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Liu L, Zhang B, Wu X, Cheng G, Han X, Xin X, Qin C, Yang L, Huo M, Yin L. Bioresponsive nanocomplex integrating cancer-associated fibroblast deactivation and immunogenic chemotherapy for rebuilding immune-excluded tumors. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2024; 58:102743. [PMID: 38484918 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2024.102743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role in creating an immunosuppressive environment and remodeling the extracellular matrix within tumors, leading to chemotherapy resistance and limited immune cell infiltration. To address these challenges, integrating CAFs deactivation into immunogenic chemotherapy may represent a promising approach to the reversal of immune-excluded tumor. We developed a tumor-targeted nanomedicine called the glutathione-responsive nanocomplex (GNC). The GNC co-loaded dasatinib, a CAF inhibitor, and paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent, to deactivate CAFs and enhance the effects of immunogenic chemotherapy. Due to the modification with hyaluronic acid, the GNC preferentially accumulated in the tumor periphery and responsively released cargos, mitigating the tumor stroma as well as overcoming chemoresistance. Moreover, GNC treatment exhibited remarkable immunostimulatory efficacy, including CD8+ T cell expansion and PD-L1 downregulation, facilitating immune checkpoint blockade therapy. In summary, the integration of CAF deactivation and immunogenic chemotherapy using the GNC nanoplatform holds promise for rebuilding immune-excluded tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisha Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Beiyuan Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xianggui Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Gang Cheng
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaopeng Han
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaofei Xin
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Chao Qin
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Meirong Huo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Lifang Yin
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, China Pharmaceutical University, China.; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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2
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Li K, Yang M, Dai Y, Huang J, Zhu P, Qiuzhen L. Microcystin-LR improves anti-tumor efficacy of oxaliplatin through induction of M1 macrophage polarization. Toxicon 2024; 243:107723. [PMID: 38663519 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107723] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages within the tumor microenvironment play an immunosuppressive role by promoting tumor growth and immune evasion. Macrophages are highly plastic and can be stimulated to adopt an anti-tumor M1 phenotype. In this study, we used microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a cyclic heptapeptide produced by cyanobacteria, to induce in vitro macrophage innate immunity and transition into the anti-tumor M1 phenotype. MC-LR was also tested in vivo in a mouse model of colorectal cancer. An intraperitoneal injection of MC-LR increased the proportion of CD86⁺ M1 macrophages and triggered the maturation of CD11c⁺ dendritic cells within tumor tissues. MC-LR combined with the chemotherapeutic drug oxaliplatin significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Flow cytometry analysis revealed increased infiltration of activated cytotoxic (CD8⁺, PD-1⁺) T-cells and anti-tumor cytokines (IFNγ and Granzyme B) in the tumor tissues of the combination therapy group, suggesting that this may be the primary mechanism behind the anti-tumor effect of the combination treatment. These findings indicate that MC-LR regulates the immune stimulation of macrophage polarization and dendritic cell maturation, effectively reversing tumor immunosuppression, activating an anti-tumor immune response, and enhancing tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyi Li
- Pingshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Pingshan General Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518118, China
| | - Minzhu Yang
- Pingshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Pingshan General Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518118, China
| | - Yuxin Dai
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Shatai South Road, Baiyun District, 16, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jinyan Huang
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Shatai South Road, Baiyun District, 16, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- Pingshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Pingshan General Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518118, China.
| | - Liu Qiuzhen
- Pingshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Pingshan General Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518118, China; Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Shatai South Road, Baiyun District, 16, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Wang X, Miao Y, Shen J, Li D, Deng X, Yang C, Ji Y, Dai Z, Ma Y. Unlocking PD-1 antibody resistance: The MUC1 DNA vaccine augments CD8 + T cell infiltration and attenuates tumour suppression. Scand J Immunol 2024; 99:e13356. [PMID: 38605549 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
In light of increasing resistance to PD1 antibody therapy among certain patient populations, there is a critical need for in-depth research. Our study assesses the synergistic effects of a MUC1 DNA vaccine and PD1 antibody for surmounting PD1 resistance, employing a murine CT26/MUC1 colon carcinoma model for this purpose. When given as a standalone treatment, PD1 antibodies showed no impact on tumour growth. Additionally, there was no change observed in the intra-tumoural T-cell ratios or in the functionality of T-cells. In contrast, the sole administration of a MUC1 DNA vaccine markedly boosted the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells by elevating IFN-γ and granzyme B production. Our compelling evidence highlights that combination therapy more effectively inhibited tumour growth and prolonged survival compared to either monotherapy, thus mitigating the limitations intrinsic to single-agent therapies. This enhanced efficacy was driven by a significant alteration in the tumour microenvironment, skewing it towards pro-immunogenic conditions. This assertion is backed by a raised CD8+/CD4+ T-cell ratio and a decrease in immunosuppressive MDSC and Treg cell populations. On the mechanistic front, the synergistic therapy amplified expression levels of CXCL13 in tumours, subsequently facilitating T-cell ingress into the tumour setting. In summary, our findings advocate for integrated therapy as a potent mechanism for surmounting PD1 antibody resistance, capitalizing on improved T-cell functionality and infiltration. This investigation affords critical perspectives on enhancing anti-tumour immunity through the application of innovative therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
- The Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yinsha Miao
- Department of Clinical laboratory, Xi'an No. 3 Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | | | - Dandan Li
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Xinyue Deng
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengcheng Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanhong Ji
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - ZhiJun Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunfeng Ma
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
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Cheng X, Wang W, Zhang Z, Zhang H, Zhu P, He R, Wu M, Zhou T, Jiang Y, Jiang L, Chen Y, Liang Z, Wu X, Weng X. Distinctly altered lipid components in hepatocellular carcinoma relate to impaired T cell-dependent antitumor immunity. Hepatol Int 2024; 18:582-594. [PMID: 37823937 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10595-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS T cells are master effectors of anti-tumor immunity in cancer. Recent studies suggest that altered lipid metabolism imposed by the tumor microenvironment constrains anti-tumor immunity. However, the tumor-associated lipid species changes that dampen T cell ability to control tumor progression are not fully understood. Here, we plan to clarify the influences of distinctly altered lipid components in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on T-cell function, aiming to seek lipid metabolic targets for improving T cell anti-tumor effects. METHODS Tumor tissues and non-tumor liver from HCC patients were collected for RNA-sequencing, lipid profiling and T cell characterizing, followed by correlation analysis. Additionally, the effects of significantly changed lipid components on anti-tumor potential of T cells were tested by in vitro cell experiments and/or in vivo tumor inoculated model. RESULTS Altered lipid metabolism coincides with impaired T cell response in HBV-related HCC. Characteristic lipid composition, significantly marked by accumulation of long-chain acylcarnitines (LCACs) and reduction of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), are found in the tumor tissue. Notably, LCACs accumulated are associated with T cells exhaustion and deficient functionality, while LPCs correlate to anti-tumor effects of T cells. In particular, supplement of LPCs, including LPC (20:0) and LPC (22:0), directly promote the activation and IFN-γ secretion of T cells in vitro, and suppress tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the distinctly changed lipid components closely related to T cell dysregulation in HCC, and suggests a promising strategy by decreasing LCACs and increasing LPCs for anti-tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Cheng
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ziyao Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Haoquan Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ran He
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Mi Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ting Zhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Lang Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yiqing Chen
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhihui Liang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiongwen Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiufang Weng
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Department of Transfusion, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Tojjari A, Saeed A, Sadeghipour A, Kurzrock R, Cavalcante L. Overcoming Immune Checkpoint Therapy Resistance with SHP2 Inhibition in Cancer and Immune Cells: A Review of the Literature and Novel Combinatorial Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5384. [PMID: 38001644 PMCID: PMC10670368 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
SHP2 (Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing Phosphatase 2) is a protein tyrosine phosphatase widely expressed in various cell types. SHP2 plays a crucial role in different cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Aberrant activation of SHP2 has been implicated in multiple human cancers and is considered a promising therapeutic target for treating these malignancies. The PTPN11 gene and functions encode SHP2 as a critical signal transduction regulator that interacts with key signaling molecules in both the RAS/ERK and PD-1/PD-L1 pathways; SHP2 is also implicated in T-cell signaling. SHP2 may be inhibited by molecules that cause allosteric (bind to sites other than the active site and attenuate activation) or orthosteric (bind to the active site and stop activation) inhibition or via potent SHP2 degraders. These inhibitors have anti-proliferative effects in cancer cells and suppress tumor growth in preclinical models. In addition, several SHP2 inhibitors are currently in clinical trials for cancer treatment. This review aims to provide an overview of the current research on SHP2 inhibitors, including their mechanism of action, structure-activity relationships, and clinical development, focusing on immune modulation effects and novel therapeutic strategies in the immune-oncology field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Tojjari
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Anwaar Saeed
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Arezoo Sadeghipour
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran P.O. Box 14115-175, Iran
| | - Razelle Kurzrock
- Department of Medicine, Genome Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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Brayer KJ, Hanson JA, Cingam S, Martinez C, Ness SA, Rabinowitz I. The inflammatory response of human pancreatic cancer samples compared to normal controls. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284232. [PMID: 37910468 PMCID: PMC10619777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a poor prognosis cancer with an aggressive growth profile that is often diagnosed at late stage and that has few curative or therapeutic options. PDAC growth has been linked to alterations in the pancreas microbiome, which could include the presence of the fungus Malassezia. We used RNA-sequencing to compare 14 matched tumor and normal (tumor adjacent) pancreatic cancer samples and found Malassezia RNA in both the PDAC and normal tissues. Although the presence of Malassezia was not correlated with tumor growth, a set of immune- and inflammatory-related genes were up-regulated in the PDAC compared to the normal samples, suggesting that they are involved in tumor progression. Gene set enrichment analysis suggests that activation of the complement cascade pathway and inflammation could be involved in pro PDAC growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn J. Brayer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Joshua A. Hanson
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Shashank Cingam
- Division of Hematology- Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Cathleen Martinez
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Scott A. Ness
- Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Ian Rabinowitz
- Division of Hematology- Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
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Kuras M. Exploring the Complex and Multifaceted Interplay between Melanoma Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14403. [PMID: 37762707 PMCID: PMC10531837 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814403] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a very aggressive skin cancer, characterized by a heterogeneous nature and high metastatic potential. The incidence of melanoma is continuously increasing worldwide, and it is one of the most common cancers in young adults. In the past twenty years, our understanding of melanoma biology has increased profoundly, and disease management for patients with disseminated disease has improved due to the emergence of immunotherapy and targeted therapy. However, a significant fraction of patients relapse or do not respond adequately to treatment. This can partly be explained by the complex signaling between the tumor and its microenvironment, giving rise to melanoma phenotypes with different patterns of disease progression. This review focuses on the key aspects and complex relationship between pathogenesis, genetic abnormalities, tumor microenvironment, cellular plasticity, and metabolic reprogramming in melanoma. By acquiring a deeper understanding of the multifaceted features of melanomagenesis, we can reach a point of more individualized and patient-centered disease management and reduced costs of ineffective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kuras
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden;
- Section for Clinical Chemistry, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
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8
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Xie J, Huang H, Li X, Ouyang L, Wang L, Liu D, Wei X, Tan P, Tu P, Hu Z. The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Cancer Immunotherapy: Current Status and Future Directions. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2023; 51:1627-1651. [PMID: 37638827 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x2350074x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the development of tumors. Immunoregulatory cells and cytokines facilitate cancer cells to avoid immune surveillance. Overexpression of immune checkpoint molecules such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibits immune function and enables cancer cells to avoid clearance by the immune system. Thus, minimizing tumor immunosuppression could be an important strategy for cancer therapy. Currently, many immune checkpoint-targeted drugs, such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, have been approved for marketing and have shown unique advantages in the clinical treatment of cancers. The concept of "strengthening resistance to eliminate pathogenic factors" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is consistent with the immunotherapy of cancer. According to previous studies, the role of TCM in tumor immunotherapy is mainly associated with the positive regulation of natural killer cells, CD8/CD4 T cells, dendritic cells, M2 macrophages, interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text], and IFN-[Formula: see text], as well as with the negative regulation of Tregs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, PD-1/PD-L1, transforming growth factor-[Formula: see text], and tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text]. This paper summarizes the current research on the effect of TCM targeting the TME, and further introduces the research progress on studying the effects of TCM on immune checkpoints. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that TCM can directly or indirectly affect the TME by inhibiting the overexpression of immune checkpoint molecules and enhancing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. TCM with immunomodulatory stimulation could be the key factor to achieve benefits from immunotherapy for patients with non-inflammatory, or "cold", tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxin Xie
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
| | - Huiming Huang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
| | - Xingxing Li
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, P. R. China
| | - Lishan Ouyang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
| | - Longyan Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
| | - Dongxiao Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
| | - Xuejiao Wei
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
| | - Peng Tan
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
| | - Pengfei Tu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
| | - Zhongdong Hu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
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9
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Zhang L, Shi Z, Zhang F, Chen B, Qiu W, Cai L, Lin X. Ubiquitination-related biomarkers in metastatic melanoma patients and their roles in tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1170190. [PMID: 37274231 PMCID: PMC10235493 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1170190] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is the deadliest type of cutaneous malignancy. Ubiquitination is a process of protein sorting and degradation that exhibits multiple functions in the progression of various tumors. This study aimed to characterize a set of genes for ubiquitination in SKCM. Methods The expression patterns of ubiquitin-associated genes (URGs) and the corresponding clinical information in SKCM tissues were comprehensively analyzed based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We performed univariate and multivariate Cox proportional regression models to characterize the risk scores and identify four critical genes related to prognostic ubiquitination (HCLS1, CORO1A, NCF1 and CCRL2), which were used to construct the prognostic signatures. We also studied the effects of HCLS1, CORO1A and CCRL2 on tumor metastasis-related indicators at the cellular level through in vitro experiments. Results SKCM patients in the low-risk group showing a longer survival than those in the high-risk group. Characteristic risk scores correlated with several clinicopathological variables and reflected the infiltration of multiple immune cells. In addition, the knockdown of CLS1, CORO1A and CCRL2 affected cellular malignant biological behavior through the EMT signaling pathway. Conclusion This study provides a novel and prospective strategy to improve the clinical survival of SKCM patients.
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10
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Brayer KJ, Hanson JA, Cingam S, Martinez C, Ness SA, Rabinowitz I. The immune response to a fungus in pancreatic cancer samples. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.28.534606. [PMID: 37034706 PMCID: PMC10081247 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.28.534606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a poor prognosis cancer with an .aggressive growth profile that is often diagnosed at late stage and that has few curative or therapeutic options. PDAC growth has been linked to alterations in the pancreas microbiome, which could include the presence of the fungus Malassezia. We used RNA-sequencing to compare 14 paired tumor and normal (tumor adjacent) pancreatic cancer samples and found Malassezia RNA in both the PDAC and normal tissues. Although the presence of Malassezia was not correlated with tumor growth, a set of immune- and inflammatory-related genes were up-regulated in the PDAC compared to the normal samples, suggesting that they are involved in tumor progression. Gene set enrichment analysis suggests that activation of the complement cascade pathway and inflammation could be involved in pro PDAC growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- KJ Brayer
- Department of Internal Medicine / Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | - JA Hanson
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | - S Cingam
- Department of Internal Medicine/ Division of Hematology- Oncology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | - C Martinez
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | - SA Ness
- Department of Internal Medicine / Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | - I Rabinowitz
- Department of Internal Medicine/ Division of Hematology- Oncology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
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11
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Zhou K, Li S, Zhao Y, Cheng K. Mechanisms of drug resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1127071. [PMID: 36845142 PMCID: PMC9944349 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1127071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the form of anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 have become the frontier of cancer treatment and successfully prolonged the survival of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). But the efficacy varies among different patient population, and many patients succumb to disease progression after an initial response to ICIs. Current research highlights the heterogeneity of resistance mechanisms and the critical role of tumor microenvironment (TME) in ICIs resistance. In this review, we discussed the mechanisms of ICIs resistance in NSCLC, and proposed strategies to overcome resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexun Zhou
- Abdominal Oncology Ward, Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Abdominal Oncology Ward, Division of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuo Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Zhao
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ke Cheng
- Abdominal Oncology Ward, Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Abdominal Oncology Ward, Division of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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12
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Lan Y, Jia Q, Feng M, Zhao P, Zhu M. A novel natural killer cell-related signatures to predict prognosis and chemotherapy response of pancreatic cancer patients. Front Genet 2023; 14:1100020. [PMID: 37035749 PMCID: PMC10076548 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1100020] [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: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are involved in monitoring and eliminating cancers. The purpose of this study was to develop a NK cell-related genes (NKGs) in pancreatic cancer (PC) and establish a novel prognostic signature for PC patients. Methods: Omic data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), and used to generate NKG-based molecular subtypes and construct a prognostic signature of PC. NKGs were downloaded from the ImmPort database. The differences in prognosis, immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity among subtypes were compared. 12 programmed cell death (PCD) patterns were acquired from previous study. A decision tree and nomogram model were constructed for the prognostic prediction of PC. Results: Thirty-two prognostic NKGs were identified in PC patients, and were used to generate three clusters with distinct characteristics. PCD patterns were more likely to occur at C1 or C3. Four prognostic DEGs, including MET, EMP1, MYEOV, and NGFR, were found among the clusters and applied to construct a risk signature in TCGA dataset, which was successfully validated in PACA-CA and GSE57495 cohorts. The four gene expressions were negatively correlated with methylation level. PC patients were divided into high and low risk groups, which exerts significantly different prognosis, clinicopathological features, immune infiltration, immunotherapy response and drug sensitivity. Age, N stage, and the risk signature were identified as independent factors of PC prognosis. Low group was more easily to happened on PCD. A decision tree and nomogram model were successfully built for the prognosis prediction of PC patients. ROC curves and DCA curves demonstrated the favorable and robust predictive capability of the nomogram model. Conclusion: We characterized NKGs-derived molecular subtypes of PC patients, and established favorable prognostic models for the prediction of PC prognosis, which may serve as a potential tool for prognosis prediction and making personalized treatment in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongting Lan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Qing Jia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Min Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Peiqing Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Min Zhu
- Department of Neonatology, Zibo Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Zibo, China
- *Correspondence: Min Zhu,
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13
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Darvishi M, Tosan F, Nakhaei P, Manjili DA, Kharkouei SA, Alizadeh A, Ilkhani S, Khalafi F, Zadeh FA, Shafagh SG. Recent progress in cancer immunotherapy: Overview of current status and challenges. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 241:154241. [PMID: 36543080 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.154241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cancer treatment is presently one of the most important challenges in medical science. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or combining these methods is used to eliminate the tumor. Hormone therapy, bone marrow transplantation, stem cell therapy as well as immunotherapy are other well-known therapeutic modalities. Immunotherapy, as the most important complementary method, uses the immune system for treating cancer followed by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. This method is systematically used to prevent malignancies development mainly via potentiating antitumor immune cells activation and conversely compromising their exhaustion with the lowest negative effects on healthy cells. Active immunotherapy can be employed for cancer immunotherapy by directly using the ingredients of the immune system and activating immune responses. On the other hand, inactive immunotherapy is utilized by indirect induction and using immune cell-based products consisting of monoclonal antibodies. It has strongly been proved that combination therapy with immunotherapies and other therapeutic means, such as anti-angiogenic agents, could be a rational plan to treat cancer. Herein, we have focused on recent findings concerning the therapeutic merits of cancer therapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), adoptive cell transfer (ACT) and cancer vaccine alone or in combination with other approaches. Also, we offer a glimpse into the current challenges in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Darvishi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center (IDTMRC), Department of Aerospace and Subaquatic Medicine, AJA University of Medicinal Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Foad Tosan
- Student Research Committee, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
| | - Pooria Nakhaei
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Danial Amiri Manjili
- Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
| | | | - Ali Alizadeh
- Department of Digital Health, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saba Ilkhani
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Farima Khalafi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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14
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The Effect of Oxidative Phosphorylation on Cancer Drug Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010062. [PMID: 36612059 PMCID: PMC9817696 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a target for the effective attenuation of cancer drug resistance. OXPHOS inhibitors can improve treatment responses to anticancer therapy in certain cancers, such as melanomas, lymphomas, colon cancers, leukemias and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the effect of OXPHOS on cancer drug resistance is complex and associated with cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer cells universally promote OXPHOS activity through the activation of various signaling pathways, and this activity is required for resistance to cancer therapy. Resistant cancer cells are prevalent among cancer stem cells (CSCs), for which the main metabolic phenotype is increased OXPHOS. CSCs depend on OXPHOS to survive targeting by anticancer drugs and can be selectively eradicated by OXPHOS inhibitors. In contrast to that in cancer cells, mitochondrial OXPHOS is significantly downregulated in tumor-infiltrating T cells, impairing antitumor immunity. In this review, we summarize novel research showing the effect of OXPHOS on cancer drug resistance, thereby explaining how this metabolic process plays a dual role in cancer progression. We highlight the underlying mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, as it is vital for discovering new drug targets.
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15
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Cheng Y, Wang C, Wang H, Zhang Z, Yang X, Dong Y, Ma L, Luo J. Combination of an autophagy inhibitor with immunoadjuvants and an anti-PD-L1 antibody in multifunctional nanoparticles for enhanced breast cancer immunotherapy. BMC Med 2022; 20:411. [PMID: 36303207 PMCID: PMC9615197 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02614-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The application of combination therapy for cancer treatment is limited due to poor tumor-specific drug delivery and the abscopal effect. METHODS Here, PD-L1- and CD44-responsive multifunctional nanoparticles were developed using a polymer complex of polyethyleneimine and oleic acid (PEI-OA) and loaded with two chemotherapeutic drugs (paclitaxel and chloroquine), an antigen (ovalbumin), an immunopotentiator (CpG), and an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD-L1 antibody). RESULTS PEI-OA greatly improved the drug loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency of the nanoplatform, while the anti-PD-L1 antibody significantly increased its cellular uptake compared to other treatment formulations. Pharmacodynamic experiments confirmed that the anti-PD-L1 antibody can strongly inhibit primary breast cancer and increase levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell at the tumor site. In addition, chloroquine reversed the "immune-cold" environment and improved the anti-tumor effect of both chemotherapeutics and immune checkpoint inhibitors, while it induced strong immune memory and prevented lung metastasis. CONCLUSIONS Our strategy serves as a promising approach to the rational design of nanodelivery systems for simultaneous active targeting, autophagy inhibition, and chemotherapy that can be combined with immune-checkpoint inhibitors for enhanced breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibin Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P. R. China
| | - Caixia Wang
- Key Laboratory for the Synthesis and Application of Organic Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P. R. China
| | - Huihui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P. R. China
| | - Zhiwei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P. R. China
| | - Xiaopeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P. R. China
| | - Yanming Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P. R. China
| | - Lixin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P. R. China.
| | - Jingwen Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P. R. China.
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16
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Zhou BB, Liu D, Qian JC, Tan RX. Vegetable-derived indole enhances the melanoma-treating efficacy of chemotherapeutics. Phytother Res 2022; 36:4278-4292. [PMID: 35883268 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Food-drug interaction is an important but overlooked issue. For example, little is known concerning whether or not the chemotherapy of cancers is affected by the well-defined dietary chemicals such as 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-3,3'-diindolylmethane (LTr1) derived from daily consumed cruciferous vegetables. This work, inspired by the described melanogenesis reduction by certain indoles, presents that LTr1 mitigates the melanogenesis and thus potentiates the in vitro and in vivo anti-melanoma effectiveness of different chemotherapeutic agents including dacarbazine, vemurafenib, and sorafenib. In B16 melanoma cells, LTr1 was shown to inhibit the melanogenesis by acting towards the regulatory (R) subunit of protein kinase A (PRKAR1a) associated with the phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB). This allows LTr1 to reduce the expression of melanogenesis-related enzymes such as tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TYRP2). Furthermore, LTr1 was addressed to bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and up-regulate the expression of CYP1A1 encoding cytochrome P450 1A1, leading to the escalation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. The increased ROS generation promotes the cysteine-to-cystine transformation to inhibit the pheomelanogenesis in melanomas. Collectively, the work identifies LTr1 as a new melanogenesis inhibitor that modulates the PKA/CREB/MITF and AhR/CYP1A1/ROS pathways, thereby providing a new option for (re)sensitizing melanomas to chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Bei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality and Efficacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan Liu
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality and Efficacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jia Cheng Qian
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality and Efficacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ren Xiang Tan
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality and Efficacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Functional Biomolecules, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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17
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Chen F, Gong X, Xia M, Yu F, Wu J, Yu C, Li J. The Aging-Related Prognostic Signature Reveals the Landscape of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:857994. [PMID: 35619896 PMCID: PMC9127417 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.857994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous studies have shown that the aging microenvironment played a huge impact on tumor progression. However, the clinical prognostic value of aging-related risk signatures and their effects on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains largely unclear. This study aimed to identify novel prognostic signatures based on aging-related genes (AGs) and reveal the landscape of the TIME in HNSCC. Methods Differentially expressed AGs were identified using the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The prognostic risk model of AGs was established by univariate and multivariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses. The independent prognostic value of the risk model and the correlations of the prognostic signature with immune score, tumor immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoints were systematically analyzed. Results A prognostic risk model of four AGs (BAK1, DKK1, CDKN2A, and MIF) was constructed and validated in the training and testing datasets. Kaplan–Meier curves and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis confirmed that the four-AG risk signature possessed an accurate predictive value for the prognosis of patients with HNSCC. Correlation analysis revealed that the risk score was negatively associated with immune score and immune cell infiltration level while positively correlated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response score. Patients of the high-risk subtype contained higher infiltration levels of resting natural killer (NK) cells, M0 macrophages, M2 macrophages, and resting mast cells while having lower infiltration levels of memory B cells, CD8+ T cells, follicular helper T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and activated mast cells than did those of the low-risk subtype. The expressions of CTLA4, PDCD1, and TIGIT were downregulated while the PDCD1LG2 expression was upregulated in the high-risk subtype compared to those in the low-risk subtype. Furthermore, the four selected AGs in the risk model were demonstrated to possess important functions in immune cell infiltration and ICB response of HNSCC. Conclusions The aging-related risk signature is a reliable prognostic model for predicting the survival of HNSCC patients and provides potential targets for improving outcomes of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Gong
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Wushan County People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Meng Xia
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feng Yu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chaosheng Yu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junzheng Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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18
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Meftahpour V, Aghebati-Maleki A, Fotouhi A, Safarzadeh E, Aghebati-Maleki L. Prognostic significance and therapeutic potentials of immune checkpoints in osteosarcoma. EXCLI JOURNAL 2022; 21:250-268. [PMID: 35145371 PMCID: PMC8822307 DOI: 10.17179/excli2021-4094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although there exist manifold strategies for cancer treatment, researchers are obliged to develop novel treatments based on the challenges that arise. One of these recent treatment approaches is cancer immunotherapy, which enjoys various types of strategies itself. However, one of the most significant methods, in this regard, is employing immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs). Bone sarcomas have several subtypes, with the most common ones being chordoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and osteosarcoma. Although many aggressive treatment approaches, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical resection, have been employed over the last decades, significantly improved outcomes have not been observed for Ewing sarcoma or osteosarcoma patients. Additionally, chordoma and chdrosarcoma resist against both radiation and chemotherapy. Accordingly, elucidating how recent therapies could affect bone sarcomas is necessary. Checkpoint inhibitors have attracted great attention for the treatment of several cancer types, including bone sarcoma. Herein, the recent advances of current immune checkpoint targets, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 blockade, for the treatment of bone sarcoma have been reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vafa Meftahpour
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Aghebati-Maleki
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Fotouhi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Elham Safarzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Parasitology, and Immunology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Leili Aghebati-Maleki
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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19
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Vafaei S, Zekiy AO, Khanamir RA, Zaman BA, Ghayourvahdat A, Azimizonuzi H, Zamani M. Combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs); a new frontier. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:2. [PMID: 34980128 PMCID: PMC8725311 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02407-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy has become a promising therapeutic strategy with encouraging therapeutic outcomes due to their durable anti-tumor effects. Though, tumor inherent or acquired resistance to ICIs accompanied with treatment-related toxicities hamper their clinical utility. Overall, about 60-70% of patients (e.g., melanoma and lung cancer) who received ICIs show no objective response to intervention. The resistance to ICIs mainly caused by alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which in turn, supports angiogenesis and also blocks immune cell antitumor activities, facilitating tumor cells' evasion from host immunosurveillance. Thereby, it has been supposed and also validated that combination therapy with ICIs and other therapeutic means, ranging from chemoradiotherapy to targeted therapies as well as cancer vaccines, can capably compromise tumor resistance to immune checkpoint blocked therapy. Herein, we have focused on the therapeutic benefits of ICIs as a groundbreaking approach in the context of tumor immunotherapy and also deliver an overview concerning the therapeutic influences of the addition of ICIs to other modalities to circumvent tumor resistance to ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Vafaei
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Angelina O. Zekiy
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ramadhan Ado Khanamir
- Internal Medicine and Surgery Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Burhan Abdullah Zaman
- Basic Sciences Department, College of Pharmacy, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | | | | | - Majid Zamani
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
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20
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Kiguchi T, Yamaguchi M, Takezako N, Miyawaki S, Masui K, Ihara Y, Hirota M, Shimofurutani N, Naoe T. Efficacy and safety of Wilms' tumor 1 helper peptide OCV-501 in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 71:1419-1430. [PMID: 34677647 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-03074-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Complete remission (CR) of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in elderly patients has a short duration, and there is no suitable post-remission therapy. We explored the role of the Wilms' tumor 1 helper peptide OCV-501 to prevent recurrence after remission. METHODS This placebo-controlled phase 2 study was designed to evaluate accurately the efficacy and immunogenicity of OCV-501 in elderly AML patients. Elderly AML patients who achieved first CR were randomly allocated to receive either OCV-501 (N = 69) or placebo (N = 65) once a week for eight weeks and then every two weeks until week 104. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS Nineteen (27.5%) patients in the OCV-501 group and 23 (35.4%) patients in the placebo group completed the study without relapse. The median DFS in the OCV-501 and placebo groups was 12.1 and 8.4 months, respectively (p = 0.7671, hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.933 [0.590, 1.477]). The major drug adverse reactions were injection-site reactions. Although treatment with OCV-501 did not prolong DFS for elderly AML patients, post hoc analysis found that immune responders to OCV-501 whose specific IgG was > 10,000 ng/mL (N = 16) and whose WT1-specific interferon-γ response was > 10 pg/mL (N = 26) had significantly longer overall survival compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS The placebo-controlled design of this study and quantitative immunological monitoring provides new insight into the relationship between peptide-induced immune responses and survival, suggesting future perspectives for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Naoki Takezako
- National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tomoki Naoe
- National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
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21
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Chamseddine AN, Assi T, Mir O, Chouaib S. Modulating tumor-associated macrophages to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors: A TAM-pting approach. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 231:107986. [PMID: 34481812 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) plasticity and diversity are both essential hallmarks of the monocyte-macrophage lineage and the tumor-derived inflammation. TAM exemplify the perfect adaptable cell with dynamic phenotypic modifications that reflect changes in their functional polarization status. Under several tumor microenvironment (TME)-related cues, TAM shift their polarization, hence promoting or halting cancer progression. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) displayed unprecedented clinical responses in various refractory cancers; but only approximately a third of patients experienced durable responses. It is, therefore, crucial to enhance the response rate of immunotherapy. Several mechanisms of resistance to ICI have been elucidated including TAM role with its essential immunosuppressive functions that reduce both anti-tumor immunity and the subsequent ICI efficacy. In the past few years, thorough research has led to a better understanding of TAM biology and innovative approaches can now be adapted through targeting macrophages' recruitment axis as well as TAM activation and polarization status within the TME. Some of these therapeutic strategies are currently being evaluated in several clinical trials in association with ICI agents. This combination between TAM modulation and ICI allows targeting TAM intrinsic immunosuppressive functions and tumor-promoting factors as well as overcoming ICI resistance. Hence, such strategies, with a better understanding of the mechanisms driving TAM modulation, may have the potential to optimize ICI efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali N Chamseddine
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy, F-94805, Villejuif, France; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, CESP INSERM U1018, OncoStat, Gustave Roussy, F-94805, Villejuif, France.
| | - Tarek Assi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy, F-94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Olivier Mir
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy, F-94805, Villejuif, France; Department of Pharmacology, Gustave Roussy, F-94805, Villejuif, France; Department of Ambulatory Care, Gustave Roussy, F-94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Salem Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, F-94805, Villejuif, France
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22
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Sanaei MJ, Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi A, Kaveh V, Abolghasemi H, Ghaffari SH, Momeny M, Bashash D. Recent advances in immune checkpoint therapy in non-small cell lung cancer and opportunities for nanoparticle-based therapy. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 909:174404. [PMID: 34363829 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer with the highest mortality rate and a poor 5-year survival rate. The majority of the cases are diagnosed in advanced stages when the disease has spread, which makes the tumor inoperable. Due to the antigenic essence of lung tumor cells, immunotherapy is a novel area and has exhibited remarkable results in this malignancy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are inhibitory molecules that disrupt immune checkpoint signaling pathways whether in the immune cells or tumor cells. Tremelimumab and ipilimumab (CTLA-4 blockers), pembrolizumab and nivolumab (PD-1 blockers), and durvalumab, avelumab, and atezolizumab (PD-L1 blockers) are FDA-approved and improve the survival and objective response of NSCLC patients. Despite this, over-stimulation of the immune system via the immune checkpoint therapy is a double-edged sword that causes a spectrum of adverse events from moderate to life-threatening. Nanomedicine considerably impacts the way of diagnosis and treatment of tumors to overcome treatment-related challenges. Accordingly, nanoparticle-based immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy increases the local concentration of immune checkpoint inhibitors while reduces the side effects, which result in boosting the anti-tumor immunity against various types of malignancies, including NSCLC. The current review provides comprehensive information about immune checkpoint therapy in NSCLC, their efficacy, and their safety profile. Besides, recent advances in nanoparticle-based immune checkpoint therapy and its limitation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad-Javad Sanaei
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Kaveh
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Abolghasemi
- Pediatric Congenital Hematologic Disorders Research Center, Mofid Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed H Ghaffari
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Shariati Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Momeny
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Davood Bashash
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Jiang PC, Bao TY, Zhi JM, Bu SR. Prognostic value and immunological characteristics of a novel autophagy-related signature in pancreatic cancer. J Biosci 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-021-00189-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Impact of exercise on the immune system and outcomes in hematologic malignancies. Blood Adv 2021; 4:1801-1811. [PMID: 32343800 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exercise is increasingly recognized as important to cancer care. The biology of how exercise improves outcomes is not well understood, however. Studies show that exercise favorably influences the immune system in healthy individuals (neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, T cells, and a number of cytokines). Thus, exercise in patients with hematologic cancer could significantly improve immune function and tumor microenvironment. We performed a literature search and identified 7 studies examining exercise and the immune environment in hematologic malignancies. This review focuses on the role of exercise and physical activity on the immune system in hematologic malignancies and healthy adults.
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25
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Jiang P, Yang F, Zou C, Bao T, Wu M, Yang D, Bu S. The construction and analysis of a ferroptosis-related gene prognostic signature for pancreatic cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:10396-10414. [PMID: 33819918 PMCID: PMC8064155 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a regulated cell death nexus linking metabolism, redox biology and diseases including cancer. The aim of the present study was to identify a ferroptosis-related gene prognostic signature for pancreatic cancer (PCa) by systematic analysis of transcriptional profiles from Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx). Altogether 14 ferroptosis-relevant genes with potential prognostic values were identified, based on which a risk score formula was constructed. According to the risk scores, we classified the patients into a high- and a low-risk score group. It was verified in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and ICGC (International Cancer Genome Consortium) datasets. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated that patients with lower risk scores had significantly favorable overall survival (OS) (P < 0.0001). The area under the receiver operating curve (ROC) for 12, 18 and 24 months was about 0.8 in all patients. The result of immune status analysis revealed that the signature significantly associated with the immune infiltration and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) proteins. In addition, we used quantitative real time PCR (q-rtPCR) and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) to validate the expression of the key genes. Collectively, the signature is valuable for survival prediction of PCa patients. As the signature also has relevance with the immune characteristics, it may help improve the efficacy of personalized immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peicheng Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fudan University Jinshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Caifeng Zou
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianyuan Bao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fudan University Jinshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengmeng Wu
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Fudan University Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongqin Yang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Fudan University Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shurui Bu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fudan University Jinshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Melanoma Cell Resistance to Vemurafenib Modifies Inter-Cellular Communication Signals. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9010079. [PMID: 33467521 PMCID: PMC7830125 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic success of BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) and MEK inhibitors (MEKi) in BRAF-mutant melanoma is limited by the emergence of drug resistance, and several lines of evidence suggest that changes in the tumor microenvironment can play a pivotal role in acquired resistance. The present study focused on secretome profiling of melanoma cells sensitive or resistant to the BRAFi vemurafenib. Proteomic and cytokine/chemokine secretion analyses were performed in order to better understand the interplay between vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells and the tumor microenvironment. We found that vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells can influence dendritic cell (DC) maturation by modulating their activation and cytokine production. In particular, human DCs exposed to conditioned medium (CM) from vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells produced higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines—that potentially facilitate melanoma growth—than DCs exposed to CM derived from parental drug-sensitive cells. Bioinformatic analysis performed on proteins identified by mass spectrometry in the culture medium from vemurafenib-sensitive and vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells suggests a possible involvement of the proteasome pathway. Moreover, our data confirm that BRAFi-resistant cells display a more aggressive phenotype compared to parental ones, with a significantly increased production of interferon-γ, interleukin-8, vascular-endothelial growth factor, CD147/basigin, and metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2). Plasma levels of CD147/basigin and MMP-2 were also measured before the start of therapy and at disease progression in a small group of melanoma patients treated with vemurafenib or vemurafenib plus cobimetinib. A significant increment in CD147/basigin and MMP-2 was observed in all patients at the time of treatment failure, strengthening the hypothesis that CD147/basigin might play a role in BRAFi resistance.
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Apraiz A, Benedicto A, Marquez J, Agüera-Lorente A, Asumendi A, Olaso E, Arteta B. Innate Lymphoid Cells in the Malignant Melanoma Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113177. [PMID: 33138017 PMCID: PMC7692065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are the innate counterparts of adaptive immune cells. Emerging data indicate that they are also key players in the progression of multiple tumors. In this review we briefly describe ILCs’ functions in the skin, lungs and liver. Next, we analyze the role of ILCs in primary cutaneous melanoma and in its most frequent and deadly metastases, those in liver and lung. We focus on their dual anti– and pro-tumoral functions, depending on the cross-interactions among them and with the surrounding stromal cells that form the tumor microenvironment (TME) in each organ. Next, we detail the role of extracellular vesicles secreted to the TME by ILCs and melanoma on both cell populations. We conclude that the identification of markers and tools to allow the modulation of individual ILC subsets, in addition to the development of standardized protocols, is essential for addressing the therapeutic modulation of ILCs. Abstract The role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in cancer progression has been uncovered in recent years. ILCs are classified as Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 ILCs, which are characterized by the transcription factors necessary for their development and the cytokines and chemokines they produce. ILCs are a highly heterogeneous cell population, showing both anti– and protumoral properties and capable of adapting their phenotypes and functions depending on the signals they receive from their surrounding environment. ILCs are considered the innate counterparts of the adaptive immune cells during physiological and pathological processes, including cancer, and as such, ILC subsets reflect different types of T cells. In cancer, each ILC subset plays a crucial role, not only in innate immunity but also as regulators of the tumor microenvironment. ILCs’ interplay with other immune and stromal cells in the metastatic microenvironment further dictates and influences this dichotomy, further strengthening the seed-and-soil theory and supporting the formation of more suitable and organ-specific metastatic environments. Here, we review the present knowledge on the different ILC subsets, focusing on their interplay with components of the tumor environment during the development of primary melanoma as well as on metastatic progression to organs, such as the liver or lung.
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Melanoma stem cell maintenance and chemo-resistance are mediated by CD133 signal to PI3K-dependent pathways. Oncogene 2020; 39:5468-5478. [PMID: 32616888 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1373-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma stem cells (MSCs) are characterized by their unique cell surface proteins and aberrant signaling pathways. These stemness properties are either in a causal or consequential relationship to melanoma progression, treatment resistance and recurrence. The functional analysis of CD133+ and CD133- cells in vitro and in vivo revealed that melanoma progression and treatment resistance are the consequences of CD133 signal to PI3K pathway. CD133 signal to PI3K pathway drives two downstream pathways, the PI3K/Akt/MDM2 and the PI3K/Akt/MKP-1 pathways. Activation of PI3K/Akt/MDM2 pathway results in the destabilization of p53 protein, while the activation of PI3K/Akt/MKP-1 pathway results in the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) JNK and p38. Activation of both pathways leads to the inhibition of fotemustine-induced apoptosis. Thus, the disruption of CD133 signal to PI3K pathway is essential to overcome Melanoma resistance to fotemustine. The pre-clinical verification of in vitro data using xenograft mouse model of MSCs confirmed the clinical relevance of CD133 signal as a therapeutic target for melanoma treatment. In conclusion, our study provides an insight into the mechanisms regulating MSCs growth and chemo-resistance and suggested a clinically relevant approach for melanoma treatment.
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Zhang Q, Liu F. Advances and potential pitfalls of oncolytic viruses expressing immunomodulatory transgene therapy for malignant gliomas. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:485. [PMID: 32587256 PMCID: PMC7316762 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-2696-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an immunosuppressive, lethal brain tumor. Despite advances in molecular understanding and therapies, the clinical benefits have remained limited, and the life expectancy of patients with GBM has only been extended to ~15 months. Currently, genetically modified oncolytic viruses (OV) that express immunomodulatory transgenes constitute a research hot spot in the field of glioma treatment. An oncolytic virus is designed to selectively target, infect, and replicate in tumor cells while sparing normal tissues. Moreover, many studies have shown therapeutic advantages, and recent clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of their usage. However, the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic viruses alone is limited, while oncolytic viruses expressing immunomodulatory transgenes are more potent inducers of immunity and enhance immune cell-mediated antitumor immune responses in GBM. An increasing number of basic studies on oncolytic viruses encoding immunomodulatory transgene therapy for malignant gliomas have yielded beneficial outcomes. Oncolytic viruses that are armed with immunomodulatory transgenes remain promising as a therapy against malignant gliomas and will undoubtedly provide new insights into possible clinical uses or strategies. In this review, we summarize the research advances related to oncolytic viruses that express immunomodulatory transgenes, as well as potential treatment pitfalls in patients with malignant gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhang
- Brain Tumor Research Center, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing, 100070, China.
| | - Fusheng Liu
- Brain Tumor Research Center, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing, 100070, China.
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Jia Y, Wen X, Gong Y, Wang X. Current scenario of indole derivatives with potential anti-drug-resistant cancer activity. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 200:112359. [PMID: 32531682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer chemotherapy is frequently hampered by drug resistance, so the resistance to anticancer agents represents one of the major obstacles for the effective cancer treatment. Indole derivatives have the potential to act on diverse targets in cancer cells and exhibit promising activity against drug-resistant cancers. Moreover, some indole-containing compounds such as Semaxanib, Sunitinib, Vinorelbine, and Vinblastine have already been applied in clinics for various kinds of cancer even drug-resistant cancer therapy. Thus, indole derivatives are one of significant resources for the development of novel anti-drug-resistant cancer agents. This review focuses on the recent development of indole derivatives with potential therapeutic application for drug-resistant cancers, and the mechanisms of action, the critical aspects of design as well as structure-activity relationships, covering articles published from 2010 to 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanshu Jia
- Chongqing Institute of Engineering, Chongqing, 400056, China
| | - Xiaoyue Wen
- The Institute of Infection and Inflammation, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443000, China
| | - Yufeng Gong
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157000, China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Department of Surgery, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Zhejiang Province, 311800, China.
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31
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Licarete E, Rauca VF, Luput L, Drotar D, Stejerean I, Patras L, Dume B, Toma VA, Porfire A, Gherman C, Sesarman A, Banciu M. Overcoming Intrinsic Doxorubicin Resistance in Melanoma by Anti-Angiogenic and Anti-Metastatic Effects of Liposomal Prednisolone Phosphate on Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082968. [PMID: 32340166 PMCID: PMC7215436 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Regardless of recent progress, melanoma is very difficult to treat, mainly due to the drug resistance modulated by tumor cells as well as by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Among the immune cells recruited at the tumor site, tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant, promoting important tumorigenic processes: angiogenesis, inflammation and invasiveness. Furthermore, it has been shown that TAMs are involved in mediating the drug resistance of melanoma cells. Thus, in the present study, we used liposomal formulation of prednisolone disodium phosphate (LCL-PLP) to inhibit the protumor function of TAMs with the aim to sensitize the melanoma cells to the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin (DOX) to which human melanoma has intrinsic resistance. Consequently, we evaluated the in vivo effects of the concomitant administration of LCL-PLP and liposomal formulation of DOX (LCL-DOX) on B16.F10 melanoma growth and on the production of key molecular markers for tumor development. Our results demonstrated that the concomitant administration of LCL-PLP and LCL-DOX induced a strong inhibition of tumor growth, primarily by inhibiting TAMs-mediated angiogenesis as well as the tumor production of MMP-2 and AP-1. Moreover, our data suggested that the combined therapy also affected TME as the number of infiltrated macrophages in melanoma microenvironment was reduced significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Licarete
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
- Molecular Biology Centre, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Valentin Florian Rauca
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
- Centre of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Lavinia Luput
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
- Centre of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Denise Drotar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Ioana Stejerean
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Laura Patras
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
- Centre of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Bogdan Dume
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Vlad Alexandru Toma
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
- Institute of Biological Research, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alina Porfire
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Claudia Gherman
- Department of Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta”, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Alina Sesarman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
- Centre of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +40-264-431-691; Fax: +40-264-431-858
| | - Manuela Banciu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.L.); (V.F.R.); (L.L.); (D.D.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (B.D.); (V.A.T.); (M.B.)
- Centre of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Zhu Y, Xue J, Chen W, Bai S, Zheng T, He C, Guo Z, Jiang M, Du G, Sun X. Albumin-biomineralized nanoparticles to synergize phototherapy and immunotherapy against melanoma. J Control Release 2020; 322:300-311. [PMID: 32240675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
To date, cancer phototherapy remains as an unsatisfactory method of cancer treatment due to the high probability of cancer recurrence - an effect that is partly driven by tumor-driven immunosuppression. Therefore, we propose inducing adequate immune responses after photo tumor ablation may be critical to achieve a long term therapeutic effect of phototherapy. Here, we engineered the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) and the time-honored immunoadjuvant aluminum hydroxide into bovine serum albumin by albumin-based biomineralization as a novel nanosystem (Al-BSA-Ce6 NPs). After intravenous injection, the nanoparticles not only destroyed tumor cells effectively but also protected animals against tumor rechallenge and metastasis by strongly inducing a systemic anti-tumor immune response. Subsequent analysis demonstrated T cells accumulated in lymph nodes and infiltrated the tumor site, elevating levels of immune indicators including serum antibody, cytokine level and higher proportions of cytotoxic T cells and Th1 cells. These protective effects were not observed with commercially available alumina gels, or when the aluminum hydroxide in the nanoparticles was replaced with ferric hydroxide. Therefore, we present Al-BSA-Ce6 NPs as a novel and unique system for alumina adjuvants that serves as an effective approach for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Jiao Xue
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Wenfei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Shuting Bai
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Tao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Chunting He
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Zhaofei Guo
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Min Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Guangsheng Du
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Xun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
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Rahimi Kalateh Shah Mohammad G, Ghahremanloo A, Soltani A, Fathi E, Hashemy SI. Cytokines as potential combination agents with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade for cancer treatment. J Cell Physiol 2020; 235:5449-5460. [PMID: 31970790 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has caused a paradigm shift in the treatment of several malignancies, particularly the blockade of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its specific receptor/ligand PD-L1 that have revolutionized the treatment of a variety of malignancies, but significant durable responses only occur in a small percentage of patients, and other patients failed to respond to the treatment. Even those who initially respond can ultimately relapse despite maintenance treatment, there is considerable potential for synergistic combinations of immunotherapy and chemotherapy agents with immune checkpoint inhibitors into conventional cancer treatments. The clinical experience in the use of cytokines in the clinical setting indicated the efficiency of cytokine therapy in cancer immunotherapy. Combinational approaches to enhancing PD-L1/PD-1 pathways blockade efficacy with several cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-15, IL-21, IL-12, IL-10, and interferon-α (IFN-α) may result in additional benefits. In this review, the current state of knowledge about PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, the date in the literature to ascertain the combination of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies with cytokines is discussed. Finally, it is noteworthy that novel therapeutic approaches based on the efficient combination of recombinant cytokines with the PD-L1/PD-1 blockade therapy can enhance antitumor immune responses against various malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Atefeh Ghahremanloo
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Arash Soltani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Esmat Fathi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Seyed Isaac Hashemy
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Wang YB, Lv G, Xu FH, Ma LL, Yao YM. Comprehensive Survey of Clinical Trials Registration for Melanoma Immunotherapy in the ClinicalTrials.gov. Front Pharmacol 2020; 10:1539. [PMID: 31998135 PMCID: PMC6966167 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Comprehensively evaluate the immunotherapeutic clinical trials and provide reference for melanoma treatment and research. Methods: The website of ClinicalTrials.gov was searched to retrieve and download all registered clinical trials for melanoma immunotherapy on August 1 (updated on August 25), 2019. All registration trials met the inclusion criteria were collected regardless of the type of study, the status of recruitment, and the results of the study. The general characteristics, methodological characteristics, and the types of immunotherapeutic drugs included of these trials were analyzed. Results: Finally, 242 eligible trials were included and evaluated. Of them, 30.6% were completed, 16.9% were terminated, and two were withdrawn; 77.7% recruited less than 100 participants; 30.5% were randomized; 45.5% was single group assignment; 88.8% were not masked; the primary purpose was treatment; 44.2% had data on monitoring committees; 27.7% used US FDA-regulated immunization drugs; 78.5% without results posted; 43.0% were sponsored by the industry. Immunological checkpoint inhibitors were most often studied, with 53.6% of the trials involving PD-1, the most commonly studied was Nivolumab. Conclusions: Currently, most of the registered clinical trials for melanoma immunotherapy were interventional open-label trials. Most immunotherapy research hotspots were in the FDA-regulated drug product, and a few trials reported available test results. It is necessary to strengthen the supervision of results and explore and disseminate more effective and safe immunotherapy methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Bo Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Trauma Research Center, Fourth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Lv
- Department of General Surgery, The 8th Medical Centre of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Feng-Hua Xu
- Ward I of Internal Medicine, Beijing General Hospital of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Beijing, China
| | - Lin-Lu Ma
- Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong-Ming Yao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Trauma Research Center, Fourth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Weishaupt C, Steinert M, Brunner G, Schulze HJ, Fuhlbrigge RC, Goerge T, Loser K. Activation of human vascular endothelium in melanoma metastases induces ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression and results in increased infiltration with effector lymphocytes. Exp Dermatol 2019; 28:1258-1269. [PMID: 31444891 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lymphocytic infiltration into melanoma tissue is an important prerequisite for effective antitumoral immunity. However, analysis of human metastatic melanoma has shown that leucocyte adhesion receptor expression on melanoma blood vessels is very low or absent, thereby impairing the entry of cytotoxic lymphocytes into tumor tissue. We hypothesized that adhesion molecules can be induced on melanoma vasculature allowing better infiltration of cytotoxic lymphocytes. Quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining indicated that the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 (CD54) and E-selectin (CD62E) can be significantly induced by intralesional application of TNF alpha in tissue from human melanoma metastases either in vitro or in vivo when grafted onto immunodeficient NSG (NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ) mice that preserved human vessels. Furthermore, activated human autologous CD3+ lymphocytes were injected intravenously into mice bearing melanoma xenografts treated with TNF-α or PBS in addition to the leucocyte chemoattractant TARC (CCL17). Significantly increased numbers of CD8+ cells were detected in TNF-α-treated melanoma metastases compared with PBS-treated controls. In addition, tumor cell apoptosis was enhanced and melanoma cell proliferation reduced as shown by TUNEL assay and KI-67 staining. We conclude that adhesion molecules can be induced on human melanoma vasculature resulting in significantly improved homing of activated autologous cytotoxic T cells to melanoma tissue and inhibition of melanoma cell proliferation. These observations should be considered when designing protocols for immunotherapy of malignant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Weishaupt
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Meike Steinert
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Georg Brunner
- Department of Cancer Research, Fachklinik Hornheide, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Robert C Fuhlbrigge
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tobias Goerge
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Karin Loser
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,CRC1009, CRC-TR128 and Interdisciplinary Center of Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Memon H, Patel BM. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer: A bird's eye view. Life Sci 2019; 233:116713. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Totsch SK, Schlappi C, Kang KD, Ishizuka AS, Lynn GM, Fox B, Beierle EA, Whitley RJ, Markert JM, Gillespie GY, Bernstock JD, Friedman GK. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus immunotherapy for brain tumors: current pitfalls and emerging strategies to overcome therapeutic resistance. Oncogene 2019; 38:6159-6171. [PMID: 31289361 PMCID: PMC6771414 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0870-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Malignant tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) continue to be a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in both
children and adults. Traditional therapies for malignant brain tumors consist of surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation;
such approaches are often associated with extreme morbidity. Accordingly, novel, targeted therapeutics for neoplasms of the CNS,
such as immunotherapy with oncolytic engineered herpes simplex virus (HSV) therapy, are urgently warranted. Herein, we discuss
treatment challenges related to HSV virotherapy delivery, entry, replication, and spread, and in so doing focus on host antiviral
immune responses and the immune microenvironment. Strategies to overcome such challenges including viral re-engineering,
modulation of the immunoregulatory microenvironment and combinatorial therapies with virotherapy, such as checkpoint inhibitors,
radiation, and vaccination are also examined in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacie K Totsch
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Charles Schlappi
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Kyung-Don Kang
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | | | - Brandon Fox
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Beierle
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Richard J Whitley
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - James M Markert
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - G Yancey Gillespie
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Joshua D Bernstock
- Avidea Technologies, Inc, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Gregory K Friedman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. .,Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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Seliger B. Combinatorial Approaches With Checkpoint Inhibitors to Enhance Anti-tumor Immunity. Front Immunol 2019; 10:999. [PMID: 31178856 PMCID: PMC6538766 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of cancer patients has been recently revolutionized by the application of various immunotherapeutics. However, the response rates are still limited ranging between approximately 20 and 40% suggesting that combinations of immunotherapy with conventional treatment, like chemotherapy, radiation, epigenetic modulators, targeted therapies using small molecules as well as other (immuno) therapeutics, might be an option to increase systemic anti-tumor immunity. It is postulated that different non-immune based therapies in combination with immunotherapies could reprogram the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment and enhance the immunogenicity of tumor cells leading to an improved therapeutic efficacy and a better patients' outcome. Despite there exist various examples of increased objective responses achieved by adding these different therapies to immunotherapies, strategies for rational and evidence-based design of checkpoint inhibitor combinations to maximize the clinical benefit for patients are urgently required. Therefore, the main purpose of this review is to summarize recent results obtained from experimental models and clinical trials to enhance tumor immunogenicity by combining immunotherapy with other therapeutic options to maximize patients' outcome and minimize adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Abstract
Over the last decade, melanoma treatment has taken rapid strides with the advent of immunotherapies and targeted agents. With these new agents, there has been a significant improvement in patient survival. However, these new treatment options may sometimes lead to unanticipated side effects that make these treatments challenging to administer and monitor. In preclinical studies, BRAF and MEK inhibitors have shown to modulate tumor microenvironment and potentiate immunotherapies. Therefore, some patients who had prior treatment with immunotherapies can develop immune toxicities even with these targeted agents due to the long half-life of these monoclonal antibodies. Herein, we present our institutional experience with regard to these unexpected toxicities with targeted agents in patients who had previous treatment with immunotherapies. This case series lays out the various side effects along with details of their management, outcomes, and patient response.
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40
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Valentinuzzi D, Simončič U, Uršič K, Vrankar M, Turk M, Jeraj R. Predicting tumour response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy with computational modelling. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 64:025017. [DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aaf96c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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41
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Seo JS, Kim A, Shin JY, Kim YT. Comprehensive analysis of the tumor immune micro-environment in non-small cell lung cancer for efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14576. [PMID: 30275546 PMCID: PMC6167371 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32855-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the molecular immune subtype and micro-environment of lung cancer is necessary to understand immunogenic interactions between infiltrating immune and stromal cells, and how tumor cells overcome immune checkpoint blockades. This study seeks to identify computational methodologies for subtyping gene expression-based tumor-immune micro-environment interactions, which differentiate non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) into immune-defective and immune-competent subtypes. Here, 101 lung squamous cell carcinomas (LUSCs) and 87 lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) tumor samples have been analyzed. Several micro-environmental factors differentially induce LUAD or LUSC immune subtypes, as well as immune checkpoint expression. In particular, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key immune cells play a vital role in inflammation and cancer micro-environments of LUSCs; whereas, regulatory B cells are immunosuppressive and tumorigenic in LUADs. Additionally, cytolytic activity upon CD8+ T cell activation is decreased by the abundance of B cells and macrophages in immune-competent subtypes. Therefore, identifying immune subtypes in lung cancer and their impact on tumor micro-environment will lead to clinical tools for assessing LUADs and LUSCs in patients, as well as maximize the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Sun Seo
- Precision Medicine Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnamsi, 13605, Korea. .,Genomic Medicine Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. .,Macrogen Inc., Seoul, 08511, Korea.
| | - Ahreum Kim
- Precision Medicine Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnamsi, 13605, Korea.,Genomic Medicine Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Yeon Shin
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.,Macrogen Inc., Seoul, 08511, Korea
| | - Young Tae Kim
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. .,Seoul National University Cancer Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Korea.
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42
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Local angiotensin II contributes to tumor resistance to checkpoint immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2018; 6:88. [PMID: 30208943 PMCID: PMC6134794 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-018-0401-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Current checkpoint immunotherapy has shown potential to control cancer by restoring or activating the immune system. Nevertheless, multiple mechanisms are involved in immunotherapy resistance which limits the clinical benefit of checkpoint inhibitors. An immunosuppressive microenvironment is an important factor mediating the original resistance of tumors to immunotherapy. A previous report by our group has demonstrated that local angiotensin II (AngII) predominantly exists in a tumor hypoxic microenvironment where hypoxic tumour cells produced AngII by a hypoxia-lactate-chymase-dependent mechanism. Results Here, using 4T1 and CT26 syngeneic mouse tumor models, we found that local AngII in the tumor microenvironment was involved in immune escape of tumour cells and an AngII signaling blockage sensitized tumours to checkpoint immunotherapy. Furthermore, an AngII signaling blockage reversed the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment, and inhibition of angiotensinogen (AGT, a precursor of AngII) expression strongly triggered an immune-activating cytokine profile in hypoxic mouse cancer cells. More importantly, AGT silencing combined with a checkpoint blockage generated an abscopal effect in resistant tumors. Conclusion Our study demonstrated an important role of local AngII in the formation of a tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and its blockage may enhance tumor sensitivity to checkpoint immunotherapy. The combination of an AngII signaling blocker and an immune-checkpoint blockage could be a promising strategy to improve tumors responses to current checkpoint immunotherapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40425-018-0401-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Li X, Huang F, Xu X, Hu S. Polyclonal Rabbit Anti-Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Globulins Induce Cancer Cells Apoptosis and Inhibit Tumor Growth. Int J Biol Sci 2018; 14:1621-1629. [PMID: 30416376 PMCID: PMC6216025 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.26520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) constitute a major component of the tumor microenvironment. CAFs regulated the growth and development, invasion and metastasis of primary tumors, as well as response to treatment. Recent studies indicated that monoclonal antibody therapies had limited success, thus more effective polyclonal antibodies (Poly Abs) is urgently needed. Poly Abs is a possible alternative because they target multiple antigens simultaneously. In this report, we prepared Poly Abs by immunizing rabbits with the bFGF-activated fibroblasts. The Poly Abs inhibited the cancer cells proliferation as revealed by MTT analysis. The Poly Abs induced apoptosis as indicated by flow cytometric analysis, and microscopic observation of apoptotic changes in morphology. Compared with the control IgG, Poly Abs significantly inhibited tumor cells migration as indicated by wound healing and transwell analysis in vitro, and lung metastasis analysis in vivo. Serial intravenous injections of Poly Abs inhibited tumor growth in mice bearing murine CT26 colon carcinoma. Ki67 analysis indicated that Poly Abs significantly inhibited tumor cells proliferation, as compared to control Ig G treatments. Our findings suggested that Poly Abs was an effective agent for apoptosis induction, migration and metastasis inhibition. The Poly Abs may be useful as a safe anticancer agent for cancer immunotherapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuying Li
- Medical Faculty, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Fengchang Huang
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiaoyu Xu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences & College of Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Shuenqin Hu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming, Medical University, Kunming, China
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Stieglitz D, Lamm S, Braig S, Feuerer L, Kuphal S, Dietrich P, Arndt S, Echtenacher B, Hellerbrand C, Karrer S, Bosserhoff AK. BMP6-induced modulation of the tumor micro-milieu. Oncogene 2018; 38:609-621. [PMID: 30171260 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0475-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer with rising incidence, creating a significant health problem. We discovered increased expression of bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) in melanoma cells and tissues, and observed that BMP6 deficiency caused significantly delayed tumor onset and decelerated tumor progression in a melanoma mouse model. Moreover, we determined that BMP6 inhibits dermal mast cell recruitment and found that mast cell-derived mediators significantly reduced melanoma growth in vitro. In line with this, mast cell deficiency accelerated tumor onset and progression in a melanoma mouse model. Analysis of human melanoma tissues revealed a strong negative correlation between melanoma proliferation and mast cell infiltration. This study elucidates a novel role of BMP6-induced modulation of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Stieglitz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susanne Lamm
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simone Braig
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lena Feuerer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Silke Kuphal
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter Dietrich
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Arndt
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Echtenacher
- Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology (RCI) and University Medical Center of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Claus Hellerbrand
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sigrid Karrer
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Anja-Katrin Bosserhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. .,Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen, Germany.
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Farhad M, Rolig AS, Redmond WL. The role of Galectin-3 in modulating tumor growth and immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1434467. [PMID: 29872573 PMCID: PMC5980349 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1434467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficacy of cancer immunotherapy is limited, in part, by the multitude of immunosuppressive mechanisms present within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a lectin that contributes to TME immunosuppression and regulates diverse functions including cellular homeostasis and cancer biology. Increased Gal-3 expression during cancer progression augments tumor growth, invasiveness, metastatic potential, and immune suppression, which highlights the potential use of Gal-3 as a therapeutic target capable of modulating anti-tumor immunity. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which Gal-3 regulates lymphocytes, the role of Gal-3 in lung and prostate tumors, and the contribution of Gal-3 to TME immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Farhad
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR.,Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology Department, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Annah S Rolig
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR
| | - William L Redmond
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR
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Faghfuri E, Nikfar S, Niaz K, Faramarzi MA, Abdollahi M. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitors to treat melanoma alone or in combination with other kinase inhibitors. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2018; 14:317-330. [PMID: 29363351 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2018.1432593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malignant melanoma (MM) is an aggressive disease with a rapidly rising incidence due to neoplasm of melanocytes. Molecular targeted therapies have demonstrated lower toxicity and improved overall survival versus conventional therapies of MM. The revealing of mutations in the BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway has led to the development of BRAF inhibitors such as vemurafenib and dabrafenib for the treatment of cutaneous MM. Though, progression of resistance to these agents has prompted attempts to target downstream proteins in this pathway. Trametinib, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, was approved in 2013 for the treatment of BRAF V600E/K mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic cutaneous melanoma patients. Areas covered: The aim of the current review is to present an update on the role of MEK in progressive melanomas and summarize latest results of clinical studies with innovative MEK inhibitors and/or combined approaches with other kinase inhibitors such as BRAF inhibitors in the treatment of MM. Expert opinion: Two combined treatments (i.e. trametinib plus dabrafenib and vemurafenib plus cobimetinib) target two different kinases in the BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway. The simultaneous prohibition of both MEK and BRAF is associated with more durable response rate than BRAF monotherapy and can overcome acquired resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Faghfuri
- a Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Shekoufeh Nikfar
- b Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.,c Evidence-Based Medicine Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Group , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Kamal Niaz
- d International Campus , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.,e Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Group , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Faramarzi
- a Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Mohammad Abdollahi
- d International Campus , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.,e Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Group , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.,f Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
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Review of cancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors : Current concepts, expectations, limitations and pitfalls. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2017; 130:85-91. [PMID: 29098404 PMCID: PMC5816095 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-017-1285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy by checkpoint inhibition is about to profoundly change cancer therapy. The number of indications are growing at an unprecedented speed. Clinical studies have demonstrated efficacy in a variety of solid tumors and in hematologic malignancies, although some clinical trials have produced negative results. Thus, it is fair to assume that there are obvious limitations and pitfalls in immunotherapy. Future concepts for combination treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitors have to be developed, but there is also urgent need for better and standardized biomarkers to identify those cancer patients who will benefit from treatment by checkpoint inhibition. The current overview summarizes current knowledge on immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in malignancies, its outlook and limitations, diagnostic means and, finally, side effect management.
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