1
|
Lim SM, Kang SS, Kim DK, Lee SH, Synn CB, Baek S, Yang SM, Han YJ, Kim MH, Han H, Na K, Kim YT, Yun MR, Kim JH, Byeon Y, Kim YS, Lee JB, Hong MH, Curtin JC, Patel B, Bergiers I, Pyo KH, Cho BC. Exploration of Immune-Modulatory Effects of Amivantamab in Combination with Pembrolizumab in Lung and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1748-1764. [PMID: 38916448 PMCID: PMC11253790 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-24-0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective first-line therapy for solid cancers. However, low response rate and acquired resistance over time has led to the need for additional therapeutic options. Here, we evaluated synergistic antitumor efficacy of EGFR × MET targeting bispecific antibody, amivantamab with PD-L1 immunotherapy, pembrolizumab in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and lung squamous cell carcinoma tumor-bearing humanized patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. We demonstrated that pembrolizumab or amivantamab alone was ineffective and that combination treatment induced a significant reduction of tumor growth in both models (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01, respectively). It appeared that combination of amivantamab and pembrolizumab significantly enhanced infiltration of granzyme B-producing CD8 T cells was in the TME of HNSCC PDX (P < 0.01) and enhanced neoantigen-associated central memory CD8 T cells in circulating immune cells. Analysis of single-cell RNA transcriptomics suggested that the tumor cells dramatically upregulated EGFR and MET in response to PD-L1 immunotherapy, potentially creating a metabolic state fit for tumor persistence in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and rendered pembrolizumab ineffective. We demonstrated that EGFRHIGHMETHIGH subcluster displayed an increased expression of genes implicated in production of lactate [SLC16A3 and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)] compared to the EGFRLOWMETLOW cluster. Accumulation of lactate in the TME has been associated with immunosuppression by hindering the infiltration of tumor killing CD8 T and NK cells. This study proved that amivantamab reduced glycolytic markers in the EGFRHIGHMETHIGH subcluster including SLC16A3 and LDHA and highlighted remodeling of the TME by combination treatment, providing rationale for additional therapy of amivantamab with PD-1 immunotherapy. SIGNIFICANCE Amivantamab in synergy with pembrolizumab effectively eradicated EGFRHIGHMETHIGH tumor subcluster in the tumor microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and overcame resistance against anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun M. Lim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Seong-san Kang
- JEUK Institute for Cancer Research, JEUK Co., Ltd., Gumi-si, South Korea.
| | - Dong K. Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Soo-Hwan Lee
- JEUK Institute for Cancer Research, JEUK Co., Ltd., Gumi-si, South Korea.
| | - Chun-Bong Synn
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Sujeong Baek
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Seung M. Yang
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Yu J. Han
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Mi H. Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Heekyung Han
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Kwangmin Na
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Young T. Kim
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Mi R. Yun
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Yonsei New Il Han Institute for Integrative Lung Cancer Research, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Jae H. Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Youngseon Byeon
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Young S. Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Jii B. Lee
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Min H. Hong
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | | | | | | | - Kyoung-Ho Pyo
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Yonsei New Il Han Institute for Integrative Lung Cancer Research, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Byoung C. Cho
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- JEUK Institute for Cancer Research, JEUK Co., Ltd., Gumi-si, South Korea.
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Research Support, Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Yonsei New Il Han Institute for Integrative Lung Cancer Research, Seoul, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lombardi AM, Sangiolo D, Vigna E. MET Oncogene Targeting for Cancer Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6109. [PMID: 38892318 PMCID: PMC11173045 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The MET receptor is one of the main drivers of 'invasive growth', a multifaceted biological response essential during embryonic development and tissue repair that is usurped by cancer cells to induce and sustain the malignant phenotype. MET stands out as one of the most important oncogenes activated in cancer and its inhibition has been explored since the initial era of cancer-targeted therapy. Different approaches have been developed to hamper MET signaling and/or reduce MET (over)expression as a hallmark of transformation. Considering the great interest gained by cancer immunotherapy, this review evaluates the opportunity of targeting MET within therapeutic approaches based on the exploitation of immune functions, either in those cases where MET impairment is crucial to induce an effective response (i.e., when MET is the driver of the malignancy), or when blocking MET represents a way for potentiating the treatment (i.e., when MET is an adjuvant of tumor fitness).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elisa Vigna
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy; (A.M.L.); (D.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang C, Lu X. Targeting MET: Discovery of Small Molecule Inhibitors as Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy. J Med Chem 2023. [PMID: 37262349 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
MET has been considered as a promising drug target for the treatment of MET-dependent diseases, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Small molecule MET inhibitors with mainly three types of binding modes (Ia/Ib, II, and III) have been developed. In this Review, we provide an overview of the structural features, activation mechanism, and dysregulation pathway of MET and summarize progress on the development and discovery strategies utilized for MET inhibitors as well as mechanisms of acquired resistance to current approved inhibitors. The insights will accelerate discovery of new generation MET inhibitors to overcome clinical acquired resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chaofan Wang
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiaoyun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, #855 Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Brown JT, Nazha B, Bilen MA. Combined Programmed Death-Ligand 1 and MET Inhibition: Has Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma MET Its Match? J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:2467-2470. [PMID: 36809042 DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.02600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline T Brown
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.,Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Bassel Nazha
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.,Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Mehmet Asim Bilen
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.,Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rotolo R, Leuci V, Donini C, Galvagno F, Massa A, De Santis MC, Peirone S, Medico G, Sanlorenzo M, Vujic I, Gammaitoni L, Basiricò M, Righi L, Riganti C, Salaroglio IC, Napoli F, Tabbò F, Mariniello A, Vigna E, Modica C, D’Ambrosio L, Grignani G, Taulli R, Hirsch E, Cereda M, Aglietta M, Scagliotti GV, Novello S, Bironzo P, Sangiolo D. Novel Lymphocyte-Independent Antitumor Activity by PD-1 Blocking Antibody against PD-1+ Chemoresistant Lung Cancer Cells. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:621-634. [PMID: 36165915 PMCID: PMC9890136 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-0761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Antibodies against the lymphocyte PD-1 (aPD-1) receptor are cornerstone agents for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), based on their ability to restore the exhausted antitumor immune response. Our study reports a novel, lymphocyte-independent, therapeutic activity of aPD-1 against NSCLC, blocking the tumor-intrinsic PD-1 receptors on chemoresistant cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN PD-1 in NSCLC cells was explored in vitro at baseline, including stem-like pneumospheres, and following treatment with cisplatin both at transcriptional and protein levels. PD-1 signaling and RNA sequencing were assessed. The lymphocyte-independent antitumor activity of aPD-1 was explored in vitro, by PD-1 blockade and stimulation with soluble ligand (PD-L1s), and in vivo within NSCLC xenograft models. RESULTS We showed the existence of PD-1+ NSCLC cell subsets in cell lines and large in silico datasets (Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and The Cancer Genome Atlas). Cisplatin significantly increased PD-1 expression on chemo-surviving NSCLC cells (2.5-fold P = 0.0014), while the sequential treatment with anti-PD-1 Ab impaired their recovery after chemotherapy. PD-1 was found to be associated with tumor stemness features. PD-1 expression was enhanced in NSCLC stem-like pneumospheres (P < 0.0001), significantly promoted by stimulation with soluble PD-L1 (+27% ± 4, P < 0.0001) and inhibited by PD-1 blockade (-30% ± 3, P < 0.0001). The intravenous monotherapy with anti-PD-1 significantly inhibited tumor growth of NSCLC xenografts in immunodeficient mice, without the contribution of the immune system, and delayed the occurrence of chemoresistance when combined with cisplatin. CONCLUSIONS We report first evidence of a novel lymphocyte-independent activity of anti-PD-1 antibodies in NSCLC, capable of inhibiting chemo-surviving NSCLC cells and exploitable to contrast disease relapses following chemotherapy. See related commentary by Augustin et al., p. 505.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Rotolo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | - Valeria Leuci
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | - Chiara Donini
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | - Federica Galvagno
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | - Annamaria Massa
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | - Maria Chiara De Santis
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Serena Peirone
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | | | - Martina Sanlorenzo
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Igor Vujic
- The Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Vienna, Austria
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Danube Private University, Krems, Austria
| | | | - Marco Basiricò
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | - Luisella Righi
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Chiara Riganti
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Napoli
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tabbò
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Annapaola Mariniello
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Elisa Vigna
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | - Chiara Modica
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lorenzo D’Ambrosio
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Taulli
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies (CeRMS), City of Health and Science University Hospital di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Emilio Hirsch
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Matteo Cereda
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | - Massimo Aglietta
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | | | - Silvia Novello
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Paolo Bironzo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO – IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu J, Peng Y, Inuzuka H, Wei W. Targeting micro-environmental pathways by PROTACs as a therapeutic strategy. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:269-279. [PMID: 35798235 PMCID: PMC11000491 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) composes of multiple cell types and non-cellular components, which supports the proliferation, metastasis and immune surveillance evasion of tumor cells, as well as accounts for the resistance to therapies. Therefore, therapeutic strategies using small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) and antibodies to block potential targets in TME are practical for cancer treatment. Targeted protein degradation using PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) technic has several advantages over traditional SMIs and antibodies, including overcoming drug resistance. Thus many PROTACs are currently under development for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of PROTAC development that target TME pathways and propose the potential direction of future PROTAC technique to advance as novel cancer treatment options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Yunhua Peng
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Hiroyuki Inuzuka
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Wenyi Wei
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ding H, Wang G, Yu Z, Sun H, Wang L. Role of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IFN-γ receptor 1/2 (IFNγR1/2) in regulation of immunity, infection, and cancer development: IFN-γ-dependent or independent pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113683. [PMID: 36095965 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
IFN-γ, a soluble cytokine being produced by T lymphocytes, macrophages, mucosal epithelial cells, or natural killer cells, is able to bind to the IFN-γ receptor (IFNγR) and in turn activate the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and transcription protein (STAT) pathway and induce expression of IFN-γ-stimulated genes. IFN-γ is critical for innate and adaptive immunity and aberrant IFN-γ expression and functions have been associated with different human diseases. However, the IFN-γ/IFNγR signaling could be a double-edged sword in cancer development because the tissue microenvironments could determine its anti- or pro-tumorigenic activities. The IFNγR protein consists of two IFNγR1 and IFNγR2 chains, subunits of which play different roles under certain conditions. This review assessed IFNγR polymorphisms, expression and functions in development and progression of various human diseases in an IFN-γ-dependent or independent manner. This review also discussed tumor microenvironment, microbial infection, and vital molecules in the IFN-γ upstream signaling that might regulate IFNγR expression, drug resistance, and druggable strategy, to provide evidence for further application of IFNγR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Gongfu Wang
- Center for Drug Evaluation, China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), Beijing, China.
| | - Zhen Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Huimin Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Lu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Pharmacy, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
To KKW, Cho WCS. Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition Factor (MET): A Key Player in Chemotherapy Resistance and an Emerging Target for Potentiating Cancer Immunotherapy. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2022; 22:269-285. [PMID: 35255791 DOI: 10.2174/1568009622666220307105107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The MET protein is a cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase predominately expressed in epithelial cells. Upon binding of its only known ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), MET homodimerizes, phosphorylates, and stimulates intracellular signalling to drive cell proliferation. Amplification or hyperactivation of MET is frequently observed in various cancer types and it is associated with poor response to conventional and targeted chemotherapy. More recently, emerging evidence also suggests that MET/HGF signalling may play an immunosuppressive role and it could confer resistance to cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarized the preclinical and clinical evidence of MET's role in drug resistance to conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Previous clinical trials investigating MET-targeted therapy in unselected or MET-overexpressing cancers yielded mostly unfavourable results. More recent clinical studies focusing on MET exon 14 alterations and MET amplification have produced encouraging treatment responses to MET inhibitor therapy. The translational relevance of MET inhibitor therapy to overcome drug resistance in cancer patients is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth K W To
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - William C S Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chen YC, He XL, Qi L, Shi W, Yuan LW, Huang MY, Xu YL, Chen X, Gu L, Zhang LL, Lu JJ. Myricetin inhibits interferon-γ-induced PD-L1 and IDO1 expression in lung cancer cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 197:114940. [PMID: 35120895 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) are immune checkpoints induced by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the tumor microenvironment, leading to immune escape of tumors. Myricetin (MY) is a flavonoid distributed in many edible and medicinal plants. In this study, MY was identified to inhibit IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression in human lung cancer cells. It also reduced the expression of IDO1 and the production of kynurenine which is the product catalyzed by IDO1, while didn't show obvious effect on the expression of major histocompatibility complex-I (MHC-I), a crucial molecule for antigen presentation. In addition, the function of T cells was evaluated using a co-culture system consist of lung cancer cells and the Jurkat-PD-1 T cell line overexpressing PD-1. MY restored the survival, proliferation, CD69 expression and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion of Jurkat-PD-1 T cells suppressed by IFN-γ-treated lung cancer cells. Mechanistically, IFN-γ up-regulated PD-L1 and IDO1 at the transcriptional level through the JAK-STAT-IRF1 axis, which was targeted and inhibited by MY. Together, our research revealed a new mechanism of MY mediated anti-tumor activity and highlighted the potential implications of MY in tumor immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Xin-Ling He
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Lu Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Luo-Wei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Mu-Yang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yu-Lian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Xiuping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Lei Gu
- Epigenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany; Cardiopulmonary Institute (CPI), 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Le-Le Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Jin-Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macao, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, University of Macau, Macao, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yi M, Zheng X, Niu M, Zhu S, Ge H, Wu K. Combination strategies with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade: current advances and future directions. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:28. [PMID: 35062949 PMCID: PMC8780712 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01489-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 439] [Impact Index Per Article: 219.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) or its ligand PD-L1 rescue T cells from exhausted status and revive immune response against cancer cells. Based on the immense success in clinical trials, ten α-PD-1 (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, cemiplimab, sintilimab, camrelizumab, toripalimab, tislelizumab, zimberelimab, prolgolimab, and dostarlimab) and three α-PD-L1 antibodies (atezolizumab, durvalumab, and avelumab) have been approved for various types of cancers. Nevertheless, the low response rate of α-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy remains to be resolved. For most cancer patients, PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is not the sole speed-limiting factor of antitumor immunity, and it is insufficient to motivate effective antitumor immune response by blocking PD-1/PD-L1 axis. It has been validated that some combination therapies, including α-PD-1/PD-L1 plus chemotherapy, radiotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, targeted therapy, other immune checkpoint inhibitors, agonists of the co-stimulatory molecule, stimulator of interferon genes agonists, fecal microbiota transplantation, epigenetic modulators, or metabolic modulators, have superior antitumor efficacies and higher response rates. Moreover, bifunctional or bispecific antibodies containing α-PD-1/PD-L1 moiety also elicited more potent antitumor activity. These combination strategies simultaneously boost multiple processes in cancer-immunity cycle, remove immunosuppressive brakes, and orchestrate an immunosupportive tumor microenvironment. In this review, we summarized the synergistic antitumor efficacies and mechanisms of α-PD-1/PD-L1 in combination with other therapies. Moreover, we focused on the advances of α-PD-1/PD-L1-based immunomodulatory strategies in clinical studies. Given the heterogeneity across patients and cancer types, individualized combination selection could improve the effects of α-PD-1/PD-L1-based immunomodulatory strategies and relieve treatment resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yi
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Xiaoli Zheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008 China
| | - Mengke Niu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Shuangli Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Hong Ge
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008 China
| | - Kongming Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008 China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Garcia-Robledo JE, Rosell R, Ruíz-Patiño A, Sotelo C, Arrieta O, Zatarain-Barrón L, Ordoñez C, Jaller E, Rojas L, Russo A, de Miguel-Pérez D, Rolfo C, Cardona AF. KRAS and MET in non-small-cell lung cancer: two of the new kids on the 'drivers' block. Ther Adv Respir Dis 2022; 16:17534666211066064. [PMID: 35098800 PMCID: PMC8808025 DOI: 10.1177/17534666211066064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous disease, and therapeutic management has advanced to identify various critical oncogenic mutations that promote lung cancer tumorigenesis. Subsequent studies have developed targeted therapies against these oncogenes in the hope of personalized treatment based on the tumor's molecular genomics. This review presents a comprehensive review of the biology, new therapeutic interventions, and resistance patterns of two well-defined subgroups, tumors with KRAS and MET alterations. We also discuss the status of molecular testing practices for these two key oncogenic drivers, considering the progressive introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and RNA sequencing in regular clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael Rosell
- Cancer Biology and Precision Medicine Program, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP)/Dr. Rosell Oncology Institute (IOR), Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Ruíz-Patiño
- Direction of Research and Education, Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Cancer Treatment and Research Center (CTIC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Foundation for Clinical and Applied Cancer Research (FICMAC), Bogotá, Colombia Molecular Oncology and Biology Systems Research Group (Fox-G), Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
- Foundation for Clinical and Applied Cancer Research (FICMAC), Bogotá, Colombia Molecular Oncology and Biology Systems Research Group (Fox-G), Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carolina Sotelo
- Foundation for Clinical and Applied Cancer Research (FICMAC), Bogotá, Colombia Molecular Oncology and Biology Systems Research Group (Fox-G), Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Oscar Arrieta
- Thoracic Oncology Unit and Personalized Oncology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute (INCan), México City, México
| | - Lucia Zatarain-Barrón
- Thoracic Oncology Unit and Personalized Oncology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute (INCan), México City, México
| | - Camila Ordoñez
- Foundation for Clinical and Applied Cancer Research (FICMAC), Bogotá, Colombia Molecular Oncology and Biology Systems Research Group (Fox-G), Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Elvira Jaller
- Department of Internal Medicine, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Leonardo Rojas
- Foundation for Clinical and Applied Cancer Research (FICMAC), Bogotá, Colombia Department of Clinical Oncology, Clínica Colsanitas, Bogotá, Colombia Clinical and Translational Oncology Group, Clínica del Country, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alessandro Russo
- Medical Oncology Unit, A.O. Papardo, Messina, Italy Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Diego de Miguel-Pérez
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christian Rolfo
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yoshimura K, Inoue Y, Inui N, Karayama M, Yasui H, Hozumi H, Suzuki Y, Furuhashi K, Fujisawa T, Enomoto N, Nakamura Y, Sugimura H, Suda T. MET Amplification and Efficacy of Nivolumab in Patients With NSCLC. JTO Clin Res Rep 2021; 2:100239. [PMID: 34766065 PMCID: PMC8569583 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2021.100239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction MET amplification is an important genetic alteration in NSCLC. Unlike in patients with EGFR and ALK alterations, the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with MET-amplified NSCLC remains unknown. Methods An exploratory analysis of a prospective, multi-institutional cohort comprising 200 patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC treated with nivolumab monotherapy was performed, and MET amplification was defined as a MET-to-CEP7 ratio of greater than or equal to 2 using fluorescent in situ hybridization. High-level and low-level MET gains were also defined as MET signals ≥10/nuclei and 10> MET signals ≥5/nuclei, respectively. Overall response rates (ORRs) and survival outcomes were evaluated on the basis of the MET gene copy number status. Results Among 175 patients eligible for analysis, MET amplification was detected in 13 tumors (7.4%). Four (2.3%) high-level and 14 (8.0%) low-level MET gains were also detected. There were no considerable differences in ORRs in accordance with the MET gene copy number status. Similarly, no significant differences in both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were observed between patients with and without MET-amplified NSCLC (log-rank, p = 0.813 for PFS, and p = 0.855 for OS). Among 101 adenocarcinomas, ORRs in patients with high-level and low-level MET gains (50.0% for both, p = 0.049) were significantly higher than those without MET gains (17.6%), yet survival outcomes for both PFS and OS did not improve. Conclusions MET amplification was not associated with greater benefit of nivolumab treatment in patients with NSCLC. Further studies are warranted to prioritize immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment regimen for patients with MET amplification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katsuhiro Yoshimura
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.,Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Yusuke Inoue
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.,Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Naoki Inui
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.,Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Masato Karayama
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.,Department of Clinical Oncology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hideki Yasui
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hironao Hozumi
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Yuzo Suzuki
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Kazuki Furuhashi
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Fujisawa
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Enomoto
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Yutaro Nakamura
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Sugimura
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Takafumi Suda
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wang QW, Sun LH, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Zhao Z, Wang ZL, Wang KY, Li GZ, Xu JB, Ren CY, Ma WP, Wang HJ, Li SW, Zhu YJ, Jiang T, Bao ZS. MET overexpression contributes to STAT4-PD-L1 signaling activation associated with tumor-associated, macrophages-mediated immunosuppression in primary glioblastomas. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002451. [PMID: 34667077 PMCID: PMC8527154 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dysregulated receptor tyrosine kinases, such as the mesenchymal-epidermal transition factor (MET), have pivotal role in gliomas. MET and its interaction with the tumor microenvironment have been previously implicated in secondary gliomas. However, the contribution of MET gene to tumor cells’ ability to escape immunosurveillance checkpoints in primary gliomas, especially in glioblastoma (GBM), which is a WHO grade 4 glioma with the worst overall survival, is still poorly understood. Methods We investigated the relationship between MET expression and glioma microenvironment by using multiomics data and aimed to understand the potential implications of MET in clinical practice through survival analysis. RNA expression data from a total of 1243 primary glioma samples (WHO grades 2–4) were assembled, incorporating The Cancer Genome Atlas, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, and GSE16011 data sets. Results Pearson’s correlation test from the three data sets indicated that MET showed a robust correlation with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and STAT pathways. Western blot analysis revealed that in GBM cell lines (N33 and LN229), PD-L1 and phosphorylated STAT4 were upregulated by MET activation treatment with hepatocyte growth factor and were downregulated on MET suppression by PLB-1001. Tumor tissue microarray analysis indicated a positive correlation between MET and PD-L1 and macrophage-associated markers. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-PCR assay showed enrichment of STAT4 in the PD-L1 DNA. Transwell co-culture and chemotaxis assays revealed that knockdown of MET in GBM cells inhibited macrophage chemotaxis. Moreover, we performed CIBERSORTx and single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis which revealed an elevated number of macrophages in glioma samples with MET overexpression. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that activation of the MET/STAT4/PD-L1 pathway and upregulation of macrophages were associated with shorter survival time in patients with primary GBM. Conclusions These data indicated that the MET-STAT4-PD-L1 axis and tumor-associated macrophages might enforce glioma immune evasion and were associated with poor prognosis in GBM samples, suggesting potential clinical strategies for targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy in patients with primary GBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang-Wei Wang
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li-Hua Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Zhao
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Liang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kuan-Yu Wang
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guan-Zhang Li
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Bao Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chang-Yuan Ren
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, San Bo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Ping Ma
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hong-Jun Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shou-Wei Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, San Bo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Jian Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao-Shi Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li E, Huang X, Zhang G, Liang T. Combinational blockade of MET and PD-L1 improves pancreatic cancer immunotherapeutic efficacy. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:279. [PMID: 34479614 PMCID: PMC8414725 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02055-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysregulated expression and activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are associated with a range of human cancers. However, current RTK-targeting strategies exert little effect on pancreatic cancer, a highly malignant tumor with complex immune microenvironment. Given that immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer still remains challenging, this study aimed to elucidate the prognostic role of RTKs in pancreatic tumors with different immunological backgrounds and investigate their targeting potential in pancreatic cancer immunotherapy. METHODS Kaplan-Meier plotter was used to analyze the prognostic significance of each of the all-known RTKs to date in immune "hot" and "cold" pancreatic cancers. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis-2 was applied to assess the differential expression of RTKs between pancreatic tumors and normal pancreatic tissues, as well as its correlation with immune checkpoints (ICPs). One hundred and fifty in-house clinical tissue specimens of pancreatic cancer were collected for expression and correlation validation via immunohistochemical analysis. Two pancreatic cancer cell lines were used to demonstrate the regulatory effects of RTKs on ICPs by biochemistry and flow cytometry. Two in vivo models bearing pancreatic tumors were jointly applied to investigate the combinational regimen of RTK inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade for pancreatic cancer immunotherapy. RESULTS MET was identified as a pancreatic cancer-specific RTK, which is significantly associated with prognosis in both immune "hot" and "cold" pancreatic cancers. MET was observed to be highly upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues, and positively correlated with PD-L1 levels. Elevated MET and PD-L1 expressions were closely associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor TNM stage, and overall survival in pancreatic cancer. Mechanistically, MET could interact with PD-L1, and maintain its expression level in multiple ways. MET deficiency was found to facilitate lymphocyte infiltration into pancreatic tumors. Finally, significant benefits of combining MET inhibition with PD-1/PD-L1 blockage were verified in both orthotopic and subcutaneous mouse models of pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS This study systematically investigated the potential effectiveness of a novel pancreatic cancer immunotherapy targeting RTKs, and revealed the function of MET in PD-L1 regulation as well as the combined therapeutic efficacy of MET and PD-L1 in pancreatic cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enliang Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xing Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Gang Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tingbo Liang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Domènech M, Muñoz Marmol AM, Mate JL, Estival A, Moran T, Cucurull M, Saigi M, Hernandez A, Sanz C, Hernandez-Gallego A, Urbizu A, Martinez-Cardus A, Bernat A, Carcereny E. Correlation between PD-L1 expression and MET gene amplification in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and no other actionable oncogenic driver. Oncotarget 2021; 12:1802-1810. [PMID: 34504652 PMCID: PMC8416561 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) are the most common type of lung cancer and can be classified according to the presence of mutually exclusive oncogenic drivers. The majority of NSCLC patients present a non-actionable oncogenic driver, and treatment resistance through the amplification of the METproto-oncogene (MET) or the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 ligand (PD-L1) is common. Herein, we investigated the relation between MET gene amplification and PD-L1 expression in patients with advanced NSCLC and no other actionable oncogenic driver (i.e., EGFR, ALK, ROS1). Our retrospective observational study analyzed data from 48 patients (78% men, median age 66 years) admitted to the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Spain, between July 2015 and February 2019. Patients presenting MET amplification showed a higher proportion of PD-L1 expression (93% vs. 39%; p < 0.001) and overexpression (64% vs. 27%; p = 0.020) than those with non-amplified MET. PD-L1 expression was not significantly different when analyzed by sex (p = 0.624), smoking history (p = 0.429), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (p = 0.597) Overall survival rates were not significantly affected by MET amplification (high and intermediate amplification vs low amplification and non-amplificated) (p = 0.252) nor PD-L1 expression (> vs =< 50%) (p = 0.893). In conclusion, a positive correlation was found between MET gene amplification and PD-L1 expression and highly expressed (above 50%) in patients with NSCLC and no other actionable oncogenic driver. It could be translated as new guided-treatment oportunities for these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Domènech
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology Badalona, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana M Muñoz Marmol
- Pathology Department, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Mate
- Pathology Department, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Estival
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology Badalona, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Moran
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology Badalona, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Cucurull
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology Badalona, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Saigi
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology Badalona, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ainhoa Hernandez
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology Badalona, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carolina Sanz
- Pathology Department, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Aintzane Urbizu
- Pathology Department, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Martinez-Cardus
- Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrià Bernat
- Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enric Carcereny
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology Badalona, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zhang Y, Yang Q, Zeng X, Wang M, Dong S, Yang B, Tu X, Wei T, Xie W, Zhang C, Guo Q, Kloeber JA, Cao Y, Guo G, Zhou Q, Zhao F, Huang J, Liu L, Zhang K, Wang M, Yin P, Luo K, Deng M, Kim W, Hou J, Shi Y, Zhu Q, Chen L, Hu S, Yue J, Pi G, Lou Z. MET amplification attenuates lung tumor response to immunotherapy by inhibiting STING. Cancer Discov 2021; 11:2726-2737. [PMID: 34099454 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-1500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized cancer therapy. However, the response of patients to ICB is difficult to predict. Here, we examined 81 lung cancer patients under ICB treatment and found that patients with MET amplification were resistant to ICB and had a poor progress-free survival. Tumors with MET amplifications had significantly decreased STING levels and antitumor T cell infiltration. Furthermore, we performed deep single-cell RNA sequencing on more than 20000 single immune cells and identified an immunosuppressive signature with increased subsets of XIST- and CD96-positive exhausted NK cells and decreased CD8+ T cell and NK cell populations in patients with MET-amplification. Mechanistically, we found that oncogenic MET signaling induces phosphorylation of UPF1 and downregulates tumor cell STING expression via modulation of the 3'-UTR length of STING by UPF1. Decreased efficiency of ICB by MET amplification can be overcome by inhibiting MET.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | - Qifan Yang
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | - Xiangyu Zeng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | | | | | | | | | - Ting Wei
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic
| | | | | | - Qiang Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sun Yat-sen University
| | | | | | - Guijie Guo
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | | | | | | | - Li Liu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | - Kai Zhang
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | | | | | | | - Min Deng
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Dempke WCM, Fenchel K. Has programmed cell death ligand-1 MET an accomplice in non-small cell lung cancer?-a narrative review. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2021; 10:2667-2682. [PMID: 34295669 PMCID: PMC8264346 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-21-124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Recently approved and highly specific small-molecule inhibitors of c-MET exon 14 skipping mutations (e.g., capmatinib, tepotinib) are a new and important therapeutic option for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harbouring c-MET alterations. Several experimental studies have provided compelling evidence that c-MET is involved in the regulation of the immune response by up-regulating inhibitory molecules (e.g., PD-L1) and down-regulating of immune stimulators (e.g., CD137, CD252, CD70, etc.). In addition, c-MET was found to be implicated in the regulation of the inflamed tumour microenvironment (TME) and thereby contributing to an increased immune escape of tumour cells from T cell killing. Moreover, it is a major resistance mechanism following treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations (EGFRmut) with tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors (TKIs). In line with these findings c-MET alterations have also been shown to be associated with a worse clinical outcome and a poorer prognosis in NSCLC patients. However, the underlying mechanisms for these experimental observations are neither fully evaluated nor conclusive, but clearly multifactorial and most likely tumour-specific. In this regard the clinical efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) and TKIs against EGFRmut in NSCLC patients harbouring c-MET alterations is also not yet established, and further research will certainly provide some guidance as to optimally utilise CPIs and c-MET inhibitors in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wolfram C M Dempke
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Liu ZL, Liu JH, Staiculescu D, Chen J. Combination of molecularly targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors in the new era of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2021; 13:17588359211018026. [PMID: 34104226 PMCID: PMC8150670 DOI: 10.1177/17588359211018026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) have been the only first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for more than a decade, until the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Moreover, the combination regimen of atezolizumab (anti-programmed cell death protein ligand 1 antibody) plus bevacizumab (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody) has recently been demonstrated to have superior efficacy when compared with sorafenib monotherapy. The remarkable efficacy has made this combination therapy the new standard treatment for advanced HCC. In addition to MKIs, many other molecularly targeted therapies are under investigation, some of which have shown promising results. Therefore, in the era of immuno-oncology, there is a significant rationale for testing the combinations of molecularly targeted therapies and ICIs. Indeed, numerous preclinical and clinical studies have shown the synergic antitumor efficacy of such combinations. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge on the combination of molecularly targeted therapies and immune checkpoint therapies for HCC from both preclinical and clinical perspectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Long Liu
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jing-Hua Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Professor Cai’s Laboratory, Linyi People’s Hospital, Linyi, Shandong Province, China
| | - Daniel Staiculescu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, No. 3, East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310016, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Association between Inflammation and Function of Cell Adhesion Molecules Influence on Gastrointestinal Cancer Development. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010067. [PMID: 33406733 PMCID: PMC7824562 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancer is highly associated with inflammatory processes inducing the release of cytokines from cancer or immune cells, including interferons, interleukins, chemokines, colony-stimulating factors, and growth factors, which promote or suppress tumor progression. Inflammatory cytokines within the tumor microenvironment promote immune cell infiltration. Infiltrating immune, and tumor-surrounding stromal cells support tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, and immunosuppression through communication with inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules. Notably, infiltrating immune and tumor cells present immunosuppressive molecules, such as programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and CD80/CD86. Suppression of cytotoxic T cells promotes tumor avoidance of immune surveillance and greater malignancy. Moreover, glycosylation and sialylation of proteins hyperexpressed on the cancer cell surface have been shown to enhance immune escape and metastasis. Cytokine treatments and immune checkpoint inhibitors are widely used in clinical practice. However, the tumor microenvironment is a rapidly changing milieu involving several factors. In this review, we have provided a summary of the interactions of inflammation and cell adhesion molecules between cancer and other cell types, to improve understanding of the tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
|
20
|
Cheng T, Gu Z, Song D, Liu S, Tong X, Wu X, Lin Z, Hong W. Genomic and clinical characteristics of MET exon14 alterations in a large cohort of Chinese cancer patients revealed distinct features and a novel resistance mechanism for crizotinib. J Cancer 2021; 12:644-651. [PMID: 33403024 PMCID: PMC7778531 DOI: 10.7150/jca.49391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Alterations in MET exon 14 (METex14) and its flanking intronic regions have been identified in a variety of cancers. Patients with METex14 alterations often benefit from MET inhibitors such as crizotinib. Given the unique mutation profiles of Chinese lung cancer patients, it is necessary to investigate the prevalence of METex14 alterations in a large cohort of cancer patients. Patients and methods: Cases carrying METex14 alterations were screened from 26,391 Chinese cancer patients by next-generation sequencing (NGS), and the clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics were reviewed. Results: Compared to Western population (~3%), the frequency of METex14 alterations is much lower in Chinese cancer patients (0.7%, n=184) and lung cancer patients (1.1%, n=175). Seventy-eight distinct METex14 alterations, including several novel alteration types were detected. Concurrent MET copy gain and non-exon14 MET mutations were also found. EGFR copy gain (11%) and mutations (8%), KRAS (5%) and PIK3CA (5%), appeared in a mutually exclusive pattern. Female patients contain much less TP53 mutations than male patients (65% vs. 24%, FDR = 0.01). Co-amplification of CDK4 and MDM2, CDK6 and EGFR were identified, which indicated cell cycle dysregulation and EGFR alteration are important co-occurring features in patients with METex 14 alteration. Of 9 tissue specimens having PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) results, 5 of them (55.5%) were found PD-L1 positive, which is comparable to other types of tumor. In 14 crizotinib-treated patients, the median progression free survival (mPFS) was 7 months. Upon resistance to crizotinib, two patients acquired secondary mutations in MET and one patient acquired BRAF p.K601E that can be a novel resistance mechanism. Conclusion: Chinese cancer patients have a relatively lower frequency of METex14 alterations compared to Western patients. Patients with METex14 alterations showed distinct molecular characteristics and the representative case study showed responses to MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianli Cheng
- Thoracic Medicine Department 1, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhongping Gu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Danni Song
- Department of Research and Development, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sisi Liu
- Department of Research and Development, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoling Tong
- Translational Medicine Research Institute, Geneseeq Technology Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xue Wu
- Translational Medicine Research Institute, Geneseeq Technology Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhifeng Lin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Hong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory immune markers in solid tumors with MET alterations. Future Sci OA 2020; 7:FSO662. [PMID: 33437521 PMCID: PMC7787173 DOI: 10.2144/fsoa-2020-0159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The implication of MET alterations in solid tumors and the immune microenvironment remains elusive. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of 21 patients with solid tumors harboring MET alterations were used for immunohistochemical staining. Extracted RNA was analyzed with the NanoString nCounter human PanCancer immune profiling panel (NanoString Technologies, Inc., WA, USA). Patients were diagnosed with lung (n = 10), breast (n = 5), genitourinary (n = 3) or colorectal cancer (n = 3). Eleven had a MET missense mutation, four had an exon 14 splice site mutation and six had MET amplification. CD6, CCL19, CD40LG, XCR1, MAGEA1, ATM and CCL19 genes were significantly differentially expressed in MET-altered cancers. MET alterations may have a role in various solid tumors as potential therapeutic targets and combination therapy candidates with immune checkpoint inhibitors. MET is a receptor for growth signals that keeps cells alive and healthy. However, some tumors have changes in MET that allow for uncontrollable cell growth. Patients with MET-altered tumors may benefit from treatments targeting this gene, but eventually they become resistant to the treatments. Thus, there is a need to identify additional therapies for this patient population. The authors tested immune gene expression in tumors with MET alterations to determine if these patients would benefit from a new class of treatments called immunotherapies and found that patients with and without MET changes had differences in immune gene expression.
Collapse
|
22
|
HGF-Induced PD-L1 Expression in Head and Neck Cancer: Preclinical and Clinical Findings. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228770. [PMID: 33233528 PMCID: PMC7699574 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a widespread disease with a low survival rate and a high risk of recurrence. Nowadays, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment is approved for HNSCC as a first-line treatment in recurrent and metastatic disease. ICI treatment yields a clear survival benefit, but overall response rates are still unsatisfactory. As shown in different cancer models, hepatocyte growth factor/mesenchymal–epithelial transition (HGF/Met) signaling contributes to an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between HGF and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-L1) expression in HNSCC cell lines. The preclinical data show a robust PD-L1 induction upon HGF stimulation. Further analysis revealed that the HGF-mediated upregulation of PD-L1 is MAP kinase-dependent. We then hypothesized that serum levels of HGF and soluble programmed cell death protein 1 (sPD-L1) could be potential markers of ICI treatment failure. Thus, we determined serum levels of these proteins in 20 HNSCC patients before ICI treatment and correlated them with treatment outcomes. Importantly, the clinical data showed a positive correlation of both serum proteins (HGF and sPD-L1) in HNSCC patient’s sera. Moreover, the serum concentration of sPD-L1 was significantly higher in ICI non-responsive patients. Our findings indicate a potential role for sPD-L1 as a prognostic marker for ICI treatment in HNSCC.
Collapse
|
23
|
El Darsa H, El Sayed R, Abdel-Rahman O. MET Inhibitors for the Treatment of Gastric Cancer: What's Their Potential? J Exp Pharmacol 2020; 12:349-361. [PMID: 33116950 PMCID: PMC7547764 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s242958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer remains a disease with a dismal prognosis. Extensive efforts to find targetable disease drivers in gastric cancer were implemented to improve patient outcomes. Beyond anti-HER2 therapy, MET pathway seems to be culprit of cancer invasiveness with MET-overexpressing tumors having poorer prognosis. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the HGF/MET pathway were studied in MET-positive gastric cancer, but no substantial benefit was proven. Some patients responded in early phase trials but later developed resistance. Others failed to show any benefit at all. Etiologies of resistance may entail inappropriate patient selection with a lack of MET detection standardization, tumor alternative pathways, variable MET amplification, and genetic variation. Optimizing MET detection techniques and better understanding the MET pathway, as well as tumor bypass mechanisms, are an absolute need to devise means to overcome resistance using targeted therapy alone, or in combination with other synergistic agents to improve outcomes of patients with MET-positive GC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haidar El Darsa
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rola El Sayed
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Omar Abdel-Rahman
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
The AKT-independent MET-V-ATPase-MTOR axis suppresses liver cancer vaccination. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:122. [PMID: 32764535 PMCID: PMC7414041 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0179-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent progress in hepatitis treatment, there have been no significant advances in the development of liver cancer vaccines in recent years. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effect and potential mechanism of hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET, also known as HGFR) on tumor vaccinations for liver cancer in mice. Herein, we demonstrate that MET expression is significantly associated with the immunogenicity of liver cancer in mice and humans, and that MET depletion dramatically enhances the protective efficacy of chemotherapy-based anti-liver cancer vaccination. Mechanistically, MET repressed liver cancer immunogenicity independent of the traditional PI3K–AKT cascade, and MET interacted with vacuolar ATP synthase (V-ATPase) and mediated the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (MTOR), thus suppressing liver cancer immunogenicity. The efficacy of chemotherapy-based liver cancer vaccination was markedly enhanced by targeting the MET–V-ATPase–MTOR axis, highlighting a translational strategy for identifying MET-associated drug candidates for cancer prevention.
Collapse
|
25
|
Huang L, Xie K, Li H, Wang R, Xu X, Chen K, Gu H, Fang J. Suppression of c-Met-Overexpressing Tumors by a Novel c-Met/CD3 Bispecific Antibody. Drug Des Devel Ther 2020; 14:3201-3214. [PMID: 32982167 PMCID: PMC7495354 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s254117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Overexpression of c-Met, or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor, is commonly observed in tumor biopsies and often associated with poor patient survival, which makes HGF/c-Met pathway an attractive molecular target for cancer therapy. A number of antibody-based therapeutic strategies have been explored to block c-Met or HGF in cancers; however, clinical efficacy has been very limited, indicating that blockade of c-Met signal alone is not sufficient. Thus, an alternative approach is to develop an immunotherapy strategy for c-Met-overexpressing cancers. c-Met/CD3 bispecific antibody (BsAb) could bridge CD3-positive T lymphocytes and tumor cells to result in potent tumor cell killing. MATERIALS AND METHODS A bispecific antibody, BS001, which binds both c-Met and CD3, was generated using a novel BsAb platform. Western blotting and T cells-mediated killing assays were utilized to evaluate the BsAb's effects on cell proliferation, survival and signal transduction in tumor cells. Subcutaneous tumor mouse models were used to analyze the in vivo anti-tumor effects of the bispecific antibody and its combination therapy with PD-L1 antibody. RESULTS BS001 showed potent T-cell mediated tumor cells killing in vitro. Furthermore, BS001 inhibited phosphorylation of c-Met and downstream signal transduction in tumor cells. In A549 lung cancer xenograft model, BS001 inhibited tumor growth and increased the proportion of activated CD56+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. In vivo combination therapy of BS001 with Atezolizumab (an anti-programmed cell death protein1-ligand (PD-L1) antibody) showed more potent tumor inhibition than monotherapies. Similarly, in SKOV3 xenograft model, BS001 showed a significant efficacy in tumor growth inhibition and tumor recurrence was not observed in more than half of mice treated with a combination of BS001 and Pembrolizumab. CONCLUSION c-Met/CD3 bispecific antibody BS001 exhibited potent anti-tumor activities in vitro and in vivo, which was achieved through two distinguished mechanisms: through antibody-mediated tumor cell killing by T cells and through inhibition of c-Met signal transduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Huang
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai200092, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kun Xie
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai200092, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongwen Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai200092, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ruiqin Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai200092, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqing Xu
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai200092, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kaiming Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai200092, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hua Gu
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai200092, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianmin Fang
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai200092, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Biomedical Research Center, Tongji University Suzhou Institute, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Song KY, Desar S, Pengo T, Shanley R, Giubellino A. Correlation of MET and PD-L1 Expression in Malignant Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1847. [PMID: 32659961 PMCID: PMC7408820 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The proto-oncogene MET, the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor, is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) with a prominent role in tumor metastasis and resistance to anti-cancer therapies. Melanoma demonstrates relatively frequent MET aberrations, including MET gene amplification. Concurrently, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), with its ability to evade anti-tumor immune responses, has emerged as a prominent therapeutic target in melanoma and other malignancies and its expression is used as a predictive biomarker of response to immunotherapy. We performed immunohistochemistry analysis of MET and PD-L1 in 18 human melanoma cell lines derived from both primary and metastatic lesions, and in a human melanoma tissue microarray containing one hundreds melanocytic lesions, including primary cutaneous melanomas, primary mucosal melanomas, metastatic melanomas and benign melanocytic nevi as controls. After color deconvolution, each core was segmented to isolate staining and calculate the percentage of positive cells. Overall, MET expression was higher in tumors with increased PD-L1 expression. Moreover, a robust correlation between MET and PD-L1 expression was found in samples from metastatic melanoma and not in primary cutaneous or mucosal melanoma. These data suggest that relative expression levels of these proteins in combination is a marker of advanced disease and testing for expression of these markers should be considered in patients with melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyu Young Song
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; (K.Y.S.); (S.D.)
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sabina Desar
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; (K.Y.S.); (S.D.)
| | - Thomas Pengo
- University of Minnesota Informatics Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Ryan Shanley
- Masonic Cancer Center Biostatistics Core, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Alessio Giubellino
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; (K.Y.S.); (S.D.)
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Recondo G, Che J, Jänne PA, Awad MM. Targeting MET Dysregulation in Cancer. Cancer Discov 2020; 10:922-934. [PMID: 32532746 PMCID: PMC7781009 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-19-1446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant MET signaling can drive tumorigenesis in several cancer types through a variety of molecular mechanisms including MET gene amplification, mutation, rearrangement, and overexpression. Improvements in biomarker discovery and testing have more recently enabled the selection of patients with MET-dependent cancers for treatment with potent, specific, and novel MET-targeting therapies. We review the known oncologic processes that activate MET, discuss therapeutic strategies for MET-dependent malignancies, and highlight emerging challenges in acquired drug resistance in these cancers. SIGNIFICANCE: Increasing evidence supports the use of MET-targeting therapies in biomarker-selected cancers that harbor molecular alterations in MET. Diverse mechanisms of resistance to MET inhibitors will require the development of novel strategies to delay and overcome drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Recondo
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jianwei Che
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Pasi A Jänne
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mark M Awad
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Huang X, Li E, Shen H, Wang X, Tang T, Zhang X, Xu J, Tang Z, Guo C, Bai X, Liang T. Targeting the HGF/MET Axis in Cancer Therapy: Challenges in Resistance and Opportunities for Improvement. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:152. [PMID: 32435640 PMCID: PMC7218174 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Among hundreds of thousands of signal receptors contributing to oncogenic activation, tumorigenesis, and metastasis, the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor - also called tyrosine kinase MET - is a promising target in cancer therapy as its axis is involved in several different cancer types. It is also associated with poor outcomes and is involved in the development of therapeutic resistance. Several HGF/MET-neutralizing antibodies and MET kinase-specific small molecule inhibitors have been developed, resulting in some context-dependent progress in multiple cancer treatments. Nevertheless, the concomitant therapeutic resistance largely inhibits the translation of such targeted drug candidates into clinical application. Until now, numerous studies have been performed to understand the molecular, cellular, and upstream mechanisms that regulate HGF/MET-targeted drug resistance, further explore novel strategies to reduce the occurrence of resistance, and improve therapeutic efficacy after resistance. Intriguingly, emerging evidence has revealed that, in addition to its conventional function as an oncogene, the HGF/MET axis stands at the crossroads of tumor autophagy, immunity, and microenvironment. Based on current progress, this review summarizes the current challenges and simultaneously proposes future opportunities for HGF/MET targeting for therapeutic cancer interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Enliang Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hang Shen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xun Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianyu Tang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaozhen Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zengwei Tang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengxiang Guo
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueli Bai
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tingbo Liang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Yoo DK, Lee SR, Jung Y, Han H, Lee HK, Han J, Kim S, Chae J, Ryu T, Chung J. Machine Learning-Guided Prediction of Antigen-Reactive In Silico Clonotypes Based on Changes in Clonal Abundance through Bio-Panning. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E421. [PMID: 32182714 PMCID: PMC7175295 DOI: 10.3390/biom10030421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
c-Met is a promising target in cancer therapy for its intrinsic oncogenic properties. However, there are currently no c-Met-specific inhibitors available in the clinic. Antibodies blocking the interaction with its only known ligand, hepatocyte growth factor, and/or inducing receptor internalization have been clinically tested. To explore other therapeutic antibody mechanisms like Fc-mediated effector function, bispecific T cell engagement, and chimeric antigen T cell receptors, a diverse panel of antibodies is essential. We prepared a chicken immune scFv library, performed four rounds of bio-panning, obtained 641 clones using a high-throughput clonal retrieval system (TrueRepertoireTM, TR), and found 149 antigen-reactive scFv clones. We also prepared phagemid DNA before the start of bio-panning (round 0) and, after each round of bio-panning (round 1-4), performed next-generation sequencing of these five sets of phagemid DNA, and identified 860,207 HCDR3 clonotypes and 443,292 LCDR3 clonotypes along with their clonal abundance data. We then established a TR data set consisting of antigen reactivity for scFv clones found in TR analysis and the clonal abundance of their HCDR3 and LCDR3 clonotypes in five sets of phagemid DNA. Using the TR data set, a random forest machine learning algorithm was trained to predict the binding properties of in silico HCDR3 and LCDR3 clonotypes. Subsequently, we synthesized 40 HCDR3 and 40 LCDR3 clonotypes predicted to be antigen reactive (AR) and constructed a phage-displayed scFv library called the AR library. In parallel, we also prepared an antigen non-reactive (NR) library using 10 HCDR3 and 10 LCDR3 clonotypes predicted to be NR. After a single round of bio-panning, we screened 96 randomly-selected phage clones from the AR library and found out 14 AR scFv clones consisting of 5 HCDR3 and 11 LCDR3 AR clonotypes. We also screened 96 randomly-selected phage clones from the NR library, but did not identify any AR clones. In summary, machine learning algorithms can provide a method for identifying AR antibodies, which allows for the characterization of diverse antibody libraries inaccessible by traditional methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duck Kyun Yoo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (D.K.Y.); (S.R.L.); (H.K.L.); (J.H.); (S.K.); (J.C.)
- Department of Biomedical Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Seung Ryul Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (D.K.Y.); (S.R.L.); (H.K.L.); (J.H.); (S.K.); (J.C.)
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Yushin Jung
- Celemics, Inc., 131 Gasandigital 1-ro, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul 08506, Korea; (Y.J.); (H.H.)
| | - Haejun Han
- Celemics, Inc., 131 Gasandigital 1-ro, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul 08506, Korea; (Y.J.); (H.H.)
| | - Hwa Kyoung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (D.K.Y.); (S.R.L.); (H.K.L.); (J.H.); (S.K.); (J.C.)
- Department of Biomedical Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Jerome Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (D.K.Y.); (S.R.L.); (H.K.L.); (J.H.); (S.K.); (J.C.)
- Department of Biomedical Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Soohyun Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (D.K.Y.); (S.R.L.); (H.K.L.); (J.H.); (S.K.); (J.C.)
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Jisu Chae
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (D.K.Y.); (S.R.L.); (H.K.L.); (J.H.); (S.K.); (J.C.)
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Taehoon Ryu
- Celemics, Inc., 131 Gasandigital 1-ro, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul 08506, Korea; (Y.J.); (H.H.)
| | - Junho Chung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (D.K.Y.); (S.R.L.); (H.K.L.); (J.H.); (S.K.); (J.C.)
- Department of Biomedical Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Titmarsh HF, O'Connor R, Dhaliwal K, Akram AR. The Emerging Role of the c-MET-HGF Axis in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2020; 10:54. [PMID: 32117721 PMCID: PMC7016210 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Study of the c-Met-HGF axis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has focused on the roles of c-MET signaling in neoplastic epithelial cells and the secretion of its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by tumor stromal cells. However, there is increasing evidence that some leukocyte sub-sets also express c-MET raising the possibility of an immunomodulatory role for this axis. Consequently, the role of the c-MET- HGF axis in immunoncology is an active area of ongoing research. This review summarizes current knowledge of c-MET expression in NSCLC, the prognostic significance of these findings and the mechanisms by which the c-MET-HGF axis might act in NSCLC, focusing on the emerging evidence for an immunoregulatory role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen F. Titmarsh
- EPSRC and MRC CDT in Optical Medical Imaging, Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Bioquarter, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Richard O'Connor
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Bioquarter, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Dhaliwal
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Bioquarter, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Ahsan R. Akram
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Bioquarter, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Yoshimura K, Inoue Y, Tsuchiya K, Karayama M, Yamada H, Iwashita Y, Kawase A, Tanahashi M, Ogawa H, Inui N, Funai K, Shinmura K, Niwa H, Suda T, Sugimura H. Elucidation of the relationships of MET protein expression and gene copy number status with PD-L1 expression and the immune microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer 2020; 141:21-31. [PMID: 31931443 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Alterations in the MET gene, such as mutations and high-level amplification, are important drivers of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in lung cancer with MET abnormalities is unclear. We evaluate the potential relationship between MET alterations and the tumor immune microenvironment and PD-1/PD-L1 axis. MATERIAL AND METHODS MET and phospho-MET protein expression were assessed in 622 resected NSCLC specimens. MET amplification was assessed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization in 272 tumors. PD-L1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. CD8+, Foxp3+, CD45RO, and PD-1+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the tumor nest and surrounding stroma were profiled. Associations with MET alterations were explored. RESULTS The cohort comprised 425 male patients (68.3 %), 184 never-smokers (29.6 %), and 408 adenocarcinoma (ADC) patients (65.6 %). Median age was 68 years. MET alteration was observed mainly in ADCs (18.9 % MET-positive, 3.9 % phospho-MET-positive, and 15.1 % with MET amplification). PD-L1 expression was significantly increased in MET-altered ADCs (P < 0.001 for MET; P = 0.002 for phospho-MET; P = 0.019 for MET amplification). Most TIL subset numbers in the tumor nest were significantly increased in MET-altered tumors. Only MET amplification was independently associated with tumoral CD8 + TILs. Three of the six patients responded to ICI treatment; two of them showed MET overexpression and an increase in MET copy number. CONCLUSION MET-altered tumors showed significantly stronger PD-L1 expression and more abundant tumoral TILs than non-MET-altered tumors. Among the MET alterations assessed, MET amplification was particularly implicated in the inflamed microenvironment, suggesting that MET-amplified tumors might respond to ICIs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katsuhiro Yoshimura
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan; Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Yusuke Inoue
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan; Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Kazuo Tsuchiya
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan; Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Masato Karayama
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Yamada
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Yuji Iwashita
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Akikazu Kawase
- First Department of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Masayuki Tanahashi
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Respiratory Disease Center, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ogawa
- Department of Pathology, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Naoki Inui
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan; Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Kazuhito Funai
- First Department of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Kazuya Shinmura
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Niwa
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Respiratory Disease Center, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Takafumi Suda
- Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Sugimura
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Zhang Z, Yang S, Wang Q. Impact of MET alterations on targeted therapy with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors for EGFR-mutant lung cancer. Biomark Res 2019; 7:27. [PMID: 31832192 PMCID: PMC6873421 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-019-0179-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have achieved remarkable outcomes in the treatment of patients with EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer, but acquired resistance is still the main factor restricting their long-term use. In addition to the T790 M mutation of EGFR, amplification of the MET (or c-MET) gene has long been recognized as an important resistance mechanism for first- or second-generation EGFR-TKIs. Recent studies suggest that a key mechanism of acquired resistance to third-generation EGFR-TKIs (such as osimertinib) may be MET amplification and/or protein overactivation, especially when they are used as a first-line treatment. Therefore, in patients resistant to first-generation EGFR-TKIs caused by MET amplification and/or protein overactivation, the combination of osimertinib with MET or MEK inhibitors may be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008 China
| | - Sen Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008 China
| | - Qiming Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008 China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
MET Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Regulates the Expression of Co-Stimulatory and Co-Inhibitory Molecules in Tumor Cells and Contributes to PD-L1-Mediated Suppression of Immune Cell Function. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174287. [PMID: 31480591 PMCID: PMC6747314 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The MET tyrosine receptor kinase is essential for embryonic development and tissue regeneration by promoting cell survival, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. It also contributes to tumor development and progression through diverse mechanisms. Using human cancer cell lines, including Hs746T (MET-mutated/amplified), H596 (MET-mutated), and H1993 (MET-amplified) cells, as well as BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells, we investigated whether MET is involved in the regulation of immune checkpoint pathways. In a microarray analysis, MET suppression using a MET inhibitor or siRNAs up-regulated co-stimulatory molecules, including 4-1BBL, OX40L, and CD70, and down-regulated co-inhibitory molecules, especially PD-L1, as validated by measuring total/surface protein levels in Hs746T and H1993 cells. MET activation by HGF consistently increased PD-L1 expression in H596 and BEAS-2B cells. Co-culture of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Hs746T cells suppressed interferon-γ production by the immune cells, which was restored by MET inhibition or PD-L1 blockade. A significant positive correlation between MET and PD-L1 expression in lung cancer was determined in an analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and in an immunohistochemistry study. The former also showed an association of MET overexpression in a PD-L1high tumor with the decreased expressions of T-cell effector molecules. In summary, our results point to a role for MET overexpression/activation in the immune escape of tumors by PD-L1 up-regulation. MET-targeted-therapy combined with immunotherapy may therefore be an effective treatment strategy in patients with MET-dependent cancer.
Collapse
|
34
|
Wang Q, Yang S, Wang K, Sun SY. MET inhibitors for targeted therapy of EGFR TKI-resistant lung cancer. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:63. [PMID: 31227004 PMCID: PMC6588884 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0759-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activating mutation with EGFR-TKIs has achieved great success, yet faces the development of acquired resistance as the major obstacle to long-term disease remission in the clinic. MET (or c-MET) gene amplification has long been known as an important resistance mechanism to first- or second-generation EGFR-TKIs in addition to the appearance of T790 M mutation. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that MET amplification and/or protein hyperactivation is likely to be a key mechanism underlying acquired resistance to third-generation EGFR-TKIs such as osimertinib as well, particularly when used as a first-line therapy. EGFR-mutant NSCLCs that have relapsed from first-generation EGFR-TKI treatment and have MET amplification and/or protein hyperactivation should be insensitive to osimertinib monotherapy. Therefore, combinatorial therapy with osimertinib and a MET or even a MEK inhibitor should be considered for these patients with resistant NSCLC carrying MET amplification and/or protein hyperactivation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiming Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Sen Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shi-Yong Sun
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, School of Medicine and Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, 1365-C Clifton Road, C3088, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| |
Collapse
|