1
|
James CA, Ronning P, Cullinan D, Cotto KC, Barnell EK, Campbell KM, Skidmore ZL, Sanford DE, Goedegebuure SP, Gillanders WE, Griffith OL, Hawkins WG, Griffith M. In silico epitope prediction analyses highlight the potential for distracting antigen immunodominance with allogeneic cancer vaccines. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 1:115-126. [PMID: 35611186 PMCID: PMC9126504 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-21-0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Allogeneic cancer vaccines are designed to induce antitumor immune responses with the goal of impacting tumor growth. Typical allogeneic cancer vaccines are produced by expansion of established cancer cell lines, transfection with vectors encoding immunostimulatory cytokines, and lethal irradiation. More than 100 clinical trials have investigated the clinical benefit of allogeneic cancer vaccines in various cancer types. Results show limited therapeutic benefit in clinical trials and currently there are no FDA approved allogeneic cancer vaccines. We used recently developed bioinformatics tools including the pVAC-seq suite of software tools to analyze DNA/RNA sequencing data from the TCGA to examine the repertoire of antigens presented by a typical allogeneic cancer vaccine, and to simulate allogeneic cancer vaccine clinical trials. Specifically, for each simulated clinical trial we modeled the repertoire of antigens presented by allogeneic cancer vaccines consisting of three hypothetical cancer cell lines to 30 patients with the same cancer type. Simulations were repeated ten times for each cancer type. Each tumor sample in the vaccine and the vaccine recipient was subjected to HLA typing, differential expression analyses for tumor associated antigens (TAAs), germline variant calling, and neoantigen prediction. These analyses provided a robust, quantitative comparison between potentially beneficial TAAs and neoantigens versus distracting antigens present in the allogeneic cancer vaccines. We observe that distracting antigens greatly outnumber shared TAAs and neoantigens, providing one potential explanation for the lack of observed responses to allogeneic cancer vaccines. This analysis provides additional rationale for the redirection of efforts towards a personalized cancer vaccine approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C. Alston James
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Peter Ronning
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Darren Cullinan
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kelsy C. Cotto
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Erica K. Barnell
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Katie M. Campbell
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Zachary L. Skidmore
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Dominic E. Sanford
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - S. Peter Goedegebuure
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - William E. Gillanders
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Obi L. Griffith
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,CorrespondingAuthor: Malachi Griffith, McDonnell Genome Institute, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8501, St. Louis, MO 63108. Phone: 314-286-1274; E-mail: ; Obi L. Griffith, McDonnell Genome Institute, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8501, St. Louis, MO 63108. E-mail: ; and William G. Hawkins, McDonnell Genome Institute, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8501, St. Louis, MO 63108. E-mail:
| | - William G. Hawkins
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,CorrespondingAuthor: Malachi Griffith, McDonnell Genome Institute, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8501, St. Louis, MO 63108. Phone: 314-286-1274; E-mail: ; Obi L. Griffith, McDonnell Genome Institute, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8501, St. Louis, MO 63108. E-mail: ; and William G. Hawkins, McDonnell Genome Institute, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8501, St. Louis, MO 63108. E-mail:
| | - Malachi Griffith
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,CorrespondingAuthor: Malachi Griffith, McDonnell Genome Institute, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8501, St. Louis, MO 63108. Phone: 314-286-1274; E-mail: ; Obi L. Griffith, McDonnell Genome Institute, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8501, St. Louis, MO 63108. E-mail: ; and William G. Hawkins, McDonnell Genome Institute, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8501, St. Louis, MO 63108. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Morris MJ, Corey E, Guise TA, Gulley JL, Kevin Kelly W, Quinn DI, Scholz A, Sgouros G. Radium-223 mechanism of action: implications for use in treatment combinations. Nat Rev Urol 2019; 16:745-756. [PMID: 31712765 PMCID: PMC7515774 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-019-0251-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The targeted alpha therapy radium-223 (223Ra) can prolong survival in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who have symptomatic bone metastases and no known visceral metastases. Preclinical studies demonstrate that 223Ra preferentially incorporates into newly formed bone matrix within osteoblastic metastatic lesions. The emitted high-energy alpha particles induce DNA double-strand breaks that might be irreparable and lead to cell death in nearby exposed tumour cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Consequently, tumour growth and abnormal bone formation are inhibited by these direct effects and by the disruption of positive-feedback loops between tumour cells and the bone microenvironment. 223Ra might also modulate immune responses within the bone. The clinical utility of 223Ra has encouraged the development of other anticancer targeted alpha therapies. A thorough understanding of the mechanism of action could inform the design of new combinatorial treatment strategies that might be more efficacious than monotherapy. On the basis of the current mechanistic knowledge and potential clinical benefits, combination therapies of 223Ra with microtubule-stabilizing cytotoxic drugs and agents targeting the androgen receptor axis, immune checkpoint receptors or DNA damage response proteins are being explored in patients with CRPC and metastatic bone disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Morris
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Theresa A Guise
- Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - William Kevin Kelly
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David I Quinn
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Arne Scholz
- Bayer AG, Drug Discovery, Pharmaceuticals, Berlin, Germany
| | - George Sgouros
- Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hossain MK, Nahar K, Donkor O, Apostolopoulos V. Immune-based therapies for metastatic prostate cancer: an update. Immunotherapy 2019; 10:283-298. [PMID: 29421982 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2017-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC) is a common malignancy among elderly males and is noncurable once it becomes metastatic. In recent years, a number of antigen-delivery systems have emerged as viable and promising immunotherapeutic agents against PC. The approval of sipuleucel-T by the US FDA for the treatment of males with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic castrate resistant PC was a landmark in cancer immunotherapy, making this the first approved immunotherapeutic. A number of vaccines are under clinical investigation, each having its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Here, we discuss the basic technologies underlying these different delivery modes, we discuss the completed and current human clinical trials, as well as the use of vaccines in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kamrun Nahar
- Vetafarm Pty Ltd, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia
| | - Osaana Donkor
- Centre for Chronic Disease, College of Health & Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Vasso Apostolopoulos
- Centre for Chronic Disease, College of Health & Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cabo M, Offringa R, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Muntasell A, Galluzzi L. Trial Watch: Immunostimulatory monoclonal antibodies for oncological indications. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1371896. [PMID: 29209572 PMCID: PMC5706611 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1371896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of cancer immunotherapy is to establish new or boost pre-existing anticancer immune responses that eradicate malignant cells while generating immunological memory to prevent disease relapse. Over the past few years, immunomodulatory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that block co-inhibitory receptors on immune effectors cells - such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4), programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1, best known as PD-1) - or their ligands - such as CD274 (best known as PD-L1) - have proven very successful in this sense. As a consequence, many of such immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) have already entered the clinical practice for various oncological indications. Considerable attention is currently being attracted by a second group of immunomodulatory mAbs, which are conceived to activate co-stimulatory receptors on immune effector cells. Here, we discuss the mechanisms of action of these immunostimulatory mAbs and summarize recent progress in their preclinical and clinical development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariona Cabo
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rienk Offringa
- Department of General Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- DKFZ-Bayer Joint Immunotherapeutics Laboratory, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France
- INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France
- Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 1428, Villejuif, France
- Université Paris Sud/Paris XI, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris
- Equipe 11 labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France
- Karolinska Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Pôle de Biologie, Hopitâl Européen George Pompidou, AP-HP; Paris, France
| | - Aura Muntasell
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, France
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
[Immunotherapy: Activation of a system not a pathway]. Bull Cancer 2017; 104:462-475. [PMID: 28477871 DOI: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2017.03.004] [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: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is on the roll. After revolutionary effects in melanoma, immunotherapy is invading other locations. If current treatments, chemotherapies or targeted therapies block one pathway, immunotherapy should be understood as the activation of a whole system. Indeed, oncogenesis process is defined as an escape of the immune system and the stimulation of this system can block the carcinogenic process. The aim of the present review is to describe the place of immunotherapy in the treatment of solid cancers.
Collapse
|
6
|
Ahmed KK, Geary SM, Salem AK. Surface engineering tumor cells with adjuvant-loaded particles for use as cancer vaccines. J Control Release 2017; 248:1-9. [PMID: 28057523 PMCID: PMC5309920 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cell surface engineering is an expanding field and whilst extensive research has been performed decorating cell surfaces with biomolecules, the engineering of cell surfaces with particles has been a largely unexploited area. This study reports on the assembly of cell-particle hybrids where irradiated tumor cells were surface engineered with adjuvant-loaded, biodegradable, biocompatible, polymeric particles, with the aim of generating a construct capable of functioning as a therapeutic cancer vaccine. Successfully assembled cell-particle hybrids presented here comprised either melanoma cells or prostate cancer cells stably adorned with Toll-like receptor-9 ligand-loaded particles using streptavidin-biotin cross-linking. Both cell-particle assemblies were tested in vivo for their potential as therapeutic cancer vaccines yielding promising therapeutic results for the prostate cancer model. The ramifications of results obtained for both tumor models are openly discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kawther K Ahmed
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Sean M Geary
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Aliasger K Salem
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sipuleucel-T and Androgen Receptor-Directed Therapy for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. J Immunol Res 2016; 2016:4543861. [PMID: 28058266 PMCID: PMC5183769 DOI: 10.1155/2016/4543861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 08/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
New treatments, such as sipuleucel-T and androgen receptor- (AR-) directed therapies (enzalutamide (Enz) and abiraterone acetate (AA)), have emerged and been approved for the management of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). There are still debates over their efficacy and clinical benefits. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of sipuleucel-T and AR-directed therapies in patients with CRPC. RevMan 5.1 was used for pooled analysis and analysis of publication bias. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis, with three studies in sipuleucel-T (totally 737 patients, 488 patients in treatment group, and 249 patients in placebo group) and four in AR-directed therapies (totally 5,199 patients, 3,015 patients in treatment group, and 2,184 patients in placebo group). Treatment with sipuleucel-T significantly improved overall survival in patients with CRPC and was not associated with increased risk of adverse event of grade ≥3 (p > 0.05). However, treatment with sipuleucel-T did not improve time-to-progression and reduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level ≥50% was not significantly different from that with placebo. AR-directed therapies significantly improved overall survival in patients with CRPC and improved time-to-progression and reduction of PSA level ≥50%. AR-directed therapies did not increase risk of adverse event of grade ≥3 (p > 0.05).
Collapse
|
8
|
Swart M, Verbrugge I, Beltman JB. Combination Approaches with Immune-Checkpoint Blockade in Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2016; 6:233. [PMID: 27847783 PMCID: PMC5088186 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In healthy individuals, immune-checkpoint molecules prevent autoimmune responses and limit immune cell-mediated tissue damage. Tumors frequently exploit these molecules to evade eradication by the immune system. Over the past years, immune-checkpoint blockade of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 and programed death-1 emerged as promising strategies to activate antitumor cytotoxic T cell responses. Although complete regression and long-term survival is achieved in some patients, not all patients respond. This review describes promising, novel combination approaches involving immune-checkpoint blockade in the context of the cancer-immunity cycle, aimed at increasing response rates to the single treatments. Specifically, we discuss combinations that promote antigen release and presentation, that further amplify T cell activation, that inhibit trafficking of regulatory T cells or MSDCs, that stimulate intratumoral T cell infiltration, that increase cancer recognition by T cells, and that stimulate tumor killing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maarten Swart
- Division of Toxicology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Inge Verbrugge
- Division of Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joost B. Beltman
- Division of Toxicology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Diaminosulfide based polymer microparticles as cancer vaccine delivery systems. J Control Release 2015; 220:682-90. [PMID: 26359124 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the research presented here was to determine the characteristics and immunostimulatory capacity, in vivo, of antigen and adjuvant co-loaded into microparticles made from a novel diaminosulfide polymer, poly(4,4'-trimethylenedipiperdyl sulfide) (PNSN), and to assess their potential as cancer vaccine vectors. PNSN microparticles co-loaded with the antigen, ovalbumin (OVA), and adjuvant, CpG 1826, (PNSN(OVA + CpG)) were fabricated and characterized for size (1.64 μm diameter; PDI=0.62), charge (-23.1 ± 0.3), and loading efficiencies of antigen (7.32 μg/mg particles) and adjuvant (0.95 μg/mg particles). The ability of PNSN(OVA + CpG) to stimulate cellular and humoral immune responses in vivo was compared with other PNSN microparticle formulations as well as with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)-based microparticles, co-loaded with OVA and CpG (PLGA(OVA + CpG)), an adenovirus encoding OVA (Ad5-OVA), and OVA delivered with incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA(OVA)). In vivo OVA-specific IgG1 responses, after subcutaneous prime/boosts in mice, were similar when PNSN(OVA + CpG) and PLGA(OVA + CpG) were compared and the presence of CpG 1826 within the PNSN microparticles demonstrated significantly improved responses when compared to PNSN microparticles loaded with OVA alone (PNSN(OVA)), plus or minus soluble CpG 1826. Cellular immune responses to all particle-based vaccine formulations ranged from being negligible to modest with PNSN(OVA + CpG) generating the greatest responses, displaying significantly increased levels of OVA-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes compared to controls and IFA(OVA) treated mice. Finally, it was shown that of all vaccination formulations tested PNSN(OVA + CpG) was the most protective against subsequent challenge with an OVA-expressing tumor cell line, E.G7. Thus, microparticles made from poly(diaminosulfide)-based macromolecules possess promising potential as vaccine vectors and, as demonstrated here, may have impact as cancer vaccines in particular.
Collapse
|
10
|
Seo HS. Application of radiation technology in vaccines development. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2015; 4:145-58. [PMID: 26273573 PMCID: PMC4524899 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2015.4.2.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the earliest methods used in the manufacture of stable and safe vaccines is the use of chemical and physical treatments to produce inactivated forms of pathogens. Although these types of vaccines have been successful in eliciting specific humoral immune responses to pathogen-associated immunogens, there is a large demand for the development of fast, safe, and effective vaccine manufacturing strategies. Radiation sterilization has been used to develop a variety of vaccine types, because it can eradicate chemical contaminants and penetrate pathogens to destroy nucleic acids without damaging the pathogen surface antigens. Nevertheless, irradiated vaccines have not widely been used at an industrial level because of difficulties obtaining the necessary equipment. Recent successful clinical trials of irradiated vaccines against pathogens and tumors have led to a reevaluation of radiation technology as an alternative method to produce vaccines. In the present article, we review the challenges associated with creating irradiated vaccines and discuss potential strategies for developing vaccines using radiation technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ho Seong Seo
- Radiation Biotechnology Research Division, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ahmed KK, Geary SM, Salem AK. Applying biodegradable particles to enhance cancer vaccine efficacy. Immunol Res 2015; 59:220-8. [PMID: 24838147 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-014-8537-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
One of the primary goals of our group and our collaborators here at the University of Iowa is to develop therapeutic cancer vaccines using biodegradable and biocompatible polymer-based vectors. A major advantage of using discretely packaged immunogenic cargo over non-encapsulated vaccines is that they promote enhanced cellular immunity, a key requirement in achieving antitumor activity. We discuss the importance of co-encapsulation of tumor antigen and adjuvant, with specific focus on the synthetic oligonucleotide adjuvant, cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides. We also discuss our research using a variety of polymers including poly(α-hydroxy acids) and polyanhydrides, with the aim of determining the effect that parameters, such as size and polymer type, can have on prophylactic and therapeutic tumor vaccine formulation efficacy. Aside from their role as vaccine vectors per se, we also address the research currently underway in our group that utilizes more novel applications of biodegradable polymer-based particles in facilitating other types of immune-based therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kawther K Ahmed
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lowenstein PR, Castro MG. The value of EGFRvIII as the target for glioma vaccines. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2014:42-50. [PMID: 24857059 DOI: 10.14694/edbook_am.2014.34.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors continue to be rapidly progressive and resistant to most treatments. Even with state-of-the-art standard of care (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy) long-term survival in the last 80 years improved from 6 to 15 months. Improved imaging has also likely contributed to prolonged survival. Immunotherapy for cancer dates back to publications from 1742. The central idea is that the immune system can detect and eliminate foreign antigens, either from infectious agents or tumors, and thus could be therapeutic in brain tumors. Recent introduction of immune modulators of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4 and programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-1/PDL1) add much excitement to this field. For brain tumors, there are several ongoing phase I and III trials to determine whether any of the current immunotherapy approaches can demonstrate activity in randomized, controlled double-blinded trials-with ongoing and historical trials presented in tables within the manuscript. Immunotherapy has explored the use of various types of antigens (obtained either from homogenates of patients' tumors or synthetically produced), and various immunization procedures and adjuvants. Glioma antigens have also been isolated from the patients' own tumor, then produced in vitro (for example the glioma antigen EGFRvIII), and used to immunize patients directly, or with carriers such as dendritic cells with or without additional adjuvants. Several of these practical approaches are currently in phase III trials. Remaining challenges are how to increase the percentage of complete responses and response duration, and the enigmatic absence of an almost total lack of adverse brain inflammation following immunization of brain tumor patients, as has been observed following immunization against brain antigens in other diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro R Lowenstein
- From the Department of Neurosurgery and Cell and Developmental Biology, Graduate Program in Immunology, and Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Maria G Castro
- From the Department of Neurosurgery and Cell and Developmental Biology, Graduate Program in Immunology, and Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sankar S, Nayanar SK, Balasubramanian S. Current trends in cancer vaccines--a bioinformatics perspective. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2014; 14:4041-7. [PMID: 23991949 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.7.4041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccine development is in the process of becoming reality in future, due to successful phase II/III clinical trials. However, there are still problems due to the specificity of tumor antigens and weakness of tumor associated antigens in eliciting an effective immune response. Computational models to assess the vaccine efficacy have helped to improve and understand what is necessary for personalized treatment. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of activation of antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, decreased TREG number functionality and antigen cascade, so that overall improvement in vaccine efficacy and disease free survival can be attained. T cell epitomic based in sillico approaches might be very effective for the design and development of novel cancer vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanju Sankar
- Division of Biochemistry, Malabar Cancer Center, Thalassery, Kerala, India.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Geary SM, Salem AK. Prostate cancer vaccines: Update on clinical development. Oncoimmunology 2013; 2:e24523. [PMID: 23762812 PMCID: PMC3667918 DOI: 10.4161/onci.24523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a common malignancy among elderly men and is essentially incurable once it becomes metastatic. Results from clinical trials testing a panel of specific vaccines in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) suggest that alternative therapies may one day substitute or support the current gold standard (docetaxel plus prednisone). Here, we summarize the results of germane clinical trials completed during the last 12 y and provide updates on some currently ongoing studies. As it stands, prostate cancer vaccines appear to be safe and capable of generating prostate-specific T lymphocyte responses with potential antitumor activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Geary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics; College of Pharmacy; University of Iowa; Iowa City, IA USA
| | | |
Collapse
|