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Mu Y, Zhang Z, Zhou H, Ma L, Wang DA. Applications of nanotechnology in remodeling the tumour microenvironment for glioblastoma treatment. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:4045-4064. [PMID: 38993162 DOI: 10.1039/d4bm00665h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
With the increasing research and deepening understanding of the glioblastoma (GBM) tumour microenvironment (TME), novel and more effective therapeutic strategies have been proposed. The GBM TME involves intricate interactions between tumour and non-tumour cells, promoting tumour progression. Key therapeutic goals for GBM treatment include improving the immunosuppressive microenvironment, enhancing the cytotoxicity of immune cells against tumours, and inhibiting tumour growth and proliferation. Consequently, remodeling the GBM TME using nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery enables targeted delivery, thereby improving treatment specificity, facilitating combination therapies, and optimizing drug metabolism. This review provides an overview of the GBM TME and discusses the methods of remodeling the GBM TME using nanotechnology. Specifically, it explores the application of nanotechnology in ameliorating immune cell immunosuppression, inducing immunogenic cell death, stimulating, and recruiting immune cells, regulating tumour metabolism, and modulating the crosstalk between tumours and other cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulei Mu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
- Karolinska Institutet Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, HKSTP, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
| | - Huiqun Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
- Karolinska Institutet Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, HKSTP, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Liang Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
| | - Dong-An Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
- Karolinska Institutet Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, HKSTP, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR
- Centre for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine, InnoHK, HKSTP, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
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Ning J, Lu X, Dong J, Xue C, Ou C, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Gao F. Advanced Strategies for Strengthening the Immune Activation Effect of Traditional Antitumor Therapies. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024. [PMID: 38959418 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
The utilization of traditional therapies (TTS), such as chemotherapy, reactive oxygen species-based therapy, and thermotherapy, to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells has emerged as a promising strategy for the activation of the antitumor immune response. However, the limited effectiveness of most TTS in inducing the ICD effect of tumors hinders their applications in combination with immunotherapy. To address this challenge, various intelligent strategies have been proposed to strengthen the immune activation effect of these TTS, and then achieve synergistic antitumor efficacy with immunotherapy. These strategies primarily focus on augmenting the tumor ICD effect or facilitating the antigen (released by the ICD tumor cells) presentation process during TTS, and they are systematically summarized in this review. Finally, the existing bottlenecks and prospects of TTS in the application of tumor immune regulation are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Ning
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Flexible Electronics (IAMFE), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, PR China
| | - Xinxin Lu
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Flexible Electronics (IAMFE), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, PR China
| | - Jianhui Dong
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Flexible Electronics (IAMFE), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, PR China
| | - Chun Xue
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Flexible Electronics (IAMFE), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, PR China
| | - Changjin Ou
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Flexible Electronics (IAMFE), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, PR China
| | - Yizhou Zhang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Flexible Electronics (IAMFE), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, PR China
| | - Xianzheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education & Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Fan Gao
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Flexible Electronics (IAMFE), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, PR China
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Germanà E, Pepe L, Pizzimenti C, Ballato M, Pierconti F, Tuccari G, Ieni A, Giuffrè G, Fadda G, Fiorentino V, Martini M. Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Immunohistochemical Expression in Advanced Urothelial Bladder Carcinoma: An Updated Review with Clinical and Pathological Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6750. [PMID: 38928456 PMCID: PMC11203574 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126750] [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: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The management of advanced bladder carcinoma involves a multidisciplinary approach, but the prognosis remains poor for many patients. The immune system plays a crucial role in this disease, influencing both tumor development and response to treatment, and exploiting the immune system against the tumor can be a valuable strategy to destroy neoplastic cells. This is the biological principle underlying Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) use and, more recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), like PD-1 (programmed death-1)/PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) inhibitors. In fact, one of the best studied immune checkpoints is represented by the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, which is a well-known immune escape system adopted by neoplastic bladder cells. PD-L1 expression has been associated with a higher pathologic stage and has shown prognostic value in bladder carcinoma. Interestingly, high-grade bladder cancers tend to express higher levels of PD-1 and PD-L1, suggesting a potential role of such an axis in mediating disease progression. Immunotherapy with PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors has therefore emerged as a valuable treatment option and has shown efficacy in advanced bladder cancer patients, with high PD-L1 expression levels associated with better treatment responses. Our review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of PD-L1 in advanced bladder cancer, focusing on its implications for treatment decisions and the prediction of treatment response. Overall, our work aims to contribute to the understanding of PD-L1 as a predictive biomarker and highlight its role in shaping therapeutic approaches for advanced bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Germanà
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Ludovica Pepe
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (L.P.); (M.B.); (G.T.); (A.I.); (G.G.); (G.F.)
| | | | - Mariagiovanna Ballato
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (L.P.); (M.B.); (G.T.); (A.I.); (G.G.); (G.F.)
| | - Francesco Pierconti
- Department of Women, Children and Public Health Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Agostino Gemelli IRCCS University Hospital Foundation, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Tuccari
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (L.P.); (M.B.); (G.T.); (A.I.); (G.G.); (G.F.)
| | - Antonio Ieni
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (L.P.); (M.B.); (G.T.); (A.I.); (G.G.); (G.F.)
| | - Giuseppe Giuffrè
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (L.P.); (M.B.); (G.T.); (A.I.); (G.G.); (G.F.)
| | - Guido Fadda
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (L.P.); (M.B.); (G.T.); (A.I.); (G.G.); (G.F.)
| | - Vincenzo Fiorentino
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (L.P.); (M.B.); (G.T.); (A.I.); (G.G.); (G.F.)
| | - Maurizio Martini
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (L.P.); (M.B.); (G.T.); (A.I.); (G.G.); (G.F.)
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Xin S, Su J, Li R, Cao Q, Wang H, Wei Z, Wang C, Zhang C. Identification of a risk model for prognostic and therapeutic prediction in renal cell carcinoma based on infiltrating M0 cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13390. [PMID: 38862642 PMCID: PMC11166996 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64207-0] [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: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises immune-infiltrating cells that are closely linked to tumor development. By screening and analyzing genes associated with tumor-infiltrating M0 cells, we developed a risk model to provide therapeutic and prognostic guidance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). First, the infiltration abundance of each immune cell type and its correlation with patient prognosis were analyzed. After assessing the potential link between the depth of immune cell infiltration and prognosis, we screened the infiltrating M0 cells to establish a risk model centered on three key genes (TMEN174, LRRC19, and SAA1). The correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between the risk score and various stages of the tumor immune cycle, including B-cell recruitment. Furthermore, the risk score was positively correlated with CD8 expression and several popular immune checkpoints (ICs) (TIGIT, CTLA4, CD274, LAG3, and PDCD1). Additionally, the high-risk group (HRG) had higher scores for tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) and exclusion than the low-risk group (LRG). Importantly, the risk score was negatively correlated with the immunotherapy-related pathway enrichment scores, and the LRG showed a greater therapeutic benefit than the HRG. Differences in sensitivity to targeted drugs between the HRG and LRG were analyzed. For commonly used targeted drugs in RCC, including axitinib, pazopanib, temsirolimus, and sunitinib, LRG had lower IC50 values, indicating increased sensitivity. Finally, immunohistochemistry results of 66 paraffin-embedded specimens indicated that SAA1 was strongly expressed in the tumor samples and was associated with tumor metastasis, stage, and grade. SAA1 was found to have a significant pro-tumorigenic effect by experimental validation. In summary, these data confirmed that tumor-infiltrating M0 cells play a key role in the prognosis and treatment of patients with ccRCC. This discovery offers new insights and directions for the prognostic prediction and treatment of ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyong Xin
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, China.
| | - Junjie Su
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, China
| | - Ruixin Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, China
| | - Qiong Cao
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Haojie Wang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Luoyang Central Hospital, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Zhihao Wei
- Department of Pathology, The Yiluo Hospital of Luoyang, The Teaching Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China
| | - Chengliang Wang
- Department of Urology, Shangcheng County People's Hospital, Xinyang, 464000, China
| | - Chengdong Zhang
- Department of Urology, Xinxiang First People's Hospital, Xinxiang, 453000, China
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He J, Zhou Y, Sun L. Emerging mechanisms of the unfolded protein response in therapeutic resistance: from chemotherapy to Immunotherapy. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:89. [PMID: 38297380 PMCID: PMC10832166 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01438-0] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) causes ER stress and activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). As an adaptive cellular response to hostile microenvironments, such as hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, oxidative stress, and chemotherapeutic drugs, the UPR is activated in diverse cancer types and functions as a dynamic tumour promoter in cancer development; this role of the UPR indicates that regulation of the UPR can be utilized as a target for tumour treatment. T-cell exhaustion mainly refers to effector T cells losing their effector functions and expressing inhibitory receptors, leading to tumour immune evasion and the loss of tumour control. Emerging evidence suggests that the UPR plays a crucial role in T-cell exhaustion, immune evasion, and resistance to immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the molecular basis of UPR activation, the effect of the UPR on immune evasion, the emerging mechanisms of the UPR in chemotherapy and immunotherapy resistance, and agents that target the UPR for tumour therapeutics. An understanding of the role of the UPR in immune evasion and therapeutic resistance will be helpful to identify new therapeutic modalities for cancer treatment. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang He
- Xiangya Cancer Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Radiation Oncology Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, 410008, Huan, China.
- Hunan International Science and Technology Collaboration Base of Precision Medicine for Cancer, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Center for Molecular Imaging of Central, South University, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, 410008, China.
| | - You Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Tongji Medical College Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Lunquan Sun
- Xiangya Cancer Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Radiation Oncology Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, 410008, Huan, China.
- Hunan International Science and Technology Collaboration Base of Precision Medicine for Cancer, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Center for Molecular Imaging of Central, South University, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, 410008, China.
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Wu H, Lin J, Ling N, Zhang Y, He Y, Qiu L, Tan W. Functional Nucleic Acid-Based Immunomodulation for T Cell-Mediated Cancer Therapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:119-135. [PMID: 38117770 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09861] [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: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
T cell-mediated immunity plays a pivotal role in cancer immunotherapy. The anticancer actions of T cells are coordinated by a sequence of biological processes, including the capture and presentation of antigens by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), the activation of T cells by APCs, and the subsequent killing of cancer cells by activated T cells. However, cancer cells have various means to evade immune responses. Meanwhile, these vulnerabilities provide potential targets for cancer treatments. Functional nucleic acids (FNAs) make up a class of synthetic nucleic acids with specific biological functions. With their diverse functionality, good biocompatibility, and high programmability, FNAs have attracted widespread interest in cancer immunotherapy. This Review focuses on recent research progress in employing FNAs as molecular tools for T cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy, including corresponding challenges and prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wu
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Neng Ling
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Yutong Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Yao He
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Liping Qiu
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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Wu G, Qi G, Liu Y, Gan J, Xie C, Wu Q, Cui W, Wang C, Wang Z. ER-α36 is involved in calycosin inhibition of IL-6 production in macrophages. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18037. [PMID: 37974543 PMCID: PMC10805506 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18037] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment (TME) is crucial for tumour development and progression. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the TME can promote tumour progression and metastasis by releasing cytokines, such as IL-6. Calycosin, a phytoestrogen that is one of the active compounds in Radix Astragali, has been shown to inhibit tumour growth and metastasis. However, the underlying mechanism by which calycosin inhibits tumour growth remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of calycosin on IL-6 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)- and THP-1-derived macrophages and explore its potential mechanisms using co-immunoprecipitation, western blotting, immunofluorescence, chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays. We found that calycosin treatment substantially upregulated the expression of ER-α36, a variant of the ER, and reduced IL-6 production in macrophages. Mechanistically, ER-α36 physically interacted with NF-κBp65 and retained p65 in the cytoplasm to attenuate NF-κB function as an IL-6 transcriptional inducer. In conclusion, our result indicated that calycosin inhibited IL-6 production by enhancing ER-α36 expression and its interaction with p65, which attenuated NF-κB function as an IL-6 inducer. Therefore, calycosin can be developed as an effective agent for cancer therapy by targeting TAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Wu
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guangying Qi
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Jinfeng Gan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Chichu Xie
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Qi Wu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Wei Cui
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Zhaoyi Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
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Ziegler C, Mir A, Anandakrishnan S, Martin P, Contreras E, Slemons I, Witkowski B, DeSilva C, Farmer A, Vranic S, Gatalica Z, Richardson D, Derkach DN. Assay-agnostic spatial profiling detects tumor microenvironment signatures: new diagnostic insights for triple-negative breast cancer. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:1953-1961. [PMID: 37666492 PMCID: PMC10552887 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13515] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in immuno-oncology has driven demand for technologies that deliver in situ, or spatial, molecular information. Compartmentalized heterogeneity that traditional methods miss is becoming key to predicting both acquired drug resistance to targeted therapies and patient response to immunotherapy. Here, we describe a novel method for assay-agnostic spatial profiling and demonstrate its ability to detect immune microenvironment signatures in breast cancer patients that are unresolved by the immunohistochemical (IHC) assessment of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) on immune cells, which represents the only FDA microenvironment-based companion diagnostic test that has been approved for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Two distinct physiological states were found that are uncorrelated to tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), PD-L1 expression, and intrinsic cancer subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alain Mir
- Takara Bio USASan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Semir Vranic
- College of Medicine, QU HealthQatar UniversityDohaQatar
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Andreescu M. Risk of Infections Secondary to the Use of Targeted Therapies in Hematological Malignancies. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1272. [PMID: 37374055 DOI: 10.3390/life13061272] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Concurrent infections in hematological malignancies (HM) are major contributors to adverse clinical outcomes, including prolonged hospitalization and reduced life expectancy. Individuals diagnosed with HM are particularly susceptible to infectious pathogens due to immunosuppression, which can either be inherent to the hematological disorder or induced by specific therapeutic strategies. Over the years, the treatment paradigm for HM has witnessed a tremendous shift, from broad-spectrum treatment approaches to more specific targeted therapies. At present, the therapeutic landscape of HM is constantly evolving due to the advent of novel targeted therapies and the enhanced utilization of these agents for treatment purposes. By initiating unique molecular pathways, these agents hinder the proliferation of malignant cells, consequently affecting innate and adaptive immunity, which increases the risk of infectious complications. Due to the complexity of novel targeted therapies and their associated risks of infection, it often becomes a daunting task for physicians to maintain updated knowledge in their clinical practice. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that most of the initial clinical trials on targeted therapies provide inadequate information to determine the associated risk of infection. In such a scenario, a cumulative body of evidence is paramount in guiding clinicians regarding the infectious complications that can arise following targeted therapies. In this review, I summarize the recent knowledge on infectious complications arising in the context of targeted therapies for HM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Andreescu
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University of Bucharest, 040051 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Hematology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
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10
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Bai R, Cui J. Mitochondrial immune regulation and anti-tumor immunotherapy strategies targeting mitochondria. Cancer Lett 2023; 564:216223. [PMID: 37172686 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells adapt to increasing energy and biosynthetic demands by reprogramming their metabolic pathways. Mitochondria are important organelles for the metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells. In addition to supplying energy, they play crucial roles in the survival, immune evasion, tumor progression, and treatment resistance of the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) in cancer cells. With the development of the life sciences, scientists have gained an in-depth understanding of immunity, metabolism, and cancer, and numerous studies have emphasized that mitochondria are essential for tumor immune escape and the regulation of immune cell metabolism and activation. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that targeting the mitochondria-related pathway with anticancer drugs can initiate the killing of cancer cells by increasing the ability of cancer cells to be recognized by immune cells, tumor antigen presentation ability, and the anti-tumor function of immune cells. This review discusses the effects of mitochondrial morphology and function on the phenotype and function of immune cells under normal and TME conditions, the effects of mitochondrial changes in tumors and microenvironments on tumor immune escape and immune cell function, and finally focuses on the recent research progress and future challenges of novel anti-tumor immunotherapy strategies targeting mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rilan Bai
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jiuwei Cui
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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11
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Zou H, Mou X, Zhu B. Combining of Oncolytic Virotherapy and Other Immunotherapeutic Approaches in Cancer: A Powerful Functionalization Tactic. GLOBAL CHALLENGES (HOBOKEN, NJ) 2023; 7:2200094. [PMID: 36618103 PMCID: PMC9818137 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202200094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses have found a good place in the treatment of cancer. Administering oncolytic viruses directly or by applying genetic changes can be effective in cancer treatment through the lysis of tumor cells and, in some cases, by inducing immune system responses. Moreover, oncolytic viruses induce antitumor immune responses via releasing tumor antigens in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and affect tumor cell growth and metabolism. Despite the success of virotherapy in cancer therapies, there are several challenges and limitations, such as immunosuppressive TME, lack of effective penetration into tumor tissue, low efficiency in hypoxia, antiviral immune responses, and off-targeting. Evidence suggests that oncolytic viruses combined with cancer immunotherapy-based methods such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies can effectively overcome these challenges. This review summarizes the latest data on the use of oncolytic viruses for the treatment of cancer and the challenges of this method. Additionally, the effectiveness of mono, dual, and triple therapies using oncolytic viruses and other anticancer agents has been discussed based on the latest findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Zou
- Department of Critical CareFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Xiao‐Zhou Mou
- General SurgeryCancer CenterDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Minimally Invasive SurgeryZhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College)Hangzhou310014China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Therapy of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Provincial People's HospitalAffiliated People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhou310014China
| | - Biao Zhu
- Department of Critical CareFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032China
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
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12
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Hu B, Chen R, Jiang M, Xiong S, Liu X, Fu B. EIF4A3 serves as a prognostic and immunosuppressive microenvironment factor and inhibits cell apoptosis in bladder cancer. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15309. [PMID: 37180585 PMCID: PMC10174062 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15309] [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: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
EIF4A3 (Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3) was recently recognized as an oncogene; however, its role in BLCA (bladder cancer) remains unclear. We explored EIF4A3 expression and its prognostic value in BLCA in public datasets, including the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) and GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus). Thereafter, the association between EIF4A3 expression and the infiltration of immune cells and immune-checkpoint expression was determined using TIMER2 (Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2) tool. Additionally, the impact of EIF4A3 on cellular proliferation and apoptosis events in BLCA cell lines was determined by siRNA technology. In this study, EIF4A3 was found to be significantly upregulated in BLCA, upregulated expression of EIF4A3 was related to poor prognosis, advanced histologic grade, subtype, pathological stage, white race, and poor primary therapy outcome. The immune infiltration analysis revealed that EIF4A3 expression was negatively associated with CD8+ and CD4+ T cells and positively with myeloid-derived suppressor cells, macrophage M2, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and Treg cells. Moreover, EIF4A3 was coexpressed with PD-L1 (programmed cell death 1-ligand 1) and its expression was higher in patients responding to anti-PD-L1 therapy. EIF4A3 knockdown significantly inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in 5,637 and T24 cells. In summary, BLCA patients with elevated EIF4A3 expression had an unfavorable prognosis and immunosuppressive microenvironment, and EIF4A3 may facilitate BLCA progression by promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. Furthermore, our study suggests that EIF4A3 is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Hu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, Nanchang, China
| | - Ru Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, Nanchang, China
| | - Ming Jiang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, Nanchang, China
| | - Situ Xiong
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, Nanchang, China
| | - Bin Fu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Institute of Urology, Nanchang, China
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13
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Jafari M, Kadkhodazadeh M, Shapourabadi MB, Goradel NH, Shokrgozar MA, Arashkia A, Abdoli S, Sharifzadeh Z. Immunovirotherapy: The role of antibody based therapeutics combination with oncolytic viruses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1012806. [PMID: 36311790 PMCID: PMC9608759 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1012806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the fact that the new drugs and targeted therapies have been approved for cancer therapy during the past 30 years, the majority of cancer types are still remain challenging to be treated. Due to the tumor heterogeneity, immune system evasion and the complex interaction between the tumor microenvironment and immune cells, the great majority of malignancies need multimodal therapy. Unfortunately, tumors frequently develop treatment resistance, so it is important to have a variety of therapeutic choices available for the treatment of neoplastic diseases. Immunotherapy has lately shown clinical responses in malignancies with unfavorable outcomes. Oncolytic virus (OV) immunotherapy is a cancer treatment strategy that employs naturally occurring or genetically-modified viruses that multiply preferentially within cancer cells. OVs have the ability to not only induce oncolysis but also activate cells of the immune system, which in turn activates innate and adaptive anticancer responses. Despite the fact that OVs were translated into clinical trials, with T-VECs receiving FDA approval for melanoma, their use in fighting cancer faced some challenges, including off-target side effects, immune system clearance, non-specific uptake, and intratumoral spread of OVs in solid tumors. Although various strategies have been used to overcome the challenges, these strategies have not provided promising outcomes in monotherapy with OVs. In this situation, it is increasingly common to use rational combinations of immunotherapies to improve patient benefit. With the development of other aspects of cancer immunotherapy strategies, combinational therapy has been proposed to improve the anti-tumor activities of OVs. In this regard, OVs were combined with other biotherapeutic platforms, including various forms of antibodies, nanobodies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and dendritic cells, to reduce the side effects of OVs and enhance their efficacy. This article reviews the promising outcomes of OVs in cancer therapy, the challenges OVs face and solutions, and their combination with other biotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdie Jafari
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Nasser Hashemi Goradel
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Arash Arashkia
- Department of Molecular Virology, Pasture Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahriyar Abdoli
- School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
- *Correspondence: Zahra Sharifzadeh, ; Shahriyar Abdoli,
| | - Zahra Sharifzadeh
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Zahra Sharifzadeh, ; Shahriyar Abdoli,
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14
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Chen H, Yang W, Xue X, Li Y, Jin Z, Ji Z. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy for stage II-III muscle invasive bladder cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:986359. [PMID: 36059550 PMCID: PMC9428578 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.986359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Considering the striking evidence revealed by immunotherapy in advanced or metastatic bladder cancer, investigators have explored neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Currently, there have been a large number of studies reporting varied efficacy and safety of these approaches. Herein, we pooled the available evidence in terms of oncological outcomes (pathological complete response [pCR] and pathological partial response [pPR]) and safety outcomes (immune-related adverse events [irAEs], treatment-related adverse events [TRAEs]), through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting abstracts to identify relevant studies up to June 2022. Studies were included if they evaluated the neoadjuvant immunotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy in MIBC and reported at least the pCR. Results A total of 22 records involving 843 patients were included. For pCR of immunotherapy, the pooled rate of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy and dual-ICIs therapy was 24% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.3% - 32.8%) and 32.1% (95%CI: 20.6% - 43.7%), respectively. For pCR of chemoimmunotherapy, the overall pooled rate was 42.6% (95% CI: 34.9% - 50.2%). Subgroup of gemcitabine/cisplatin (GC) plus ICI had a pCR rate of 41.7% (95%CI: 35.8% - 47.5%). In terms of safety, the pooled rate of Grade≥3 irAEs was 11.7% (95% CI: 6.5%-16.9%). In subgroup analysis, the Grade≥3 irAEs rate of ICI monotherapy, dual-ICIs therapy, and GC plus ICI therapy was 7.4% (95% CI: 4.3%-10.5%), 30.3% (95% CI: 15.3%-45.3%), and 14.5% (95% CI: 3.5% - 25.4%), respectively. Besides, the pooled Grade≥3 TRAEs rate for chemoimmunotherapy was 32.4% (95% CI: 13.1% - 51.6%). Conclusion Neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy were effective and safe in the treatment of MIBC. Compared to ICI monotherapy, dual-ICIs therapy or chemoimmunotherapy can improve the response rate, while increasing the morbidity of Grade≥ 3 irAEs or Grade≥ 3 TRAEs. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD4202233771.
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15
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The Role of the Key Differentially Mutated Gene FGFR3 in the Immune Microenvironment of Bladder Cancer. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:7952706. [PMID: 35991125 PMCID: PMC9391163 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7952706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been a major focus of research in recent years as a crucial factor in the development and progression of bladder cancer. Unfortunately, the precise composition of TME, particularly the immunological and stromal components, remains unknown. In this work, we downloaded the RNA-seq expression profiles and somatic mutation data of 433 bladder cancer cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and then employed a comprehensive bioinformatics approach to evaluate them. Firstly, the expression profiles were used to predict the scores and then the content of immune and stromal cells via the estimate package in R software. We then identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially mutated genes (DMGs) according to the high-stromal score cohort and low-stromal score cohort. Finally, fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) was the main differentially mutated gene in bladder carcinoma that we discovered after conducting a cross-study on DEGs and DMGs. Follow-up investigation revealed that FGFR3, whose expression correlated inversely with cancer progression stage, appeared to be a protective factor in bladder cancer. The method of Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was employed to, respectively, interpret the expression data of FGFR3 in high and low expression lists. We observed that the genes in the low FGFR3 expression list were strongly enriched in the biological processes associated with transplantation and cell adhesion, suggesting the possible role of FGFR3 in predicting TME metastasis status in bladder cancer. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating whether FGFR3 is promising as a biomarker of TME remodeling to explain underlying mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis, which may help to make decisions on treatments for bladder cancer.
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16
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Kashiwagi S, Asano Y, Takada K, Goto W, Kouhashi R, Yabumoto A, Tauchi Y, Morisaki T, Ogisawa K, Shibutani M, Tanaka H, Ohira M. Validation of the Optimum Timing of Assessment of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes During Preoperative Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. CANCER DIAGNOSIS & PROGNOSIS 2022; 2:443-451. [PMID: 35813011 PMCID: PMC9254105 DOI: 10.21873/cdp.10127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Tumor microenvironment (TME) assessment is considered to play an important role in the prediction of prognosis and therapeutic response following breast cancer treatment. No consensus has been reached regarding evaluation methods despite reports on the utilization of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) for immune TME (iTME) monitoring. Optimum timing of iTME assessment has not yet been established. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred thirty-nine patients were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). During the period from diagnostic needle biopsy to NAC initiation for breast cancer, the optimal evaluation timing was examined using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS A significant correlation between TILs and pathological complete response (pCR) was only observed in the short-term group (≤35 days) (p=0.033). Prognostic analysis revealed that in the short-term group, patients with high TIL levels had a significantly better survival prognosis relative to those with low TIL levels (>35 days) [disease-free survival (DFS): p=0.001, overall survival (OS): p=0.021]. TILs were identified as an independent factor affecting DFS in a multivariate analysis (p=0.008, hazard ratio=0.130). CONCLUSION TIL assessment during NAC for breast cancer is a prognostic predictor only when performed at ≤35 days before NAC initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichiro Kashiwagi
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuka Asano
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koji Takada
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Wataru Goto
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Rika Kouhashi
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akimichi Yabumoto
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yukie Tauchi
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tamami Morisaki
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kana Ogisawa
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masatsune Shibutani
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaichi Ohira
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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17
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Deng K, Yang D, Zhou Y. Nanotechnology-Based siRNA Delivery Systems to Overcome Tumor Immune Evasion in Cancer Immunotherapy. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14071344. [PMID: 35890239 PMCID: PMC9315482 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune evasion is a common reason causing the failure of anticancer immune therapy. Small interfering RNA (siRNA), which can activate the innate and adaptive immune system responses by silencing immune-relevant genes, have been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for preventing or reversing immune evasion. However, siRNAs show poor stability in biological fluids and cannot efficiently cross cell membranes. Nanotechnology has shown great potential for intracellular siRNA delivery in recent years. Nano-immunotherapy can efficiently penetrate the tumor microenvironment (TME) and deliver multiple immunomodulatory agents simultaneously, which appears to be a promising method for combination therapy. Therefore, it provides a new perspective for siRNA delivery in immunomodulation and cancer immunotherapy. The current advances and challenges in nanotechnology-based siRNA delivery strategies for overcoming immune evasion will be discussed in this review. In addition, we also offer insights into therapeutic options, which may expand its applications in clinical cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Deng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (K.D.); (D.Y.)
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315021, China
| | - Dongxue Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (K.D.); (D.Y.)
- Institute of Digestive Disease of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China
| | - Yuping Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (K.D.); (D.Y.)
- Institute of Digestive Disease of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China
- Correspondence:
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18
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Wang X, Wang C, Qu Z, Tian C, Wang T, Miao Y, Jiang H, Li L, Liu J, Zhao R, Li X, Geng X. Preclinical safety assessment of toxicity and biodistribution of oncolytic virus HSV-1 expressing human PD-1 antibody in mice. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 132:105166. [PMID: 35405296 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105166] [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: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
HSV-1/hPD-1 is composed of engineered herpes simplex virus type-1 and two inserted copies of the human PD-1 antibody sequence. It is a novel oncolytic virus product designed to cure malignancies. The objective of this study was to estimate its toxicity in mice. In the single-dose toxicity study, no mortality and abnormal symptoms were observed in animals injected with 4.0 × 107 pfu/mouse dose. In the repeat-dose toxicity study, HSV-1/hPD-1 in animals intramuscularly treated with 1.0 × 107, 2.0 × 107, or 4.0 × 107 pfu/mouse doses was well tolerated in terms of clinical observation, body weight, food consumption, hematology and biochemistry indexes, T lymphocyte counting, immune reaction, and organ weight, except for some histopathological changes, such as the irreversible degeneration of the sciatic nerve, which was considered related to the adopted administration route. Synchronously, a biodistribution study in mice was performed to examine whether HSV-1/hPD-1 could spread to the injection site, gonads, liver, lung, heart, mesenteric and inguinal lymph nodes, skin, dorsal root ganglia, and blood, and then be gradually eliminated. Thus, two safety dose levels-the maximum tolerance dose of 4.0 × 107 pfu/mouse and the no-observed-adverse-effect-level dose of 1.0 × 107 pfu/mouse-were determined to help design patients' dose regimens. Our research data have been successfully accepted for investigational new drug (IND) application in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Chao Wang
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Zhe Qu
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Chao Tian
- Beijing WellGene Company Ltd., Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Tiantian Wang
- Beijing WellGene Company Ltd., Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Yufa Miao
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Hua Jiang
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Lulu Li
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- Beijing WellGene Company Ltd., Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Beijing WellGene Company Ltd., Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- Beijing WellGene Company Ltd., Beijing, 100085, China.
| | - Xingchao Geng
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100176, China.
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19
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The role of tumour microenvironment-driven miRNAs in the chemoresistance of muscle-invasive bladder cancer-a review. Urol Oncol 2022; 40:133-148. [PMID: 35246373 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Successful treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer is challenged by the ability of cancer cells to resist chemotherapy. While enormous progress has been made toward understanding the divergent molecular mechanisms underlying chemoresistance, the heterogenous interplay between the bladder tumour and its microenvironment presents significant challenges in comprehending the occurrence of chemoresistance. The last decade has seen exponential interest in the exploration of microRNA (miRNA) as a tool in the management of chemoresistance. In this review, we highlight the miRNAs involved in the tumour microenvironment crosstalk that contributes to the chemoresistance in bladder cancer. Decrypting the role of miRNAs in the interplay beholds scope for future clinical translational application in managing the long-standing concerns of chemoresistance in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
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20
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Lysyl-Oxidase Dependent Extracellular Matrix Stiffness in Hodgkin Lymphomas: Mechanical and Topographical Evidence. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14010259. [PMID: 35008423 PMCID: PMC8750937 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Alterations of the composition and architecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to increased stiffness, is known to condition development, invasiveness and severity of neoplasms. In this study, we report increased lymph node (LN) stiffness in human lymphomas, measured by LN elastometry or by computerized imaging of bioptic specimens. Stiffness matched to lymphoma histotype and grading. The enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX) is involved in the rise of collagen cross-linking in Hodgkin lymphomas, while altered architecture, shown by scanning electron microscopy and polarized light microscopy is involved in advanced follicular lymphomas. Based on these data, digital pathology may help in the staging of lymphomas, and lysyl oxidase may represent a target for therapy in Hodgkin lymphomas. Abstract Purpose: The biochemical composition and architecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is known to condition development and invasiveness of neoplasms. To clarify this point, we analyzed ECM stiffness, collagen cross-linking and anisotropy in lymph nodes (LN) of Hodgkin lymphomas (HL), follicular lymphomas (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL), compared with non-neoplastic LN (LDN). Methods and Results: We found increased elastic (Young’s) modulus in HL and advanced FL (grade 3A) over LDN, FL grade 1–2 and DLBCL. Digital imaging evidenced larger stromal areas in HL, where increased collagen cross-linking was found; in turn, architectural modifications were documented in FL3A by scanning electron microscopy and enhanced anisotropy by polarized light microscopy. Interestingly, HL expressed high levels of lysyl oxidase (LOX), an enzyme responsible for collagen cross-linking. Using gelatin scaffolds fabricated with a low elastic modulus, comparable to that of non-neoplastic tissues, we demonstrated that HL LN-derived mesenchymal stromal cells and HL cells increased the Young’s modulus of the extracellular microenvironment through the expression of LOX. Indeed, LOX inhibition by β-aminopropionitrile prevented the gelatin stiffness increase. Conclusions: These data indicate that different mechanical, topographical and/or architectural modifications of ECM are detectable in human lymphomas and are related to their histotype and grading.
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21
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Ruggeri EM, Nelli F, Fabbri A, Onorato A, Giannarelli D, Giron Berrios JR, Virtuoso A, Marrucci E, Mazzotta M, Schirripa M, Panichi V, Pessina G, Signorelli C, Chilelli MG, Primi F, Natoni F, Fazio S, Silvestri MA. Antineoplastic treatment class modulates COVID-19 mRNA-BNT162b2 vaccine immunogenicity in cancer patients: a secondary analysis of the prospective Vax-On study. ESMO Open 2021; 7:100350. [PMID: 34942438 PMCID: PMC8626231 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preliminary analysis from the Vax-On study did not find a correlation between cancer treatment type and antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination. We carried out a secondary subgroup analysis to verify the effects of comprehensive cancer treatment classification on vaccine immunogenicity. METHODS The Vax-On study prospectively enrolled patients who started a two-dose messenger RNA-BNT162b2 vaccine schedule from 9 March 2021 to 12 April 2021 (timepoint-1). Those on active treatment within the previous 28 days accounted for the exposed cases. Patients who had discontinued such treatment by at least 28 days or received intravesical therapy represented the control cases. Quantification of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against the receptor binding domain of the S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was carried out before the second dose (timepoint-2) and 8 weeks thereafter (timepoint-3). Seroconversion response was defined at ≥50 arbitrary units/ml IgG titer. Classification of antineoplastic agents was based on their pharmacodynamic properties. RESULTS Three hundred and sixty-six patients were enrolled (86 and 260 as control and exposed cases, respectively). Univariate analysis revealed a significantly lower IgG titer after both doses of vaccine in subgroups treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), multiple cytotoxic agents, alkylating agents, and topoisomerase inhibitors. At timepoint-3, seroconversion response was significantly impaired in the topoisomerase inhibitors and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors subgroups. After multivariate testing, treatment with alkylating agents and TKIs was significantly associated with a reduced change in IgG titer at timepoint-2. Treatment with mTOR inhibitors resulted in a similar interaction at each timepoint. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor treatment was independently correlated with an incremental variation in IgG titer at timepoint-3. Specific subgroups (TKIs, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, and multiple-agent chemotherapy) predicted lack of seroconversion at timepoint-2, but their effect was not retained at timepoint-3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 2, immunosuppressive corticosteroid dosing, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor use were independently linked to lower IgG titer after either dose of vaccine. CONCLUSIONS Drugs interfering with DNA synthesis, multiple-agent cytotoxic chemotherapy, TKIs, mTOR and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors differentially modulate humoral response to messenger RNA-BNT162b2 vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Ruggeri
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - F Nelli
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - A Fabbri
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - A Onorato
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - D Giannarelli
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit, Scientific Direction, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - J R Giron Berrios
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - A Virtuoso
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - E Marrucci
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - M Mazzotta
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - M Schirripa
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - V Panichi
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Microbiology and Virology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - G Pessina
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Molecular Biology and Covid Diagnostics, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - C Signorelli
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - M G Chilelli
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - F Primi
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Medical Oncology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - F Natoni
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Molecular Biology and Covid Diagnostics, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - S Fazio
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Molecular Biology and Covid Diagnostics, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
| | - M A Silvestri
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Microbiology and Virology Unit, Central Hospital of Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
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Anderson EM, Thomassian S, Gong J, Hendifar A, Osipov A. Advances in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5510. [PMID: 34771675 PMCID: PMC8583016 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest malignancies among all cancers. Despite curative intent, surgery and the use of standard cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy, PDAC remains treatment-resistant. In recent years, more contemporary treatment modalities such as immunotherapy via checkpoint inhibition have shown some promise in many other malignancies, yet PDAC still eludes an effective curative treatment. In investigating these phenomena, research has suggested that the significant desmoplastic and adaptive tumor microenvironment (TME) of PDAC promote the proliferation of immunosuppressive cells and act as major obstacles to treatment efficacy. In this review, we explore challenges associated with the treatment of PDAC, including its unique immunosuppressive TME. This review examines the role of surgery in PDAC, recent advances in surgical approaches and surgical optimization. We further focus on advances in immunotherapeutic approaches, including checkpoint inhibition, CD40 agonists, and discuss promising immune-based future strategies, such as therapeutic neoantigen cancer vaccines as means of overcoming the resistance mechanisms which underly the dense stroma and immune milieu of PDAC. We also explore unique signaling, TME and stromal targeting via novel small molecule inhibitors, which target KRAS, FAK, CCR2/CCR5, CXCR4, PARP and cancer-associated fibroblasts. This review also explores the most promising strategy for advancement in treatment of pancreatic cancer by reviewing contemporary combinatorial approaches in efforts to overcome the treatment refractory nature of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M. Anderson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Shant Thomassian
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (S.T.); (J.G.); (A.H.)
| | - Jun Gong
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (S.T.); (J.G.); (A.H.)
| | - Andrew Hendifar
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (S.T.); (J.G.); (A.H.)
| | - Arsen Osipov
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (S.T.); (J.G.); (A.H.)
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Ma W, Zeng J, Chen S, Lyu Y, Toomey KA, Phan CT, Yoneda KY, Li T. Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors modulated blood immune cell counts in patients with oncogene-driven NSCLC. Biomark Res 2021; 9:69. [PMID: 34488906 PMCID: PMC8419812 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00324-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lack of biomarkers and in vitro models has contributed to inadequate understanding of the mechanisms underlying the inferior clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with oncogene-driven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS The effect of small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in 34 patients with oncogene-driven NSCLC (cohort A) was compared with those from 35 NSCLC patients without oncogene-driven mutations received ICI (cohort B) or from 22 treatment-naïve NSCLC patients (cohort C). Data for each blood biomarker were summarized by mean and standard deviation and compared by Wilcoxon rank sum tests or Kruskal-Wallis tests with significance at 2-sided p value < 0.05. Co-culture of PBMCs and pleural effusion-derived tumor cells from individual patients with oncogene-driven NSCLC was used to determine the in vitro cytotoxicity of TKI and ICI. RESULTS Except for low CD3% in cohort A, there were no significant differences in other 12 blood biomarkers among the 3 cohorts at baseline. TKI treatment in cohort A was associated with significant increase in CD3% and decrease in total and absolute neutrophils (p < 0.05). In cohort B, patients with good clinical response to ICI treatment (N = 18) had significant increases in absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs), CD4 and/or CD8 cell counts. Conversely, those patients with poor clinical response to ICI (N = 17) had significant decreases in these cell counts. Of the 27 patients with pre- and post-treatment blood samples in cohort A, 11 had poor clinical response to TKIs and decreased lymphocyte counts. Of the remaining 16 patients who had good clinical response to TKI therapy, 10 (62.5%) patients had decreased, and 6 (37.5%) patients had increased lymphocyte counts. Multicolor immunophenotyping of PBMCs revealed ICI treatment activated additional immune cell types that need further validation. We confirmed that TKI treatment could either antagonize or enhance the effect of ICIs in the co-culture assay using patient's tumor cells and PBMCs. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing that TKIs can have various effects on blood immune cells, which may affect their response to ICIs. Further validation of the blood biomarker and in vitro assay is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Ma
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4501 X Street, Suite 3016, Sacramento, California, 95817, USA
| | - Jie Zeng
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4501 X Street, Suite 3016, Sacramento, California, 95817, USA
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Chen
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Yue Lyu
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kyra A Toomey
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4501 X Street, Suite 3016, Sacramento, California, 95817, USA
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Chinh T Phan
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
- Medical Service, Pulmonology, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System, Mather, California, USA
| | - Ken Y Yoneda
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
- Medical Service, Pulmonology, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System, Mather, California, USA
| | - Tianhong Li
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4501 X Street, Suite 3016, Sacramento, California, 95817, USA.
- Medical Service, Hematology and Oncology, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System, Mather, California, USA.
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PARP inhibitors promote stromal fibroblast activation by enhancing CCL5 autocrine signaling in ovarian cancer. NPJ Precis Oncol 2021; 5:49. [PMID: 34108603 PMCID: PMC8190269 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-021-00189-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play significant roles in drug resistance through different ways. Antitumor therapies, including molecular targeted interventions, not only effect tumor cells but also modulate the phenotype and characteristics of CAFs, which can in turn blunt the therapeutic response. Little is known about how stromal fibroblasts respond to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) in ovarian cancer (OC) and subsequent effects on tumor cells. This is a study to evaluate how CAFs react to PARPis and their potential influence on PARPi resistance in OC. We discovered that OC stromal fibroblasts exhibited intrinsic resistance to PARPis and were further activated after the administration of PARPis. PARPi-challenged fibroblasts displayed a specific secretory profile characterized by increased secretion of CCL5, MIP-3α, MCP3, CCL11, and ENA-78. Mechanistically, increased secretion of CCL5 through activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway was required for PARPi-induced stromal fibroblast activation in an autocrine manner. Moreover, neutralizing CCL5 partly reversed PARPi-induced fibroblast activation and boosted the tumor inhibitory effect of PARPis in both BRCA1/2-mutant and BRCA1/2-wild type xenograft models. Our study revealed that PARPis could maintain and improve stromal fibroblast activation involving CCL5 autocrine upregulation. Targeting CCL5 might offer a new treatment modality in overcoming the reality of PARPi resistance in OC.
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Jin KT, Du WL, Liu YY, Lan HR, Si JX, Mou XZ. Oncolytic Virotherapy in Solid Tumors: The Challenges and Achievements. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040588. [PMID: 33546172 PMCID: PMC7913179 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virotherapy (OVT) is a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) could be applied in cancer immunotherapy without in-depth knowledge of tumor antigens. The capability of genetic modification makes OVs exciting therapeutic tools with a high potential for manipulation. Improving efficacy, employing immunostimulatory elements, changing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) to inflammatory TME, optimizing their delivery system, and increasing the safety are the main areas of OVs manipulations. Recently, the reciprocal interaction of OVs and TME has become a hot topic for investigators to enhance the efficacy of OVT with less off-target adverse events. Current investigations suggest that the main application of OVT is to provoke the antitumor immune response in the TME, which synergize the effects of other immunotherapies such as immune-checkpoint blockers and adoptive cell therapy. In this review, we focused on the effects of OVs on the TME and antitumor immune responses. Furthermore, OVT challenges, including its moderate efficiency, safety concerns, and delivery strategies, along with recent achievements to overcome challenges, are thoroughly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Tao Jin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China; (K.-T.J.); (Y.-Y.L.)
| | - Wen-Lin Du
- Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, China;
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Yu-Yao Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China; (K.-T.J.); (Y.-Y.L.)
| | - Huan-Rong Lan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China;
| | - Jing-Xing Si
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, China
- Correspondence: (J.-X.S.); (X.-Z.M.); Tel./Fax: +86-571-85893781 (J.-X.S.); +86-571-85893985 (X.-Z.M.)
| | - Xiao-Zhou Mou
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, China
- Correspondence: (J.-X.S.); (X.-Z.M.); Tel./Fax: +86-571-85893781 (J.-X.S.); +86-571-85893985 (X.-Z.M.)
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Yang C, Zhan H, Zhao Y, Wu Y, Li L, Wang H. MEX3A contributes to development and progression of glioma through regulating cell proliferation and cell migration and targeting CCL2. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:14. [PMID: 33414423 PMCID: PMC7791131 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03307-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Glioma is one of the most commonly diagnosed intracranial malignant tumors with extremely high morbidity and mortality, whose treatment was seriously limited because of the unclear molecular mechanism. In this study, in order to identify a novel therapeutic target for glioma treatment, we explored the functions and mechanism of MEX3A in regulating glioma. The immunohistochemical staining of MEX3A in glioma and normal tissues revealed the upregulation of MEX3A and further indicated the relationship between high MEX3A expression and higher malignancy as well as poorer prognosis of glioma. In vitro loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments comprehensively demonstrated that MEX3A may promote glioma development through regulating cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, and cell migration. In vivo experiments also suggested the inhibition of glioma growth by MEX3A knockdown. Moreover, our mechanistic study identifies CCL2 as a potential downstream target of MEX3A, which possesses similar regulatory effects on glioma development with MEX3A and could attenuate the promotion of glioma induced by MEX3A overexpression. Overall, MEX3A was identified as a potential tumor promoter in glioma development and therapeutic target in glioma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Haoqiang Zhan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Six Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiqing Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, TongJi hospital of TongJi Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hankou, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yasong Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, TongJi hospital of TongJi Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hankou, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Lisha Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Heping Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, TongJi hospital of TongJi Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hankou, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Yekedüz E, Utkan G, Ürün Y. A systematic review and meta-analysis: the effect of active cancer treatment on severity of COVID-19. Eur J Cancer 2020; 141:92-104. [PMID: 33130550 PMCID: PMC7538140 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic hit all over the world, and cancer patients are more vulnerable for COVID-19. The mortality rate may increase up to 25% in solid malignancies. In parallel to increased mortality rates among cancer patients, safety concerns regarding cancer treatment has increased over time. However, there were contradictory results for the cancer treatment during pandemic. In this study, we assessed the effect of cancer treatment on the severity of COVID-19. Methods The MEDLINE database was searched on September 01, 2020. Primary end-points were severe disease and death in the cancer patients treated within the last 30 days before COVID-19 diagnosis. Quality of included studies was assessed by Newcastle–Ottawa scale. The generic inverse-variance method was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for each outcome. Results Sixteen studies were included for this meta-analysis. Chemotherapy within the last thirty days before COVID-19 diagnosis increased the risk of death in cancer patients after adjusting for confounding variables (OR: 1.85; 95% confidence interval: 1.26–2.71). However, severe COVID-19 risk did not increase. Furthermore, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy did not increase the severe disease and death risk in cancer patients with COVID-19. Conclusion Chemotherapy increased the risk of death from COVID-19 in cancer patients. However, there was no safety concern for immunotherapy, targeted therapies, surgery and radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Yekedüz
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey; Ankara University Cancer Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Güngör Utkan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey; Ankara University Cancer Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yüksel Ürün
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey; Ankara University Cancer Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey
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Seliger B, Massa C, Yang B, Bethmann D, Kappler M, Eckert AW, Wickenhauser C. Immune Escape Mechanisms and Their Clinical Relevance in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197032. [PMID: 32987799 PMCID: PMC7582858 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has been recently approved for the treatment of relapsed and metastatic human papilloma virus (HPV) positive and negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the response of patients is limited and the overall survival remains short with a low rate of long-term survivors. There exists growing evidence that complex and partially redundant immune escape mechanisms play an important role for the low efficacy of immunotherapies in this disease. These are caused by diverse complex processes characterized by (i) changes in the expression of immune modulatory molecules in tumor cells, (ii) alterations in the frequency, composition and clonal expansion of immune cell subpopulations in the tumor microenvironment and peripheral blood leading to reduced innate and adaptive immune responses, (iii) impaired homing of immune cells to the tumor site as well as (iv) the presence of immune suppressive soluble and physical factors in the tumor microenvironment. We here summarize the major immune escape strategies of HNSCC lesions, highlight pathways, and molecular targets that help to attenuate HNSCC-induced immune tolerance, affect the selection and success of immunotherapeutic approaches to overcome resistance to immunotherapy by targeting immune escape mechanisms and thus improve the HNSCC patients’ outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany; (C.M.); (B.Y.)
- Fraunhofer Institute of Cell Therapy and Immunology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Chiara Massa
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany; (C.M.); (B.Y.)
| | - Bo Yang
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany; (C.M.); (B.Y.)
| | - Daniel Bethmann
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany; (D.B.); (C.W.)
| | - Matthias Kappler
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (M.K.); (A.W.E.)
| | - Alexander Walter Eckert
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (M.K.); (A.W.E.)
- Klinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Plastische Gesichtschirurgie, Universitätsklinik der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversität; 90471 Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Claudia Wickenhauser
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany; (D.B.); (C.W.)
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Park H, Gladstone M, Shanley C, Goodrich R, Guth A. A novel cancer immunotherapy utilizing autologous tumour tissue. Vox Sang 2020; 115:525-535. [PMID: 32378223 PMCID: PMC8344074 DOI: 10.1111/vox.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the recent interest in personalized medicine for cancer patients and immune therapy, the field of cancer vaccines has been resurrected. Previous autologous, whole cell tumour vaccine trials have not produced convincing results due, in part to poor patient selection and inactivation methos that are harsh on the cells. These methods can alter protein structure and antigenic profiles making vaccine candidates ineffective in stimulating immune response to autochthonous tumour cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated a novel method for inactivating tumour cells that uses UVA/UVB light and riboflavin (vitamin B2) (RF + UV). RF + UV inactivates the tumour cells' ability to replicate, yet preserves tumour cell integrity and antigenicity. RESULTS Our results demonstrate that proteins are preserved on the surface of RF + UV-inactivated tumour cells and that they are immunogenic via induction of dendritic cell maturation, increase in IFNγ production and generation of tumour cell-specific IgG. Moreover, when formulated with an adjuvant ('Innocell vaccine') and tested in different murine tumour primary and metastatic disease models, decreased tumour growth, decreased metastatic disease and prolonged survival were observed. In addition, immune cells obtained from tumour tissue following vaccination had decreased exhausted and regulatory T cells, suggesting that activation of intra-tumoural T cells may be playing a role leading to reduced tumour growth. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the RF + UV inactivation of tumour cells may provide an efficacious method for generating autologous whole tumour cell vaccines for use in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haemin Park
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Crystal Shanley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Raymond Goodrich
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amanda Guth
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Moujaess E, Kourie HR, Kattan J. Targeted therapies for cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a threat or a blessing? Pharmacogenomics 2020; 21:731-733. [PMID: 32517540 PMCID: PMC7286355 DOI: 10.2217/pgs-2020-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elissar Moujaess
- Department of Hematology & Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, 17-5208, Lebanon
| | - Hampig Raphael Kourie
- Department of Hematology & Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, 17-5208, Lebanon
| | - Joseph Kattan
- Department of Hematology & Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, 17-5208, Lebanon
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Bauer TV, Tregubchak TV, Maksyutov AZ, Kolosova IV, Maksyutov RA, Gavrilova EV. [Development of the drug oncolytic immunotherapy based on vaccinia viruses (Vaccinia virus, Orthopoxvirus, Chordopoxvirinae, Poxviridae) against breast cancer.]. Vopr Virusol 2020; 65:49-56. [PMID: 32496721 DOI: 10.36233/0507-4088-2020-65-1-49-56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Currently, new directions in cancer therapy are actively developing, one of which is oncolytic immunotherapy. This approach would be to use of viruses as cancer specific cytolytic agents capable of stimulating both the tumor-specific and non-specific immune response. The objective paper was obtain a recombinant vaccinia virus containing genes encoding immunostimulating molecules and study oncolytic and immunostimulating properties of recombinant virus. MATERIAL AND METHODS MTT test, ELISA, methods of transient dominant selection. RESULTS The recombinant vaccinia virus (L-IVP_oncoB) were obtained with deletion of the gene encoding thymidine kinase and had an integrated gene encoding GM-CSF. Also the virus have deletion of the gene encoding viral growth factor and integrated genes encoding synthetic tumor-specific polyepitopic immunogens. It was shown that the modifications made to the viral genome did not affect the growth characteristics of the virus when cultured on CV-1 and 4647 cell cultures, and the cytopathogenic efficacy of the virus was determined in relation to cancer cultures of cells of various genesis. In in vivo experiment, it was revealed that the polyepitopic construct in the genome L-IVP_oncoB is able to initiate a change in the profile of cytokines. DISCUSSION The obtained data characterized L-IVP_oncoB as a promising cytopathogenic and immunostimulating agent and showed the need for further study of its properties as means of oncolytic immunotherapy. CONCLUSION The basic experiments on the evaluation of the biological properties of the obtained L-IVP_oncoB, which are necessary for the characterization of the oncolytic virus, have been carried out.
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Affiliation(s)
- T V Bauer
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector», Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, 630559, Russia
| | - T V Tregubchak
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector», Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, 630559, Russia
| | - A Z Maksyutov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector», Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, 630559, Russia
| | - I V Kolosova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector», Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, 630559, Russia
| | - R A Maksyutov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector», Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, 630559, Russia
| | - E V Gavrilova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector», Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, 630559, Russia
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Shi T, Song X, Wang Y, Liu F, Wei J. Combining Oncolytic Viruses With Cancer Immunotherapy: Establishing a New Generation of Cancer Treatment. Front Immunol 2020; 11:683. [PMID: 32411132 PMCID: PMC7198760 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent successes of tumor immunotherapy approaches, such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, have revolutionized cancer treatment, improving efficacy and extending treatment to a larger proportion of cancer patients. However, due to high heterogeneity of cancer, poor tumor cell targeting, and the immunosuppressive status of the tumor microenvironment (TME), combinatorial agents are required to obtain more effective and consistent therapeutic responses in a wide range of cancers. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are able to selectively replicate in and destroy tumor cells and subsequently induce systematic anti-tumor immune responses. Thus, they are ideal for combining with cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of OVs, as well as the latest preclinical and clinical progress of combining OVs with cancer immunotherapies, including ICB, CAR-T therapy, bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs), and cancer vaccines. Moreover, we consider future directions for applying OVs to personalized cancer immunotherapies, which could potentially launch a new generation of cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Shi
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xueru Song
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Wang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fangcen Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jia Wei
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Ma Z, Shuai Y, Gao X, Wen X, Ji J. Circular RNAs in the tumour microenvironment. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:8. [PMID: 31937318 PMCID: PMC6958568 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-1113-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of endogenous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) widely expressed in eukaryotic cells. Mounting evidence has highlighted circRNAs as critical regulators of various tumours. More importantly, circRNAs have been revealed to recruit and reprogram key components involved in the tumour microenvironment (TME), and mediate various signaling pathways, thus affecting tumourigenesis, angiogenesis, immune response, and metastatic progression. In this review, we briefly introduce the biogenesis, characteristics and classification of circRNAs, and describe various mechanistic models of circRNAs. Further, we provide the first systematic overview of the interplay between circRNAs and cellular/non-cellular counterparts of the TME and highlight the potential of circRNAs as prospective biomarkers or targets in cancer clinics. Finally, we discuss the biological mechanisms through which the circRNAs drive development of resistance, revealing the mystery of circRNAs in drug resistance of tumours. SHORT CONCLUSION Deep understanding the emerging role of circRNAs and their involvements in the TME may provide potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer patients. The combined targeting of circRNAs and co-activated components in the TME may achieve higher therapeutic efficiency and become a new mode of tumour therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Ma
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - You Shuai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyu Gao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianzi Wen
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiafu Ji
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Guevara ML, Persano F, Persano S. Nano-immunotherapy: Overcoming tumour immune evasion. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 69:238-248. [PMID: 31883449 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is emerging as a groundbreaking cancer treatment, offering the unprecedented opportunity to effectively treat and in several cases, even cure previously untreatable malignancies. Anti-tumour immunotherapies designed to amplify T cell responses against defined tumour antigens have long been considered effective approaches for cancer treatment. Despite a clear rationale behind such immunotherapies, extensive past efforts were unsuccessful in mediating clinically relevant anti-tumour activity in humans. This is mainly because tumours adopt specific mechanisms to circumvent the host´s immunity. Emerging data suggest that the full potential of cancer immunotherapy will be only achieved by combining immunotherapies designed to generate or amplify anti-tumour T cell responses with strategies able to impair key tumour immune-evasion mechanisms. However, many approaches aimed to re-shape the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) are commonly associated with severe systemic toxicity, require frequent administration, and only show modest efficacy in clinical settings. The use of nanodelivery systems is revealing as a valid means to overcome these limitations by improving the targeting efficiency, minimising systemic exposure of immunomodulatory agents, and enabling the development of novel combinatorial immunotherapies. In this review, we examine the emerging field of therapeutic modulation of TIME by the use of nanoparticle-based immunomodulators and potential future directions for TIME-targeting nanotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Guevara
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Francesca Persano
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Stefano Persano
- Formulation Testing & Discovery, BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Mainz, Germany.
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Crispen PL, Kusmartsev S. Mechanisms of immune evasion in bladder cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2019; 69:3-14. [PMID: 31811337 PMCID: PMC6949323 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02443-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
With the introduction of multiple new agents, the role of immunotherapy is rapidly expanding across all malignancies. Bladder cancer is known to be immunogenic and is responsive to immunotherapy including intravesical BCG and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Multiple trials have addressed the role of checkpoint inhibitors in advanced bladder cancer, including atezolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab (all targeting the PD1/PD-L1 pathway). While these trials have demonstrated promising results and improvements over existing therapies, less than half of patients with advanced disease demonstrate clinical benefit from checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Recent breakthroughs in cancer biology and immunology have led to an improved understanding of the influence of the tumor microenvironment on the host’s immune system. It appears that tumors promote the formation of highly immunosuppressive microenvironments preventing generation of effective anti-tumor immune response through multiple mechanisms. Therefore, reconditioning of the tumor microenvironment and restoration of the competent immune response is essential for achieving optimal efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we aim to discuss the major mechanisms of immune evasion in bladder cancer and highlight novel pathways and molecular targets that may help to attenuate tumor-induced immune tolerance, overcome resistance to immunotherapy and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul L Crispen
- Department of Urology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, 1200 Newell Dr, PO BOX 100247, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Sergei Kusmartsev
- Department of Urology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, 1200 Newell Dr, PO BOX 100247, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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IL-17A secreted from lymphatic endothelial cells promotes tumorigenesis by upregulation of PD-L1 in hepatoma stem cells. J Hepatol 2019; 71:1206-1215. [PMID: 31499129 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The microenvironment regulates hepatoma stem cell behavior. However, the contributions of lymphatic endothelial cells to the hepatoma stem cell niche remain largely unknown; we aimed to analyze this contribution and elucidate the mechanisms behind it. METHODS Associations between lymphatic endothelial cells and CD133+ hepatoma stem cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence and adhesion assays; with the effects of their association on IL-17A expression examined using western blot, quantitative reverse transcription PCR and luciferase reporter assay. The effects of IL-17A on the self-renewal and tumorigenesis of hepatoma stem cells were examined using sphere and tumor formation assays. The role of IL-17A in immune escape by hepatoma stem cells was examined using flow cytometry. The expression of IL-17A in hepatoma tissues was examined using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS CD133+ hepatoma stem cells preferentially interact with lymphatic endothelial cells. The interaction between the mannose receptor and high-mannose type N-glycans mediates the interaction between CD133+ hepatoma stem cells and lymphatic endothelial cells. This interaction activates cytokine IL-17A expression in lymphatic endothelial cells. IL-17A promotes the self-renewal of hepatoma stem cells. It also promotes their immune escape, partly through upregulation of PD-L1. CONCLUSION Interactions between lymphatic endothelial cells and hepatoma stem cells promote the self-renewal and immune escape of hepatoma stem cells, by activating IL-17A signaling. Thus, inhibiting IL-17A signaling may be a promising approach for hepatoma treatment. LAY SUMMARY The microenvironment is crucial for the self-renewal and development of hepatoma stem cells, which lead to the development of liver cancer. Lymphatic endothelial cells are an important component of this niche microenvironment, helping hepatoma stem cells to self-renew and escape immune attack, by upregulating IL-17A signaling. Thus, targeting IL-17A signaling is a potential strategy for the treatment of hepatoma.
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Wan D, Yang Y, Liu Y, Cun X, Li M, Xu S, Zhao W, Xiang Y, Qiu Y, Yu Q, Tang X, Zhang Z, He Q. Sequential depletion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tumor cells with a dual-pH-sensitive conjugated micelle system for cancer chemoimmunotherapy. J Control Release 2019; 317:43-56. [PMID: 31758970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs)are one of the most important immunosuppressive cells in tumor microenvironment, which also promote the development and progression of tumor cells. Nevertheless, due to the different distribution features of MDSCs and tumor cells, selective elimination of MDSCs and tumor cells in tumor microenvironment remain a great challenge. Here we have designed a dual-pH-sensitivity conjugated micelle system (PAH/RGX-104@PDM/PTX) that could deliver liver-X nuclear receptor (LXR) agonist RGX-104 and paclitaxel (PTX) to the perivascular region and tumor cells, respectively. Upon arrival at the acidic tumor microenvironment, the PAH/RGX-104@PDM/PTX undergo structure disintegration and capacitate coinstantaneous release of RGX-104 in the perivascular regions, leaving the intact PTX containing micelles PDM/PTX for tumor deep penetration. The released RGX-104 can be preferentially taken up by leukocytes, endothelial cells and macrophages which are nicely enriched in perivascular regions to active the LXR, and further reduces immunosuppressive MDSC levels. The remained small micelles carrying PTX enable deep tumor penetration as well as rapid specific drug release in the endosomal/lysosomal to kill tumor cells. PAH/RGX-104@PDM/PTX exhibits superior tumor accumulation as well as tumor penetration, and suppresses 74.88% in vivo tumor growth. More importantly, PAH/RGX-104@PDM/PTX has significantly alleviated tumor immunosuppression by eliminating MDSCs and increasing cytotoxic T lymphocytes infiltration. Our studies suggest that the dual-pH-sensitive codelivery nanocarrier not only cause apoptosis of cancer cells but also regulate the tumor immune environment to ultimately enhance the antitumor effect of CTLs through MDSCs depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Wan
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Yiliang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Yiyao Liu
- Department of Hematology, Hematology Research Laboratory, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingli Cun
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Man Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Shanshan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Yangyang Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Yue Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Qianwen Yu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Xian Tang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Zhirong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Qin He
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China.
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Jiang Q, Zhang C, Wang H, Peng T, Zhang L, Wang Y, Han W, Shi C. Mitochondria-Targeting Immunogenic Cell Death Inducer Improves the Adoptive T-Cell Therapy Against Solid Tumor. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1196. [PMID: 31781498 PMCID: PMC6861368 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy including adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) is widely used in the clinic and is highly beneficial for patients with hematological malignancies; however, it remains a challenge to develop effective immunotherapy strategies for the treatment of solid cancers, due to the inefficiency of the immune response and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Immunogenic cell death (ICD) converts dying cancer cells into a therapeutic vaccine and stimulate a systemic antigen-specific antitumor immune response, which can effectively subvert the immunosuppressive TME and enhance the efficiency of immune responses, relative to conventional immunotherapeutic regimens. However, the application of traditional inducers of ICD in anti-cancer immunotherapy has been limited because of low levels of ICD induction and a lack of tumor-targeting accumulation. Mitochondria are important for tumor-targeting strategies and have emerged as organelles with key roles in the immune system. We hypothesized that the alteration of mitochondria in cancer cells could be an important target for the development of an efficient ICD inducer for use in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we report the evaluation of a mitochondria-targeted small molecule, IR-780, that acts as an ICD inducer and exhibits exceptional antineoplastic activity. IR-780 specifically accumulated in tumor cells to elicit ICD in vitro and in vivo, effectively suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis, and enhanced adoptive T-cell therapy effects against solid tumors in mouse models. These anticancer effects were linked to dendritic cell maturation and synergistic effector T cell priming and infiltration into tumors. The underlying mechanism involves the direct targeting of the mitochondria by IR-780, to destroy cancer cells, including drug-resistant cancer cells, leading to the full exposure of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), thereby enhancing antigen-specific antitumor immune responses. These features of IR-780 suggest that it has the advantage of leading to complete TAA exposure and the stimulation of efficient antitumor immune responses in the TME. IR-780 has potential for use as a preparative ICD inducer, in combination with conventional immunostimulatory regimens for cancer immunotherapy, particularly in the context of solid tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingzhi Jiang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huilan Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, China
| | - Weidong Han
- Department of Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Basic Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chunmeng Shi
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Osipov A, Saung MT, Zheng L, Murphy AG. Small molecule immunomodulation: the tumor microenvironment and overcoming immune escape. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:224. [PMID: 31439034 PMCID: PMC6704558 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0667-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of many advanced malignancies. Despite the success in treatment of tumors like non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma, checkpoint inhibition-based immunotherapy has limitations. Many tumors, such as pancreatic cancer, are less responsive to checkpoint inhibitors, where patients tend to have a limited duration of benefit and where clinical responses are more robust in patients who are positive for predictive biomarkers. One of the critical factors that influence the efficacy of immunotherapy is the tumor microenvironment (TME), which contains a heterogeneous composition of immunosuppressive cells. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) alter the immune landscape of the TME and serve as facilitators of tumor proliferation, metastatic growth and immunotherapy resistance. Small molecule inhibitors that target these components of the TME have been developed. This special issue review focuses on two promising classes of immunomodulatory small molecule inhibitors: colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Small molecule inhibitors of CSF-1R reprogram the TME and TAMs, and lead to enhanced T-cell-mediated tumor eradication. FAK small molecule inhibitors decrease the infiltration MDSCs, TAMs and regulatory T-cells. Additionally, FAK inhibitors are implicated as modulators of stromal density and cancer stem cells, leading to a TME more conducive to an anti-tumor immune response. Immunomodulatory small molecule inhibitors present a unique opportunity to attenuate immune escape of tumors and potentiate the effectiveness of immunotherapy and traditional cytotoxic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arsen Osipov
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - May Tun Saung
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Adrian G Murphy
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- GI Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building, CRB1 1, Room 487, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.
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40
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Chen Q, Wang J, Liu WN, Zhao Y. Cancer Immunotherapies and Humanized Mouse Drug Testing Platforms. Transl Oncol 2019; 12:987-995. [PMID: 31121491 PMCID: PMC6529825 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2019.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is a type of treatment that restores and stimulates human immune system to inhibit cancer growth or eradicate cancer. It serves as one of the latest systemic therapies, which has been approved to treat different types of cancer in patients. Nevertheless, the clinical response rate is unsatisfactory and the response observed is mostly a partial response in patients. Despite the continuous improvement and identification of novel cancer immunotherapy, there is a pressing need to establish a robust platform to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pre-clinical drugs, simulate the interaction between patients’ tumor and immune system, and predict patients’ responses to the treatment. In this review, we summarize the pros and cons of existing immuno-oncology assay platforms, especially the humanized mouse models for the screening of cancer immunotherapy drugs. In addition, various emerging trends and progress of utilizing humanized mouse models as the screening tool are discussed. Of note, humanized mouse models can also be used for further development of personalized precision medicines to treat cancer. Collectively, these highlight the significance of humanized mouse models as the important platform for the screening of next generation cancer immunotherapy in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingfeng Chen
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore; Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Jiaxu Wang
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Wai Nam Liu
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Yue Zhao
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
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41
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Osipov A, Murphy A, Zheng L. From immune checkpoints to vaccines: The past, present and future of cancer immunotherapy. Adv Cancer Res 2019; 143:63-144. [PMID: 31202363 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a worldwide medical problem with significant repercussions on individual patients and societies as a whole. In order to alter the outcomes of this deadly disease the treatment of cancer over the centuries has undergone a unique evolution. However, utilizing the best treatment modalities and achieving cures or long-term durable responses have been inconsistent and limited, that is until recently. Contemporary research has highlighted a fundamental gap in our understanding of how we approach treating cancer, by revealing the intricate relationship between the immune system and tumors. In this atmosphere, the growth of immunotherapy has not only forever changed our understanding of cancer biology, but the manner by which we treat patients. It's paradigm shifting success has led to the approval of over 10 different immunotherapeutic agents, including checkpoint inhibitors, vaccine-based therapies, oncolytic viruses and T cell directed therapies for nearly 20 different indications across countless tumor types. Despite the breakthroughs that have occurred in the field of immunotherapy, it has not been the panacea for all cancers. With a deeper understanding of the immune system we have been able to peer into tumor immune escape and therapy resistance. Simultaneously this understanding has paved the way for the investigation and development of novel immune system altering agents and combinatorial therapies. In this chapter we review the immune system and its intricate relationship with cancer, the evolution of immunotherapy, its current landscape, and future directions in the context of resistance mechanisms and the challenges faced by immunotherapy against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arsen Osipov
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adrian Murphy
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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Nölting S, Grossman A, Pacak K. Metastatic Phaeochromocytoma: Spinning Towards More Promising Treatment Options. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2019; 127:117-128. [PMID: 30235495 PMCID: PMC7443617 DOI: 10.1055/a-0715-1888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Phaeochromocytomas (PCC) and paragangliomas (PGL) are rare tumours arising from the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla (PCC) or the paraganglia located outside the adrenal gland (PGL). However, their incidence is likely to be underestimated; around 10% of all PCC/PGL are metastatic, with higher metastatic potential of PGLs compared to PCCs. If benign, surgery is the treatment of choice, but if metastatic, therapy is challenging. Here we review the currently existing therapy options for metastatic PCCs/PGLs including conventional chemotherapy (the original Averbuch scheme, but updated), radiopharmaceutical treatments (131I-MIBG, 90Y- and 177Lu-DOTATATE) and novel targeted therapies (anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors and mTORC1 inhibitors), emphasising future therapeutic approaches (HIF-2α and PARP inhibitors, temozolomide alone, metronomic temozolomide, somatostatin analogues) based on the oncogenic signalling pathways related to three different clusters comprising more than 20 well-characterised PCC/PGL susceptibility genes. We suggest that targeted combination therapies including repurposed agents may offer more effective future options worthy of exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Nölting
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Interdisciplinary Center of Neuroendocrine Tumours of the GastroEntero-Pancreatic System (GEPNET-KUM), Klinikum der Universität München (KUM), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ashley Grossman
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, Royal Free Hospital ENETS Centre of Excellence, London, and Barts and the London Scool of Medicine, London, UK
| | - Karel Pacak
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Li XT, Yang JJ, Wu YL, Hou J. Toward innovative combinational immunotherapy: A systems biology perspective. Cancer Treat Rev 2018; 68:1-8. [PMID: 29775845 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has advanced significantly in the last decades. Especially immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown inconceivable effect on enhancing host anti-tumor activity in NSCLC. However, the limitation of checkpoint blockade monotherapy seems unavoidable in most of the NSCLC patients and only ∼20% of them achieved response to monotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Thus combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with other agents with different action mechanisms holds a promise to revitalize NSCLC treatment, such as the combination of checkpoint inhibitors with angiogenesis inhibitors, or with chemotherapy, as well as the combination of two checkpoint inhibitors. Recently, various combinational strategies have been explored to setup promising combination regimens and to understand the action mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the suspected synergistic mechanisms of several combinational approaches by reviewing the available preclinical and clinical data. Then we discuss in light of the current knowledge of cancer biology and systems biology the important facets to be examined when setting up a framework for developing immunotherapy-based combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Tao Li
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Lung Cancer, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China; School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Jin-Ji Yang
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Lung Cancer, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yi-Long Wu
- Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Lung Cancer, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Jun Hou
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Albini A, Bruno A, Noonan DM, Mortara L. Contribution to Tumor Angiogenesis From Innate Immune Cells Within the Tumor Microenvironment: Implications for Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2018; 9:527. [PMID: 29675018 PMCID: PMC5895776 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 273] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The critical role of angiogenesis in promoting tumor growth and metastasis is strongly established. However, tumors show considerable variation in angiogenic characteristics and in their sensitivity to antiangiogenic therapy. Tumor angiogenesis involves not only cancer cells but also various tumor-associated leukocytes (TALs) and stromal cells. TALs produce chemokines, cytokines, proteases, structural proteins, and microvescicles. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory chemokines are not only major proangiogenic factors but are also immune modulators, which increase angiogenesis and lead to immune suppression. In our review, we discuss the regulation of angiogenesis by innate immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, specific features, and roles of major players: macrophages, neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor and dendritic cells, mast cells, γδT cells, innate lymphoid cells, and natural killer cells. Anti-VEGF or anti-inflammatory drugs could balance an immunosuppressive microenvironment to an immune permissive one. Anti-VEGF as well as anti-inflammatory drugs could therefore represent partners for combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors, enhancing the effects of immune therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Albini
- Scientific and Technology Pole, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Antonino Bruno
- Scientific and Technology Pole, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Douglas M Noonan
- Scientific and Technology Pole, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy.,Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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de Wolf C, van de Bovenkamp M, Hoefnagel M. Regulatory perspective on in vitro potency assays for human T cells used in anti-tumor immunotherapy. Cytotherapy 2018; 20:601-622. [PMID: 29598903 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The adaptive immune system is known to play an important role in anti-neoplastic responses via induction of several effector pathways, resulting in tumor cell death. Because of their ability to specifically recognize and kill tumor cells, the potential use of autologous tumor-derived and genetically engineered T cells as adoptive immunotherapy for cancer is currently being explored. Because of the variety of potential T cell-based medicinal products at the level of starting material and manufacturing process, product-specific functionality assays are needed to ensure quality for individual products. In this review, we provide an overview of in vitro potency assays suggested for characterization and release of different T cell-based anti-tumor products. We discuss functional assays, as presented in scientific advices and literature, highlighting specific advantages and limitations of the various assays. Because the anticipated in vivo mechanism of action for anti-tumor T cells involves tumor recognition and cell death, in vitro potency assays based on the cytotoxic potential of antigen-specific T cells are most evident. However, assays based on other T cell properties may be appropriate as surrogates for cytotoxicity. For all proposed assays, biological relevance of the tests and correlation of the read-outs with in vivo functionality need to be substantiated with sufficient product-specific (non-)clinical data. Moreover, further unraveling the complex interaction of immune cells with and within the tumor environment is expected to lead to further improvement of the T cell-based products. Consequently, increased knowledge will allow further optimized guidance for potency assay development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte de Wolf
- Medicines Evaluation Board (CBG-MEB), Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Current therapies of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a highly vascularised tumour, mostly rely on anti-angiogenic treatment options. These include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies. Although these strategies aim at restraining vascularisation to control tumour growth, the effects of such therapies are much wider, as affecting the vessel structure deeply modifies the microenvironment of the tumour mass. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of current knowledge on the global effects of anti-angiogenic treatment, mostly TKIs, on the shaping of the immune component of the RCC microenvironment. The data supporting the modification of immunity by anti-angiogenic therapies are collected to reveal the potential of angiogenesis modulation as a strategy for the adjuvant anti-cancer approach in immunotherapy.
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Sengupta S. Cancer Nanomedicine: Lessons for Immuno-Oncology. Trends Cancer 2017; 3:551-560. [PMID: 28780932 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cancer nanotechnology and cancer immunotherapy are two parallel themes that have emerged over the last few decades in the search for a cure for cancer. Exciting applications can emerge at the intersection of these two fields. However, it is important to learn from the past successes and failures of cancer nanomedicines for its future applications in cancer immunotherapy. This review discusses the two key parameters that defined clinical success in the case of cancer nanomedicines: (i) physicochemical design principles, and (ii) clinical trial design, which are frequently overlooked in most analyses of the state of the field. Learning from the design principles that defined success for the clinically-used cancer nanomedicines can enable the design of next-generation nanomedicines that can address some of the emerging challenges in cancer immunotherapy, for example (i) enabling combinations of molecularly targeted therapies with immunotherapies that are pharmacologically incompatible; (ii) early monitoring of efficacy of immunotherapies; and (iii) personalizing an immune response to a patient's tumor. Currently, only a subset of patients treated with immunotherapy exhibit durable response; the integration of nanomedicine and immunotherapy to address the above challenges can lead to new paradigms in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiladitya Sengupta
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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Arias M, Martínez-Lostao L, Santiago L, Ferrandez A, Granville DJ, Pardo J. The Untold Story of Granzymes in Oncoimmunology: Novel Opportunities with Old Acquaintances. Trends Cancer 2017; 3:407-422. [PMID: 28718416 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
For more than 20 years perforin and granzymes (GZMs) have been recognized as key cell death executors of cytotoxic T (Tc) and natural killer (NK) cells during cancer immunosurveillance. In immune surveillance, perforin and GZMB, the most potent cytotoxic molecules, act mainly as antitumoral and anti-infectious factors. However, when expressed by immune regulatory cells they may contribute to immune evasion of specific cancer types. By contrast, the other major granzyme, GZMA, seems not to play a major role in Tc/NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, but acts as a proinflammatory cytokine that might contribute to cancer development. Members of the GZM family also regulate other biological processes unrelated to cell death, such as angiogenesis, vascular integrity, extracellular matrix remodeling, and barrier function, all of which contribute to cancer initiation and progression. Thus, a new paradigm is emerging in the field of oncoimmunology. Can GZMs act as protumoral factors under some circumstances? We review the diverse roles of GZMs in cancer progression, and new therapeutic opportunities emerging from targeting these protumoral roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maykel Arias
- Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Luis Martínez-Lostao
- Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, and Department of Microbiology, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Servicio de Inmunología Hospital Clínico Universitario Lorenzo Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain; Nanoscience Institute of Aragon (INA), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Llipsy Santiago
- Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Angel Ferrandez
- Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lorenzo Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - David J Granville
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Julián Pardo
- Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, and Department of Microbiology, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Nanoscience Institute of Aragon (INA), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon I+D Foundation (ARAID), Zaragoza, Spain.
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