immune-related signatures, low infiltrating level of immune cells, and low cytotoxic score in melanoma. Additionally, NLRC5 expression correlates with immunotherapy efficacy in melanoma. In summary, these findings suggest that NLRC5 acts as a tumor suppressor in melanoma via modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. Targeting the NLRC5 related pathway might improve efficacy of immunotherapy for melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Lv
- Anhui Cancer Hospital, West Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qinqin Wei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- Anhui Cancer Hospital, West Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yujia Zhao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ni Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qiyi Yi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Tumor Escape Phenotype in Bladder Cancer Is Associated with Loss of HLA Class I Expression, T-Cell Exclusion and Stromal Changes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147248. [PMID: 34298868 PMCID: PMC8307653 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer eradication and clinical outcome of immunotherapy depend on tumor cell immunogenicity, including HLA class I (HLA-I) and PD-L1 expression on malignant cells, and on the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, such as tumor immune infiltration and stromal reaction. Loss of tumor HLA-I is a common mechanism of immune escape from cytotoxic T lymphocytes and is linked to cancer progression and resistance to immunotherapy with the inhibitors of PD-L1/PD-1 signaling. Here we observed that HLA-I loss in bladder tumors is associated with T cell exclusion and tumor encapsulation with stromal elements rich in FAP-positive cells. In addition, PD-L1 upregulation in HLA-I negative tumors demonstrated a correlation with high tumor grade and worse overall- and cancer-specific survival of the patients. These changes define common immuno-morphological signatures compatible with cancer immune escape and acquired resistance to therapeutic interventions across different types of malignancy. They also may contribute to the search of new targets for cancer treatment, such as FAP-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts, in refractory bladder tumors.
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Nakamura T, Sato T, Endo R, Sasaki S, Takahashi N, Sato Y, Hyodo M, Hayakawa Y, Harashima H. STING agonist loaded lipid nanoparticles overcome anti-PD-1 resistance in melanoma lung metastasis via NK cell activation. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002852. [PMID: 34215690 PMCID: PMC8256839 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Resistance to an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) is a major obstacle in cancer immunotherapy. The causes of ICI resistance include major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/histocompatibility locus antigen (HLA) class I loss, neoantigen loss, and incomplete antigen presentation. Elimination by natural killer (NK) cells would be expected to be an effective strategy for the treatment of these ICI-resistant tumors. We previously demonstrated that a lipid nanoparticle containing a stimulator of an interferon gene (STING) agonist (STING-LNP) efficiently induced antitumor activity via the activation of NK cells. Thus, we evaluated the potential of reducing ICI resistance by STING-LNPs. Methods Lung metastasis of a B16-F10 mouse melanoma was used as an anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1)-resistant mouse model. The mice were intravenously injected with the STING-LNP and the mechanism responsible for the improvement of anti-PD-1 resistance by the STING-LNPs was analyzed by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry. The dynamics of STING-LNP were also investigated. Results Although anti-PD-1 monotherapy failed to induce an antitumor effect, the combination of the STING-LNP and anti-PD-1 exerted a synergistic antitumor effect. Our results indicate that the STING-LNP treatment significantly increased the expression of CD3, CD4, NK1.1, PD-1 and interferon (IFN)-γ in lung metastases. This change appears to be initiated by the type I IFN produced by liver macrophages that contain the internalized STING-LNPs, leading to the systemic activation of NK cells that express PD-1. The activated NK cells appeared to produce IFN-γ, resulting in an increase in the expression of the PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) in cancer cells, thus leading to a synergistic antitumor effect when anti-PD-1 is administered. Conclusions We provide a demonstration to show that a STING-LNP treatment can overcome PD-1 resistance in a B16-F10 lung metastasis model. The mechanism responsible for this indicates that NK cells are activated by stimulating the STING pathway which, in turn, induced the expression of PD-L1 on cancer cells. Based on the findings reported herein, the STING-LNP represents a promising candidate for use in combination therapy with anti-PD-1-resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Nakamura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takanori Sato
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Rikito Endo
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shun Sasaki
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Naomichi Takahashi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yusuke Sato
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Mamoru Hyodo
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Aichi Institute of Technology, Toyota, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Hayakawa
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Aichi Institute of Technology, Toyota, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hideyoshi Harashima
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
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García-Marín R, Reda S, Riobello C, Cabal VN, Suárez-Fernández L, Vivanco B, Álvarez-Marcos C, López F, Llorente JL, Hermsen MA. Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications of Immune Classification by CD8 + Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and PD-L1 Expression in Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136926. [PMID: 34203211 PMCID: PMC8268278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is an aggressive tumor predominantly arising in the maxillary sinus and nasal cavities. Advances in imaging, surgical and radiotherapeutic techniques have reduced complications and morbidity; however, the prognosis generally remains poor, with an overall 5-year survival rate of 30-50%. As immunotherapy may be a new therapeutic option, we analyzed CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the tumor microenvironment immune type (TMIT, combining CD8+ TILs and PD-L1) in a series of 57 SNSCCs. Using immunohistochemistry, tissue samples of 57 SNSCCs were analyzed for expression of CD8 on TILs and of PD-L1 on tumor cells. The results were correlated to the clinical and survival data. In total, 88% (50/57) of the tumors had intratumoral CD8+ TILs; 19% (11/57)-CD8high (>10%); and 39/57 (68%)-CD8low (1-10%). PD-L1 positivity (>5%) was observed in 46% (26/57) of the SNSCCs and significantly co-occurred with CD8+ TILs (p = 0.000). Using univariate analysis, high intratumoral CD8+ TILs and TMIT I (CD8high/PD-L1pos) correlated with a worse survival rate. These results indicate that SNSCCs are immunogenic tumors, similar to head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Nineteen percent of the cases were both CD8high and PD-L1pos and this subgroup may benefit from therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío García-Marín
- Department Head and Neck Oncology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (R.G.-M.); (C.R.); (V.N.C.); (L.S.-F.)
| | - Sara Reda
- Department Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (S.R.); (C.Á.-M.); (F.L.); (J.L.L.)
| | - Cristina Riobello
- Department Head and Neck Oncology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (R.G.-M.); (C.R.); (V.N.C.); (L.S.-F.)
| | - Virginia N. Cabal
- Department Head and Neck Oncology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (R.G.-M.); (C.R.); (V.N.C.); (L.S.-F.)
| | - Laura Suárez-Fernández
- Department Head and Neck Oncology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (R.G.-M.); (C.R.); (V.N.C.); (L.S.-F.)
| | - Blanca Vivanco
- Department Pathology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain;
| | - César Álvarez-Marcos
- Department Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (S.R.); (C.Á.-M.); (F.L.); (J.L.L.)
| | - Fernando López
- Department Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (S.R.); (C.Á.-M.); (F.L.); (J.L.L.)
| | - José L. Llorente
- Department Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (S.R.); (C.Á.-M.); (F.L.); (J.L.L.)
| | - Mario A. Hermsen
- Department Head and Neck Oncology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (R.G.-M.); (C.R.); (V.N.C.); (L.S.-F.)
- Correspondence:
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Beta2-microglobulin(B2M) in cancer immunotherapies: Biological function, resistance and remedy. Cancer Lett 2021; 517:96-104. [PMID: 34129878 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies have made much headway during the past decades. Techniques including the immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) and adoptive cell therapy (ACT) have harvested impressive efficacy and provided far-reaching tools for treating cancer patients. However, due to inadequate priming of the immune system, a certain subgroup of patients remains resistant to cancer immunotherapies during or after the treatment. β2-microglobulin (B2M) is an important subunit of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I which exerts substantive biological functions in tumorigenesis and immune control. Accumulating evidence has shown that alterations of B2M gene and B2M proteins contribute to poor reaction to cancer immunotherapies by dampening antigen presentation. Here, we discuss the basic biological functions of B2M, its distribution in a spectrum of cancers, and current understanding of its role in ICI, cancer vaccines and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapies. Furthermore, we summarize some promising therapeutic strategies to improve the efficacy inhibited by B2M defects.
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Algarra I, Garrido F, Garcia-Lora AM. MHC heterogeneity and response of metastases to immunotherapy. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:501-517. [PMID: 33860434 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-09964-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, immunotherapy has proven to be an effective treatment against cancer. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes perform an important role in this anti-tumor immune response, recognizing cancer cells as foreign, through the presentation of tumor antigens by MHC class I molecules. However, tumors and metastases develop escape mechanisms for evading this immunosurveillance and may lose the expression of these polymorphic molecules to become invisible to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In other situations, they may maintain MHC class I expression and promote immunosuppression of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Therefore, the analysis of the expression of MHC class I molecules in tumors and metastases is important to elucidate these escape mechanisms. Moreover, it is necessary to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in these alterations to reverse them and recover the expression of MHC class I molecules on tumor cells. This review discusses the role and regulation of MHC class I expression in tumor progression. We focus on altered MHC class I phenotypes present in tumors and metastases, as well as the molecular mechanisms responsible for MHC-I alterations, emphasizing the mechanisms of recovery of the MHC class I molecules expression on cancer cells. The individualized study of the HLA class I phenotype of the tumor and the metastases of each patient will allow choosing the most appropriate immunotherapy treatment based on a personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Algarra
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Angel M Garcia-Lora
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014, Granada, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain. .,Unidad de Biobanco, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.
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GILT in tumor cells improves T cell-mediated anti-tumor immune surveillance. Immunol Lett 2021; 234:1-12. [PMID: 33838181 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The lysosomal thiol reductase GILT catalyzes the reduction of disulfide bonds of protein antigens, facilitating antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to present antigen to T cells. However, whether GILT expression in tumor cells can be associated with improved T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses remains unknown. Here, we identify that GILT is able to facilitate anti-tumor immune surveillance via promoting MHC class I mediated-antigen presentation in colon carcinoma. By using mice model bearing colon tumors, we find that GILT inhibites tumor growth in vivo with more leucocytes infiltration but has no effect on tumor cell development in vitro in terms of proliferation, cell cycle and migration. Furthermore, by using transgenic OT-I mice, we recognize the tumor-expressing OVA peptide, a surrogate tumor antigen, we find that GILT is capable of enhancing MHC class I mediated antigen presentation and improving specific CD8+ T cell anti-tumor responses in murine colon carcinoma. These findings propose the boost of GILT-MHC-I axis in tumors as a viable option for immune system against cancer.
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Zhong X, D’Antona AM. Recent Advances in the Molecular Design and Applications of Multispecific Biotherapeutics. Antibodies (Basel) 2021; 10:13. [PMID: 33808165 PMCID: PMC8103270 DOI: 10.3390/antib10020013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant protein-based biotherapeutics drugs have transformed clinical pipelines of the biopharmaceutical industry since the launch of recombinant insulin nearly four decades ago. These biologic drugs are structurally more complex than small molecules, and yet share a similar principle for rational drug discovery and development: That is to start with a pre-defined target and follow with the functional modulation with a therapeutic agent. Despite these tremendous successes, this "one target one drug" paradigm has been challenged by complex disease mechanisms that involve multiple pathways and demand new therapeutic routes. A rapidly evolving wave of multispecific biotherapeutics is coming into focus. These new therapeutic drugs are able to engage two or more protein targets via distinct binding interfaces with or without the chemical conjugation to large or small molecules. They possess the potential to not only address disease intricacy but also exploit new therapeutic mechanisms and assess undruggable targets for conventional monospecific biologics. This review focuses on the recent advances in molecular design and applications of major classes of multispecific biotherapeutics drugs, which include immune cells engagers, antibody-drug conjugates, multispecific tetherbodies, biologic matchmakers, and small-scaffold multispecific modalities. Challenges posed by the multispecific biotherapeutics drugs and their future outlooks are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Zhong
- Department of BioMedicine Design, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
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HLA class I loss in colorectal cancer: implications for immune escape and immunotherapy. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:556-565. [PMID: 33473191 PMCID: PMC8027055 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00634-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell-mediated immune therapies have emerged as a promising treatment modality in different malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, only a fraction of patients currently respond to treatment. Understanding the lack of responses and finding biomarkers with predictive value is of great importance. There is evidence that CRC is a heterogeneous disease and several classification systems have been proposed that are based on genomic instability, immune cell infiltration, stromal content and molecular subtypes of gene expression. Human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) plays a pivotal role in presenting processed antigens to T lymphocytes, including tumour antigens. These molecules are frequently lost in different types of cancers, including CRC, resulting in tumour immune escape from cytotoxic T lymphocytes during the natural history of cancer development. The aim of this review is to (i) summarize the prevalence and molecular mechanisms behind HLA-I loss in CRC, (ii) discuss HLA-I expression/loss in the context of the newly identified CRC molecular subtypes, (iii) analyze the HLA-I phenotypes of CRC metastases disseminated via blood or the lymphatic system, (iv) discuss strategies to recover/circumvent HLA-I expression/loss and finally (v) review the role of HLA class II (HLA-II) in CRC prognosis.
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Wickenhauser C, Bethmann D, Kappler M, Eckert AW, Steven A, Bukur J, Fox BA, Beer J, Seliger B. Tumor Microenvironment, HLA Class I and APM Expression in HPV-Negative Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040620. [PMID: 33557271 PMCID: PMC7914856 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Oral squamous cell carcinoma has developed different strategies to escape from T-cell-mediated immune surveillance, which is mediated by changes in the composition of cellular and soluble components of the tumor microenvironment as well as an impaired expression of molecules of the antigen processing machinery leading to a downregulation of HLA class I surface antigens. In depth characterization of these escape mechanisms might help to develop strategies to overcome this tolerance. In this study, human papilloma virus negative oral squamous cell carcinoma lesions were analyzed regarding the protein expression of major components of the HLA class I antigen processing/presentation pathway in correlation to the intra-tumoral immune cell composition, IFN-γ signaling and clinical parameters, which was further confirmed by bioinformatics analyses of datasets obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. This novel knowledge could be used for optimizing the design of immunotherapeutic approaches of this disease. Abstract Progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been associated with an escape of tumor cells from the host immune surveillance due to an increased knowledge of its underlying molecular mechanisms and its modulation by the tumor microenvironment and immune cell repertoire. In this study, the expression of HLA class I (HLA-I) antigens and of components of the antigen processing machinery (APM) was analyzed in 160 pathologically classified human papilloma virus (HPV)-negative OSCC lesions and correlated to the intra-tumoral immune cell response, IFN-γ signaling and to the patient’s outcome. A heterogeneous but predominantly lower constitutive protein expression of HLA-I APM components was found in OSCC sections when compared to non-neoplastic cells. Tumoral HLA-I APM component expression was further categorized into the three major phenotypes HLA-Ihigh/APMhigh, HLA-Ilow/APMlow and HLA-Idiscordant high/low/APMhigh. In the HLA-Ihigh/APMhigh group, the highest frequency of intra-tumoral CD8+ T cells and lowest number of CD8+ T cells close to FoxP3+ cells were found. Patients within this group presented the most unfavorable survival, which was significantly evident in stage T2 tumors. Despite a correlation with the number of intra-tumoral CD8+ T cells, tumoral JAK1 expression as a surrogate marker for IFN-γ signaling was not associated with HLA-I/APM expression. Thus, the presented findings strongly indicate the presence of additional factors involved in the immunomodulatory process of HPV-negative OSCC with a possible tumor-burden-dependent complex network of immune escape mechanisms beyond HLA-I/APM components and T cell infiltration in this tumor entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Wickenhauser
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (C.W.); (D.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Daniel Bethmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (C.W.); (D.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Matthias Kappler
- Department of Oral, Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (M.K.); or (A.W.E.)
| | - Alexander Walter Eckert
- Department of Oral, Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (M.K.); or (A.W.E.)
- Department of Oral, Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Private Medical University of South Nuremberg, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - André Steven
- Institute of Medical Immunology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (A.S.); (J.B.)
| | - Jürgen Bukur
- Institute of Medical Immunology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (A.S.); (J.B.)
| | - Bernard Aloysius Fox
- Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Portland, OR 97213, USA;
| | - Jana Beer
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (C.W.); (D.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (A.S.); (J.B.)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)-345-557-4054; Fax: +49-(0)-345-557-4055
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Fucà G, Spagnoletti A, Ambrosini M, de Braud F, Di Nicola M. Immune cell engagers in solid tumors: promises and challenges of the next generation immunotherapy. ESMO Open 2021; 6:100046. [PMID: 33508733 PMCID: PMC7841318 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2020.100046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the landscape of cancer immunotherapy, immune cell engagers (ICEs) are rapidly emerging as a feasible and easy-to-deliver alternative to adoptive cell therapy for the antitumor redirection of immune effector cells. Even if in hematological malignancies this class of new therapeutics already hit the clinic, the development of ICEs in solid tumors still represents a challenge. Considering that ICEs are a rapidly expanding biotechnology in cancer therapy, we designed this review as a primer for clinicians, focusing on the major obstacles for the clinical implementation and the most translatable approaches proposed to overcome the limitations in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fucà
- Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapeutics Unit, Medical Oncology and Hematology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
| | - A Spagnoletti
- Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapeutics Unit, Medical Oncology and Hematology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M Ambrosini
- Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapeutics Unit, Medical Oncology and Hematology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - F de Braud
- Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapeutics Unit, Medical Oncology and Hematology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy; Oncology and Hemato-oncology Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - M Di Nicola
- Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapeutics Unit, Medical Oncology and Hematology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
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Batista IA, Quintas ST, Melo SA. The Interplay of Exosomes and NK Cells in Cancer Biology. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030473. [PMID: 33530529 PMCID: PMC7865893 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells involved in tumor surveillance. These immune cells have the potential to fight cancer growth and metastasis, as such, their deregulation can result in tumor immune escape. Recently exosomes were described as mediators of intercellular communication between cancer and NK cells. The exact role of this subclass of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which transport genetic and molecular material to recipient cells, in NK cell biology in the context of cancer, is still an open question. Several reports have demonstrated that tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) can exert immunomodulatory activities, including immunosuppression, thus promoting cancer progression. Some reports demonstrate that the interplay between cancer exosomes and NK cells allows tumors to escape immune regulation. On the other hand, tumor exosomes were also described to activate NK cells. Additionally, studies show that NK cell exosomes can modulate the immune system, opening up their potential as an immunotherapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Our review will focus on the reprogramming effect of cancer exosomes on NK cells, and the immunotherapeutic potential of NK cells-derived exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês A. Batista
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (I.A.B.); (S.T.Q.)
- IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia T. Quintas
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (I.A.B.); (S.T.Q.)
- IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- FMUP—Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sónia A. Melo
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (I.A.B.); (S.T.Q.)
- IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- FMUP—Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Mpakali A, Stratikos E. The Role of Antigen Processing and Presentation in Cancer and the Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:E134. [PMID: 33406696 PMCID: PMC7796214 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent clinical successes of cancer immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are rapidly changing the landscape of cancer treatment. Regardless of initial impressive clinical results though, the therapeutic benefit of ICIs appears to be limited to a subset of patients and tumor types. Recent analyses have revealed that the potency of ICI therapies depends on the efficient presentation of tumor-specific antigens by cancer cells and professional antigen presenting cells. Here, we review current knowledge on the role of antigen presentation in cancer. We focus on intracellular antigen processing and presentation by Major Histocompatibility class I (MHCI) molecules and how it can affect cancer immune evasion. Finally, we discuss the pharmacological tractability of manipulating intracellular antigen processing as a complementary approach to enhance tumor immunogenicity and the effectiveness of ICI immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Mpakali
- National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Athens, Greece
| | - Efstratios Stratikos
- National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zographou, 15784 Athens, Greece
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Yin P, Gui L, Wang C, Yan J, Liu M, Ji L, Wang Y, Ma B, Gao WQ. Targeted Delivery of CXCL9 and OX40L by Mesenchymal Stem Cells Elicits Potent Antitumor Immunity. Mol Ther 2020; 28:2553-2563. [PMID: 32827461 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Major obstacles in immunotherapies include toxicities associated with systemic administration of therapeutic agents, as well as low tumor lymphocyte infiltration that hampers the efficacies. In this study, we report a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based immunotherapeutic strategy in which MSCs specifically deliver T/natural killer (NK) cell-targeting chemokine CXCL9 and immunostimulatory factor OX40 ligand (OX40L)/tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 4 (TNFSF4) to tumor sites in syngeneic subcutaneous and azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced spontaneous colon cancer mouse models. This approach generated potent local antitumor immunity by increasing the ratios of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T and NK cells and production of antitumor cytokines and cytolytic proteins in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, it improved the efficacy of programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade in a syngeneic mouse model and significantly suppressed the growth of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I)-deficient tumors. Our MSC-based immunotherapeutic strategy simultaneously recruits and activates immune effector cells at the tumor site, thus overcoming the problems with toxicities of systemic therapeutic agents and low lymphocyte infiltration of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Liming Gui
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Caihong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Jingjing Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Lu Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - You Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Bin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
| | - Wei-Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
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Khasraw M, Reardon DA, Weller M, Sampson JH. PD-1 Inhibitors: Do they have a Future in the Treatment of Glioblastoma? Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:5287-5296. [PMID: 32527943 PMCID: PMC7682636 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-1135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (WHO grade IV glioma) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Survival has remained largely static for decades, despite significant efforts to develop new effective therapies. Immunotherapy and especially immune checkpoint inhibitors and programmed cell death (PD)-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have transformed the landscape of cancer treatment and improved patient survival in a number of different cancer types. With the exception of few select cases (e.g., patients with Lynch syndrome) the neuro-oncology community is still awaiting evidence that PD-1 blockade can lead to meaningful clinical benefit in glioblastoma. This lack of progress in the field is likely to be due to multiple reasons, including inherent challenges in brain tumor drug development, the blood-brain barrier, the unique immune environment in the brain, the impact of corticosteroids, as well as inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity. Here we critically review the clinical literature, address the unique aspects of glioma immunobiology and potential immunobiological barriers to progress, and contextualize new approaches to increase the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in glioblastoma that may identify gaps and testable relevant hypotheses for future basic and clinical research and to provide a novel perspective to further stimulate preclinical and clinical research to ultimately help patients with glioma, including glioblastoma, which is arguably one of the greatest areas of unmet need in cancer. Moving forward, we need to build on our existing knowledge by conducting further fundamental glioma immunobiology research in parallel with innovative and methodologically sound clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Khasraw
- Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
| | | | - Michael Weller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - John H Sampson
- Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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Tang C, Ma J, Liu X, Liu Z. Identification of Four Immune Subtypes in Bladder Cancer Based on Immune Gene Sets. Front Oncol 2020; 10:544610. [PMID: 33117683 PMCID: PMC7571508 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.544610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular classification of bladder cancer is becoming increasingly important for its clinical management. And, the current classifications are primarily based on gene expression profiles. We identified four immunotypes of bladder cancer (referred to as C1–C4) based on gene expression profiles performed by immune-related gene sets in three independent data sets, and proved that this classification is effective and reproducible. We found that C2 is an immune-infiltrating type and C4 is an immune “desert” type. These types are characterized by the up- and downregulation of genes encoding numerous immune checkpoint proteins and HLA and regulating human immune cell subgroups. The survival rate was better for the C2 subtype than for other subtypes. We believe that this can be explained by the antitumor effects of CD4 memory T cells and CD8 T cells as well as their ability to circumvent M0 macrophage antitumor immunity. In addition, C2 was most sensitive to not only anti-PD-1 immunosuppressive therapy, but also conventional chemotherapeutics such as gemcitabine and bleomycin. The C4 subtype was most sensitive to the chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and doxorubicin. This theoretical framework may guide the personalized treatment of bladder cancer in the future. It is worth noting that the C2 immune infiltration type positively correlates with a variety of stromal components, such as enrichment of endothelial cells and fibroblasts, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis, together with enrichment of seven kinds of stem cells. We further identified tumor-related JAK-STAT and other signaling pathways in the C2 subtype, along with important mutations in the proteins involved in these pathways, revealing the complex mechanism underlying tumor immune escape. Our results, and particularly the identification of hub genes specific to the C2 and C4 subtypes, provide a reference for the development of immunotherapeutic agents against bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaozhi Tang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiakang Ma
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiuli Liu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Zhengchun Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
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Cornelissen LAM, Blanas A, Zaal A, van der Horst JC, Kruijssen LJW, O'Toole T, van Kooyk Y, van Vliet SJ. Tn Antigen Expression Contributes to an Immune Suppressive Microenvironment and Drives Tumor Growth in Colorectal Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1622. [PMID: 33014816 PMCID: PMC7461972 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of the tumor-associated glycan Tn antigen (αGalNAc-Ser/Thr) has been correlated to poor prognosis and metastasis in multiple cancer types. However, the exact mechanisms exerted by Tn antigen to support tumor growth are still lacking. One emerging hallmark of cancer is evasion of immune destruction. Although tumor cells often exploit the glycosylation machinery to interact with the immune system, the contribution of Tn antigen to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment has scarcely been studied. Here, we explored how Tn antigen influences the tumor immune cell composition in a colorectal cancer (CRC) mouse model. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock out of the C1galt1c1 gene resulted in elevated Tn antigen levels on the cell surface of the CRC cell line MC38 (MC38-Tnhigh). RNA sequencing and subsequent GO term enrichment analysis of our Tnhigh glycovariant not only revealed differences in MAPK signaling and cell migration, but also in antigen processing and presentation as well as in cytotoxic T cell responses. Indeed, MC38-Tnhigh tumors displayed increased tumor growth in vivo, which was correlated with an altered tumor immune cell infiltration, characterized by reduced levels of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and enhanced accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Interestingly, no systemic differences in T cell subsets were observed. Together, our data demonstrate for the first time that Tn antigen expression in the CRC tumor microenvironment affects the tumor-associated immune cell repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenneke A M Cornelissen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Athanasios Blanas
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anouk Zaal
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joost C van der Horst
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Laura J W Kruijssen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tom O'Toole
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yvette van Kooyk
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sandra J van Vliet
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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48
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Hiraoka N, Ino Y, Hori S, Yamazaki‐Itoh R, Naito C, Shimasaki M, Esaki M, Nara S, Kishi Y, Shimada K, Nakamura N, Torigoe T, Heike Y. Expression of classical human leukocyte antigen class I antigens, HLA-E and HLA-G, is adversely prognostic in pancreatic cancer patients. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:3057-3070. [PMID: 32495519 PMCID: PMC7419048 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The expression of classical human leukocyte antigen class I antigens (HLA-I) on the surfaces of cancer cells allows cytotoxic T cells to recognize and eliminate these cells. Reduction or loss of HLA-I is a mechanism of escape from antitumor immunity. The present study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological impacts of HLA-I and non-classical HLA-I antigens expressed on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. We performed immunohistochemistry to detect expression of HLA-I antigens in PDAC using 243 PDAC cases and examined their clinicopathological influences. We also investigated the expression of immune-related genes to characterize PDAC tumor microenvironments. Lower expression of HLA-I, found in 33% of PDAC cases, was significantly associated with longer overall survival. Higher expression of both HLA-E and HLA-G was significantly associated with shorter survival. Multivariate analyses revealed that higher expression of these three HLA-I antigens was significantly correlated with shorter survival. Higher HLA-I expression on PDAC cells was significantly correlated with higher expression of IFNG, which also correlated with PD1, PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression. In vitro assay revealed that interferon gamma (IFNγ) stimulation increased surface expression of HLA-I in three PDAC cell lines. It also upregulated surface expression of HLA-E, HLA-G and immune checkpoint molecules, including PD-L1 and PD-L2. These results suggest that the higher expression of HLA-I, HLA-E and HLA-G on PDAC cells is an unfavorable prognosticator. It is possible that IFNγ promotes a tolerant microenvironment by inducing immune checkpoint molecules in PDAC tissues with higher HLA-I expression on PDAC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyoshi Hiraoka
- Division of Molecular PathologyNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
- Department of Analytical PathologyNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
- Division of Pathology and Clinical LaboratoriesNational Cancer Center HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Yoshinori Ino
- Division of Molecular PathologyNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
- Department of Analytical PathologyNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
| | - Shutaro Hori
- Division of Molecular PathologyNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
- Division of Pathology and Clinical LaboratoriesNational Cancer Center HospitalTokyoJapan
- Department of PathologyTokai University School of MedicineIseharaJapan
| | - Rie Yamazaki‐Itoh
- Division of Molecular PathologyNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
| | - Chie Naito
- Division of Molecular PathologyNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
| | - Mari Shimasaki
- Division of Molecular PathologyNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
| | - Minoru Esaki
- Hepato‐Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery DivisionNational Cancer Center HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Satoshi Nara
- Hepato‐Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery DivisionNational Cancer Center HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Yoji Kishi
- Hepato‐Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery DivisionNational Cancer Center HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Kazuaki Shimada
- Hepato‐Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery DivisionNational Cancer Center HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Naoya Nakamura
- Department of PathologyTokai University School of MedicineIseharaJapan
| | | | - Yuji Heike
- Division of Biomedical SciencesSt. Luke’s International University Graduate School of Public HealthTokyoJapan
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Human leukocyte antigen expression in paired primary lung tumors and brain metastases in non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 70:215-219. [PMID: 32696071 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02677-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Loss of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class 1 expression is a mechanism of tumor immune escape and may contribute to resistance to immunotherapy. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors can have discordant responses between brain metastases and extracranial sites of disease. We sought to evaluate whether HLA class 1 expression was retained in metastatic NSCLC. Patients with paired primary NSCLC and brain metastases were identified from our institution's tissue registry. HLA class 1 cell membrane expression on tumor cells was determined by immunohistochemistry. Tumors with greater than the median of 10% HLA expression were considered positive. Agreement statistics (κ) were used to assess the congruence of HLA expression. 51 patients with paired primary NSCLC and brain lesions were identified. The median HLA class 1 expression was 20% in the primary tumors (IQR 0-65%) and 10% in the brain metastases (IQR 5-40%). 27 primary tumors and 24 brain metastases were positive for HLA expression. There was disagreement in HLA positivity between paired lesions in 11 patients (22%, 95% CI 12-35%) (κ = 0.57, 95% CI 0.35-0.79) (p = 0.0001). None of the patients received checkpoint inhibitors for treatment of these lesions. The results show that while there is moderate agreement in HLA class 1 expression between primary lung tumor and brain metastasis pairs, HLA expression is incongruent in nearly one quarter of patients. Loss of antigen presentation may represent one of the many potential mechanisms of discordant responses to checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
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50
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Roerden M, Nelde A, Heitmann JS, Klein R, Rammensee HG, Bethge WA, Walz JS. HLA Evolutionary Divergence as a Prognostic Marker for AML Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071835. [PMID: 32650450 PMCID: PMC7408841 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The diversity of human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) enables the presentation of immense repertoires of peptides, including tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). As a surrogate for immunopeptidome diversity, the HLA evolutionary divergence (HED) between individual HLA alleles might directly define the ability to present TAAs, a prerequisite for graft-versus-leukemia effects. We therefore analyzed the impact of HED on survival within a cohort of 171 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients after matched donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Low HED (<25th percentile) of HLA class I (HEDclass I) or HLA-DR antigens (HEDDR) was a strong determinant for adverse overall survival after allogeneic HSCT (OS), with a hazard ratio for death of 1.9 (95% CI 1.2–3.2) and 2.1 (95% CI 1.3–3.4), respectively. Defining a cutoff value for the combined HEDtotal (HEDclass I and HEDDR), the respective 5 year OS was 29.7% and 64.9% in patients with low and high HEDtotal (p < 0.001), respectively. Furthermore, the risk of relapse was significantly higher in patients with low HEDtotal (hazard ratio (HR) 2.2, 95% CI 1.3–3.6) and event-free survival (EFS) was significantly reduced (5 year EFS 25.7% versus 54.4%, p < 0.001). We here introduce HED, a fundamental metric of immunopeptidome diversity, as a novel prognostic factor for AML patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte Roerden
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (R.K.); (W.A.B.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.N.); (J.S.H.)
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (J.S.W.)
| | - Annika Nelde
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.N.); (J.S.H.)
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Jonas S. Heitmann
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.N.); (J.S.H.)
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Reinhild Klein
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (R.K.); (W.A.B.)
| | - Hans-Georg Rammensee
- Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang A. Bethge
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (R.K.); (W.A.B.)
| | - Juliane S. Walz
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (R.K.); (W.A.B.)
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (A.N.); (J.S.H.)
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (J.S.W.)
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