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Liu X, Luan L, Liu X, Jiang D, Deng J, Xu J, Yuan Y, Xing J, Chen B, Xing D, Huang H. A novel nanobody-based HER2-targeting antibody exhibits potent synergistic antitumor efficacy in trastuzumab-resistant cancer cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1292839. [PMID: 37954614 PMCID: PMC10634241 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1292839] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Human epithelial growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) plays an oncogenic role in numerous tumors, including breast, gastric, and various other solid tumors. While anti-HER2 therapies are approved for the treatment of HER2-positive tumors, a necessity persists for creating novel HER2-targeted agents to resolve therapeutic resistance. Utilizing a synthetic nanobody library and affinity maturation, our study identified four anti-HER2 nanobodies that exhibited high affinity and specificity. These nanobodies recognized three distinct epitopes of HER2-ECD. Additionally, we constructed VHH-Fc and discovered that they facilitated superior internalization and showed moderate growth inhibition. Compared to the combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab, the VHH-Fc combos or their combination with trastuzumab demonstrated greater or comparable antitumor activity in both ligand-independent and ligand-driven tumors. Most remarkably, A9B5-Fc, which targeted domain I of HER2-ECD, displayed significantly enhanced trastuzumab-synergistic antitumor efficacy compared to pertuzumab under trastuzumab-resistant conditions. Our findings offer anti-HER2 nanobodies with high affinity and non-overlapping epitope recognition. The novel nanobody-based HER2-targeted antibody, A9B5-Fc, binding to HER2-ECD I, mediates promising receptor internalization. It possesses the potential to serve as a potent synergistic partner with trastuzumab, contributing to overcoming acquired resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlin Liu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Linli Luan
- Noventi Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Bioworkshops (Suzhou) Limited, Souzhou, China
| | - Dingwen Jiang
- Noventi Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Junwen Deng
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiazhen Xu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Yang Yuan
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiyao Xing
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Bingguan Chen
- Noventi Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongming Xing
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Haiming Huang
- Noventi Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
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Jin Y, Qiu X, He Z, Wang J, Sa R, Chen L. ERBB2 as a prognostic biomarker correlates with immune infiltrates in papillary thyroid cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:966365. [PMID: 36437939 PMCID: PMC9682178 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.966365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ERBB2) is commonly over-expressed in advanced or metastatic tissues of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with poor prognosis, while it remains unknown whether ERBB2 plays a role in the progression of PTC. Thus, we analyzed the data derived from online repositories, including TCGA, KEGG, GO, GeneMANIA, and STRING, to explore the relationship between ERBB2 expression and prognosis, tumor phenotypes of interest, and immune infiltrates in PTC. Compared to normal thyroid tissue, ERBB2 was up-regulated in PTC samples (p < 0.001); In comparison with the group with low expression of ERBB2, the group with high expression of ERBB2 had poorer progression-free interval in stage III/IV patients (p = 0.008) and patients aged >45 years (p = 0.019). The up-regulated ERBB2 was associated with iodine metabolism dysfunction, proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. The expression of ERBB2 negatively correlated with enrichment scores of B cells (r = −0.176, p < 0.001), CD8+ T cells (r = −0.160, p < 0.001), cytotoxic cells (r = −0.219, p < 0.001), NK CD56dim cells (r = −0.218, p < 0.001), plasmacytoid dendritic cells (r = −0.267, p < 0.001), T cells (r = −0.164, p < 0.001), T follicular helper cells (r = −0.111, p = 0.012), gamma delta T cells (r = −0.105, p = 0.017), and regulatory T cells (r = −0.125, p = 0.005). In conclusion, ERBB2 may serve as a prognostic biomarker and an immunotherapeutic target in PTC, deserving further exploration.
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Jabbour SK, Williams TM, Sayan M, Miller ED, Ajani JA, Chang AC, Coleman N, El-Rifai W, Haddock M, Ilson D, Jamorabo D, Kunos C, Lin S, Liu G, Prasanna PG, Rustgi AK, Wong R, Vikram B, Ahmed MM. Potential Molecular Targets in the Setting of Chemoradiation for Esophageal Malignancies. J Natl Cancer Inst 2021; 113:665-679. [PMID: 33351071 PMCID: PMC8600025 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaa195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the development of effective combined chemoradiation regimens for esophageal cancers has resulted in statistically significant survival benefits, the majority of patients treated with curative intent develop locoregional and/or distant relapse. Further improvements in disease control and survival will require the development of individualized therapy based on the knowledge of host and tumor genomics and potentially harnessing the host immune system. Although there are a number of gene targets that are amplified and proteins that are overexpressed in esophageal cancers, attempts to target several of these have not proven successful in unselected patients. Herein, we review our current state of knowledge regarding the molecular pathways implicated in esophageal carcinoma, and the available agents for targeting these pathways that may rationally be combined with standard chemoradiation, with the hope that this commentary will guide future efforts of novel combinations of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma K Jabbour
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Terence M Williams
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Mutlay Sayan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Eric D Miller
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jaffer A Ajani
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew C Chang
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Surgery, Section of Thoracic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Norman Coleman
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Michael Haddock
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David Ilson
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Charles Kunos
- Investigational Drug Branch, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Steven Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Geoffrey Liu
- Division of Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - Pataje G Prasanna
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Anil K Rustgi
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosemary Wong
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Bhadrasain Vikram
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mansoor M Ahmed
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
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Akutagawa T, Aoki S, Yamamoto-Rikitake M, Iwakiri R, Fujimoto K, Toda S. Cancer-adipose tissue interaction and fluid flow synergistically modulate cell kinetics, HER2 expression, and trastuzumab efficacy in gastric cancer. Gastric Cancer 2018; 21:946-955. [PMID: 29696406 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-018-0829-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early local tumor invasion in gastric cancer results in likely encounters between cancer cells and submucosal and subserosal adipose tissue, but these interactions remain to be clarified. Microenvironmental mechanical forces, such as fluid flow, are known to modulate normal cell kinetics, but the effects of fluid flow on gastric cancer cells are poorly understood. We analyzed the cell kinetics and chemosensitivity in gastric cancer using a simple in vitro model that simultaneously replicated the cancer-adipocyte interaction and physical microenvironment. METHODS Gastric cancer cells (MKN7 and MKN74) were seeded on rat adipose tissue fragment-embedded discs or collagen discs alone. To generate fluid flow, samples were placed on a rotatory shaker in a CO2 incubator. Proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and motility-related molecules were analyzed by morphometry and immunostaining. Proteins were evaluated by western blot analysis. Chemosensitivity was investigated by trastuzumab treatment. RESULTS Adipose tissue and fluid flow had a positive synergistic effect on the proliferative potential and invasive capacity of gastric cancer cells, and adipose tissue inhibited apoptosis in these cells. Adipose tissue upregulated ERK1/2 signaling in gastric cancer cells, but downregulated p38 signaling. Notably, adipose tissue and fluid flow promoted membranous and cytoplasmic HER2 expression and modulated chemosensitivity to trastuzumab in gastric cancer cells. CONCLUSION We have demonstrated that cancer-adipocyte interaction and physical microenvironment mutually modulate gastric cancer cell kinetics. Further elucidation of the microenvironmental regulation in gastric cancer will be very important for the development of strategies involving molecular targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Akutagawa
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, Saga, 849-8501, Japan. .,Department of Internal Medicine and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, Saga, 849-8501, Japan.
| | - Shigehisa Aoki
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, Saga, 849-8501, Japan.
| | - Mihoko Yamamoto-Rikitake
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Iwakiri
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Kazuma Fujimoto
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Shuji Toda
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
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HLA class I alterations in breast carcinoma are associated with a high frequency of the loss of heterozygosity at chromosomes 6 and 15. Immunogenetics 2018; 70:647-659. [PMID: 30145665 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-018-1074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
HLA class I (HLA-I) molecules play a crucial role in the presentation of tumor antigenic peptides to CD8+ T cells. Tumor HLA-I loss provides a route of immune escape from T cell-mediated killing. We analyzed HLA-I expression in 98 cryopreserved breast cancer tissues using a broad panel of anti-HLA-I antibodies. Genomic HLA-I typing was performed using DNA obtained from autologous normal breast tissue. Analysis of the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the HLA-I region of chromosome 6 (LOH-6) and in the β2-microglobulin (B2M) region of chromosome 15 (LOH-15) was done by microsatellite amplification of DNA isolated from microdissected tumor areas. B2M gene sequencing was done using this DNA form HLA-I-negative tumors. Immunohistological analysis revealed various types of HLA-I alterations in 79 tumors (81%), including total HLA-I loss in 53 cases (54%) and partial loss in 16 samples (14%). In 19 cases (19%), HLA-I expression was positive. Using microsatellite analysis, we detected LOH in 36 cases out of 92 evaluated (39%), including 15 samples with only LOH-6, 14 with LOH-15, and seven tumors with LOH-6 and LOH-15 at the same time. Remarkably, we detected LOH-6 in eight tumors with positive HLA-I immunolabeling. We did not find any B2M mutations in HLA-I-negative breast tumors. In conclusion, LOH at chromosomes 6 and 15 has a high incidence in breast cancer and occurs in tumors with different HLA-I immunophenotypes. This common molecular mechanism of HLA-I alterations may reduce the ability of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to kill tumor cells and negatively influence the clinical success of cancer immunotherapy.
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Seliger B. Immune modulatory microRNAs as a novel mechanism to revert immune escape of tumors. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2017; 36:49-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Lopez-Albaitero A, Xu H, Guo H, Wang L, Wu Z, Tran H, Chandarlapaty S, Scaltriti M, Janjigian Y, de Stanchina E, Cheung NKV. Overcoming resistance to HER2-targeted therapy with a novel HER2/CD3 bispecific antibody. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1267891. [PMID: 28405494 PMCID: PMC5384386 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1267891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell-based therapies have emerged as one of the most clinically effective ways to target solid and non-solid tumors. HER2 is responsible for the oncogenesis and treatment resistance of several human solid tumors. As a member of the HER family of tyrosine kinase receptors, its over-activity confers unfavorable clinical outcome. Targeted therapies directed at this receptor have achieved responses, although development of resistance is common. We explored a novel HER2/CD3 bispecific antibody (HER2-BsAb) platform that while preserving the anti-proliferative effects of trastuzumab, it recruits and activates non-specific circulating T-cells, promoting T cell tumor infiltration and ablating HER2(+) tumors, even when these are resistant to standard HER2-targeted therapies. Its in vitro tumor cytotoxicity, when expressed as EC50, correlated with the surface HER2 expression in a large panel of human tumor cell lines, irrespective of lineage or tumor type. HER2-BsAb-mediated cytotoxicity was relatively insensitive to PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibition. In four separate humanized mouse models of human breast cancer and ovarian cancer cell line xenografts, as well as human breast cancer and gastric cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), HER2-BsAb was highly effective in promoting T cell infiltration and suppressing tumor growth when used in the presence of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or activated T cells (ATC). The in vivo and in vitro antitumor properties of this BsAb support its further clinical development as a cancer immunotherapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY, USA
| | - Hongfen Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY, USA
| | - Linlin Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhihao Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY, USA
| | - Hoa Tran
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarat Chandarlapaty
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY, USA
| | - Maurizio Scaltriti
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yelena Janjigian
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY, USA
| | - Nai-Kong V Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, NY, USA
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Concha-Benavente F, Ferris RL. Oncogenic growth factor signaling mediating tumor escape from cellular immunity. Curr Opin Immunol 2017; 45:52-59. [PMID: 28208102 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Unrestrained growth factor signals can promote carcinogenesis, as well as other hallmarks of cancer such as immune evasion. Our understanding of the function and complex regulation of HER family of receptors has led to the development of targeted therapeutic agents that suppress tumor growth. However, these receptors also mediate escape from recognition by the host immune system. We discuss how HER family of oncogenic receptors downregulate tumor antigen presentation and upregulate suppressive membrane-bound or soluble secreted inhibitory molecules that ultimately lead to impaired cellular immunity mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) recognition. Implementing this knowledge into new therapeutic strategies to enhance tumor immunogenicity may restore effector cell mediated immune clearance of tumors and clinical efficacy of tumor-targeted immunotherapy against HER receptor overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Concha-Benavente
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert L Ferris
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Kersh AE, Sasaki M, Cooper LA, Kissick HT, Pollack BP. Understanding the Impact of ErbB Activating Events and Signal Transduction on Antigen Processing and Presentation: MHC Expression as a Model. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:327. [PMID: 27729860 PMCID: PMC5052536 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in molecular pathology have changed the landscape of oncology. The ability to interrogate tissue samples for oncogene amplification, driver mutations, and other molecular alterations provides clinicians with an enormous level of detail about their patient's cancer. In some cases, this information informs treatment decisions, especially those related to targeted anti-cancer therapies. However, in terms of immune-based therapies, it is less clear how to use such information. Likewise, despite studies demonstrating the pivotal role of neoantigens in predicting responsiveness to immune checkpoint blockade, it is not known if the expression of neoantigens impacts the response to targeted therapies despite a growing recognition of their diverse effects on immunity. To realize the promise of 'personalized medicine', it will be important to develop a more integrated understanding of the relationships between oncogenic events and processes governing anti-tumor immunity. One area of investigation to explore such relationships centers on defining how ErbB/HER activation and signal transduction influences antigen processing and presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Kersh
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Lee A Cooper
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of MedicineAtlanta, GA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta, GA, USA
| | - Haydn T Kissick
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brian P Pollack
- Atlanta VA Medical CenterDecatur, GA, USA; Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of MedicineAtlanta, GA, USA
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Codony-Servat J, Rosell R. Cancer stem cells and immunoresistance: clinical implications and solutions. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2016; 4:689-703. [PMID: 26798578 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2015.12.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Tumor cells can be contained, but not eliminated, by traditional cancer therapies. A cell minor subpopulation is able to evade attack from therapies and may have cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics, including self-renewal, multiple differentiation and tumor initiation (tumor initiating cells, or TICs). Thus, CSCs/TICs, aided by the microenvironment, produce more differentiated, metastatic cancer cells which the immune system detects and interacts with. There are three phases to this process: elimination, equilibrium and escape. In the elimination phase the immune system recognizes and destroys most of the tumor cells. Then the latency phase begins, consisting of equilibrium between immunological elimination and tumor cell growth. Finally, a minor attack-resistant subpopulation escapes and forms a clinically detectable tumor mass. Herein we review current knowledge of immunological characterization of CSCs/TICs. Due to the correlation between CTCs/TICs and drug resistance and metastasis, we also comment on the crucial role of key molecules involved in controlling CSCs/TICs properties; such molecules are essential to detect and destroy CSCs/TICs. Monoclonal antibodies, antibody constructs and vaccines have been designed to act against CSCs/TICs, with demonstrated efficacy in human cancer xenografts and some antitumor activity in human clinical studies. Therefore, therapeutic strategies that selectively target CSCs/TICs warrant further investigation. Better understanding of the interaction between CSCs and tumor immunology may help to identify strategies to eradicate the minor subpopulation that escapes conventional therapy attack, thus providing a solution to the problem of drug resistance and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Codony-Servat
- 1 Pangaea Biotech S.L., Quirón-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Cancer Biology and Precision Medicine Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 3 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quirón-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Fundación Molecular Oncology Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Rosell
- 1 Pangaea Biotech S.L., Quirón-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Cancer Biology and Precision Medicine Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 3 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quirón-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Fundación Molecular Oncology Research, Barcelona, Spain
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Shukla S, Wen AM, Commandeur U, Steinmetz NF. Presentation of HER2 epitopes using a filamentous plant virus-based vaccination platform. J Mater Chem B 2014; 2:6249-6258. [DOI: 10.1039/c4tb00749b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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12
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Bruttel VS, Wischhusen J. Cancer stem cell immunology: key to understanding tumorigenesis and tumor immune escape? Front Immunol 2014; 5:360. [PMID: 25120546 PMCID: PMC4114188 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cell (CSC) biology and tumor immunology have shaped our understanding of tumorigenesis. However, we still do not fully understand why tumors can be contained but not eliminated by the immune system and whether rare CSCs are required for tumor propagation. Long latency or recurrence periods have been described for most tumors. Conceptually, this requires a subset of malignant cells which is capable of initiating tumors, but is neither eliminated by immune cells nor able to grow straight into overt tumors. These criteria would be fulfilled by CSCs. Stem cells are pluripotent, immune-privileged, and long-living, but depend on specialized niches. Thus, latent tumors may be maintained by a niche-constrained reservoir of long-living CSCs that are exempt from immunosurveillance while niche-independent and more immunogenic daughter cells are constantly eliminated. The small subpopulation of CSCs is often held responsible for tumor initiation, metastasis, and recurrence. Experimentally, this hypothesis was supported by the observation that only this subset can propagate tumors in non-obese diabetic/scid mice, which lack T and B cells. Yet, the concept was challenged when an unexpectedly large proportion of melanoma cells were found to be capable of seeding complex tumors in mice which further lack NK cells. Moreover, the link between stem cell-like properties and tumorigenicity was not sustained in these highly immunodeficient animals. In humans, however, tumor-propagating cells must also escape from immune-mediated destruction. The ability to persist and to initiate neoplastic growth in the presence of immunosurveillance – which would be lost in a maximally immunodeficient animal model – could hence be a decisive criterion for CSCs. Consequently, integrating scientific insight from stem cell biology and tumor immunology to build a new concept of “CSC immunology” may help to reconcile the outlined contradictions and to improve our understanding of tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin S Bruttel
- Section for Experimental Tumor Immunology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
| | - Jörg Wischhusen
- Section for Experimental Tumor Immunology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
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