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Zhou Z, Wang J, Wang J, Yang S, Wang R, Zhang G, Li Z, Shi R, Wang Z, Lu Q. Deciphering the tumor immune microenvironment from a multidimensional omics perspective: insight into next-generation CAR-T cell immunotherapy and beyond. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:131. [PMID: 38918817 PMCID: PMC11201788 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02047-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) consists of intra-tumor immunological components and plays a significant role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and response to therapy. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell immunotherapy has revolutionized the cancer treatment paradigm. Although CAR-T cell immunotherapy has emerged as a successful treatment for hematologic malignancies, it remains a conundrum for solid tumors. The heterogeneity of TIME is responsible for poor outcomes in CAR-T cell immunotherapy against solid tumors. The advancement of highly sophisticated technology enhances our exploration in TIME from a multi-omics perspective. In the era of machine learning, multi-omics studies could reveal the characteristics of TIME and its immune resistance mechanism. Therefore, the clinical efficacy of CAR-T cell immunotherapy in solid tumors could be further improved with strategies that target unfavorable conditions in TIME. Herein, this review seeks to investigate the factors influencing TIME formation and propose strategies for improving the effectiveness of CAR-T cell immunotherapy through a multi-omics perspective, with the ultimate goal of developing personalized therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaokai Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Jiahui Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Department of Nephrology, Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, PekingBeijing, 100730, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Shuai Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Ruizhi Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Zhengrui Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Run Shi
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhan Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Qiong Lu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
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2
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Strum S, Andersen MH, Svane IM, Siu LL, Weber JS. State-Of-The-Art Advancements on Cancer Vaccines and Biomarkers. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2024; 44:e438592. [PMID: 38669611 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_438592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The origins of cancer vaccines date back to the 1800s. Since then, there have been significant efforts to generate vaccines against solid and hematologic malignancies using a variety of platforms. To date, these efforts have generally been met with minimal success. However, in the era of improved methods and technological advancements, supported by compelling preclinical and clinical data, a wave of renewed interest in the field offers the promise of discovering field-changing paradigms in the management of established and resected disease using cancer vaccines. These include novel approaches to personalized neoantigen vaccine development, as well as innovative immune-modulatory vaccines (IMVs) that facilitate activation of antiregulatory T cells to limit immunosuppression caused by regulatory immune cells. This article will introduce some of the limitations that have affected cancer vaccine development over the past several decades, followed by an introduction to the latest advancements in neoantigen vaccine and IMV therapy, and then conclude with a discussion of some of the newest technologies and progress that are occurring across the cancer vaccine space. Cancer vaccines are among the most promising frontiers for breakthrough innovations and strategies poised to make a measurable impact in the ongoing fight against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Strum
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mads Hald Andersen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Lillian L Siu
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jeffrey S Weber
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
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3
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Eskandari A, Leow TC, Rahman MBA, Oslan SN. Advances in Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines, Their Obstacles, and Prospects Toward Tumor Immunotherapy. Mol Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12033-024-01144-3. [PMID: 38625508 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-024-01144-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, cancer immunotherapy has experienced a significant revolution due to the advancements in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and adoptive cell therapies (ACTs), along with their regulatory approvals. In recent times, there has been hope in the effectiveness of cancer vaccines for therapy as they have been able to stimulate de novo T-cell reactions against tumor antigens. These tumor antigens include both tumor-associated antigen (TAA) and tumor-specific antigen (TSA). Nevertheless, the constant quest to fully achieve these abilities persists. Therefore, this review offers a broad perspective on the existing status of cancer immunizations. Cancer vaccine design has been revolutionized due to the advancements made in antigen selection, the development of antigen delivery systems, and a deeper understanding of the strategic intricacies involved in effective antigen presentation. In addition, this review addresses the present condition of clinical tests and deliberates on their approaches, with a particular emphasis on the immunogenicity specific to tumors and the evaluation of effectiveness against tumors. Nevertheless, the ongoing clinical endeavors to create cancer vaccines have failed to produce remarkable clinical results as a result of substantial obstacles, such as the suppression of the tumor immune microenvironment, the identification of suitable candidates, the assessment of immune responses, and the acceleration of vaccine production. Hence, there are possibilities for the industry to overcome challenges and enhance patient results in the coming years. This can be achieved by recognizing the intricate nature of clinical issues and continuously working toward surpassing existing limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azadeh Eskandari
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Thean Chor Leow
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Siti Nurbaya Oslan
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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4
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Deyhimfar R, Izady M, Shoghi M, Kazazi MH, Ghazvini ZF, Nazari H, Fekrirad Z, Arefian E. The clinical impact of mRNA therapeutics in the treatment of cancers, infections, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26971. [PMID: 38486748 PMCID: PMC10937594 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
mRNA-based therapeutics have revolutionized medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. The recent progress in the optimization and formulation of mRNAs has led to the development of a new therapeutic platform with a broad range of applications. With a growing body of evidence supporting the use of mRNA-based drugs for precision medicine and personalized treatments, including cancer immunotherapy, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases, this emerging technology offers a rapidly expanding category of therapeutic options. Furthermore, the development and deployment of mRNA vaccines have facilitated a prompt and flexible response to medical emergencies, exemplified by the COVID-19 outbreak. The establishment of stable and safe mRNA molecules carried by efficient delivery systems is now available through recent advances in molecular biology and nanotechnology. This review aims to elucidate the advancements in the clinical applications of mRNAs for addressing significant health-related challenges such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders, and infections and provide insights into the efficacy and safety of mRNA therapeutics in recent clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roham Deyhimfar
- Department of Stem Cells Technology and Tissue Regeneration, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- Urology Research Center, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrnaz Izady
- Department of Stem Cells Technology and Tissue Regeneration, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Hossein Kazazi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Zahra Fakhraei Ghazvini
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hojjatollah Nazari
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Zahra Fekrirad
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Arefian
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- Pediatric Cell and Gene Therapy Research Center, Gene, Cell & Tissue Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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5
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Fan T, Zhang M, Yang J, Zhu Z, Cao W, Dong C. Therapeutic cancer vaccines: advancements, challenges, and prospects. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:450. [PMID: 38086815 PMCID: PMC10716479 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01674-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
With the development and regulatory approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, cancer immunotherapy has undergone a profound transformation over the past decades. Recently, therapeutic cancer vaccines have shown promise by eliciting de novo T cell responses targeting tumor antigens, including tumor-associated antigens and tumor-specific antigens. The objective was to amplify and diversify the intrinsic repertoire of tumor-specific T cells. However, the complete realization of these capabilities remains an ongoing pursuit. Therefore, we provide an overview of the current landscape of cancer vaccines in this review. The range of antigen selection, antigen delivery systems development the strategic nuances underlying effective antigen presentation have pioneered cancer vaccine design. Furthermore, this review addresses the current status of clinical trials and discusses their strategies, focusing on tumor-specific immunogenicity and anti-tumor efficacy assessment. However, current clinical attempts toward developing cancer vaccines have not yielded breakthrough clinical outcomes due to significant challenges, including tumor immune microenvironment suppression, optimal candidate identification, immune response evaluation, and vaccine manufacturing acceleration. Therefore, the field is poised to overcome hurdles and improve patient outcomes in the future by acknowledging these clinical complexities and persistently striving to surmount inherent constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Fan
- Department of Oncology, East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingna Zhang
- Postgraduate Training Base, Shanghai East Hospital, Jinzhou Medical University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Jingxian Yang
- Department of Oncology, East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhounan Zhu
- Department of Oncology, East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanlu Cao
- Department of Oncology, East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Chunyan Dong
- Department of Oncology, East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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6
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Meng W, Schreiber RD, Lichti CF. Recent advances in immunopeptidomic-based tumor neoantigen discovery. Adv Immunol 2023; 160:1-36. [PMID: 38042584 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
The role of aberrantly expressed proteins in tumors in driving immune-mediated control of cancer has been well documented for more than five decades. Today, we know that both aberrantly expressed normal proteins as well as mutant proteins (neoantigens) can function as tumor antigens in both humans and mice. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) technologies have made significant advances since the early 2010s, enabling detection of rare but clinically relevant neoantigens recognized by T cells. MS profiling of tumor-specific immunopeptidomes remains the most direct method to identify mutant peptides bound to cellular MHC. However, the need for use of large numbers of cells or significant amounts of tumor tissue to achieve neoantigen detection has historically limited the application of MS. Newer, more sensitive MS technologies have recently demonstrated the capacities to detect neoantigens from fewer cells. Here, we highlight recent advancements in immunopeptidomics-based characterization of tumor-specific neoantigens. Various tumor antigen categories and neoantigen identification approaches are also discussed. Furthermore, we summarize recent reports that achieved successful tumor neoantigen detection by MS using a variety of starting materials, MS acquisition modes, and novel ion mobility devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Meng
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States; The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Robert D Schreiber
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States; The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States.
| | - Cheryl F Lichti
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States; The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States.
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7
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Neoantigens: promising targets for cancer therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:9. [PMID: 36604431 PMCID: PMC9816309 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01270-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 152.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in neoantigen research have accelerated the development and regulatory approval of tumor immunotherapies, including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy and antibody-based therapies, especially for solid tumors. Neoantigens are newly formed antigens generated by tumor cells as a result of various tumor-specific alterations, such as genomic mutation, dysregulated RNA splicing, disordered post-translational modification, and integrated viral open reading frames. Neoantigens are recognized as non-self and trigger an immune response that is not subject to central and peripheral tolerance. The quick identification and prediction of tumor-specific neoantigens have been made possible by the advanced development of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic technologies. Compared to tumor-associated antigens, the highly immunogenic and tumor-specific neoantigens provide emerging targets for personalized cancer immunotherapies, and serve as prospective predictors for tumor survival prognosis and immune checkpoint blockade responses. The development of cancer therapies will be aided by understanding the mechanism underlying neoantigen-induced anti-tumor immune response and by streamlining the process of neoantigen-based immunotherapies. This review provides an overview on the identification and characterization of neoantigens and outlines the clinical applications of prospective immunotherapeutic strategies based on neoantigens. We also explore their current status, inherent challenges, and clinical translation potential.
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8
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Chopp L, Redmond C, O'Shea JJ, Schwartz DM. From thymus to tissues and tumors: A review of T-cell biology. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 151:81-97. [PMID: 36272581 PMCID: PMC9825672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
T cells are critical orchestrators of the adaptive immune response that optimally eliminate a specific pathogen. Aberrant T-cell development and function are implicated in a broad range of human disease including immunodeficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and allergic diseases. Accordingly, therapies targeting T cells and their effector cytokines have markedly improved the care of patients with immune dysregulatory diseases. Newer discoveries concerning T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity and T-cell exhaustion have further prompted development of highly effective and novel treatment modalities for malignancies, including checkpoint inhibitors and antigen-reactive T cells. Recent discoveries are also uncovering the depth and variability of T-cell phenotypes: while T cells have long been described using a subset-based classification system, next-generation sequencing technologies suggest an astounding degree of complexity and heterogeneity at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Chopp
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
| | - Christopher Redmond
- Clinical Fellowship Program, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
| | - John J O'Shea
- Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
| | - Daniella M Schwartz
- Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda; Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.
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Sources of Cancer Neoantigens beyond Single-Nucleotide Variants. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710131. [PMID: 36077528 PMCID: PMC9455963 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of checkpoint blockade therapy against cancer has unequivocally shown that cancer cells can be effectively recognized by the immune system and eliminated. However, the identity of the cancer antigens that elicit protective immunity remains to be fully explored. Over the last decade, most of the focus has been on somatic mutations derived from non-synonymous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and small insertion/deletion mutations (indels) that accumulate during cancer progression. Mutated peptides can be presented on MHC molecules and give rise to novel antigens or neoantigens, which have been shown to induce potent anti-tumor immune responses. A limitation with SNV-neoantigens is that they are patient-specific and their accurate prediction is critical for the development of effective immunotherapies. In addition, cancer types with low mutation burden may not display sufficient high-quality [SNV/small indels] neoantigens to alone stimulate effective T cell responses. Accumulating evidence suggests the existence of alternative sources of cancer neoantigens, such as gene fusions, alternative splicing variants, post-translational modifications, and transposable elements, which may be attractive novel targets for immunotherapy. In this review, we describe the recent technological advances in the identification of these novel sources of neoantigens, the experimental evidence for their presentation on MHC molecules and their immunogenicity, as well as the current clinical development stage of immunotherapy targeting these neoantigens.
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Lu M, Xu L, Jian X, Tan X, Zhao J, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Liu C, Chen L, Lin Y, Xie L. dbPepNeo2.0: A Database for Human Tumor Neoantigen Peptides From Mass Spectrometry and TCR Recognition. Front Immunol 2022; 13:855976. [PMID: 35493528 PMCID: PMC9043652 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.855976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Neoantigens are widely reported to induce T-cell response and lead to tumor regression, indicating a promising potential to immunotherapy. Previously, we constructed an open-access database, i.e., dbPepNeo, providing a systematic resource for human tumor neoantigens to storage and query. In order to expand data volume and application scope, we updated dbPepNeo to version 2.0 (http://www.biostatistics.online/dbPepNeo2). Here, we provide about 801 high-confidence (HC) neoantigens (increased by 170%) and 842,289 low-confidence (LC) HLA immunopeptidomes (increased by 107%). Notably, 55 class II HC neoantigens and 630 neoantigen-reactive T-cell receptor-β (TCRβ) sequences were firstly included. Besides, two new analytical tools are developed, DeepCNN-Ineo and BLASTdb. DeepCNN-Ineo predicts the immunogenicity of class I neoantigens, and BLASTdb performs local alignments to look for sequence similarities in dbPepNeo2.0. Meanwhile, the web features and interface have been greatly improved and enhanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manman Lu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Linfeng Xu
- Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China.,School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingxing Jian
- Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China.,Bioinformatics Center, National Clinical Research Centre for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoxiu Tan
- Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China.,Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjing Zhao
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenhao Liu
- Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China.,School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyu Liu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Lanming Chen
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Lin
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Xie
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China.,Bioinformatics Center, National Clinical Research Centre for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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11
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SNAP25 is a potential prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:144. [PMID: 35392903 PMCID: PMC8991690 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02558-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most lethal cancers in male individuals. The synaptosome associated protein 25 (SNAP25) gene is a key mediator of multiple biological functions in tumors. However, its significant impact on the prognosis in PCa remains to be elucidated. METHODS We performed a comprehensive analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas dataset (TCGA) to identify the differentially expressed genes between PCa and normal prostate tissue. We subjected the differentially expressed genes to gene ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional analysis, and constructed a protein-protein interaction network. We then screened for pivotal genes to identify the hub genes of prognostic significance by performing Cox regression analysis. We identified SNAP25 as one such gene and analyzed the relationship between its expression in PCa to poor prognosis using GEPIA interactive web server. RESULTS TCGA database demonstrated that SNAP25 was significantly downregulated in PCa. The progressive decrease in SNAP25 expression with the increase in the clinical staging and grading of PCa demonstrates that reduced SNAP25 expression considerably exacerbates the clinical presentation. Our findings confirm that SNAP25 expression strongly correlates with overall survival, which was determined using the Gleason score. We also validated the role of SNAP25 expression in the prognosis of patients with PCa. We used Gene Set Enrichment and Gene Ontology analyses to evaluate the function of SNAP25 and further explored the association between SNAP25 expression and tumor-infiltrating immune cells using the Tumor Immune Assessment Resource database. We found for the first time that SNAP25 is involved in the activation, differentiation, and migration of immune cells in PCa. Its expression was positively correlated with immune cell infiltration, including B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells. SNAP25 expression also positively correlated with chemokines/chemokine receptors, suggesting that SNAP25 may regulate the migration of immune cells. In addition, our experimental results verified the low expression of SNAP25 in PCa cells. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate a relationship between SNAP25 expression and PCa, demonstrating that SNAP25 is a potential prognostic biomarker due to its vital role in immune infiltration.
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12
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Cheng R, Xu Z, Luo M, Wang P, Cao H, Jin X, Zhou W, Xiao L, Jiang Q. Identification of alternative splicing-derived cancer neoantigens for mRNA vaccine development. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:bbab553. [PMID: 35279714 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have shown great potential for anti-tumor therapy due to the advantages in safety, efficacy and industrial production. However, it remains a challenge to identify suitable cancer neoantigens that can be targeted for mRNA vaccines. Abnormal alternative splicing occurs in a variety of tumors, which may result in the translation of abnormal transcripts into tumor-specific proteins. High-throughput technologies make it possible for systematic characterization of alternative splicing as a source of suitable target neoantigens for mRNA vaccine development. Here, we summarized difficulties and challenges for identifying alternative splicing-derived cancer neoantigens from RNA-seq data and proposed a conceptual framework for designing personalized mRNA vaccines based on alternative splicing-derived cancer neoantigens. In addition, several points were presented to spark further discussion toward improving the identification of alternative splicing-derived cancer neoantigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Cheng
- Harbin Institute of Technology, China
| | | | - Meng Luo
- Harbin Institute of Technology, China
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13
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Roesler AS, Anderson KS. Beyond Sequencing: Prioritizing and Delivering Neoantigens for Cancer Vaccines. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2410:649-670. [PMID: 34914074 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1884-4_35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neoantigens are tumor-specific proteins and peptides that can be highly immunogenic. Immune-mediated tumor rejection is strongly associated with cytotoxic responses to neoantigen-derived peptides in noncovalent association with self-HLA molecules. Neoantigen-based therapies, such as adoptive T cell transfer, have shown the potential to induce remission of treatment-resistant metastatic disease in select patients. Cancer vaccines are similarly designed to elicit or amplify antigen-specific T cell populations and stimulate directed antitumor immunity, but the selection and prioritization of the neoantigens remains a challenge. Bioinformatic algorithms can predict tumor neoantigens from somatic mutations, insertion-deletions, and other aberrant peptide products, but this often leads to hundreds of potential neoepitopes, all unique for that tumor. Selecting neoantigens for cancer vaccines is complicated by the technical challenges of neoepitope discovery, the diversity of HLA molecules, and intratumoral heterogeneity of passenger mutations leading to immune escape. Despite strong preclinical evidence, few neoantigen cancer vaccines tested in vivo have generated epitope-specific T cell populations, suggesting suboptimal immune system activation. In this chapter, we review factors affecting the prioritization and delivery of candidate neoantigens in the design of therapeutic and preventive cancer vaccines and consider synergism with standard chemotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S Roesler
- School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Karen S Anderson
- Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
- Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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14
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The landscape of coding RNA editing events in pediatric cancer. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:1233. [PMID: 34789196 PMCID: PMC8597231 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08956-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background RNA editing leads to post-transcriptional variation in protein sequences and has important biological implications. We sought to elucidate the landscape of RNA editing events across pediatric cancers. Methods Using RNA-Seq data mapped by a pipeline designed to minimize mapping ambiguity, we investigated RNA editing in 711 pediatric cancers from the St. Jude/Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project focusing on coding variants which can potentially increase protein sequence diversity. We combined de novo detection using paired tumor DNA-RNA data with analysis of known RNA editing sites. Results We identified 722 unique RNA editing sites in coding regions across pediatric cancers, 70% of which were nonsynonymous recoding variants. Nearly all editing sites represented the canonical A-to-I (n = 706) or C-to-U sites (n = 14). RNA editing was enriched in brain tumors compared to other cancers, including editing of glutamate receptors and ion channels involved in neurotransmitter signaling. RNA editing profiles of each pediatric cancer subtype resembled those of the corresponding normal tissue profiled by the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project. Conclusions In this first comprehensive analysis of RNA editing events in pediatric cancer, we found that the RNA editing profile of each cancer subtype is similar to its normal tissue of origin. Tumor-specific RNA editing events were not identified indicating that successful immunotherapeutic targeting of RNA-edited peptides in pediatric cancer should rely on increased antigen presentation on tumor cells compared to normal but not on tumor-specific RNA editing per se. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08956-5.
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15
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Zhou Z, Wu J, Ren J, Chen W, Zhao W, Gu X, Chi Y, He Q, Yang B, Wu J, Chen S. TSNAD v2.0: A one-stop software solution for tumor-specific neoantigen detection. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:4510-4516. [PMID: 34471496 PMCID: PMC8385119 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
TSNAD is a one-stop software solution for predicting neoantigens from the whole genome/exome sequencing data of tumor-normal pairs. Here we present TSNAD v2.0 which provides several new features such as the function of RNA-Seq analysis including gene expression and gene fusion analysis, the support of different versions of the reference genome. Most importantly, we replace the NetMHCpan with DeepHLApan we developed previously, which considers both the binding between peptide and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the immunogenicity of the presented peptide-MHC complex (pMHC). TSNAD v2.0 achieves good performamce on a standard dataset. For better usage, we provide the Docker version and the web service of TSNAD v2.0. The source code of TSNAD v2.0 is freely available at https://github.com/jiujiezz/tsnad. And the web service of TSNAD v2.0 is available at http://biopharm.zju.edu.cn/tsnad/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Jingcheng Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Artificial Intelligence by MOE and Zhejiang Provincial Government, College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jianan Ren
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wenfan Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Polytechnic Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Wenyi Zhao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Artificial Intelligence by MOE and Zhejiang Provincial Government, College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Xun Gu
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Ying Chi
- Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Alibaba DAMO Academy, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Qiaojun He
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Artificial Intelligence by MOE and Zhejiang Provincial Government, College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.,Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.,Real Doctor AI Research Centre, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shuqing Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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16
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Dou L, Meng X, Yang H, Dong H. Advances in technology and applications of nanoimmunotherapy for cancer. Biomark Res 2021; 9:63. [PMID: 34419164 PMCID: PMC8379775 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00321-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-tumor immune interactions play critical roles in the natural history of tumors, including oncogenesis, progress and metastasis. On the one hand, neoantigens have the potential to drive a tumor-specific immune response. In tumors, immunogenic cell death (ICD) triggered by various inducers can initiate a strong host anti-immune response. On the other hand, the tolerogenic tumor immune microenvironment suppresses host immune responses that eradicate tumor cells and impair the effect of tumor therapy. Therefore, a deeper understanding and more effective manipulation of the intricate host-tumor immune interaction involving the host, tumor cells and the corresponding tumor immune microenvironment are required. Despite the encouraging breakthroughs resulting from tumor immunotherapy, no single strategy has elicited sufficient or sustained antitumor immune responses in most patients with specific malignancies due to limited activation of specific antitumor immune responses and inadequate remodeling of the tolerogenic tumor immune microenvironment. However, nanotechnology provides a unique paradigm to simultaneously tackle all these challenges, including effective “targeted” delivery of tumor antigens, sustained ICD mediation, and “cold” tumor microenvironment remodeling. In this review, we focus on several key concepts in host-tumor immune interactions and discuss the corresponding therapeutic strategy based on the application of nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Dou
- Department of Gerontology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical college, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. .,Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical college, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Xiangdan Meng
- Research Center for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Huiyuan Yang
- Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical college, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Haifeng Dong
- Research Center for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China. .,School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Centre, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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17
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Xu Y, Su GH, Ma D, Xiao Y, Shao ZM, Jiang YZ. Technological advances in cancer immunity: from immunogenomics to single-cell analysis and artificial intelligence. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:312. [PMID: 34417437 PMCID: PMC8377461 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00729-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies play critical roles in cancer treatment. However, given that only a few patients respond to immune checkpoint blockades and other immunotherapeutic strategies, more novel technologies are needed to decipher the complicated interplay between tumor cells and the components of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Tumor immunomics refers to the integrated study of the TIME using immunogenomics, immunoproteomics, immune-bioinformatics, and other multi-omics data reflecting the immune states of tumors, which has relied on the rapid development of next-generation sequencing. High-throughput genomic and transcriptomic data may be utilized for calculating the abundance of immune cells and predicting tumor antigens, referring to immunogenomics. However, as bulk sequencing represents the average characteristics of a heterogeneous cell population, it fails to distinguish distinct cell subtypes. Single-cell-based technologies enable better dissection of the TIME through precise immune cell subpopulation and spatial architecture investigations. In addition, radiomics and digital pathology-based deep learning models largely contribute to research on cancer immunity. These artificial intelligence technologies have performed well in predicting response to immunotherapy, with profound significance in cancer therapy. In this review, we briefly summarize conventional and state-of-the-art technologies in the field of immunogenomics, single-cell and artificial intelligence, and present prospects for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xu
- grid.452404.30000 0004 1808 0942Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China ,grid.11841.3d0000 0004 0619 8943Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guan-Hua Su
- grid.452404.30000 0004 1808 0942Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China ,grid.11841.3d0000 0004 0619 8943Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ding Ma
- grid.452404.30000 0004 1808 0942Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China ,grid.11841.3d0000 0004 0619 8943Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Xiao
- grid.452404.30000 0004 1808 0942Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China ,grid.11841.3d0000 0004 0619 8943Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Shao
- grid.452404.30000 0004 1808 0942Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China ,grid.11841.3d0000 0004 0619 8943Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Zhou Jiang
- grid.452404.30000 0004 1808 0942Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China ,grid.11841.3d0000 0004 0619 8943Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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18
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Gu YM, Zhuo Y, Chen LQ, Yuan Y. The Clinical Application of Neoantigens in Esophageal Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:703517. [PMID: 34386424 PMCID: PMC8353328 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.703517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common malignant tumor with poor prognosis, and current treatments for patients with advanced EC remain unsatisfactory. Recently, immunotherapy has been recognized as a new and promising approach for various tumors. EC cells present a high tumor mutation burden and harbor abundant tumor antigens, including tumor-associated antigens and tumor-specific antigens. The latter, also referred to as neoantigens, are immunogenic mutated peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. While current genomics and bioinformatics technologies have greatly facilitated the identification of tumor neoantigens, identifying individual neoantigens systematically for successful therapies remains a challenging problem. Owing to the initiation of strong, specific tumor-killing cytotoxic T cell responses, neoantigens are emerging as promising targets to develop personalized treatment and have triggered the development of cancer vaccines, adoptive T cell therapies, and combination therapies. This review aims to give a current understanding of the clinical application of neoantigens in EC and provide direction for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Min Gu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Zhuo
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Long-Qi Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Yuan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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19
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Bao C, An N, Xie H, Xu L, Zhou B, Luo J, Huang W, Huang J. Identifying Potential Neoantigens for Cervical Cancer Immunotherapy Using Comprehensive Genomic Variation Profiling of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Cervical Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:672386. [PMID: 34221990 PMCID: PMC8249860 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.672386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common gynecological malignant tumors. The 5-year survival rate remains poor for the advanced and metastatic cervical cancer for the lack of effective treatments. Immunotherapy plays an important role in clinical tumor therapy. Neoantigens derived from tumor-specific somatic mutations are prospective targets for immunotherapy. Hence, the identification of new targets is of great significance for the treatment of advanced and metastatic cervical cancer. In this study, we performed whole-exome sequencing in 70 samples, including 25 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CINs) with corresponding blood samples and 10 CCs along with paired adjacent tissues to identify genomic variations and to find the potential neoantigens for CC immunotherapy. Using systematic bioinformatics pipeline, we found that C>T transitions were in both CINs and CCs. In contrast, the number of somatic mutations in CCs was significantly higher than those in CINs (t-test, P = 6.60E-04). Meanwhile, mutational signatures analysis revealed that signature 6 was detected in CIN2, CIN3, and CC, but not in CIN1, while signature 2 was only observed in CCs. Furthermore, PIK3CA, ARHGAP5 and ADGRB1 were identified as potential driver genes in this report, of which ADGRB1 was firstly reported in CC. Based on the genomic variation profiling of CINs and CCs, we identified 2586 potential neoantigens in these patients, of which 45 neoantigens were found in three neoantigen-related databases (TSNAdb, IEDB, and CTDatabase). Our current findings lay a solid foundation for the study of the pathogenesis of CC and the development of neoantigen-targeted immunotherapeutic measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaohui Bao
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Na An
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Xie
- Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Boping Zhou
- Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, China
| | - Wanqiu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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20
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Del Giudice M, Peirone S, Perrone S, Priante F, Varese F, Tirtei E, Fagioli F, Cereda M. Artificial Intelligence in Bulk and Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Data to Foster Precision Oncology. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094563. [PMID: 33925407 PMCID: PMC8123853 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial intelligence, or the discipline of developing computational algorithms able to perform tasks that requires human intelligence, offers the opportunity to improve our idea and delivery of precision medicine. Here, we provide an overview of artificial intelligence approaches for the analysis of large-scale RNA-sequencing datasets in cancer. We present the major solutions to disentangle inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity of transcriptome profiles for an effective improvement of patient management. We outline the contributions of learning algorithms to the needs of cancer genomics, from identifying rare cancer subtypes to personalizing therapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Del Giudice
- Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, IIGM—Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCCS, Str. Prov.le 142, km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, TO, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.P.); (S.P.); (F.P.); (F.V.)
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO—IRCCS, Str. Prov.le 142, km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, TO, Italy
| | - Serena Peirone
- Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, IIGM—Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCCS, Str. Prov.le 142, km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, TO, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.P.); (S.P.); (F.P.); (F.V.)
- Department of Physics and INFN, Università degli Studi di Torino, via P.Giuria 1, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Sarah Perrone
- Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, IIGM—Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCCS, Str. Prov.le 142, km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, TO, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.P.); (S.P.); (F.P.); (F.V.)
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Torino, via P.Giuria 1, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Priante
- Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, IIGM—Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCCS, Str. Prov.le 142, km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, TO, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.P.); (S.P.); (F.P.); (F.V.)
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Torino, via P.Giuria 1, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Fabiola Varese
- Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, IIGM—Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCCS, Str. Prov.le 142, km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, TO, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.P.); (S.P.); (F.P.); (F.V.)
- Department of Life Science and System Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Turin, Italy
| | - Elisa Tirtei
- Paediatric Onco-Haematology Division, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, City of Health and Science of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (E.T.); (F.F.)
| | - Franca Fagioli
- Paediatric Onco-Haematology Division, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, City of Health and Science of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (E.T.); (F.F.)
- Department of Public Health and Paediatric Sciences, University of Torino, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Matteo Cereda
- Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, IIGM—Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCCS, Str. Prov.le 142, km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, TO, Italy; (M.D.G.); (S.P.); (S.P.); (F.P.); (F.V.)
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO—IRCCS, Str. Prov.le 142, km 3.95, 10060 Candiolo, TO, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-011-993-3969
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21
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Zhang Z, Lu M, Qin Y, Gao W, Tao L, Su W, Zhong J. Neoantigen: A New Breakthrough in Tumor Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:672356. [PMID: 33936118 PMCID: PMC8085349 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.672356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy works by stimulating and strengthening the body’s anti-tumor immune response to eliminate cancer cells. Over the past few decades, immunotherapy has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of cancer, particularly the success of immune checkpoint blockade targeting CTLA-4, PD-1 and PDL1, which has led to a breakthrough in tumor immunotherapy. Tumor neoantigens, a new approach to tumor immunotherapy, include antigens produced by tumor viruses integrated into the genome and antigens produced by mutant proteins, which are abundantly expressed only in tumor cells and have strong immunogenicity and tumor heterogeneity. A growing number of studies have highlighted the relationship between neoantigens and T cells’ recognition of cancer cells. Vaccines developed against neoantigens are now being used in clinical trials in various solid tumors. In this review, we summarized the latest advances in the classification of immunotherapy and the process of classification, identification and synthesis of tumor-specific neoantigens, as well as their role in current cancer immunotherapy. Finally, the application prospects and existing problems of neoantigens were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheying Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Manman Lu
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yu Qin
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Wuji Gao
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Li Tao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Su
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jiateng Zhong
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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22
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Pan Y, Kadash-Edmondson KE, Wang R, Phillips J, Liu S, Ribas A, Aplenc R, Witte ON, Xing Y. RNA Dysregulation: An Expanding Source of Cancer Immunotherapy Targets. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:268-282. [PMID: 33711255 PMCID: PMC8761020 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer transcriptomes frequently exhibit RNA dysregulation. As the resulting aberrant transcripts may be translated into cancer-specific proteins, there is growing interest in exploiting RNA dysregulation as a source of tumor antigens (TAs) and thus novel immunotherapy targets. Recent advances in high-throughput technologies and rapid accumulation of multiomic cancer profiling data in public repositories have provided opportunities to systematically characterize RNA dysregulation in cancer and identify antigen targets for immunotherapy. However, given the complexity of cancer transcriptomes and proteomes, important conceptual and technological challenges exist. Here, we highlight the expanding repertoire of TAs arising from RNA dysregulation and introduce multiomic and big data strategies for identifying optimal immunotherapy targets. We discuss extant barriers for translating these targets into effective therapies as well as the implications for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Pan
- Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kathryn E Kadash-Edmondson
- Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Robert Wang
- Graduate Group in Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - John Phillips
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Song Liu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Antoni Ribas
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Richard Aplenc
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Owen N Witte
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yi Xing
- Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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23
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Pereira ACL, Bezerra KS, Santos JLS, I N Oliveira J, Freire VN, Fulco UL. In silico approach of modified melanoma peptides and their immunotherapeutic potential. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:2836-2845. [PMID: 33470998 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp05322h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer with increasing incidence worldwide and high lethality. Conventional forms of treatment are not effective in advanced cancer stages. Hence, immunotherapeutic approaches have been tested to modulate immune response against tumor cells. Some vaccine models using tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) such as glycoprotein 100 (gp100) have been studied, but their expected effectiveness has not been shown until now. Antigen immunogenicity is a crucial point to improve the immune response, and therefore mutations are inserted in peptide sequences. It is possible to understand the interactions which occur between peptides and immune system molecules through computer simulation, and this is essential in order to guide efficient vaccine models. In this work, we have calculated the interaction binding energies of crystallographic data based on modified gp100 peptides and HLA-A*0201 using density functional theory (DFT) and the molecular fractionation with conjugated caps (MFCC) approach. Our results show the most relevant residue-residue interactions, the impact of three mutations in their binding sites, and the main HLA-A*0201 amino acids for peptide-HLA binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C L Pereira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil.
| | - K S Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil.
| | - J L S Santos
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil.
| | - J I N Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil.
| | - V N Freire
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60455-760, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil
| | - U L Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil.
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Verma A, Halder A, Marathe S, Purwar R, Srivastava S. A proteogenomic approach to target neoantigens in solid tumors. Expert Rev Proteomics 2021; 17:797-812. [PMID: 33491499 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2020.1881889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Proteogenomic techniques find applications in identifying novel cancer-specific peptides called neoantigens; they are non-self peptides derived from tumor-specific non-synonymous mutations. These peptides with MHCs are recognized by the T cells and induce an antitumor response. Due to their selective expression of tumor cells, neoantigens are considered attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy. AREAS COVERED In this review, we have discussed the proteogenomic strategies to identify neoantigens. We have also provided a neoantigen identification pipeline using data from whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and MHC peptidomics. Further, we have reviewed recent tools for neoantigen discovery. EXPERT COMMENTARY The limitations in instrument sensitivity and availability of bioinformatics tools have restricted the identification of neoantigens from tumor samples. Nonetheless, the recent improvement in genome sequencing, mass spectrometry technologies, and the development of reliable algorithms for epitope prediction provide hope for efficient identification of neoantigens. Translating this workflow on patient samples would represent a massive advancement in neoantigen identification methods, leading to the constitution of novel personalized neoantigen cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayushi Verma
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai, India
| | - Ankit Halder
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai, India
| | - Soumitra Marathe
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai, India
| | - Rahul Purwar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai, India
| | - Sanjeeva Srivastava
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai, India
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A conjoined universal helper epitope can unveil antitumor effects of a neoantigen vaccine targeting an MHC class I-restricted neoepitope. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:12. [PMID: 33462231 PMCID: PMC7814002 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-00273-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Personalized cancer vaccines targeting neoantigens arising from somatic missense mutations are currently being evaluated for the treatment of various cancers due to their potential to elicit a multivalent, tumor-specific immune response. Several cancers express a low number of neoantigens; in these cases, ensuring the immunotherapeutic potential of each neoantigen-derived epitope (neoepitope) is crucial. In this study, we discovered that therapeutic vaccines targeting immunodominant major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I-restricted neoepitopes require a conjoined helper epitope in order to induce a cytotoxic, neoepitope-specific CD8+ T-cell response. Furthermore, we show that the universally immunogenic helper epitope P30 can fulfill this requisite helper function. Remarkably, conjoined P30 was able to unveil immune and antitumor responses to subdominant MHC I-restricted neoepitopes that were, otherwise, poorly immunogenic. Together, these data provide key insights into effective neoantigen vaccine design and demonstrate a translatable strategy using a universal helper epitope that can improve therapeutic responses to MHC I-restricted neoepitopes.
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26
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Esprit A, de Mey W, Bahadur Shahi R, Thielemans K, Franceschini L, Breckpot K. Neo-Antigen mRNA Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E776. [PMID: 33353155 PMCID: PMC7766040 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The interest in therapeutic cancer vaccines has caught enormous attention in recent years due to several breakthroughs in cancer research, among which the finding that successful checkpoint blockade treatments reinvigorate neo-antigen-specific T cells and that successful adoptive cell therapies are directed towards neo-antigens. Neo-antigens are cancer-specific antigens, which develop from somatic mutations in the cancer cell genome that can be highly immunogenic and are not subjected to central tolerance. As the majority of neo-antigens are unique to each patient's cancer, a vaccine technology that is flexible and potent is required to develop personalized neo-antigen vaccines. In vitro transcribed mRNA is such a technology platform and has been evaluated for delivery of neo-antigens to professional antigen-presenting cells both ex vivo and in vivo. In addition, strategies that support the activity of T cells in the tumor microenvironment have been developed. These represent a unique opportunity to ensure durable T cell activity upon vaccination. Here, we comprehensively review recent progress in mRNA-based neo-antigen vaccines, summarizing critical milestones that made it possible to bring the promise of therapeutic cancer vaccines within reach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Karine Breckpot
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy (LMCT), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.E.); (W.d.M.); (R.B.S.); (K.T.); (L.F.)
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27
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Biotechnologies to tackle the challenge of neoantigen identification. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 65:52-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Wu W, Chen Y, Huang L, Li W, Tao C, Shen H. Point mutation screening of tumor neoantigens and peptide-induced specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:123. [PMID: 32934692 PMCID: PMC7471748 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to use The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to identify tumor neoantigens, combined with a bioinformatics analysis to design and analyze antigen epitope peptides. Epitopes were screened using immunogenicity tests to identify the ideal epitope peptides to target tumor neoantigens, which can specifically activate the immune response of T cells. The high-frequency mutation loci (top 10) of colorectal, lung and liver cancer genes were screened using TCGA database. The antigenic epitope peptides with high affinity for major histocompatibility complex molecules were selected and synthesized using computer prediction algorithms, and were subsequently detected using flow cytometry. The cytotoxicity of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) on peptide-loaded T2 cells was initially verified using interferon IFN-γ detection and a calcein-acetoxymethyl (Cal-AM) release assay. Tumor cell lines expressing point mutations in KRAS, TP53 and CTNNB1 genes were constructed respectively, and the cytotoxicity of peptide-induced specific CTLs on wild-type and mutant tumor cells was verified using a Cal-AM release assay and carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester-propidium iodide staining. The high-frequency gene mutation loci of KRAS proto-oncogene (KRAS) G12V, tumor protein p53 (TP53) R158L and catenin β1 (CTNNB1) K335I were identified in TCGA database. A total of 3 groups of wild-type and mutant peptides were screened using a peptide prediction algorithm. The CTNNB1 group had a strong affinity for the human leukocyte antigen-A2 molecule, as determined using flow cytometry. The IFN-γ secretion of specific CTLs in the CTNNB1 group was the highest, followed by the TP53 and the KRAS groups. The killing rate of mutant peptide-induced specific CTLs on peptide-loaded T2 cells in the CTNNB1 group was higher compared with that observed in the other groups. The killing rate of specific CTLs induced by mutant peptides present on tumor cells was higher compared with that induced by wild-type peptides. However, when compared with the TP53 and KRAS groups, specific CTLs induced by mutant peptides in the CTNNB1 group had more potent cytotoxicity towards mutant and wild-type tumor cells. In conclusion, point mutant tumor neoantigens screened in the three groups improved the cytotoxicity of specific T cells, and the mutant peptides in the CTNNB1 group were more prominent, indicating that they may activate the cellular immune response more readily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanwen Wu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P.R. China
| | - Ying Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P.R. China
| | - Lan Huang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P.R. China
| | - Wenjian Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P.R. China
| | - Changli Tao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P.R. China
| | - Han Shen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P.R. China
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29
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Zhang L, Chen J, Cheng T, Yang H, Li H, Pan C. Identification of the key genes and characterizations of Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LUSC). J Cancer 2020; 11:4965-4979. [PMID: 32742444 PMCID: PMC7378909 DOI: 10.7150/jca.42531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the key genes and immune microenvironment involved in different TNM stages of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). The gene expression and clinical characteristics data were downloaded from the genomic data commons (GDC) database. After initial data processing, the characteristics of the immune microenvironment were analyzed. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in tumor vs. normal, and in early vs. advanced stages were screened, followed by Spearman correlation test for tumor infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) to identify immune-related genes. Finally, functional enrichment, protein-protein interaction, and survival analyses were performed. In LUAD, early stage was with higher immune scores, greater number of memory B cells and M0 macrophages compared to advanced stage. M0 and M2 macrophages, and resting memory CD4+ T cells accounted for a large proportion of TIICs in LUAD. The abundance of M0 macrophage infiltration was significantly correlated with the TNM stage and survival. In LUSC, early stage was with higher cytolytic activity and neoantigen burden compared to advanced stage. M0 and M2 macrophages, and plasma cells accounted for a large proportion of TIICs in LUSC. The abundance of resting and activated mast cells was significantly correlated with TNM stage, while resting dendritic cells, eosinophils, activated memory CD4 T cells, and mast cells were significantly correlated with prognosis. Tumor mutation burden analysis revealed that the median of variants per sample decreased from stage I to IV in LUAD, while it increased in LUSC. Further, 83 and 9 immune-related DEGs were identified in LUAD and LUSC, respectively, of which 23 genes in LUAD and 2 genes in LUSC correlated with survival. In conclusion, we identified the key genes, and characterized the tumor immune microenvironment in LUAD and LUSC which may provide therapeutic targets for the treatment of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jianhua Chen
- Thoracic Medicine Department 1, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan Province, P.R. China, 410013
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30
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Shi J, Jiang D, Yang S, Zhang X, Wang J, Liu Y, Sun Y, Lu Y, Yang K. LPAR1, Correlated With Immune Infiltrates, Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Prostate Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:846. [PMID: 32656075 PMCID: PMC7325998 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in men worldwide. Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1) is a critical gene and it mediates diverse biologic functions in tumor. However, the correlation between LPAR1 and prognosis in prostate cancer, as well as the potential mechanism, remains unclear. In the present study, LPAR1 expression analysis was based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Oncomine database. The correlation of LPAR1 on prognosis was also analyzed based on R studio. The association between LPAR1 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells were evaluated in the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource site, ssGSEA, and MCPcounter packages in R studio. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Gene Ontology analysis were used to analyze the function of LPAR1. TCGA datasets and the Oncomine database revealed that LPAR1 was significantly downregulated in prostate cancer. High LPAR1 expression was correlated with favorable overall survival. LPAR1 was involved in the activation, proliferation, differentiation, and migration of immune cells, and its expression was positively correlated with immune infiltrates, including CD4+ T cells, B cells, CD8+ T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. Moreover, LPAR1 expression was positively correlated with those chemokine/chemokine receptors, indicating that LPAR1 may regulate the migration of immune cells. In summary, LPAR1 is a potential prognostic biomarker and plays an important part in immune infiltrates in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingqi Shi
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Dongbo Jiang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shuya Yang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiyang Zhang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuanjie Sun
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuchen Lu
- School of Basic Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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31
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Shi J, Jiang D, Yang S, Sun Y, Wang J, Zhang X, Liu Y, Lu Y, Yang K. Molecular profile reveals immune-associated markers of lymphatic invasion in human colon adenocarcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 83:106402. [PMID: 32200154 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Lymphatic invasion (LI) is an early event of metastasis and closely associated with overall survival in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). Our aim was to gain deeper insight into the mechanism of lymphatic invasion in COAD. Subtype-specific somatic mutations and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) screening were based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was utilized to explore the biological function. The condition of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was performed by TIMER online database. Survival analysis was based on Kaplan-Meier curve method. Lymphatic invasion was associated with poor prognosis of patients with COAD. Nine mutations were enriched in lymphatic invasion-negative group. A total of 50 were differentially expressed between LI-positive tissues and LI-negative tissues. The DEGs were enriched in lipoprotein-related functions. MUC4 in-frame deletion at A4166-S4181 was associated with favorable prognosis of COAD patients. BMPR2 frameshift mutation g.chr2:202555407delA played cis and trans functions in downregulation of itself and CTLA4 upregulation. And it was associated with higher mutational burden. LAMP5, CUBN and TCHH were DEGs associated with prognosis and abundance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. In conclusion, our study provides LI-associated genetic and transcriptional alterations, which helps to better understand the potential mechanisms and microenvironment in COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingqi Shi
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongbo Jiang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuya Yang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanjie Sun
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiyang Zhang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuchen Lu
- School of Basic Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
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Zhou C, Wei Z, Zhang Z, Zhang B, Zhu C, Chen K, Chuai G, Qu S, Xie L, Gao Y, Liu Q. pTuneos: prioritizing tumor neoantigens from next-generation sequencing data. Genome Med 2019; 11:67. [PMID: 31666118 PMCID: PMC6822339 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-019-0679-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer neoantigens are expressed only in cancer cells and presented on the tumor cell surface in complex with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I proteins for recognition by cytotoxic T cells. Accurate and rapid identification of neoantigens play a pivotal role in cancer immunotherapy. Although several in silico tools for neoantigen prediction have been presented, limitations of these tools exist. RESULTS We developed pTuneos, a computational pipeline for prioritizing tumor neoantigens from next-generation sequencing data. We tested the performance of pTuneos on the melanoma cancer vaccine cohort data and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)-recognized neopeptide data. pTuneos is able to predict the MHC presentation and T cell recognition ability of the candidate neoantigens, and the actual immunogenicity of single-nucleotide variant (SNV)-based neopeptides considering their natural processing and presentation, surpassing the existing tools with a comprehensive and quantitative benchmark of their neoantigen prioritization performance and running time. pTuneos was further tested on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort data as well as the melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cohort data undergoing checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. The overall neoantigen immunogenicity score proposed by pTuneos is demonstrated to be a powerful and pan-cancer marker for survival prediction compared to traditional well-established biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS In summary, pTuneos provides the state-of-the-art one-stop and user-friendly solution for prioritizing SNV-based candidate neoepitopes, which could help to advance research on next-generation cancer immunotherapies and personalized cancer vaccines. pTuneos is available at https://github.com/bm2-lab/pTuneos , with a Docker version for quick deployment at https://cloud.docker.com/u/bm2lab/repository/docker/bm2lab/ptuneos .
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhou
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital; Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Ninghai, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhiting Wei
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital; Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Ninghai, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhanbing Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital; Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Ninghai, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Biyu Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital; Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Ninghai, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chenyu Zhu
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital; Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Ninghai, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital; Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Ninghai, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guohui Chuai
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital; Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Ninghai, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sheng Qu
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital; Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Ninghai, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lu Xie
- Shanghai Center for Bioinformation Technology, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yong Gao
- Department of Digestive Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital; Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Wei Z, Zhou C, Zhang Z, Guan M, Zhang C, Liu Z, Liu Q. The Landscape of Tumor Fusion Neoantigens: A Pan-Cancer Analysis. iScience 2019; 21:249-260. [PMID: 31677477 PMCID: PMC6838548 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Compared with SNV&indel-based neoantigens, fusion-based neoantigens are not well characterized. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the landscape of tumor fusion neoantigens in cancer and proposed a score scheme to quantitatively assess their immunogenic potentials. By analyzing three large-scale tumor datasets, we demonstrated that (1) the tumor fusion candidate neoantigen burden is not related to the immunotherapy outcome; (2) fusion neoantigens tend to have notably higher immunogenic potentials than SNV&indel-based candidate neoantigens, making them better candidates for cancer vaccines; (3) fusion candidate neoantigens distribute sparsely between individual patients. Although several recurrent candidate neoantigens exist, they usually have extremely low immunogenic potentials, suggesting that vaccination-based cancer immunotherapy must be personalized; (4) compared with fusion mutations involving tumor passenger genes, fusion mutations involving oncogenic genes have remarkably low immunogenic potentials, indicating that they undergo selection pressure during tumorigenesis. A score scheme is presented to evaluate the immunogenicity of fusion neoantigen Tumor fusion neoantigen burden is not related to the immunotherapy outcome Compared with SNV&indel neoantigen, fusion neoantigen has higher immunogenicity Oncogene fusion has lower immunogenicity than passenger gene fusion
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiting Wei
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Chi Zhou
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhanbing Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ming Guan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Zhongmin Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Qi Liu
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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