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Wang Y, Zhang X, Chen G, Shao M. Clinical research progress of telomerase targeted cancer immunotherapy: a literature review. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:3904-3921. [PMID: 39145070 PMCID: PMC11319969 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-24-196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objective Telomerase is activated or overexpressed in 85-90% of tumors, which maintains the length of telomere and has become an important anti-cancer target. Increasing clinical and preclinical data suggest that telomerase-targeted cancer immunotherapy could achieve effective killing of tumor cells in vivo. This article reviews the research progress of telomerase targeted cancer immunotherapy in clinical and pre-clinical trials, aiming to provide a reference for further clinical research and treatment of cancers. Methods We investigated the research progress of telomerase immunotherapy in the last 20 years from four electronic databases. Key Content and Findings Telomerase-targeted immunotherapies have been developed with the arising of a new era in immuno-oncology, including peptide vaccines, DNA vaccines, dendritic cells (DCs), adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapies, antibodies, etc. Some of them have been approved for undergoing clinical trials by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of various cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, leukaemia. Of all the treatment modalities, vaccines are the primary treatment methods, some of which have been even entered into phase III clinical trials. The main clinical application direction of telomerase vaccine is the combination with other drugs and treatment modalities, including combination with other vaccines targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), traditional chemotherapy drugs and immunosuppressors. We also summarized the recent findings of immunotherapy targeting hTERT, focusing on various vaccines and the current status of associated clinical trials. We further discussed the advantages, disadvantages and potential developmental directions of various telomerase-targeted immunotherapies. Conclusions Telomerase-targeted cancer immunotherapy has promising prospects in improving patient survival expectancy. This review may provide data support and design ideas for all researchers and pharmaceutical enterprises in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
| | - Guangming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
| | - Mingzhe Shao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Multidisciplinary Collaboration Group of Diabetic Foot, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Mustafa M, Abbas K, Alam M, Habib S, Zulfareen, Hasan GM, Islam S, Shamsi A, Hassan I. Investigating underlying molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, emerging therapeutic approaches in pancreatic cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1427802. [PMID: 39087024 PMCID: PMC11288929 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1427802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a clinically challenging malignancy constitutes a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality, characterized by an inherently poor prognosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by examining its multifaceted etiologies, including genetic mutations and environmental factors. The review explains the complex molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis and summarizes current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and emerging modalities such as immunotherapy. Critical molecular pathways driving pancreatic cancer development, including KRAS, Notch, and Hedgehog, are discussed. Current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, are discussed, with an emphasis on their limitations, particularly in terms of postoperative relapse. Promising research areas, including liquid biopsies, personalized medicine, and gene editing, are explored, demonstrating the significant potential for enhancing diagnosis and treatment. While immunotherapy presents promising prospects, it faces challenges related to immune evasion mechanisms. Emerging research directions, encompassing liquid biopsies, personalized medicine, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and computational intelligence applications, hold promise for refining diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions. By integrating insights from genetic, molecular, and clinical research, innovative strategies that improve patient outcomes can be developed. Ongoing research in these emerging fields holds significant promise for advancing the diagnosis and treatment of this formidable malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Kashif Abbas
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mudassir Alam
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Safia Habib
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Zulfareen
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Gulam Mustafa Hasan
- Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sidra Islam
- Department of Inflammation & Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Anas Shamsi
- Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research (CMBHSR), Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Imtaiyaz Hassan
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
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Yu C, Su Y, Miao X, Chai C, Tang H, Li L, Yi J, Ye Z, Zhang H, Hu Z, Chen L, Li N, Xu H, Zhou W. Establishment and characterization of a novel multidrug-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line, PDAC-X1. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:800. [PMID: 38965506 PMCID: PMC11225239 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12588-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance remains a significant challenge in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The development of drug-resistant cell lines is crucial to understanding the underlying mechanisms of resistance and developing novel drugs to improve clinical outcomes. Here, a novel pancreatic cancer cell line, PDAC-X1, derived from Chinese patients has been established. PDAC-X1 was characterized by the immune phenotype, biology, genetics, molecular characteristics, and tumorigenicity. In vitro analysis revealed that PDAC-X1 cells exhibited epithelial morphology and cell markers (CK7 and CK19), expressed cancer-associated markers (E-cadherin, Vimentin, Ki-67, CEA, CA19-9), and produced pancreatic cancer-like organs in suspension culture. In vivo analysis showed that PDAC-X1 cells maintained tumorigenicity with a 100% tumor formation rate. This cell line exhibited a complex karyotype, dominated by subtriploid karyotypes. In addition, PDAC-X1 cells exhibited intrinsic multidrug resistance to multiple drugs, including gemcitabine, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin. In conclusion, the PDAC-X1 cell line has been established and characterized, representing a useful and valuable preclinical model to study the underlying mechanisms of drug resistance and develop novel drug therapeutics to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Yu
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yuanhui Su
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xin Miao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Changpeng Chai
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- The Fourth Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Huan Tang
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Lu Li
- The Fourth Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jianfeng Yi
- The First Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhenzhen Ye
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, No. 82 Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhao Hu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Luyang Chen
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Ning Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
| | - Hao Xu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
| | - Wence Zhou
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, No. 82 Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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Tang H, Miao X, Yu C, Chai C, Su Y, Li L, Yi J, Ye Z, Miao L, Wang Z, Zhang H, Xu H, Zhou W. A novel multidrug-resistant cell line from a Chinese patient with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9259. [PMID: 38649719 PMCID: PMC11035558 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56464-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy resistance poses clinical challenges in pancreatic cancer treatment. Developing cell lines resistant to chemotherapy is crucial for investigating drug resistance mechanisms and identifying alternative treatment pathways. The genetic and biological attributes of pancreatic cancer depend on its aetiology, racial demographics and anatomical origin, underscoring the need for models that comprehensively represent these characteristics. Here, we introduce PDAC-X2, a pancreatic cancer cell line derived from Chinese patients. We conducted a comprehensive analysis encompassing the immune phenotype, biology, genetics, molecular characteristics and tumorigenicity of the cell line. PDAC-X2 cells displayed epithelial morphology and expressed cell markers (CK7 and CK19) alongside other markers (E-cadherin, Vimentin, Ki-67, CEA and CA19-9). The population doubling time averaged around 69 h. In vivo, PDAC-X2 cells consistently maintained their tumorigenicity, achieving a 100% tumour formation rate. Characterised by a predominantly tetraploid karyotype, this cell line exhibited a complex genetic markup. Notably, PDAC-X2 cells demonstrated resistance to multiple drugs, including gemcitabine, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin. In conclusion, PDAC-X2 presents an invaluable preclinical model. Its utility lies in facilitating the study of drug resistance mechanisms and the exploration of alternative therapeutic approaches aimed at enhancing the prognosis of this tumour type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Tang
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xin Miao
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Cheng Yu
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Changpeng Chai
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- The Fourth Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yuanhui Su
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Lu Li
- The Fourth Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jianfeng Yi
- The First Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhenzhen Ye
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Long Miao
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- The Fourth Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhengfeng Wang
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- The Fourth Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, No. 82 Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China.
| | - Hao Xu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
| | - Wence Zhou
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, No. 82 Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China.
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Liu M, Zhang Y, Jian Y, Gu L, Zhang D, Zhou H, Wang Y, Xu ZX. The regulations of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) in cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:90. [PMID: 38278800 PMCID: PMC10817947 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06454-7] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal activation of telomerase occurs in most cancer types, which facilitates escaping from cell senescence. As the key component of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is regulated by various regulation pathways. TERT gene changing in its promoter and phosphorylation respectively leads to TERT ectopic expression at the transcription and protein levels. The co-interacting factors play an important role in the regulation of TERT in different cancer types. In this review, we focus on the regulators of TERT and these downstream functions in cancer regulation. Determining the specific regulatory mechanism will help to facilitate the development of a cancer treatment strategy that targets telomerase and cancer cell senescence. As the most important catalytic subunit component of telomerase, TERT is rapidly regulated by transcriptional factors and PTM-related activation. These changes directly influence TERT-related telomere maintenance by regulating telomerase activity in telomerase-positive cancer cells, telomerase assembly with telomere-binding proteins, and recruiting telomerase to the telomere. Besides, there are also non-canonical functions that are influenced by TERT, including the basic biological functions of cancer cells, such as proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, initiating cell formation, EMT, and cell invasion. Other downstream effects are the results of the influence of transcriptional factors by TERT. Currently, some small molecular inhibitors of TERT and TERT vaccine are under research as a clinical therapeutic target. Purposeful work is in progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingdi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yuning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yongping Jian
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Liting Gu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Honglan Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Yishu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Zhi-Xiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
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