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Cebon JS, Gore M, Thompson JF, Davis ID, McArthur GA, Walpole E, Smithers M, Cerundolo V, Dunbar PR, MacGregor D, Fisher C, Millward M, Nathan P, Findlay MPN, Hersey P, Evans TRJ, Ottensmeier CH, Marsden J, Dalgleish AG, Corrie PG, Maria M, Brimble M, Williams G, Winkler S, Jackson HM, Endo-Munoz L, Tutuka CSA, Venhaus R, Old LJ, Haack D, Maraskovsky E, Behren A, Chen W. Results of a randomized, double-blind phase II clinical trial of NY-ESO-1 vaccine with ISCOMATRIX adjuvant versus ISCOMATRIX alone in participants with high-risk resected melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:e000410. [PMID: 32317292 PMCID: PMC7204806 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To compare the clinical efficacy of New York Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-1 (NY-ESO-1) vaccine with ISCOMATRIX adjuvant versus ISCOMATRIX alone in a randomized, double-blind phase II study in participants with fully resected melanoma at high risk of recurrence. METHODS Participants with resected stage IIc, IIIb, IIIc and IV melanoma expressing NY-ESO-1 were randomized to treatment with three doses of NY-ESO-1/ISCOMATRIX or ISCOMATRIX adjuvant administered intramuscularly at 4-week intervals, followed by a further dose at 6 months. Primary endpoint was the proportion free of relapse at 18 months in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population and two per-protocol populations. Secondary endpoints included relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), safety and NY-ESO-1 immunity. RESULTS The ITT population comprised 110 participants, with 56 randomized to NY-ESO-1/ISCOMATRIX and 54 to ISCOMATRIX alone. No significant toxicities were observed. There were no differences between the study arms in relapses at 18 months or for median time to relapse; 139 vs 176 days (p=0.296), or relapse rate, 27 (48.2%) vs 26 (48.1%) (HR 0.913; 95% CI 0.402 to 2.231), respectively. RFS and OS were similar between the study arms. Vaccine recipients developed strong positive antibody responses to NY-ESO-1 (p≤0.0001) and NY-ESO-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ responses. Biopsies following relapse did not demonstrate differences in NY-ESO-1 expression between the study populations although an exploratory study demonstrated reduced (NY-ESO-1)+/Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I+ double-positive cells in biopsies from vaccine recipients performed on relapse in 19 participants. CONCLUSIONS The vaccine was well tolerated, however, despite inducing antigen-specific immunity, it did not affect survival endpoints. Immune escape through the downregulation of NY-ESO-1 and/or HLA class I molecules on tumor may have contributed to relapse.
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MESH Headings
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/adverse effects
- Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Biopsy
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/adverse effects
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/adverse effects
- Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/methods
- Cholesterol/administration & dosage
- Cholesterol/adverse effects
- Dermatologic Surgical Procedures
- Disease-Free Survival
- Double-Blind Method
- Drug Combinations
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Male
- Melanoma/diagnosis
- Melanoma/immunology
- Melanoma/mortality
- Melanoma/therapy
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/immunology
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosis
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiology
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/prevention & control
- Neoplasm Staging
- Phospholipids/administration & dosage
- Phospholipids/adverse effects
- Saponins/administration & dosage
- Saponins/adverse effects
- Skin/pathology
- Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis
- Skin Neoplasms/immunology
- Skin Neoplasms/mortality
- Skin Neoplasms/therapy
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S Cebon
- Cancer Immunobiology Programme, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University at Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Austin Branch, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martin Gore
- Oncology, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - John F Thompson
- Melanoma Institute Australia, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian D Davis
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Austin Branch, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Monash University Eastern Health Clinical School, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - Grant A McArthur
- Melanona and Skin Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Euan Walpole
- Cancer Services Division, Princess Alexandra Hospital Health Service District, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark Smithers
- Oncology Services Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital Health Service District, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Vincenzo Cerundolo
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - P Rod Dunbar
- School of Biological Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Duncan MacGregor
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cyril Fisher
- Oncology, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Michael Millward
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Paul Nathan
- Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, London, UK
| | - Michael P N Findlay
- School of Medicine and Health Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Peter Hersey
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - T R Jeffry Evans
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Jeremy Marsden
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Angus G Dalgleish
- Cell and Molecular Sciences, Division of Oncology, St Georges Hospital Medical School, London, UK
| | - Pippa G Corrie
- West Anglia Cancer Research Network Oncology Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Marples Maria
- The Cancer Research Centre, Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield, UK
| | - Margaret Brimble
- School of Biological Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Geoff Williams
- School of Biological Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sintia Winkler
- School of Biological Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Heather M Jackson
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Austin Branch, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Liliana Endo-Munoz
- Cancer Immunobiology Programme, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University at Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Candani S A Tutuka
- Cancer Immunobiology Programme, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University at Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Austin Branch, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ralph Venhaus
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lloyd J Old
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dennis Haack
- Versagenics Inc, Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Andreas Behren
- Cancer Immunobiology Programme, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University at Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Austin Branch, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Weisan Chen
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Austin Branch, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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FACS isolation of low percentage human antigen-specific CD8 + T cells based on activation-induced CD3 and CD8 downregulation. J Immunol Methods 2019; 472:35-43. [PMID: 31201792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
As T cell activation leads to downregulation of T cell receptor (TCR) and coreceptor CD8, we developed a novel FACS-based sorting method to enrich activated antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Using multiple established or low percentage T cell cultures, with either single antigen specificity or multiple influenza A virus antigen specificities, we have optimized the sorting method for T cell activation time and stimulating antigen dose. We have also sorted various numbers of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells into 96-well plates to demonstrate these T cells are capable of expanding into nearly pure CD8+ T cell lines. Our approach has the advantage of sorting antigen-specific T cells without knowing their specific antigenic epitopes or restricting HLA. We believe this method can be very helpful for successfully establishing CD8+ T cell lines for various purpose, including immunotherapy.
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Perspective: cancer vaccines in the era of immune checkpoint blockade. Mamm Genome 2018; 29:703-713. [PMID: 30446791 PMCID: PMC6267701 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-018-9786-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Current excitement about cancer immunotherapy is the result of unprecedented clinical impact from immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly those that target programmed death (PD)-1 and PD-ligand (L)-1. Numerous other immunotherapeutics are also finding their way into the clinic either alone or in combination, and these have potential applications in many cancer types. Therapeutic cancer vaccines have been a major focus for many pioneers in the field yet have largely failed to live up to expectations as game-changing immunotherapeutics. This, despite decades of focussed efforts that have identified antigens, optimised adjuvants and refined approaches to pre-clinical modelling and clinical monitoring. If antigen-directed immunotherapeutics are to take a place in the anti-cancer therapeutic armamentarium, it will be crucial to understand the potential niche that could be occupied by cancer vaccines that can specifically induce or modify immune response against cancer antigens.
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Luft O, Khattar R, Farrokhi K, Ferri D, Yavorska N, Zhang J, Sadozai H, Adeyi O, Chruscinski A, Levy GA, Selzner N. Inhibition of the Fibrinogen-Like Protein 2:FcγRIIB/RIII immunosuppressive pathway enhances antiviral T-cell and B-cell responses leading to clearance of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus clone 13. Immunology 2018; 154:476-489. [PMID: 29341118 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent viruses evade immune detection by interfering with virus-specific innate and adaptive antiviral immune responses. Fibrinogen-like protein-2 (FGL2) is a potent effector molecule of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells and exerts its immunosuppressive activity following ligation to its cognate receptor, FcγRIIB/RIII. The role of FGL2 in the pathogenesis of chronic viral infection caused by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus clone-13 (LCMV cl-13) was assessed in this study. Chronically infected fgl2+/+ mice had increased plasma levels of FGL2, with reduced expression of the maturation markers, CD80, CD86 and MHC-II on macrophages and dendritic cells and impaired production of neutralizing antibody. In contrast, fgl2-/- mice or fgl2+/+ mice that had been pre-treated with antibodies to FGL2 and FcγRIIB/RIII and then infected with LCMV cl-13 developed a robust CD4+ and CD8+ antiviral T-cell response, produced high titred neutralizing antibody to LCMV and cleared LCMV. Treatment of mice with established chronic infection with antibodies to FGL2 and FcγRIIB/RIII was shown to rescue the number and functionality of virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with reduced total and virus-specific T-cell expression of programmed cell death protein 1 leading to viral clearance. These results demonstrate an important role for FGL2 in viral immune evasion and provide a rationale to target FGL2 to treat patients with chronic viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Luft
- Toronto General Hospital, Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ramzi Khattar
- Toronto General Hospital, Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kaveh Farrokhi
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dario Ferri
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nataliya Yavorska
- Toronto General Hospital, Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Toronto General Hospital, Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hassan Sadozai
- Toronto General Hospital, Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Oyedele Adeyi
- Toronto General Hospital, Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrzej Chruscinski
- Toronto General Hospital, Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gary A Levy
- Toronto General Hospital, Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nazia Selzner
- Toronto General Hospital, Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Koblischke M, Mackroth MS, Schwaiger J, Fae I, Fischer G, Stiasny K, Heinz FX, Aberle JH. Protein structure shapes immunodominance in the CD4 T cell response to yellow fever vaccination. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8907. [PMID: 28827760 PMCID: PMC5566484 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09331-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The live attenuated yellow fever (YF) vaccine is a highly effective human vaccine and induces long-term protective neutralizing antibodies directed against the viral envelope protein E. The generation of such antibodies requires the help of CD4 T cells which recognize peptides derived from proteins in virus particles internalized and processed by E-specific B cells. The CD4 T helper cell response is restricted to few immunodominant epitopes, but the mechanisms of their selection are largely unknown. Here, we report that CD4 T cell responses elicited by the YF-17D vaccine are focused to hotspots of two helices of the viral capsid protein and to exposed strands and loops of E. We found that the locations of immunodominant epitopes within three-dimensional protein structures exhibit a high degree of overlap between YF virus and the structurally homologous flavivirus tick-borne encephalitis virus, although amino acid sequence identity of the epitope regions is only 15-45%. The restriction of epitopes to exposed E protein surfaces and their strikingly similar positioning within proteins of distantly related flaviviruses are consistent with a strong influence of protein structure that shapes CD4 T cell responses and provide leads for a rational design of immunogens for vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria S Mackroth
- Department of Medicine I, Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schwaiger
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingrid Fae
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gottfried Fischer
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz X Heinz
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith H Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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6
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Davis ID, Quirk J, Morris L, Seddon L, Tai TY, Whitty G, Cavicchiolo T, Ebert L, Jackson H, Browning J, MacGregor D, Wittke F, Winkels G, Alex R, Miloradovic L, Maraskovsky E, Chen W, Cebon J. A pilot study of peripheral blood BDCA-1 (CD1c) positive dendritic cells pulsed with NY-ESO-1 ISCOMATRIX™ adjuvant. Immunotherapy 2017; 9:249-259. [PMID: 28183192 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2016-0132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Pilot clinical trial of NY-ESO-1 (ESO) protein in ISCOMATRIX™ adjuvant pulsed onto peripheral blood dendritic cells (PBDC), to ascertain feasibility, evaluate toxicity and assess induction of ESO-specific immune responses. PATIENTS & METHODS Eligible participants had resected cancers expressing ESO or LAGE-1 and were at high risk of relapse. PBDC were produced using CliniMACS®plus, with initial depletion of CD1c+ B cells followed by positive selection of CD1c+ PBDC. Patients received three intradermal vaccinations of ESO/IMX-pulsed PBDC at 4-week intervals. RESULTS The process was feasible and safe. No vaccine-induced immune responses were detected. Assays of immunomodulatory cells did not correlate with outcomes. One patient had a long lasting complete remission. CONCLUSION This method was feasible and safe but was minimally immunogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian D Davis
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Victoria, Australia.,Austin Health, Department of Medical Oncology, Victoria, Australia.,Monash University Eastern Health Clinical School, Level 2, 5 Arnold St, Box Hill, Victoria 3128, Australia.,Eastern Health, Victoria, Australia
| | - Juliet Quirk
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leone Morris
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lauren Seddon
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tsin Yee Tai
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Lisa Ebert
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Judy Browning
- Austin Health, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Victoria, Australia
| | - Duncan MacGregor
- Austin Health, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Eugene Maraskovsky
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Victoria, Australia.,CSL Limited, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Weisan Chen
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Victoria, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Australia
| | - Jonathan Cebon
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Victoria, Australia.,Austin Health, Department of Medical Oncology, Victoria, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Australia.,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Victoria, Australia
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7
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Grützner E, Stirner R, Arenz L, Athanasoulia AP, Schrödl K, Berking C, Bogner JR, Draenert R. Kinetics of human myeloid-derived suppressor cells after blood draw. J Transl Med 2016; 14:2. [PMID: 26733325 PMCID: PMC4702395 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0755-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) have been described as a group of immature myeloid cells which exert immunosuppressive action by inhibiting function of T lymphocytes. While there is a huge scientific interest to study these cells in multiple human diseases, the methodological approach varies substantially between published studies. This is problematic as human MDSC seem to be a sensible cell type concerning not only cryopreservation but also time point after blood draw. To date data on delayed blood processing influencing cell numbers and phenotype is missing. We therefore evaluated the kinetics of granulocytic MDSC (gMDSC) and monocytic MDSC (mMDSC) frequencies after blood draw in order to determine the best time point for analysis of this recently defined cell type. Methods In this study, we isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with HIV infection or solid tumors directly after blood draw. We then analyzed the frequencies of gMDSC and mMDSC 2, 4 and 6 h after blood draw and after an overnight rest by FACS analysis using the standard phenotypic markers. In addition, part of the cells was frozen directly after PBMC preparation and was measured after thawing. Results gMDSC levels showed no significant difference using fresh PBMC over time with a limitation for the overnight sample. However they were massively diminished after freezing (p = 0.0001 for all subjects). In contrast, frequencies of fresh mMDSC varied over time with no difference between time point 2 and 4 h but a significantly reduction after 6 h and overnight rest (p = 0.0005 and p = 0.005 respectively). Freezing of PBMC decreased the yield of mMDSC reaching statistical significance (p = 0.04). For both MDSC subgroups, FACS analysis became more difficult over time due to less sharp divisions between populations. Conclusions According to our data human MDSC need to be studied on fresh PBMC. gMDSC can be studied with delay, mMDSC however should be studied no later than 4 h after blood draw. These results are crucial as an increasing number of clinical trials aim at analyzing MDSC nowadays and the logistics of blood processing implies delayed sample processing in some cases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-015-0755-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Grützner
- Sektion Klinische Infektiologie, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Renate Stirner
- Sektion Klinische Infektiologie, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Lukas Arenz
- Sektion Klinische Infektiologie, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Anastasia P Athanasoulia
- Sektion Klinische Infektiologie, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Kathrin Schrödl
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik V, Klinikum der Universität München, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Carola Berking
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Frauenlobstraße 9-11, 80337, Munich, Germany.
| | - Johannes R Bogner
- Sektion Klinische Infektiologie, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Rika Draenert
- Sektion Klinische Infektiologie, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336, Munich, Germany.
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Klein O, Davis ID, McArthur GA, Chen L, Haydon A, Parente P, Dimopoulos N, Jackson H, Xiao K, Maraskovsky E, Hopkins W, Stan R, Chen W, Cebon J. Low-dose cyclophosphamide enhances antigen-specific CD4(+) T cell responses to NY-ESO-1/ISCOMATRIX™ vaccine in patients with advanced melanoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2015; 64:507-18. [PMID: 25662405 PMCID: PMC11029160 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-015-1656-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Clinical outcomes from cancer vaccine trials in patients with advanced melanoma have so far been disappointing. This appears at least partially due to a state of immunosuppression in these patients induced by an expansion of regulatory cell populations including regulatory T cells (Tregs). We have previously demonstrated potent immunogenicity of the NY-ESO-1/ISCOMATRIX™ vaccine in patients with resected melanoma (study LUD99-08); however, the same vaccine induced only a few vaccine antigen-specific immune responses in patients with advanced disease (study LUD2002-013). Pre-clinical models suggest that the alkylating agent cyclophosphamide can enhance immune responses by depleting Tregs. Therefore, we have enrolled a second cohort of patients with advanced melanoma in the clinical trial LUD2002-013 to investigate whether pre-treatment with cyclophosphamide could improve the immunogenicity of the NY-ESO-1/ISCOMATRIX™ vaccine. The combination treatment led to a significant increase in vaccine-induced NY-ESO-1-specific CD4(+) T cell responses compared with the first trial cohort treated with vaccine alone. We could not detect a significant decline in regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of patients 14 days after cyclophosphamide administration, although a decline at an earlier time point cannot be excluded. Our observations support the inclusion of cyclophosphamide in combination trials with vaccines and other immune-modulatory agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Klein
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (Melbourne-Austin Branch), 147-163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia,
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Pascal L, Hivert B, Trauet J, Deberranger E, Dessaint JP, Yakoub-Agha I, Labalette M. A low effective dose of interleukin-7 is sufficient to maintain cord blood T cells alive without potentiating allo-immune responses. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2015; 21:625-31. [PMID: 25639768 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2014.11.678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Slow reconstitution of T cell immunity remains a critical issue after umbilical cord blood (CB) transplantation. Although this may be a consequence of the low cell dose, it may also reflect the propensity of naïve T cells, which predominate in CB, to undergo apoptotic cell death. Exogenous interleukin 7 (IL-7) can prevent apoptosis of naïve T cells, but at high concentrations, IL-7 may also expand alloreactive T cells, thereby aggravating the risk of graft-versus-host disease. We evaluated the survival of CB T cells from 34 healthy full-term pregnancies, and we found wide interdonor variation, from 17.4% to 79.7%, of CB T cells that were still alive after being rested for 4 days in culture medium without cytokine supplementation. The viability of CB T cells was negatively correlated to infant birth weight (Spearman's ρ = .376; P = .031) and positively correlated to venous CB pH (ρ = .397; P = .027); both associations were confirmed by multivariate analysis (P = .023 and P = .005, respectively). A low supplemental concentration (100 pg/mL) of recombinant human IL-7 was sufficient to maintain the viability of cryopreserved/thawed CB T cells, with most (>80%) cells remaining in a quiescent state and without significant changes in their CD4/CD8 ratio and the proportion of CD4(+) CD31(+) PTK7(+) recent thymic emigrants. IL-7 at 100 pg/mL did not lead to any significant enhancement of the alloreactive response of CB T cells, as evaluated by proliferation rates (thymidine incorporation and carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester dilution) and interferon-gamma production (ELISPOT). This effective concentration of IL-7 is far lower than that obtained in vivo after pharmacological administration of the cytokine. This study suggests that administration of lower doses of recombinant human IL-7 than used in previous clinical trials may be sufficient to sustain the viability of infused CB T cells and, thus, help to accelerate naïve T cell reconstitution without potentiating their alloreactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Pascal
- Service d'Onco-hématologie, Université Catholique de Lille, Lille, France; EA2686, Université Lille Nord de France, UDSL Faculté de Médecine, Laboratoire d'Immunologie HLA, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France
| | | | - Jacques Trauet
- EA2686, Université Lille Nord de France, UDSL Faculté de Médecine, Laboratoire d'Immunologie HLA, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France
| | | | - Jean-Paul Dessaint
- EA2686, Université Lille Nord de France, UDSL Faculté de Médecine, Laboratoire d'Immunologie HLA, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha
- EA2686, Université Lille Nord de France, UDSL Faculté de Médecine, Laboratoire d'Immunologie HLA, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France; UAM Allogreffe de CSH, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Myriam Labalette
- EA2686, Université Lille Nord de France, UDSL Faculté de Médecine, Laboratoire d'Immunologie HLA, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France.
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Nucleoprotein of influenza A virus is a major target of immunodominant CD8+ T-cell responses. Immunol Cell Biol 2014; 91:184-94. [PMID: 23399741 DOI: 10.1038/icb.2012.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Influenza A virus causes annual epidemics and sporadic pandemics, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Vaccines are currently available; however, they induce a non-strain-cross protective humoral immune response directed against the rapidly mutating surface glycoproteins, and thus need to be updated annually. As T cells are directed against more conserved internal influenza proteins, a T-cell-based vaccine has the potential to induce long-lasting and cross-strain protective CD8(+) T-cell immunity, and in that way minimize the severity of influenza infection. However, to rationally design such vaccines, we need to identify immunogenic T-cell regions within the most antigenic viral proteins. In this study, we have used a systematic approach to identify immunodominant peptides in HLA-A2-negative donors. A broad range of CD8(+) T-cell responses were observed and 6/7 donors had an immunodominant response against the relatively conserved internal nucleoprotein (NP). Dissecting the minimal epitope regions within the immunogenic NP led to the identification of six novel immunodominant epitopes, which include a 12-mer and an 8-mer peptides. The majority of immunodominant epitopes was clustered within the carboxyl terminal 2/3 of the NP protein and were highly conserved. We also subjected NP to three common computer algorithms for epitope prediction and found that most of the novel epitopes would not have been predicted. Our study emphasizes the importance of using a systematic approach to identify immunodominant CD8(+) T-cell responses and suggests that the epitope-rich regions within NP present a promising target for the T-cell-mediated multi-strain influenza vaccine.
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11
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Pagotto A, Caballero OL, Volkmar N, Devalle S, Simpson AJG, Lu X, Christianson JC. Centrosomal localisation of the cancer/testis (CT) antigens NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1 is regulated by proteasome activity in tumour cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e83212. [PMID: 24340093 PMCID: PMC3858345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/31/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cancer/Testis (CT) antigen family of genes are transcriptionally repressed in most human tissues but are atypically re-expressed in many malignant tumour types. Their restricted expression profile makes CT antigens ideal targets for cancer immunotherapy. As little is known about whether CT antigens may be regulated by post-translational processing, we investigated the mechanisms governing degradation of NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1 in selected cancer cell lines. Inhibitors of proteasome-mediated degradation induced the partitioning of NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1 into a detergent insoluble fraction. Moreover, this treatment also resulted in increased localisation of NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1 at the centrosome. Despite their interaction, relocation of either NY-ESO-1 or MAGE-C1 to the centrosome could occur independently of each other. Using a series of truncated fragments, the regions corresponding to NY-ESO-191-150 and MAGE-C1900-1116 were established as important for controlling both stability and localisation of these CT antigens. Our findings demonstrate that the steady state levels of NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1 are regulated by proteasomal degradation and that both behave as aggregation-prone proteins upon accumulation. With proteasome inhibitors being increasingly used as front-line treatment in cancer, these data raise issues about CT antigen processing for antigenic presentation and therefore immunogenicity in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pagotto
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Otavia L. Caballero
- Ludwig Collaborative Group, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Norbert Volkmar
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sylvie Devalle
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York Branch at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. G. Simpson
- Ludwig Collaborative Group, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xin Lu
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - John C. Christianson
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
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12
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Kaabinejadian S, Piazza PA, McMurtrey CP, Vernon SR, Cate SJ, Bardet W, Schafer FB, Jackson KW, Campbell DM, Buchli R, Rinaldo CR, Hildebrand WH. Identification of class I HLA T cell control epitopes for West Nile virus. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66298. [PMID: 23762485 PMCID: PMC3677933 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak in the United States underscores the importance of understanding human immune responses to this pathogen. Via the presentation of viral peptide ligands at the cell surface, class I HLA mediate the T cell recognition and killing of WNV infected cells. At this time, there are two key unknowns in regards to understanding protective T cell immunity: 1) the number of viral ligands presented by the HLA of infected cells, and 2) the distribution of T cell responses to these available HLA/viral complexes. Here, comparative mass spectroscopy was applied to determine the number of WNV peptides presented by the HLA-A*11:01 of infected cells after which T cell responses to these HLA/WNV complexes were assessed. Six viral peptides derived from capsid, NS3, NS4b, and NS5 were presented. When T cells from infected individuals were tested for reactivity to these six viral ligands, polyfunctional T cells were focused on the GTL9 WNV capsid peptide, ligands from NS3, NS4b, and NS5 were less immunogenic, and two ligands were largely inert, demonstrating that class I HLA reduce the WNV polyprotein to a handful of immune targets and that polyfunctional T cells recognize infections by zeroing in on particular HLA/WNV epitopes. Such dominant HLA/peptide epitopes are poised to drive the development of WNV vaccines that elicit protective T cells as well as providing key antigens for immunoassays that establish correlates of viral immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saghar Kaabinejadian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Paolo A. Piazza
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Curtis P. McMurtrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Stephen R. Vernon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Steven J. Cate
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Wilfried Bardet
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Fredda B. Schafer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Kenneth W. Jackson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Diana M. Campbell
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Rico Buchli
- Pure Protein L.L.C., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Charles R. Rinaldo
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - William H. Hildebrand
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
- Pure Protein L.L.C., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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13
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A cancer vaccine induces expansion of NY-ESO-1-specific regulatory T cells in patients with advanced melanoma. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48424. [PMID: 23110239 PMCID: PMC3482213 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccines are designed to expand tumor antigen-specific T cells with effector function. However, they may also inadvertently expand regulatory T cells (Treg), which could seriously hamper clinical efficacy. To address this possibility, we developed a novel assay to detect antigen-specific Treg based on down-regulation of surface CD3 following TCR engagement, and used this approach to screen for Treg specific to the NY-ESO-1 tumor antigen in melanoma patients treated with the NY-ESO-1/ISCOMATRIXTM cancer vaccine. All patients tested had Treg (CD25bright FoxP3+ CD127neg) specific for at least one NY-ESO-1 epitope in the blood. Strikingly, comparison with pre-treatment samples revealed that many of these responses were induced or boosted by vaccination. The most frequently detected response was toward the HLA-DP4-restricted NY-ESO-1157–170 epitope, which is also recognized by effector T cells. Notably, functional Treg specific for an HLA-DR-restricted epitope within the NY-ESO-1115–132 peptide were also identified at high frequency in tumor tissue, suggesting that NY-ESO-1-specific Treg may suppress local anti-tumor immune responses. Together, our data provide compelling evidence for the ability of a cancer vaccine to expand tumor antigen-specific Treg in the setting of advanced cancer, a finding which should be given serious consideration in the design of future cancer vaccine clinical trials.
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14
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A novel HLA-B18 restricted CD8+ T cell epitope is efficiently cross-presented by dendritic cells from soluble tumor antigen. PLoS One 2012; 7:e44707. [PMID: 22970293 PMCID: PMC3435279 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2012] [Accepted: 08/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
NY-ESO-1 has been a major target of many immunotherapy trials because it is expressed by various cancers and is highly immunogenic. In this study, we have identified a novel HLA-B*1801-restricted CD8+ T cell epitope, NY-ESO-188–96 (LEFYLAMPF) and compared its direct- and cross-presentation to that of the reported NY-ESO-1157–165 epitope restricted to HLA-A*0201. Although both epitopes were readily cross-presented by DCs exposed to various forms of full-length NY-ESO-1 antigen, remarkably NY-ESO-188–96 is much more efficiently cross-presented from the soluble form, than NY-ESO-1157–165. On the other hand, NY-ESO-1157–165 is efficiently presented by NY-ESO-1-expressing tumor cells and its presentation was not enhanced by IFN-γ treatment, which induced immunoproteasome as demonstrated by Western blots and functionally a decreased presentation of Melan A26–35; whereas NY-ESO-188–96 was very inefficiently presented by the same tumor cell lines, except for one that expressed high level of immunoproteasome. It was only presented when the tumor cells were first IFN-γ treated, followed by infection with recombinant vaccinia virus encoding NY-ESO-1, which dramatically increased NY-ESO-1 expression. These data indicate that the presentation of NY-ESO-188–96 is immunoproteasome dependent. Furthermore, a survey was conducted on multiple samples collected from HLA-B18+ melanoma patients. Surprisingly, all the detectable responses to NY-ESO-188–96 from patients, including those who received NY-ESO-1 ISCOMATRIX™ vaccine were induced spontaneously. Taken together, these results imply that some epitopes can be inefficiently presented by tumor cells although the corresponding CD8+ T cell responses are efficiently primed in vivo by DCs cross-presenting these epitopes. The potential implications for cancer vaccine strategies are further discussed.
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15
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Ebert LM, MacRaild SE, Davis ID, Cebon J, Chen W. A novel method for detecting antigen-specific human regulatory T cells. J Immunol Methods 2012; 377:56-61. [PMID: 22265970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2012.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2011] [Revised: 12/06/2011] [Accepted: 01/05/2012] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Antigenic epitopes recognized by FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) are poorly defined, largely due to a lack of assays for determining Treg specificity. We have developed a novel approach for detecting human Treg specific to peptide antigen, utilizing down-regulation of surface CD3 as a read-out of antigen recognition. Culture conditions and re-stimulation time have been optimized, allowing the detection of even very rare Treg, such as those specific to tumor antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Ebert
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (Melbourne-Austin Branch), Melbourne, Australia
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16
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Klein O, Schmidt C, Knights A, Davis ID, Chen W, Cebon J. Melanoma vaccines: developments over the past 10 years. Expert Rev Vaccines 2011; 10:853-73. [PMID: 21692705 DOI: 10.1586/erv.11.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Decades of preclinical evaluation and clinical trials into melanoma vaccines have yielded spectacular progress in our understanding of melanoma antigens and the immune mechanisms of tumor rejection. Key insights and the results of their clinical evaluation are reviewed in this article. Unfortunately, durable clinical benefit following vaccination remains uncommon. Two recent clinical advances that will impact on melanoma vaccine development are trials with inhibitors of CTLA-4 and oncogenic BRAF. Long-term therapeutic control of melanoma will require integration of specific active immunotherapy with these emerging successful therapies from the disparate fields of immune regulation and signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Klein
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Austin Branch, Austin Hospital, Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia
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17
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Cebon J, Knights A, Ebert L, Jackson H, Chen W. Evaluation of cellular immune responses in cancer vaccine recipients: lessons from NY-ESO-1. Expert Rev Vaccines 2010; 9:617-29. [PMID: 20518717 DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The rigorous evaluation of cancer vaccination requires evidence of benefit to patients with cancer or those at risk of relapse from the disease. Clinical trials are expensive and require considerable human and clinical resources in order to demonstrate this benefit. In the era of defined cancer antigens, it is possible to evaluate immunogenic targets, and assess the quality and magnitude of immune responses against these antigens following vaccination. Analyzing these surrogate end points complements clinical assessment and provides a depth of understanding to better inform trial evaluation and design. We have used the immunogenic cancer testis antigen NY-ESO-1 as a model antigen. This article summarizes our experience in monitoring immunity against NY-ESO-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Cebon
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg VIC 3084, Australia
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18
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Lin Y, Gallardo HF, Ku GY, Li H, Manukian G, Rasalan TS, Xu Y, Terzulli SL, Old LJ, Allison JP, Houghton AN, Wolchok JD, Yuan J. Optimization and validation of a robust human T-cell culture method for monitoring phenotypic and polyfunctional antigen-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses. Cytotherapy 2010; 11:912-22. [PMID: 19903103 DOI: 10.3109/14653240903136987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Monitoring cellular immune responses is one prerequisite for the rational development of cancer vaccines. METHODS We describe an extensive effort to optimize and validate quantitatively an in vitro T-cell culture method by determining the phenotype and function of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, including measurement of the phenotype markers CCR7, CD45RA, CD28 and CD27 and the functional markers interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-2, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and CD107a. RESULTS Autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were potent stimulators that expanded antigen (Ag)-specific CD8(+) T cells during short-term culture with the addition of IL-2 and IL-15 cytokines. Polyfunctional Ag-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were detectable using this method. CONCLUSIONS Our culture system represents a robust human T-cell culture protocol that permits phenotypic, quantitative and qualitative evaluation of vaccine-induced CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Lin
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Immunology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Newy York, New York 10021, USA
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19
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Caserta S, Alessi P, Basso V, Mondino A. IL-7 is superior to IL-2 for ex vivo expansion of tumour-specific CD4(+) T cells. Eur J Immunol 2010; 40:470-9. [PMID: 19950184 DOI: 10.1002/eji.200939801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that tumours hinder both natural and vaccine-induced tumour-specific CD4(+) T-cell responses. Adoptive T-cell therapy has the potential to circumvent functional tolerance and enhance anti-tumour protective responses. While protocols suitable for the expansion of cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells are currently available, data on tumour-specific CD4(+) T cells remain scarce. We report here that CD4(+) T cells sensitized to tumour-associated Ag in vivo, proliferate in vitro in response to IL-7 without the need for exogenous Ag stimulation and accumulate several folds while preserving a memory-like phenotype. Both cell proliferation and survival accounts for the outgrowth of tumour-sensitized T cells among other memory and naive lymphocytes following exposure to IL-7. Also IL-2, previously used to expand anti-tumour CTL, promotes tumour-specific CD4(+) T-cell accumulation. However, IL-7 is superior to IL-2 at preserving lymphocyte viability, in vitro and in vivo, maintaining those properties, that are required by helper CD4(+) T cells to confer therapeutic efficacy upon transplantation in tumour-bearing hosts. Together our data support a unique role for IL-7 in retrieving memory-like CD4(+) T cells suitable for adoptive T-cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Caserta
- Program in Immunology and Bio-Immuno-gene therapy of Cancer (PIBIC), Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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20
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Nicholaou T, Ebert LM, Davis ID, McArthur GA, Jackson H, Dimopoulos N, Tan B, Maraskovsky E, Miloradovic L, Hopkins W, Pan L, Venhaus R, Hoffman EW, Chen W, Cebon J. Regulatory T-cell-mediated attenuation of T-cell responses to the NY-ESO-1 ISCOMATRIX vaccine in patients with advanced malignant melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15:2166-73. [PMID: 19276262 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-2484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE NY-ESO-1 is a highly immunogenic antigen expressed in a variety of malignancies, making it an excellent target for cancer vaccination. We recently developed a vaccine consisting of full-length recombinant NY-ESO-1 protein formulated with ISCOMATRIX adjuvant, which generated strong humoral and T-cell-mediated immune responses and seemed to reduce the risk of disease relapse in patients with fully resected melanoma. This study examines the clinical and immunologic efficacy of the same vaccine in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, circulating NY-ESO-1-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, and proportions of regulatory T cells (Treg) were assessed in patients. RESULTS In contrast to patients with minimal residual disease, advanced melanoma patients showed no clinical responses to vaccination. Although strong antibody responses were mounted, the generation of delayed-type hypersensitivity responses was significantly impaired. The proportion of patients with circulating NY-ESO-1-specific CD4(+) T cells was also reduced, and although many patients had CD8(+) T cells specific to a broad range of NY-ESO-1 epitopes, the majority of these responses were preexisting. Tregs were enumerated in the blood by flow cytometric detection of cells with a CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) and CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) phenotype. Patients with advanced melanoma had a significantly higher proportion of circulating Treg compared with those with minimal residual disease. CONCLUSIONS Our results point to a tumor-induced systemic immune suppression, showing a clear association between the stage of melanoma progression, the number of Treg in the blood, and the clinical and immunologic efficacy of the NY-ESO-1 ISCOMATRIX cancer vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Nicholaou
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Austin Health, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, CSL Limited, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Ebert LM, Liu YC, Clements CS, Robson NC, Jackson HM, Markby JL, Dimopoulos N, Tan BS, Luescher IF, Davis ID, Rossjohn J, Cebon J, Purcell AW, Chen W. A long, naturally presented immunodominant epitope from NY-ESO-1 tumor antigen: implications for cancer vaccine design. Cancer Res 2009; 69:1046-54. [PMID: 19176376 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-2926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The tumor antigen NY-ESO-1 is a promising cancer vaccine target. We describe here a novel HLA-B7-restricted NY-ESO-1 epitope, encompassing amino acids 60-72 (APRGPHGGAASGL), which is naturally presented by melanoma cells. The tumor epitope bound to HLA-B7 by bulging outward from the peptide-binding cleft. This bulged epitope was not an impediment to T-cell recognition, however, because four of six HLA-B7(+) melanoma patients vaccinated with NY-ESO-1 ISCOMATRIX vaccine generated a potent T-cell response to this determinant. Moreover, the response to this epitope was immunodominant in three of these patients and, unlike the T-cell responses to bulged HLA class I viral epitopes, the responding T cells possessed a remarkably broad TCR repertoire. Interestingly, HLA-B7(+) melanoma patients who did not receive the NY-ESO-1 ISCOMATRIX vaccine rarely generated a spontaneous T-cell response to this cryptic epitope, suggesting a lack of priming of such T cells in the natural anti-NY-ESO-1 response, which may be corrected by vaccination. Together, our results reveal several surprising aspects of antitumor immunity and have implications for cancer vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Ebert
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne Centre for Clinical Sciences, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
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22
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DAVIS ID, TONER G, BROAD A, CAMPANO LM, ROSENTHAL M. Phase II trial of anti-idiotypic p53 peptides (Pentrys) plus granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2007.00101.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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23
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Yuan J, Gallardo HF, Rasalan T, Ranganathan R, Wang J, Zhang Y, Panageas K, Stan R, Young JW, Houghton AN, Wolchok JD. In vitro expansion of Ag-specific T cells by HLA-A*0201-transfected K562 cells for immune monitoring. Cytotherapy 2006; 8:498-508. [PMID: 17050255 DOI: 10.1080/14653240600868262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Development of a practical and sensitive assay for evaluating immune responses against cancer Ag has been a challenge for immune monitoring of patients. We have established a reproducible method using peptide-pulsed K562-A*0201 cells as APC to expand Ag-specific T cells in vitro. This method may be applied for monitoring T-cell responses in cancer immunotherapy clinical trials. METHODS Autologous PBMC from HLA-A*0201+ healthy donors and patients with melanoma were stimulated with peptide-pulsed K562-A*0201 cells under varying conditions. We investigated (1) different culture conditions, including the requirements for serum and cytokines for expansion of CD8+ T lymphocytes; (2) a range of peptide concentrations for Ag loading; (3) phenotypic characterization of responding T cells; and (4) APC:responder ratios and their effects on T-cell expansion. We validated these conditions by ELISPOT and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assays using peptides from influenza, Epslein-Barr Virus (EBV) and tyrosinase. RESULTS Conditions for optimal T-cell expansion using K562-A*0201 APC included input of 2 x 10(6) PBMC, a 10 microg/mL peptide concentration to pulse K562-A*0201 cells, a 1:30 APC:responder T-cell ratio and culture in 10% autologous plasma supplemented with IL-2 and IL-15. In these conditions, Ag-specific T cells expanded >100-fold over a 10-day culture period (peak at day 12). DISCUSSION This bulk culture method is simple and reliable for expanding human Ag-specific T cells using peptide-pulsed K562-A*0201 cells. This HLA-matched APC line can be adapted to other HLA haplotypes, and has advantages for monitoring clinical trials of immunotherapy with limited availability of autologous APC and PBMC from patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Yuan
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA
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24
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Davis ID, Chen Q, Morris L, Quirk J, Stanley M, Tavarnesi ML, Parente P, Cavicchiolo T, Hopkins W, Jackson H, Dimopoulos N, Tai TY, MacGregor D, Browning J, Svobodova S, Caron D, Maraskovsky E, Old LJ, Chen W, Cebon J. Blood Dendritic Cells Generated With Flt3 Ligand and CD40 Ligand Prime CD8+ T Cells Efficiently in Cancer Patients. J Immunother 2006; 29:499-511. [PMID: 16971806 DOI: 10.1097/01.cji.0000211299.29632.8c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Flt3 ligand mobilizes dendritic cells (DCs) into blood, allowing generation in vivo of large numbers of DCs for immunotherapy. These immature DCs can be rapidly activated by soluble CD40 ligand (CD40L). We developed a novel overnight method using these cytokines to produce DCs for cancer immunotherapy. Flt3 ligand-mobilized DCs (FLDCs) were isolated, activated with CD40L, loaded with antigenic peptides from influenza matrix protein, hepatitis B core antigen, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A4, and MAGE-A10, and injected into patients with resected melanoma. Three injections were given at 4-week intervals. Study end points included antigen-specific immune responses (skin reactions to peptides alone or peptide-pulsed FLDCs; circulating T-cell responses), safety, and toxicity. No patient had a measurable tumor. Six patients were entered. FLDCs were obtained, enriched, and cultured under Good Manufacturing Practice grade conditions. Overnight culture with soluble CD40L caused marked up-regulation of activation markers (CD83 and HLA-DR). These FLDCs were functional and able to stimulate antigen-specific T cells in vitro. No significant adverse events were attributable to FLDCs. Peptide-pulsed FLDCs caused strong local skin reactions up to 60 mm diameter with intense perivascular infiltration of T cells, exceeding those seen in our previous peptide-based protocols. Antigen-specific blood T-cell responses were induced, including responses to an antigen for which the patients were naive (hepatitis B core antigen) and MAGE-A10. MAGE-A10-specific T cells with a skewed T-cell receptor repertoire were detected in 1 patient in blood ex vivo and from tumor biopsies. Vaccination with FLDCs pulsed with peptides is safe and primes immune responses to cancer antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian D Davis
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Austin Health, Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia.
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25
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Nicholaou T, Ebert L, Davis ID, Robson N, Klein O, Maraskovsky E, Chen W, Cebon J. Directions in the immune targeting of cancer: lessons learned from the cancer-testis Ag NY-ESO-1. Immunol Cell Biol 2006; 84:303-17. [PMID: 16681828 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1711.2006.01446.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Since the early 1990s, numerous cancer Ag have been defined and for a handful of these there is now some clinical experience, which has made it possible to assess their value as targets for cancer immunotherapy. The cancer-testis Ag have been particularly attractive because their expression is limited to cancer and virtually no non-malignant cells apart from germ cells and trophoblast. Among these, NY-ESO-1 has been the focus of our attention. The exceptional immunogenicity of this Ag coupled with its widespread distribution among many cancer types make it a very good vaccine candidate, with the potential to be used in vaccines against many types of malignancies. This article reviews emerging knowledge about the biology of NY-ESO-1 and experience with the early clinical development of vaccines directed against NY-ESO-1. These early studies have yielded a wealth of information about the immunology of NY-ESO-1 and set the scene for future clinical strategies for immune targeting of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Nicholaou
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Cancer Vaccine Programme, Austin Hospital, Victoria, Australia
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Jackson H, Dimopoulos N, Mifsud NA, Tai TY, Chen Q, Svobodova S, Browning J, Luescher I, Stockert L, Old LJ, Davis ID, Cebon J, Chen W. Striking Immunodominance Hierarchy of Naturally Occurring CD8+ and CD4+ T Cell Responses to Tumor Antigen NY-ESO-1. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2006; 176:5908-17. [PMID: 16670298 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.10.5908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Immunodominance has been well-demonstrated in many antiviral and antibacterial systems, but much less so in the setting of immune responses against cancer. Tumor Ag-specific CD8+ T cells keep cancer cells in check via immunosurveillance and shape tumor development through immunoediting. Because most tumor Ags are self Ags, the breadth and depth of antitumor immune responses have not been well-appreciated. To design and develop antitumor vaccines, it is important to understand the immunodominance hierarchy and its underlying mechanisms, and to identify the most immunodominant tumor Ag-specific T cells. We have comprehensively analyzed spontaneous cellular immune responses of one individual and show that multiple tumor Ags are targeted by the patient's immune system, especially the "cancer-testis" tumor Ag NY-ESO-1. The pattern of anti-NY-ESO-1 T cell responses in this patient closely resembles the classical broad yet hierarchical antiviral immunity and was confirmed in a second subject.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Jackson
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Austin Health, Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
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Davis ID, Chen W, Jackson H, Parente P, Shackleton M, Hopkins W, Chen Q, Dimopoulos N, Luke T, Murphy R, Scott AM, Maraskovsky E, McArthur G, MacGregor D, Sturrock S, Tai TY, Green S, Cuthbertson A, Maher D, Miloradovic L, Mitchell SV, Ritter G, Jungbluth AA, Chen YT, Gnjatic S, Hoffman EW, Old LJ, Cebon JS. Recombinant NY-ESO-1 protein with ISCOMATRIX adjuvant induces broad integrated antibody and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:10697-702. [PMID: 15252201 PMCID: PMC489997 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0403572101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 361] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
NY-ESO-1 is a "cancer-testis" antigen expressed in many cancers. ISCOMATRIX is a saponin-based adjuvant that induces antibody and T cell responses. We performed a placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of recombinant NY-ESO-1 protein with ISCOMATRIX adjuvant. Forty-six evaluable patients with resected NY-ESO-1-positive tumors received three doses of vaccine intramuscularly at monthly intervals. The vaccine was well tolerated. We observed high-titer antibody responses, strong delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions, and circulating CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells specific for a broad range of NY-ESO-1 epitopes, including known and previously unknown epitopes. In an unplanned analysis, vaccinated patients appeared to have superior clinical outcomes to those treated with placebo or protein alone. The vaccine is safe and highly potent immunologically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian D Davis
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne 3084, Australia.
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