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Schendel DJ. Evolution by innovation as a driving force to improve TCR-T therapies. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1216829. [PMID: 37810959 PMCID: PMC10552759 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1216829] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapies continually evolve through science-based innovation. Specialized innovations for TCR-T therapies are described here that are embedded in an End-to-End Platform for TCR-T Therapy Development which aims to provide solutions for key unmet patient needs by addressing challenges of TCR-T therapy, including selection of target antigens and suitable T cell receptors, generation of TCR-T therapies that provide long term, durable efficacy and safety and development of efficient and scalable production of patient-specific (personalized) TCR-T therapy for solid tumors. Multiple, combinable, innovative technologies are used in a systematic and sequential manner in the development of TCR-T therapies. One group of technologies encompasses product enhancements that enable TCR-T therapies to be safer, more specific and more effective. The second group of technologies addresses development optimization that supports discovery and development processes for TCR-T therapies to be performed more quickly, with higher quality and greater efficiency. Each module incorporates innovations layered onto basic technologies common to the field of immunology. An active approach of "evolution by innovation" supports the overall goal to develop best-in-class TCR-T therapies for treatment of patients with solid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores J. Schendel
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, Planegg, Germany
- Medigene AG, Planegg, Germany
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2
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Horwath M, Tvrdik T, Saxe D, Deeb KK, Roback JD, Gebel HM, Bray RA, Sullivan HC. Loss of heterozygosity leading to incorrect HLA typing for platelet-transfusion refractory patient. Transfusion 2023; 63:263-268. [PMID: 36426572 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17189] [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: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Management of platelet-transfusion refractory (PR) patients due to anti-HLA antibodies includes the provision of HLA-matched (HLAm) platelets (PLT) or PLTs that are negative for HLA antigens corresponding to the recipient antibodies. Obtaining HLAm PLTs is predicated on accurate HLA antigen typing of the recipient and donor. Here, we present the clinical implications of a case involving loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in a patient presented for PR workup. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS HLA typing was performed by three methods: (1) Real-time PCR; (2) Sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) typing test; and (3) Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Cytogenomic SNP microarray was utilized to assess LOH. RESULTS A 30-year-old female with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia was found to be PR secondary to HLA sensitization. A peripheral blood (PB) sample, containing 93% myeloid blast cells, was sent for HLA typing for the provision of HLAm PLTs. HLA typing revealed homozygosity at the HLA-A locus but was heterozygous at the -B and -C loci. After chemotherapy, HLA typing on a new PB sample, devoid of blast cells, identified HLA-A locus heterozygosity, which was subsequently confirmed by real-time PCR and NGS. Cytogenomic SNP microarray analysis demonstrated LOH of the HLA-A locus on chromosome 6p in the pretreatment sample but not in the posttreatment sample. CONCLUSION In hematologic patients with high tumor burden, HLA homozygosity should be viewed with suspicion for potential LOH. Therefore, HLA testing should be repeated, preferably with a non-hematological source (e.g., buccal swab) or following successful reduction of the tumor burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Horwath
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tatiana Tvrdik
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Debra Saxe
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kristin K Deeb
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - John D Roback
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Howard M Gebel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Robert A Bray
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Harold Clifford Sullivan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Abstract
In this chapter I describe Tumour Immune Escape mechanisms associated with MHC/HLA class I loss in human and experimental tumours. Different altered HLA class-I phenotypes can be observed that are produced by different molecular mechanisms. Experimental and histological evidences are summarized indicating that at the early stages of tumour development there is an enormous variety of tumour clones with different MHC class I expression patterns. This phase is followed by a strong T cell mediated immune-selection of MHC/HLA class-I negative tumour cells in the primary tumour lesion. This transition period results in a formation of a tumour composed only of HLA-class I negative cells. An updated description of this process observed in a large variety of human tumors is included. In the second section I focus on MHC/HLA class I alterations observed in mouse and human metastases, and describe the generation of different tumor cell clones with altered MHC class I phenotypes, which could be similar or different from the original tumor clone. The biological and immunological relevance of these observations is discussed. Finally, the interesting phenomenon of metastatic dormancy is analyzed in association with a particular MHC class I negative tumor phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Garrido
- Departamento de Analisis Clinicos e Inmunologia, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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HLA class I alterations in breast carcinoma are associated with a high frequency of the loss of heterozygosity at chromosomes 6 and 15. Immunogenetics 2018; 70:647-659. [PMID: 30145665 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-018-1074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
HLA class I (HLA-I) molecules play a crucial role in the presentation of tumor antigenic peptides to CD8+ T cells. Tumor HLA-I loss provides a route of immune escape from T cell-mediated killing. We analyzed HLA-I expression in 98 cryopreserved breast cancer tissues using a broad panel of anti-HLA-I antibodies. Genomic HLA-I typing was performed using DNA obtained from autologous normal breast tissue. Analysis of the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the HLA-I region of chromosome 6 (LOH-6) and in the β2-microglobulin (B2M) region of chromosome 15 (LOH-15) was done by microsatellite amplification of DNA isolated from microdissected tumor areas. B2M gene sequencing was done using this DNA form HLA-I-negative tumors. Immunohistological analysis revealed various types of HLA-I alterations in 79 tumors (81%), including total HLA-I loss in 53 cases (54%) and partial loss in 16 samples (14%). In 19 cases (19%), HLA-I expression was positive. Using microsatellite analysis, we detected LOH in 36 cases out of 92 evaluated (39%), including 15 samples with only LOH-6, 14 with LOH-15, and seven tumors with LOH-6 and LOH-15 at the same time. Remarkably, we detected LOH-6 in eight tumors with positive HLA-I immunolabeling. We did not find any B2M mutations in HLA-I-negative breast tumors. In conclusion, LOH at chromosomes 6 and 15 has a high incidence in breast cancer and occurs in tumors with different HLA-I immunophenotypes. This common molecular mechanism of HLA-I alterations may reduce the ability of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to kill tumor cells and negatively influence the clinical success of cancer immunotherapy.
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Aptsiauri N, Ruiz-Cabello F, Garrido F. The transition from HLA-I positive to HLA-I negative primary tumors: the road to escape from T-cell responses. Curr Opin Immunol 2018; 51:123-132. [PMID: 29567511 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
MHC/HLA class I loss in cancer is one of the main mechanisms of tumor immune escape from T-cell recognition and destruction. Tumor infiltration by T lymphocytes (TILs) and by other immune cells was first described many years ago, but has never been directly and clearly linked to the destruction of HLA-I positive and selection of HLA-I negative tumor cells. The degree and the pattern of lymphocyte infiltration in a tumor nest may depend on antigenicity and the developmental stages of the tumors. In addition, it is becoming evident that HLA-I expression and tumor infiltration have a direct correlation with tumor tissue reorganization. We observed that at early stages (permissive Phase I) tumors are heterogeneous, with both HLA-I positive and HLA-negative cancer cells, and are infiltrated by TILs and M1 macrophages as a part of an active anti-tumor Th1 response. At later stages (encapsulated Phase II), tumor nests are mostly HLA-I negative with immune cells residing in the peri-tumoral stroma, which forms a granuloma-like encapsulated tissue structure. All these tumor characteristics, including tumor HLA-I expression pattern, have an important clinical prognostic value and should be closely and routinely investigated in different types of cancer by immunologists and by pathologists. In this review we summarize our current viewpoint about the alterations in HLA-I expression in cancer and discuss how, when and why tumor HLA-I losses occur. We also provide evidence for the negative impact of tumor HLA-I loss in current cancer immunotherapies, with the focus on reversible ('soft') and irreversible ('hard') HLA-I defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Aptsiauri
- Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria ibs, 18014 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Bioquimica, Biologia Molecular e Inmunologia III, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Servicio de Analisis Clinicos e Inmunologia, UGC Laboratorio Clinico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria ibs, 18014 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Bioquimica, Biologia Molecular e Inmunologia III, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Analisis Clinicos e Inmunologia, UGC Laboratorio Clinico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria ibs, 18014 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Bioquimica, Biologia Molecular e Inmunologia III, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Spain.
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Chang CC, Pirozzi G, Wen SH, Chung IH, Chiu BL, Errico S, Luongo M, Lombardi ML, Ferrone S. Multiple structural and epigenetic defects in the human leukocyte antigen class I antigen presentation pathway in a recurrent metastatic melanoma following immunotherapy. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:26562-75. [PMID: 26381407 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.676130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Scant information is available about the molecular basis of multiple HLA class I antigen-processing machinery defects in malignant cells, although this information contributes to our understanding of the molecular immunoescape mechanisms utilized by tumor cells and may suggest strategies to counteract them. In the present study we reveal a combination of IFN-γ-irreversible structural and epigenetic defects in HLA class I antigen-processing machinery in a recurrent melanoma metastasis after immunotherapy. These defects include loss of tapasin and one HLA haplotype as well as selective silencing of HLA-A3 gene responsiveness to IFN-γ. Tapasin loss is caused by a germ-line frameshift mutation in exon 3 (TAPBP(684delA)) along with a somatic loss of the other gene copy. Selective silencing of HLA-A3 gene and its IFN-γ responsiveness is associated with promoter CpG methylation nearby site-α and TATA box, reversible after DNA methyltransferase 1 depletion. This treatment combined with tapasin reconstitution and IFN-γ stimulation restored the highest level of HLA class I expression and its ability to elicit cytotoxic T cell responses. These results represent a novel tumor immune evasion mechanism through impairing multiple components at various levels in the HLA class I antigen presentation pathway. These findings may suggest a rational design of combinatorial cancer immunotherapy harnessing DNA demethylation and IFN-γ response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Chung Chang
- From the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30013,
| | - Giuseppe Pirozzi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Naples 80131, Italy, and
| | - Shao-Hsuan Wen
- From the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30013
| | - I-Hsin Chung
- From the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30013
| | - Bau-Lin Chiu
- From the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30013
| | - Simona Errico
- Department of Experimental Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Naples 80131, Italy, and
| | - Monica Luongo
- Department of Experimental Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Naples 80131, Italy, and
| | - Maria Luisa Lombardi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Naples 80131, Italy, and
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Departments of Surgery and of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
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Ikegame K, Kaida K, Lakoma L, Ishii S, Inoue T, Kato R, Soma T, Okada M, Ogawa H. Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for lymphoma with monosomy of chromosome 6 (loss of heterozygosity in the HLA region) — Who should be a donor? Transpl Immunol 2012; 27:162-5. [PMID: 23000337 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2012.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2012] [Revised: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Rodríguez JA, Galeano L, Palacios DM, Gómez C, Serrano ML, Bravo MM, Combita AL. Altered HLA class I and HLA-G expression is associated with IL-10 expression in patients with cervical cancer. Pathobiology 2011; 79:72-83. [PMID: 22213066 DOI: 10.1159/000334089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Accepted: 09/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are an important risk factor in the etiopathogenesis of cervical cancer, increasing evidence suggests that the ability to avoid immune surveillance seems to be linked to the transforming potential of HPV and a rapid progression to cancer. In other cancer models, IL-10 contributes to impair anti-tumor immune response either by downregulating human leukocyte antigen Class I (HLA-I) expression or by increasing HLA-G expression. To comprehend how these alterations could contribute to evasion of immune surveillance in cervical cancer, we analyzed HLA-I, HLA-G and IL-10 expressions by immunohistochemistry in 63 biopsies from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III (CIN-III) and cervical cancer. Immunohistochemistry showed absent or weak HLA-I expression in 50/59 cases. In these cases, a high percentage had loss of heterozygosis. IL-10 and HLA-G expression were observed in 46.6 and 27.6% of cases, respectively. Concurrent upregulation of IL-10 was found in 87.5% of HLA-G positive cases (p = 0.000). Similarly, a significant association between IL-10 expression and HLA-I downregulation was found (p = 0.028). Finally, we observed higher HLA-G expression in patients with HLA-I downregulation than in those with normal HLA-I expression (p = 0.004). Our results suggest that, in cervical cancer, the IL-10 expression may induce an immunosuppressive environment by upregulating HLA-G expression and downregulating HLA class I expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefa Antonia Rodríguez
- Grupo de Investigación en Biología del Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, Colombia
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Garrido F, Cabrera T, Aptsiauri N. "Hard" and "soft" lesions underlying the HLA class I alterations in cancer cells: implications for immunotherapy. Int J Cancer 2010; 127:249-56. [PMID: 20178101 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The ability of cancer cells to escape from the natural or immunotherapy-induced antitumor immune response is often associated with alterations in the tumor cell surface expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I antigens. Considerable knowledge has been gained on the prevalence of various patterns of MHC Class I defects and the underlying molecular mechanisms in different types of cancer. In contrast, few data are available on the changes in MHC Class I expression happening during the course of cancer immunotherapy. We have recently proposed that the progression or regression of a tumor lesion in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy could be predetermined by the molecular mechanism responsible for the MHC Class I alteration and not by the type of immunotherapy used, i.e., interleukin-2 (IL-2), Bacillus Calmette-Guèrin (BCG), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), peptides alone, dendritic cells loaded with peptides, protein-bound polysaccharide etc. If the molecular alteration responsible for the changes in MHC Class I expression is reversible by cytokines ("soft" lesion), the MHC Class I expression will be upregulated, the specific T cell-mediated response will increase and the lesion will regress. However, if the molecular defect is structural ("hard" lesion), the MHC Class I expression will remain low, the escape mechanism will prevail and the primary tumor or the metastatic lesion will progress. According to this idea, the nature of the preexisting MHC Class I lesion in the cancer cell has a crucial impact determining the final outcome of cancer immunotherapy. In this article, we discuss the importance of these two types of molecular mechanisms of MHC Class I-altered expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Garrido
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
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10
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de Koning PJ, Bovenschen N, Leusink FK, Broekhuizen R, Quadir R, van Gemert JT, Hordijk GJ, Chang WSW, van der Tweel I, Tilanus MG, Kummer JA. Downregulation of SERPINB13 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas associates with poor clinical outcome. Int J Cancer 2009; 125:1542-50. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Tang Q, Zhang J, Qi B, Shen C, Xie W. Downregulation of HLA class I molecules in primary oral squamous cell carcinomas and cell lines. Arch Med Res 2009; 40:256-63. [PMID: 19608014 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2009.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2008] [Accepted: 03/30/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Loss or downregulation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression has been reported in a variety of human tumors including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS Expression of HLA class I molecules were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, semi-quantitative Western blot and RT-PCR in 43 tissue samples of primary oral squamous cell carcinomas (pOSCC) from Chinese patients and two OSCC cell lines. RESULTS HLA class I heavy chain of B/C locus and A locus and beta(2-)microglobulin were obviously lost or downregulated in pOSCC with the percentage of 31, 55 and 35% respectively. The expression of HLA B/C, LMP2, LMP7, LMP10 and PA28beta in OSCC cell lines was also presumably reduced in comparison with normal epithelial cell line. CONCLUSIONS These data suggested that the downregulation of HLA class I molecules in OSCC was closely associated with the low-efficient transcription and abnormality of post-transcription regulation of HLA class I genes and antigen presentation-related genes. These results can add more light to the mechanism by which OSCC escape from immunological surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiusha Tang
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease of Education Ministry, Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Southeast University Medical School, Jiangsu Province, China
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12
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Hsieh CH, Hsu YJ, Chang CC, Liu HC, Chuang KL, Chuang CK, Pang ST, Hasumi K, Ferrone S, Liao SK. Total HLA class I loss in a sarcomatoid renal carcinoma cell line caused by the coexistence of distinct mutations in the two encoding beta2-microglobulin genes. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2008; 58:395-408. [PMID: 18704411 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-008-0565-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2008] [Accepted: 07/16/2008] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), HLA class I downregulation has been found in about 40% of the lesions examined. Since only scanty information is available about the molecular basis of these defects, we have investigated the mechanism(s) underlying HLA class I antigen downregulation or loss in six RCC cell lines. Five of them express HLA class I antigens although at various levels; on the other hand, HLA class I antigens are not detectable on the remaining cell line, the RCC52 cell line, belonging to a sarcomatoid subtype, even following incubation with IFN-gamma. beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2) m) was not detected in RCC52 cells. Surprisingly, RCC52 cells harbor two mutations in the beta ( 2 ) m genes in exon 1: a single G deletion (delG) in codon 6, which introduces a premature stop at codon 7, and a CT dinucleotide deletion (delCT), which leads to a premature stop at codon 55. Analysis of eight clonal sublines isolated from the RCC52 cell line showed that the two beta ( 2 ) m gene mutations are carried separately by RCC52 cell subpopulations. The delG/delCT double mutations were detected in two sublines with a fibroblast-like morphology, while the delCT mutation was detected in the remaining six sublines with an epithelial cell morphology. Furthermore, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the beta ( 2 ) m gene at STR D15S-209 was found only in the epithelioid subpopulation, indicating loss of one copy of chromosome 15. Immunostaining results of the tumor lesion from which the cell line RCC52 was originated were consistent with the phenotyping/molecular findings of the cultured cells. This is the first example of the coexistence of distinct beta ( 2 ) m defects in two different tumor subpopulations of a RCC, where loss of one copy of chromosome 15 occurs in one of the subpopulations with total HLA class I antigen loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Hsuan Hsieh
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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Yang Y, Zhang J, Miao F, Wei J, Shen C, Shen Y, Xie W. Loss of heterozygosity at6p21underling HLA class I downregulation in Chinese primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 72:105-14. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2008.01078.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Aptsiauri N, Cabrera T, Mendez R, Garcia-Lora A, Ruiz-Cabello F, Garrido F. Role of altered expression of HLA class I molecules in cancer progression. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2007; 601:123-31. [PMID: 17712999 DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-72005-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
HLA class I antigens play a key role in immune recognition of transformed and virally infected cells via binding to the peptides of "non-self" or aberrantly expressed proteins and subsequent presentation of the newly formed "HLA-I-peptide" complex to T lymphocytes. Consequently, a chain of immune reactions is initiated leading to tumor cell elimination by cytotoxic T cells. Altered tumor expression of HLA class I is frequently observed in various types of malignancies. It represents one of the main mechanisms used by cancer cells to evade immunosurveillance. Because of immune selection, HLA class I-negative variants escape and lead to tumor growth and metastatic colonization. Loss or downregulation of HLA class I antigens on tumor cell surface is a factor that limits clinical outcome of peptide-based cancer vaccines aimed to increasing specific anti-tumor activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Thus, gaining more knowledge regarding frequency of HLA class I defect, its tissue specificity, and underlying molecular mechanisms may help designing appropriate therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment. Here, we describe various types of HLA class I alterations found in different malignancies and molecular mechanisms that underlie these defects. We also discuss a correlation between HLA class I defects cancer progression in melanoma patients with poor clinical response to autologous vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Aptsiauri
- Departmiento de Analisis Clinicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
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15
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Aptsiauri N, Cabrera T, Garcia-Lora A, Lopez-Nevot MA, Ruiz-Cabello F, Garrido F. MHC Class I Antigens and Immune Surveillance in Transformed Cells. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CYTOLOGY 2007; 256:139-89. [PMID: 17241907 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7696(07)56005-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
MHC class I antigens play a crucial role in the interaction of tumor cells with the host immune system, in particular, in the presentation of peptides as tumor-associated antigens to cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) and in the regulation of cytolytic activity of natural killer (NK) cells. In this review we discuss the role of MHC class I antigens in the recognition and elimination of transformed cells and in the generation of tumor immune escape routes when MHC class I losses occur in tumors. The different altered MHC class I phenotypes and their distribution in different human tumors are the main topic of this review. In addition, molecular defects that underlie MHC alterations in transformed cells are also described in detail. Future research directions in this field are also discussed, including the laboratory analysis of tumor MHC class I-negative variants and the possible restoration of MHC class I expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Aptsiauri
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
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16
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Méndez R, Ruiz-Cabello F, Rodríguez T, Del Campo A, Paschen A, Schadendorf D, Garrido F. Identification of different tumor escape mechanisms in several metastases from a melanoma patient undergoing immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2007; 56:88-94. [PMID: 16622680 PMCID: PMC11029888 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-006-0166-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2005] [Accepted: 03/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The cytotoxic activity of T cells selects the outgrowth of tumor cells that escape from immune surveillance by different strategies. The different mechanisms that interfere with immune recognition and limit vaccination efficiency are still poorly understood. We analysed six cell lines established from different metastases of melanoma patient UKRV-Mel-20 for specific characteristics known to have an impact on the tumor-T cell interaction: (1) alterations in the HLA class I phenotype, (2) expression of Fas/CD95, and (3) expression of specific cytokines and chemokines. One of the cell lines, UKRV-Mel-20f, exhibited an HLA class I haplotype loss and just this cell line was also characterised by the expression of Fas/CD95 and of relatively high levels of proinflammatory chemokines suggesting that the cytotoxic activity of tumor-infiltrating T cells might have selected the outgrowth of this tumor cell variant. All other cell lines analysed showed no alterations in HLA class I expression, but, in contrast to UKRV-Mel-20f, expressed much lower levels of Fas/CD95 and of proinflammatory chemokines and some of them produced high levels of immunosuppressive TGF-beta1. These results suggest that in patient UKRV-Mel-20, tumor cells interfere with T cell recognition by different strategies which might partially explain why this patient did not have a clinical response to an autologous tumor cell vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Méndez
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nueves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nueves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Teresa Rodríguez
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nueves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Del Campo
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nueves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Annette Paschen
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nueves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Skin Cancer Unit of the German Cancer Research Center at the University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nueves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Skin Cancer Unit of the German Cancer Research Center at the University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nueves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
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17
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Koene G, Mulder A, van der Ven K, Eijsink C, Franke M, Slootweg P, Claas F, Tilanus M. Human monoclonal antibodies as a tool for the detection of HLA class I allele-specific expression loss in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma and corresponding lymph node metastases. Hum Immunol 2006; 67:692-9. [PMID: 17002899 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2006.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2006] [Accepted: 06/06/2006] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression is important for the elimination of tumor cells by the immune system and immunotherapy. Activated T cells directed against tumor-associated antigens are fully capable of recognizing and eradicating neoplastic cells. Therefore, HLA expression loss is considered to be a main factor in tumor development. We report for the first time HLA-A and HLA-B allele-specific expression analysis by immunohistochemical staining of fresh tumor tissue and 9 lymph node metastases of 15 patients with head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma. Heterogeneous HLA expression and HLA expression loss was detected in 13 tumor patients. Approximately 50% of the tumors had allele-specific expression loss, which would have remained undetected using HLA monomorphic and locus-specific antibodies. In the majority of the patients with head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma, HLA allele-specific expression loss differed between primary lesions and metastases. This is important for the efficacy of immunotherapy in these patients. It can be concluded that it is crucial to study HLA expression at the allele-specific level of primary lesions and metastases. It increases and refines our knowledge of HLA expression loss in tumorgenesis, which will improve the development of specific immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geert Koene
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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18
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Chang CC, Ogino T, Mullins DW, Oliver JL, Yamshchikov GV, Bandoh N, Slingluff CL, Ferrone S. Defective Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I-associated Antigen Presentation Caused by a Novel β2-Microglobulin Loss-of-function in Melanoma Cells. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:18763-73. [PMID: 16648140 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m511525200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex class I molecules consist of three subunits, the 45-kDa heavy chain, the 12-kDa beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m), and an approximately 8-9-residue antigenic peptide. Without beta(2)m, the major histocompatibility complex class I molecules cannot assemble, thereby abolishing their transport to the cell membrane and the subsequent recognition by antigen-specific T cells. Here we report a case of defective antigen presentation caused by the expression of a beta(2)m with a Cys-to-Trp substitution at position 25 (beta(2)m(C25W)). This substitution causes misfolding and degradation of beta(2)m(C25W) but does not result in complete lack of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecule expression on the surface of melanoma VMM5B cells. Despite HLA class I expression, VMM5B cells are not recognized by HLA class I-restricted, melanoma antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes even following loading with exogenous peptides or transduction with melanoma antigen-expressing viruses. Lysis of VMM5B cells is restored only following reconstitution with exogenous or endogenous wild-type beta(2)m protein. Together, our results indicate impairment of antigenic peptide presentation because of a dysfunctional beta(2)m and provide a mechanism for the lack of close association between HLA class I expression and susceptibility of tumor cells to cytotoxic T lymphocytes-mediated lysis in malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Chung Chang
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA
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19
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Maleno I, Romero JM, Cabrera T, Paco L, Aptsiauri N, Cozar JM, Tallada M, López-Nevot MA, Garrido F. LOH at 6p21.3 region and HLA class I altered phenotypes in bladder carcinomas. Immunogenetics 2006; 58:503-10. [PMID: 16705407 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-006-0111-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2005] [Accepted: 03/13/2006] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in HLA class I antigen expression have been frequently described in different epithelial tumors and are thought to favor tumor immune escape from T lymphocyte recognition. Multiple molecular mechanisms are responsible for these altered HLA class I tumor phenotypes. Some are structural defects that produce unresponsiveness to treatment with interferons. Others include alterations in regulatory mechanisms that can be switched on by treatment of tumor cells with different cytokines. One important mechanism belonging to the first group is loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome region 6p21.3, which can lead to HLA haplotype loss. In this investigation, the frequency of LOH at 6p21 chromosome region was studied in 69 bladder carcinomas. Short tandem repeat analysis showed that 35% of cases had LOH in this chromosome region. By considering these results together with immunohistological findings previously published by our group, we identified a distribution pattern of HLA class I altered phenotypes in bladder cancer. The most frequently altered phenotype in bladder carcinomas was total loss of HLA class I expression (17 cases, 25%), followed by phenotype II associated with HLA haplotype loss (12 cases, 17.5%), and HLA allelic loss (ten cases, 14.5%). Nine cases (13%) were classified as having a compound phenotype, five cases (7%) as having HLA locus loss, and in 16 cases (23%) no alteration in HLA expression was detected. An important conclusion of this report is that a combination of different molecular and immunohistological techniques is required to precisely define which HLA alleles are lost during tumor progression and to characterize the underlying mechanisms of these losses. These studies should be performed when a cancer patient is to be included in an immunotherapy protocol that aims to stimulate different immune effector mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Maleno
- Dept. de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014, Granada, Spain
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20
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Rodriguez T, Méndez R, Roberts CH, Ruiz-Cabello F, Dodi IA, Nevot MAL, Paco L, Maleno I, Marsh SGE, Pawelec G, Garrido F. High frequency of homozygosity of the HLA region in melanoma cell lines reveals a pattern compatible with extensive loss of heterozygosity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2005; 54:141-8. [PMID: 15592718 PMCID: PMC11032966 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-004-0561-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2004] [Accepted: 04/17/2004] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Malignant transformation of cells is frequently associated with abnormalities in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression. MHC class I loss or down-regulation in cancer cells is a major immune escape route used by a large variety of human tumours to evade antitumour immune responses mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The goal of our study was to explore HLA genotyping and phenotyping in a variety of melanoma tumour cell lines. A total of 91 melanoma cell lines were characterised for HLA class I and II genotype. In addition, 61 out of the 91 cell lines were also analysed for HLA class I and II cell surface molecule expression by flow cytometry. Unexpectedly, we found that 19.7% of the melanoma cell lines were homozygous for HLA class I genotypes, sometimes associated with HLA class II homozygosity (8.79%) and sometimes not (10.98%). The frequency of homozygosity was significantly higher compared with the control groups (1.6%). To identify the reasons underlying the high frequency of HLA homozygosity we searched for genomic deletions using eight pairs of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers covering the entire extended HLA complex on the short arm of chromosome 6. Our results were compatible with hemizygous deletions and suggest that loss of heterozygosity on chromosome arm 6p is a common feature in melanoma cell lines. In fact, although autologous normal DNA from the patients was not available and could not be tested, the retention in some cases of heterozygosity for a number of microsatellite markers would indicate a hemizygous deletion. In the rest of the cases, markers at 6p and 6q showed a single allele pattern indicating the probable loss of part or the whole of chromosome 6. These results led us to conclude that loss of heterozygosity in chromosome 6 is nonrandom and is possibly an immunologically relevant event in human malignant melanoma. Other well-established altered HLA class I phenotypes were also detected by flow cytometry that correspond to HLA class I total loss and HLA-ABC and/or specific HLA-B locus down-regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Rodriguez
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Rosa Méndez
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Chrissy H. Roberts
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, The Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG UK
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - I. Anthony Dodi
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, The Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG UK
| | - Miguel Angel López Nevot
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Laura Paco
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Isabel Maleno
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Steven G. E. Marsh
- Anthony Nolan Research Institute, The Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG UK
| | - Graham Pawelec
- Section for Transplantation Immunology and Immunohaematology, Zentrum für Medizinische Forschung, Waldhörnlestr. 22, 72072 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Federico Garrido
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
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21
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Ryschich E, Nötzel T, Hinz U, Autschbach F, Ferguson J, Simon I, Weitz J, Fröhlich B, Klar E, Büchler MW, Schmidt J. Control of T-Cell–Mediated Immune Response by HLA Class I in Human Pancreatic Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2005. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.498.11.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: Cell surface HLA class I molecules present peptides derived from human cellular proteins to T cells. In the present study, we investigated the expression of HLA class I in human pancreatic carcinoma.
Experimental Design: The expression of HLA class I antigen and the extent of tumor infiltration by T cells were investigated in 46 primary tumors and in 14 metastases of pancreatic cancer by standard immunohistochemistry.
Results: The locus-specific expression of HLA I was reduced in 61% of primary tumors and in 93% of metastases. The total loss of this molecule complex was detected in 6% of primary tumors and in 43% of metastases. Pancreatic carcinoma and peritumoral tissue showed a significantly higher infiltration by CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cells compared with the tumor-distant pancreatic tissue. The negative expression of HLA class I was uniformly accompanied by a low density of tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T-cells whereas the HLA class I–positive tumors were characterized by a substantial lymphocyte accumulation. However, the infiltration by cytotoxic T-cells was not correlated with the density of tumor cells. Patients with a high accumulation of cytotoxic cells showed a longer median survival.
Conclusions: Pancreatic carcinoma frequently induces a cellular immune response that results in intratumoral and peritumoral T-cell infiltration. The expression of HLA class I is frequently lost in pancreatic carcinoma, which represents an effective mechanism to escape the tumor infiltration by cytotoxic T-cells. However, the infiltration by cytotoxic cells represents a favorable prognostic sign in pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ulf Hinz
- 1Unit for Documentation and Statistics, Department of Surgery, and Departments of
| | | | - James Ferguson
- 4Department of Veterinary Surgery, University of Leipzig, Germany
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22
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Koene GJPA, Arts-Hilkes YHA, van Dijk AJG, van der Ven KJW, Slootweg PJ, de Weger RA, Tilanus MGJ. High level of aneuploidy of chromosome 6 by FISH analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Limited applicability of LOH analysis to define HLA loss. Hum Immunol 2004; 65:1455-62. [PMID: 15603873 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2004.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2004] [Revised: 06/28/2004] [Accepted: 06/30/2004] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I molecules are essential for tumor cell recognition by cytotoxic T cells of the adaptive immune system. Loss of HLA expression provides tumor cells with an escape mechanism to evade the immune system and thus immune therapy. Therefore, HLA loss, and in particular loss of heterozygosity (LOH), is frequently studied in tumors using microsatellite marker LOH analysis. Because LOH analysis detects any allelic imbalance and not just allelic loss, we evaluated the LOH analysis in nine head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). These tumors were selected from 53 HNSCCs based upon the HLA class I immunohistochemical staining and LOH data. FISH analysis showed that only two tumors with LOH and one without LOH indeed had loss and a normal chromosome 6 copy number, respectively. Strikingly, for the remaining six tumors, LOH analysis did not reflect the genome HLA copy number. We demonstrated that LOH analysis cannot distinguish loss from gain and that the HLA region is not homogeneously affected within a tumor. Tumor heterogeneity and complex aneuploidy in tumors hinder a straightforward interpretation of microsatellite marker analysis. For immune therapy strategies in cancer patients, knowledge of the HLA expression on tumor cells is essential, to which LOH analysis has a limited contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geert J P A Koene
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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23
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Ryschich E, Cebotari O, Fabian OV, Autschbach F, Kleeff J, Friess H, Bierhaus A, Büchler MW, Schmidt J. Loss of heterozygosity in the HLA class I region in human pancreatic cancer. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 64:696-702. [PMID: 15546343 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2004.00324.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
An altered human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression constitutes an important tumor-escape mechanism counteracting T-cell mediated immune responses. We utilized the technique of microsatellite analysis to characterize the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the HLA class I region in 24 samples of patients with human ductal pancreatic carcinoma. The expression of HLA class I and the infiltration by T cells were studied in parallel by standard immunohistochemistry. The present study demonstrates LOH in the HLA class I region in five patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that pancreatic carcinomas were frequently characterized by a total or partial loss of expression in HLA class I antigen. The positive or negative LOH status corresponded with the expression analysis in eight cases. Reduction of HLA class I expression without LOH was found in 14 cases. Lymphocyte infiltration with CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells did not show significant differences between LOH-positive and LOH-negative tumors. In conclusion, LOH does not seem to be the only factor for the reduced expression of HLA class I antigen as well as for the T-cell infiltration in this type of tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ryschich
- Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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24
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Koene GJPA, Arts-Hilkes YHA, van der Ven KJW, Rozemuller EH, Slootweg PJ, de Weger RA, Tilanus MGJ. High level of chromosome 15 aneuploidy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma lesions identified by FISH analysis: limited value of beta2-microglobulin LOH analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 64:452-61. [PMID: 15361122 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2004.00291.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In cancer research, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), defined by microsatellite markers, is frequently used in the identification of gene loss. Especially, genomic alterations in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes and the beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) gene on chromosome 15 are of interest regarding their function in the immune system. Because LOH analysis detects any allelic imbalance and not just allelic loss, we evaluated the LOH analysis in 11 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) lesions using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The 11 tumors were selected out of 53 HNSCC lesions based upon beta2m LOH analysis and beta2m expression. Centromere 1 and 15 FISH were developed to determine the chromosome 15 copy number. Sequence-based mutation analysis of beta2m was conducted on tumors without beta2m expression; no mutations in the coding sequences were found. For five HNSCC lesions with LOH and beta2m expression, centromere 15 FISH indicated gain rather than loss. In the majority of the 11 HNSCC lesions, FISH showed centromere 1 and 15 heterogeneity throughout the tumor. Moreover, FISH indicated a more complex chromosome 1 and 15 distribution than could be concluded from microsatellite LOH analysis. Our results show that microsatellite LOH analysis does not represent the beta2m gene copy number and support the results obtained from comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) studies. Conclusions on genomic alterations in tumors cannot be based on LOH data only but depend on the results of immunohistochemical staining, FISH, and CGH.
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Affiliation(s)
- G J P A Koene
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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25
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Maleno I, Cabrera CM, Cabrera T, Paco L, López-Nevot MA, Collado A, Ferrón A, Garrido F. Distribution of HLA class I altered phenotypes in colorectal carcinomas: high frequency of HLA haplotype loss associated with loss of heterozygosity in chromosome region 6p21. Immunogenetics 2004; 56:244-53. [PMID: 15258706 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-004-0692-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2004] [Revised: 06/01/2004] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
HLA class I loss or down-regulation is a widespread mechanism used by tumor cells to avoid tumor recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and thus favor tumor immune escape. Multiple mechanisms are responsible for these HLA class I alterations. In different epithelial tumors, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome region 6p21.3, leading to HLA haplotype loss, occurs in 6-50% of all cases depending on the tumor entity. In this paper we report the frequency of LOH at 6p21 in 95 colorectal carcinomas (CRC) previously analyzed for altered HLA class I expression with immunohistological techniques. We used PCR microsatellite amplification of selected STR markers located on Chromosome 6 to identify LOH with DNA from microdissected tumor tissues and the surrounding stroma. Sequence-specific oligonucleotide analysis was performed in microdissected stroma and tumor cells for HLA typing, and to detect HLA haplotype loss. A high frequency (40%) of HLA haplotype loss was found in CRC. Eight tumors showed microsatellite instability. We sometimes observed two or more mechanisms responsible for HLA alteration within the same HLA-altered phenotype, such as LOH and HLA class I total loss. In 25 tumors (26%) no HLA class I alteration could be identified. These data are potentially relevant for CRC patients undergoing T-cell-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Maleno
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
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26
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Maleno I, Lopez Nevot MA, Seliger B, Garrido F. Low frequency of HLA haplotype loss associated with loss of heterozygocity in chromosome region 6p21 in clear renal cell carcinomas. Int J Cancer 2004; 109:636-8. [PMID: 14991587 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.20000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
HLA class I loss or downregulation is a widespread mechanism used by tumor cells to avoid tumor recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes favoring tumor immune escape. Multiple molecular mechanisms are responsible for these altered HLA class I tumor phenotypes. It has been described in different epithelial tumors that loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome region 6p21.3 is a frequent mechanism that leads to HLA haplotype loss, ranging between 40 and 50%, depending on the tumor entity analyzed. Here we have tested the frequency of LOH at 6p21 chromosome region in Renal Cell Carcinomas (RCC) of the clear cell and chromophobe subtype. A low frequency of HLA haplotype loss (6.6%) was found in clear cell RCC. These data significantly differ from those reported in other epithelial tumors. In contrast, in RCC of chromophobe subtype this frequency was 10 times higher (3 out of 5 cases analyzed). These results indicate that LOH at 6p21.3 is not a frequent mechanism that leads to HLA class I abnormalities in clear cell RCC. In addition, the chromophobe RCC subtypes differ not only in histopathological criteria but also in the frequency of LOH-mediating HLA class I alterations. These results might help to understand the significantly different biological behavior of both RCC subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Maleno
- Departmento Analisis Clinicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen Nieves, Granada, Spain
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27
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Cabrera T, Maleno I, Lopez-Nevot MA, Redondo M, Fernandez MA, Collado A, Garrido F. High frequency of HLA-B44 allelic losses in human solid tumors. Hum Immunol 2003; 64:941-50. [PMID: 14522091 DOI: 10.1016/s0198-8859(03)00164-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I downregulation, a frequent phenomenon observed in a variety of human tumors, favors tumor immune escape from T-lymphocyte recognition. However, it is not known whether a particular HLA class I allele is lost more frequently than others. To address this question we analyzed HLA class I expression in tumor tissues derived from 300 patients diagnosed as having breast, colorectal, or laryngeal carcinomas. Cryostatic tumor sections and a broad panel of anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibodies were used. We found that the HLA-B44 allele was lost more frequently than other HLA class I alleles, and that the difference was not related with changes in HLA-B44 allele frequencies between patients and controls. In addition, we observed that 35% of the HLA-B44 negative tumors presented HLA haplotype loss associated with loss of heterozygosity. These tests were performed on DNA samples obtained from microdissected tumor tissues. The results seem to indicate that HLA class I allelic losses are not randomly distributed during tumor development but that some HLA class I alleles, and HLA-B44 in particular, are more frequently downregulated and may play an important role in immune escape mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Cabrera
- Departamento de Anáslisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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28
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Cabrera CM, Jiménez P, Cabrera T, Esparza C, Ruiz-Cabello F, Garrido F. Total loss of MHC class I in colorectal tumors can be explained by two molecular pathways: beta2-microglobulin inactivation in MSI-positive tumors and LMP7/TAP2 downregulation in MSI-negative tumors. TISSUE ANTIGENS 2003; 61:211-9. [PMID: 12694570 DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-0039.2003.00020.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms that lead to loss of MHC class I expression in different types of tumors are not yet fully known. Accordingly, we studied colorectal carcinomas to elucidate the specific mechanisms of evasion of the T-cell immune response. We selected tumors with total loss of MHC class I expression and studied 124 colorectal carcinomas with immunohistochemical staining and anti-HLA monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Fourteen of 124 (11%) tumors exhibited a phenotype with HLA class I total loss. Microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis was also carried out in the same tumor samples. The expression of beta2-microglobulin (beta2m), HLA-A, B, and C antigens, transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1), TAP2, low-molecular-weight protein 2 (LMP2), and LMP7 were analyzed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in microdissected tumor samples. Four of 14 microsatellite instability-positive (MSI+) and W6/32 mAb-negative tumors showed biallelic inactivation of beta2m and accumulation of HLA class I heavy chain in the cytoplasm. MSI-negative (MSI-)/W6/32 mAb-negative tumors presented alterations in the expression of components of the antigen processing machinery (APM). Nine of 10 tumor samples showed LMP7 gene downregulation, and four of 10 presented TAP2 dysregulation. This group apparently expressed normal levels of heavy chain and beta2m mRNA. Two major mechanisms in colorectal cancer appear to be responsible for the total loss of MHC surface expression (beta2m mutations and LMP7/TAP2 downregulation) that may contribute to the failure of T lymphocyte recognition during an immune response. The precise identification of the molecular defects that underlie HLA class I abnormalities will have important implications for patients receiving T-cell-based specific immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Cabrera
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, 18014 Granada, Spain
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29
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Marín R, Ruiz-Cabello F, Pedrinaci S, Méndez R, Jiménez P, Geraghty DE, Garrido F. Analysis of HLA-E expression in human tumors. Immunogenetics 2003; 54:767-75. [PMID: 12618909 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-002-0526-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2002] [Revised: 11/14/2002] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Downregulation of MHC class Ia molecule expression is a widespread mechanism used by tumor cells to escape antitumor T-cell-mediated immune responses. However, it is not known why NK cells cannot lyse these MHC class-Ia-deficient tumor targets. Tumors must select additional routes of escape from NK cells. An attractive hypothesis is that the aberrant expression of nonclassical HLA class Ia molecules in tumors provides the required inhibitory signal to NK cells, rendering tumor cells resistant to NK lysis. To analyze the possible role of HLA-E molecules in providing tumor cells with an NK escape mechanism, we studied the cell surface expression of this HLA class Ib molecule in a variety of tumor cell lines with well-defined HLA class Ia alterations. Tests were done with the monoclonal antibody 3D12 recognizing cell surface HLA-E molecules. Our results indicate that HLA-E was mainly detected in leukemia-derived cell lines. In addition, HLA-E was detected in tumor cell lines of different origin. This expression was related with the availability of free beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. Expression was detected in tumor cell lines showing an imbalance in heavy chain/beta(2)m expression, particularly in tumor cell lines with alterations in the expression of heavy-chain genes. Several lines of evidence favor these conclusions: (1) In the FM55 and NW145 melanoma tumor systems, the reduction in HLA class Ia expression paralleled the increased cell surface detection of HLA-E. (2) A cervical tumor (808) and a melanoma cell line (R22.2) expressing a single HLA-A1 allele also expressed HLA-E. (3) The addition of human beta(2)m to tumor cell lines that expressed the HLA-E(G) allele increased HLA-E cell surface expression. (4) There was no HLA-E cell surface expression in tumor cell lines with total loss of HLA class Ia expression, including cell lines with low transcription of HLA class I heavy chains or with beta(2)m mutations. Our findings suggest that the biological consequences of these cumulative genetic and molecular changes in tumor cells lead to the appearance of HLA-E in a limited number of tumor cell lines with peculiar phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, namely: HLA-class Ia downregulation, free beta(2)m and HLA-E(G) genotype. The aberrant HLA-E expression might be of particular biological relevance in those HLA tumor phenotypes that express a single HLA-A allele when NK inhibition is markedly reduced due to the downregulation of HLA-B and -C alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Marín
- Departmento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Avda. fuerzas Armadas no.2, Spain
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McEvoy CRE, Seshadri R, Morley AA, Firgaira FA. Frequency and genetic basis of MHC, beta-2-microglobulin and MEMO-1 loss of heterozygosity in sporadic breast cancer. TISSUE ANTIGENS 2002; 60:235-43. [PMID: 12445306 DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-0039.2002.600305.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I molecules are critical factors in T cell recognition of abnormal, including neoplastic, cells. Loss of HLA class I expression phenotypes, as defined by immunohistochemistry-based tests, have been previously described in many types of cancer. Here we describe a microsatellite marker DNA-based loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis of three distinct chromosomal regions which have been implicated in HLA class I expression on a cohort of 99 unselected sporadic breast cancer samples. These regions comprise the 4Mb major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region on chromosome 6p, which contains the HLA class I heavy chain loci and other genes responsible for antigen processing, the HLA class I light chain (beta-2-microglobulin, beta2m) gene on chromosome 15q, and the putative HLA class I modifier of methylation gene (MEMO-1) on chromosome 1p. Additional chromosome 6 markers were also employed to determine the likely genetic mechanism for MHC loss. We show that 25/99 (25%) of samples show allelic loss within the MHC, 28/95 informative samples (29%) show allelic loss of beta2m and 21/76 informative samples (28%) show allelic loss of MEMO-1. Approximately half of the samples are predicted to have compromised HLA class I gene expression due to LOH at one and/or other of these three loci. Sequencing of the remaining beta2m allele in samples displaying beta2m LOH failed to detect any additional intragenic mutations. Analysis of the frequency of samples showing LOH at either 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the genomic regions analyzed suggested clustering of tumors into either 'no loci loss' or '3 loci loss' categories. These results reveal major underlying genetic causes for the high level of HLA class I expression loss seen in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R E McEvoy
- Department of Haematology and Genetic Pathology, Flinders Medical Center and Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Garrido
- Departamento de Analisis Clinicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
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Ruiz-Cabello F, Cabrera T, Lopez-Nevot MA, Garrido F. Impaired surface antigen presentation in tumors: implications for T cell-based immunotherapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2002; 12:15-24. [PMID: 11926407 DOI: 10.1006/scbi.2001.0406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The identification of tumor-associated antigens has suggested new possibilities for cancer therapy. However, multiple mechanisms may contribute to the ability of tumor to escape antitumor immune responses. Tumor antigen heterogeneity, modulation of HLA expression and immune suppressive mechanisms may occur at any time during tumor cell progression, and can affect the outcome of therapeutic immune intervention. In particular, the appearance of altered HLA class I phenotypes during tumor development may have important biological and medical implications due to the role of these molecules in T and NK cell functions. Exhaustive tumor tissue studies are necessary before deciding whether a particular patient is suitable for inclusion in T cell-based immunotherapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.
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Fernández MA, Ruiz-Cabello F, Oliva MR, Cabrera T, Jimenez P, López Nevot MA, Garrido F. Beta2-microglobulin gene mutation is not a common mechanism of HLA class I total loss in human tumors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL & LABORATORY RESEARCH 2001; 30:87-92. [PMID: 11043502 DOI: 10.1007/bf02874164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
One hundred and sixty-two tumor samples were analyzed for HLA class I expression using immunohistological techniques. HLA class I total loss (phenotype no. I) was detected in 31 cases (19%), comprising 20 colorectal, 3 laryngeal, and 2 bladder carcinomas and 6 melanomas. Twenty-one cases were selected for molecular analysis due to a higher proportion of tumor cells versus stroma cells (75%). We investigated whether beta2-microglobulin mutation was responsible for HLA downregulation. Single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing analysis of DNA samples was performed. Alterations were detected only in melanomas M78 (a point mutation in the initiation ATG sequence), M79 (a mutation in codon 31 producing a stop codon), and M34 (a TTCT deletion introducing a termination codon signal). We found no beta2-microglobulin gene mutation in the other 18 samples. Loss of heterozygosity in 15q close to the beta2-microglobulin gene was found in 5 cases. We conclude that HLA class I total loss can frequently occur without beta2-microglobulin gene mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Fernández
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Universidad de Granada, Spain
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Ramal LM, Maleno I, Cabrera T, Collado A, Ferron A, Lopez-Nevot MA, Garrido F. Molecular strategies to define HLA haplotype loss in microdissected tumor cells. Hum Immunol 2000; 61:1001-12. [PMID: 11082513 DOI: 10.1016/s0198-8859(00)00171-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosome 6p21 is an important mechanism that generates HLA haplotype loss in various human tumors. This mechanism produces non-reversible HLA-deficient tumor cells that can escape T cell immune responses in peptide-vaccinated cancer patients. However, the exact frequency of this mechanism is still unknown, because contaminating stroma in solid tumor tissues masks the tumor DNA obtained from solid samples. A microdissection technique was applied to 4-8 microm sections of cryopreserved tumor tissues from a group of colorectal and laryngeal carcinomas. Fifteen patients were analyzed for the presence of LOH associated with the beta(2)-microglobulin gene in chromosome 15, and five patients for LOH associated with HLA genes in chromosome 6. In two cases, autologous metastasis tissue samples were also available. The patients were selected for showing an altered HLA class I tumor phenotype as determined by immunohistological techniques. DNA was obtained from this microdissected material and amplified in order to detect the presence or absence of nine previously selected microsatellite markers. HLA sequence based typing (SBT) was also applied to these microdissected DNA samples to define the HLA genotype. Microdissection greatly improved the definition of LOH, with nearly 100% signal reduction in one of the alleles. In addition, this procedure allowed us to detect beta(2)-microglobulin LOH in tumors that expressed some HLA molecules. Our data indicate that this procedure can be successfully applied to microdissected samples from solid tumors, thus enhancing the power and sensitivity of LOH detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Ramal
- Department of Analisis Clinicos, Granada, Spain
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Feenstra M, Verdaasdonk M, van der Zwan AW, de Weger R, Slootweg P, Tilanus M. Microsatellite analysis of microdissected tumor cells and 6p high density microsatellite analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas with down-regulated human leukocyte antigen class I expression. J Transl Med 2000; 80:405-14. [PMID: 10744076 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.3780045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Down-regulated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression is frequently correlated with allelic loss at 6p21.3, which is the location of the HLA coding sequence, in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Previously, we have demonstrated loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 6p21.3 for at least one locus in 49% of the HNSCCs using 5 microsatellite markers spanning the 4 megabase HLA region. In the present study, the detection threshold (25%) to assign LOH was addressed by laser-assisted microdissection of tumor cells from tumors containing marginal loss. In addition, we describe high density microsatellite analysis of chromosome 6p21.3 in HNSCC with down-regulated HLA class I expression. The purpose of this study was to refine the identification of genetic alterations at 6p21.3 and to pinpoint allelic loss to individual HLA class I genes, using additional markers closely located to the HLA-A, -B, and -C loci and the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) genes. LOH analysis by amplification of microsatellite markers and subsequent fluorescent detection is a rapid and sensitive technique to predict HLA class I loss phenotypes in tumors. LOH can be identified at 25% relative signal reduction. Analysis of heterogeneous tumor samples and samples containing a small amount of tumor cells is facilitated by laser-assisted microdissection of tumor cells. In addition, we showed that accurate HLA LOH analysis requires application of microsatellite markers in close proximity to HLA class I and TAP genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Feenstra
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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