1
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Meng Y, Sun J, Zhang G. A viable remedy for overcoming resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy: Fecal microbiota transplantation. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 200:104403. [PMID: 38838927 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104403] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy is a cancer therapy that focuses explicitly on the PD-1 receptor found on the surface of immune cells. This targeted therapeutic strategy is specifically designed to amplify the immune system's innate capacity to detect and subsequently eliminate cells that have become cancerous. Nevertheless, it should be noted that not all patients exhibit a favourable response to this particular therapeutic modality, necessitating the exploration of novel strategies to augment the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Previous studies have shown that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can enhance the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in advanced melanoma patients. To investigate this intriguing possibility further, we turned to PubMed and conducted a comprehensive search for studies that analyzed the interplay between FMT and anti-PD-1 therapy in the context of tumor treatment. Our search criteria were centred around two key phrases: "fecal microbiota transplantation" and "anti-PD-1 therapy." The studies we uncovered all echo a similar sentiment. They pointed towards the potential of FMT to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy. FMT may enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy by altering the gut microbiota and boosting the patient's immunological response. Although promising, additional investigation is needed to improve the efficacy of FMT in the context of cancer therapy and attain a comprehensive understanding of the possible advantages and drawbacks associated with this therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Meng
- Department of Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 44, Xiaoheyan road, Dadong district, Shenyang 110042, China.
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Biobank, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 44, Xiaoheyan road, Dadong district, Shenyang 110042, China
| | - Guirong Zhang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 44, Xiaoheyan road, Dadong district, Shenyang 110042, China
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2
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Yang C, Zhao L, Lin Y, Wang S, Ye Y, Shen Z. Improving the efficiency of immune checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic pMMR/MSS colorectal cancer: Options and strategies. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 200:104204. [PMID: 37984588 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104204] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment and been extensively used for patients with metastastic colorectal cancer (mCRC), especially those harboring deficient mismatch repair/ microsatellite instability (dMMR/MSI). However, the majority of mCRC are classified as proficient mismatch repair/microsatellite stability(pMMR/MSS) type characterized by a cold immune microenvironment, rendering them generally unresponsive to ICIs. How to improve the efficacy of ICIs for these patients is an important issue to be solved. On the one hand, it is urgent to discover the predictive biomarkers and clinical characteristics associated with effectiveness and expand the subset of pMMR/MSS mCRC patients who benefit from ICIs. Additionally, combined strategies are being explored to modulate the immune microenvironment of pMMR/MSS CRC and facilitate the conversion of cold tumors into hot tumors. In this review, we have focused on the recent advancements in the predictive biomarkers and combination therapeutic strategies with ICIs for pMMR/MSS mCRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjiang Yang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Yilin Lin
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Shan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Yingjiang Ye
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Zhanlong Shen
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China.
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3
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Niwa H, Nakamura T, Kushiya H, Kuraya T, Inoko K, Inagaki A, Suzuki T, Sasaki K, Tsuchikawa T, Hiraoka K, Shichinohe T, Hatanaka Y, Jolly DJ, Kasahara N, Hirano S. Therapeutic activity of retroviral replicating vector-mediated gene therapy in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody in a murine pancreatic cancer model. Cancer Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41417-024-00810-7. [PMID: 39039195 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00810-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Toca 511, a tumor-selective retroviral replicating vector encoding the yeast cytosine deaminase (yCD) gene, exerts direct antitumor effects through intratumoral prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) conversion to active drug 5-fluorouracil by yCD, and has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in preclinical and clinical trials of various cancers. Toca 511/5-FC treatment may also induce antitumor immunity. Here, we first examined antitumor immune responses activated by Toca 511/5-FC treatment in an immunocompetent murine pancreatic cancer model. We then evaluated the therapeutic effects achieved in combination with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 antibody. In the bilateral subcutaneous tumor model, as compared with the control group, enhanced CD8+ T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity and increased T-cell infiltration in Toca 511-untransduced contralateral tumors were observed. Furthermore, the expression levels of T-cell co-inhibitory receptors on CD8+ T-cells increased during treatment. In the bilateral subcutaneous tumor model, combination therapy showed significantly stronger tumor growth inhibition than that achieved with either monotherapy. In an orthotopic tumor and peritoneal dissemination model, the combination therapy resulted in complete regression in both transduced orthotopic tumors and untransduced peritoneal dissemination. Thus, Toca 511/5-FC treatment induced a systemic antitumor immune response, and the combination therapy could be a promising clinical strategy for treating metastatic pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Niwa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Toru Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Kushiya
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tomotaka Kuraya
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kazuho Inoko
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Akihito Inagaki
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tomohiro Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Katsunori Sasaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tsuchikawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kei Hiraoka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Clinical Research, NHO Hakodate National Hospital, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Shichinohe
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yutaka Hatanaka
- Center for Development of Advanced Diagnostics (C-DAD), Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Douglas J Jolly
- Tocagen Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Abintus Bio Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Noriyuki Kasahara
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Satoshi Hirano
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
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4
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Zhou Y, Na C, Li Z. Novel insights into immune cells modulation of tumor resistance. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024:104457. [PMID: 39038527 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor resistance poses a significant challenge to effective cancer treatment, making it imperative to explore new therapeutic strategies. Recent studies have highlighted the profound involvement of immune cells in the development of tumor resistance. Within the tumor microenvironment, macrophages undergo polarization into the M2 phenotype, thus promoting the emergence of drug-resistant tumors. Neutrophils contribute to tumor resistance by forming extracellular traps. While T cells and natural killer (NK) cells exert their impact through direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Additionally, dendritic cells (DCs) have been implicated in preventing tumor drug resistance by stimulating T cell activation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge regarding immune cell-mediated modulation of tumor resistance at the molecular level, with a particular focus on macrophages, neutrophils, DCs, T cells, and NK cells. The targeting of immune cell modulation exhibits considerable potential for addressing drug resistance, and an in-depth understanding of the molecular interactions between immune cells and tumor cells holds promise for the development of innovative therapies. Furthermore, we explore the clinical implications of these immune cells in the treatment of drug-resistant tumors. This review emphasizes the exploration of novel approaches that harness the functional capabilities of immune cells to effectively overcome drug-resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhou
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China. 518107; School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China. 518107
| | - Chuhan Na
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China. 518107; School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China. 518107
| | - Zhigang Li
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China. 518107; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active Substance Screening and Translational Research, Shenzhen, China. 518107.
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5
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Chen Q, Peng B, Lin L, Chen J, Jiang Z, Luo Y, Huang L, Li J, Peng Y, Wu J, Li W, Zhuang K, Liang M. Chondroitin Sulfate-Modified Hydroxyapatite for Caspase-1 Activated Induced Pyroptosis through Ca Overload/ER Stress/STING/IRF3 Pathway in Colorectal Cancer. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2403201. [PMID: 39016938 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors, are the fourth most common therapeutic tool after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, only a small proportion (≈5%) of CRC patients, those with "hot" (immuno-activated) tumors, benefit from the therapy. Pyroptosis, an innovative form of programmed cell death, is a potentially effective means to mediate a "cold" to "hot" transformation of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Calcium-releasing hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles (NPs) trigger calcium overload and pyroptosis in tumor cells. However, current limitations of these nanomedicines, such as poor tumor-targeting capabilities and insufficient calcium (Ca) ion release, limit their application. In this study, chondroitin sulfate (CS) is used to target tumors via binding to CD44 receptors and kaempferol (KAE) is used as a Ca homeostasis disruptor to construct CS-HAP@KAE NPs that function as pyroptosis inducers in CRC cells. CS-HAP@KAE NPs bind to the tumor cell membrane, HAP released Ca in response to the acidic environment of the TME, and kaempferol (KAE) enhances the influx of extracellular Ca, resulting in intracellular Ca overload and pyroptosis. This is associated with excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress triggered activation of the stimulator of interferon genes/interferon regulatory factor 3 pathway, ultimately transforming the TME from "cold" to "hot".
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Bin Peng
- Department of Oncology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Lifan Lin
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jiawen Chen
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhaojun Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Yuanwei Luo
- Department of Oncology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Liyong Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Yuping Peng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Jiaming Wu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hunan, 421000, China
| | - Kangmin Zhuang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Min Liang
- Department of Oncology, Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China
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6
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Wu X, Hao L, Lin J, Guo X, Luo Y, Li C. Unraveling the role of Major Vault Protein as a novel immune-related biomarker that promotes the proliferation and migration in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1399222. [PMID: 39026679 PMCID: PMC11254802 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1399222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a formidable challenge in oncology research, with a complex pathogenesis that requires to be explored. Major Vault Protein (MVP) is the principal structural component of the vault complex, and its expression level is remarkably upregulated in various cancers. Extensive investigations have been conducted to explore the role of MVP in specific cancer contexts, yet the potential molecular mechanisms and biological functions of MVP in PAAD still remain considerably elusive. This study aims to explore the role of MVP as a novel immune-related biomarker in the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of PAAD. Methods Gene expression data and clinical information were collected from TCGA, GTEx and GEO databases. Survival, prognostic and functional enrichment analysis were employed with R software. Immunological correlation analysis was performed using TIMER2.0, TIDE scores, TISIDB and TISCH. Epigenetic analysis was implemented by MethSurv, CPTAC, UALCAN, and cBioPortal. Drug analysis was conducted using Enrichr and CellMiner. Moreover, cellular experiments, like RNA interference, qRT-PCR, Western blot, cell cycle analysis, cell apoptosis analysis, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and wound healing assay, were performed for verifying the functional properties of MVP in the PAAD progression. Results We demonstrated an abnormally upregulated expression of MVP in PAAD tissues, which notably correlated with an adverse prognosis in PAAD patients. Functional analysis suggested the conceivable involvement of MVP in immune modulation, and immunotherapy. Additionally, we identified genetic alterations, reduced promoter methylation, and heightened phosphorylation in MVP. We also clarified Suloctidil and Tetradioxin as the most notable potential drugs targeting MVP in PAAD. Moreover, our experimental observations consistently highlighted the significant impact of MVP deficiency on impeding PAAD cell proliferation, inhibiting cell migration, and accelerating cell apoptosis. Interestingly, a potential link between MVP and ERK or AKT pathways was displayed, which opens new avenues for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms of MVP-targeted therapies in PAAD. Conclusions This study systematically describes MVP as an immune-related biomarker with remarkable potential for predicting the prognosis, tumor progression and immunotherapeutic efficacy in PAAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Wu
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Leiyu Hao
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianghua Lin
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyu Guo
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuping Luo
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun Li
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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7
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Yu H, Liu Q, Wu K, Tang S. Biomarkers to predict efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in colorectal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:143. [PMID: 38960935 PMCID: PMC11222262 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01408-x] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved to treat colorectal cancer (CRC) with mismatch-repair gene deficiency, but the response rate remains low. Value of current biomarkers to predict CRC patients' response to ICIs is unclear due to heterogeneous study designs and small sample sizes. Here, we aim to assess and quantify the magnitude of multiple biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of ICIs in CRC patients. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases (to June 2023) for clinical studies examining biomarkers for efficacy of ICIs in CRC patients. Random-effect models were performed for meta-analysis. We pooled odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for biomarkers predicting response rate and survival. 36 studies with 1867 patients were included in systematic review. We found that a lower pre-treatment blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (n=4, HR 0.37, 95%CI 0.21-0.67) predicts good prognosis, higher tumor mutation burden (n=10, OR 4.83, 95%CI 2.16-10.78) predicts response to ICIs, and liver metastasis (n=16, OR 0.32, 95%CI 0.16-0.63) indicates resistance to ICIs, especially when combined with VEGFR inhibitors. But the predictive value of tumor PD-L1 expression (n=9, OR 1.01, 95%CI 0.48-2.14) was insignificant in CRC. Blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, tumor mutation burden, and liver metastasis, but not tumor PD-L1 expression, function as significant biomarkers to predict efficacy of ICIs in CRC patients. These findings help stratify CRC patients suitable for ICI treatments, improving efficacy of immunotherapy through precise patient management. (PROSPERO, CRD42022346716).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yu
- Cancer Institute, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong-An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingquan Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Keting Wu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Tang
- Cancer Institute, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong-An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Chong LM, Wang P, Lee VV, Vijayakumar S, Tan HQ, Wang FQ, Yeoh TDYY, Truong ATL, Tan LWJ, Tan SB, Senthil Kumar K, Hau E, Vellayappan BA, Blasiak A, Ho D. Radiation therapy with phenotypic medicine: towards N-of-1 personalization. Br J Cancer 2024; 131:1-10. [PMID: 38514762 PMCID: PMC11231338 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02653-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In current clinical practice, radiotherapy (RT) is prescribed as a pre-determined total dose divided over daily doses (fractions) given over several weeks. The treatment response is typically assessed months after the end of RT. However, the conventional one-dose-fits-all strategy may not achieve the desired outcome, owing to patient and tumor heterogeneity. Therefore, a treatment strategy that allows for RT dose personalization based on each individual response is preferred. Multiple strategies have been adopted to address this challenge. As an alternative to current known strategies, artificial intelligence (AI)-derived mechanism-independent small data phenotypic medicine (PM) platforms may be utilized for N-of-1 RT personalization. Unlike existing big data approaches, PM does not engage in model refining, training, and validation, and guides treatment by utilizing prospectively collected patient's own small datasets. With PM, clinicians may guide patients' RT dose recommendations using their responses in real-time and potentially avoid over-treatment in good responders and under-treatment in poor responders. In this paper, we discuss the potential of engaging PM to guide clinicians on upfront dose selections and ongoing adaptations during RT, as well as considerations and limitations for implementation. For practicing oncologists, clinical trialists, and researchers, PM can either be implemented as a standalone strategy or in complement with other existing RT personalizations. In addition, PM can either be used for monotherapeutic RT personalization, or in combination with other therapeutics (e.g. chemotherapy, targeted therapy). The potential of N-of-1 RT personalization with drugs will also be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ming Chong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Peter Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - V Vien Lee
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Smrithi Vijayakumar
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Hong Qi Tan
- Division of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, 168583, Singapore
| | - Fu Qiang Wang
- Division of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, 168583, Singapore
| | | | - Anh T L Truong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Lester Wen Jeit Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Shi Bei Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Kirthika Senthil Kumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Eric Hau
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Blacktown Haematology and Cancer Care Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Westmead Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Balamurugan A Vellayappan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, 119074, Singapore.
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228, Singapore.
| | - Agata Blasiak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore.
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117600, Singapore.
| | - Dean Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore.
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117600, Singapore.
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9
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Wu Y, Yi M, Niu M, Zhou B, Mei Q, Wu K. Beyond success: unveiling the hidden potential of radiotherapy and immunotherapy in solid tumors. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2024; 44:739-760. [PMID: 38837878 PMCID: PMC11260771 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12576] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy, particularly with immune checkpoint inhibitors, has significantly transformed cancer treatment. Despite its success, many patients struggle to respond adequately or sustain long-lasting clinical improvement. A growing consensus has emerged that radiotherapy (RT) enhances the response rate and overall efficacy of immunotherapy. Although combining RT and immunotherapy has been extensively investigated in preclinical models and has shown promising results, establishing itself as a dynamic and thriving area of research, clinical evidence for this combination strategy over the past five years has shown both positive and disappointing results, suggesting the need for a more nuanced understanding. This review provides a balanced and updated analysis of the combination of immunotherapy and RT. We summarized the preclinical mechanisms through which RT boosts antitumor immune responses and mainly focused on the outcomes of recently updated clinical trials, including those that may not have met expectations. We investigated the optimization of the therapeutic potential of this combined strategy, including key challenges, such as fractionation and scheduling, lymph node irradiation, and toxicity. Finally, we offered insights into the prospects and challenges associated with the clinical translation of this combination therapy, providing a realistic perspective on the current state of research and potential future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuze Wu
- Department of OncologyTongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiP. R. China
| | - Ming Yi
- Department of Breast SurgeryZhejiang University School of Medicine First Affiliated HospitalHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Mengke Niu
- Department of OncologyTongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiP. R. China
| | - Binghan Zhou
- Department of OncologyTongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiP. R. China
| | - Qi Mei
- Department of OncologyTongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiP. R. China
| | - Kongming Wu
- Cancer CenterShanxi Bethune HospitalShanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical UniversityTaiyuanShanxiP. R. China
- Cancer CenterTongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiP. R. China
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10
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Wang ZY, Ge LP, Ouyang Y, Jin X, Jiang YZ. Targeting transposable elements in cancer: developments and opportunities. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189143. [PMID: 38936517 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs), comprising nearly 50% of the human genome, have transitioned from being perceived as "genomic junk" to key players in cancer progression. Contemporary research links TE regulatory disruptions with cancer development, underscoring their therapeutic potential. Advances in long-read sequencing, computational analytics, single-cell sequencing, proteomics, and CRISPR-Cas9 technologies have enriched our understanding of TEs' clinical implications, notably their impact on genome architecture, gene regulation, and evolutionary processes. In cancer, TEs, including long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1), Alus, and long terminal repeat (LTR) elements, demonstrate altered patterns, influencing both tumorigenic and tumor-suppressive mechanisms. TE-derived nucleic acids and tumor antigens play critical roles in tumor immunity, bridging innate and adaptive responses. Given their central role in oncology, TE-targeted therapies, particularly through reverse transcriptase inhibitors and epigenetic modulators, represent a novel avenue in cancer treatment. Combining these TE-focused strategies with existing chemotherapy or immunotherapy regimens could enhance efficacy and offer a new dimension in cancer treatment. This review delves into recent TE detection advancements, explores their multifaceted roles in tumorigenesis and immune regulation, discusses emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches centered on TEs, and anticipates future directions in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Yu Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Li-Ping Ge
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yang Ouyang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xi Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yi-Zhou Jiang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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11
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Lee G, Strickland MR, Wo JY. Role of Preoperative Radiation Therapy for Resectable Gastric Cancer. J Gastrointest Cancer 2024; 55:584-598. [PMID: 38353901 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-023-00985-6] [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] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE While surgery is the primary curative treatment for resectable gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer, rates of locoregional and distant recurrence remain high with surgery alone, especially in more advanced disease. Multimodal approaches with perioperative therapy including chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy (RT) have thus evolved as ways to reduce the rates of disease recurrence and improve survival outcomes. This review article provides a comprehensive literature review on the role of preoperative RT for resectable gastric and GEJ cancer. METHODS A literature review on the role of preoperative RT for resectable gastric and GEJ cancer was conducted. RESULTS Preoperative RT has the potential to facilitate tumor downstaging and improved R0 resection, allowing for better locoregional control and thereby survival. For resectable locally advanced GEJ cancer, preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is currently a standard of care option along with perioperative chemotherapy, based on evidence from randomized trials. In resectable gastric cancer, however, the role of preoperative CRT is less defined with no randomized data to date, although phase II single-arm studies have shown promising results. Current standard of care for gastric cancer remains perioperative chemotherapy, with consideration for preoperative CRT in select cases. CONCLUSION Results from ongoing and future randomized controlled trials are expected to help define the role of preoperative CRT compared to perioperative chemotherapy alone as well as postoperative CRT for gastric and GEJ cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew R Strickland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Y Wo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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12
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Lin X, Kang K, Chen P, Zeng Z, Li G, Xiong W, Yi M, Xiang B. Regulatory mechanisms of PD-1/PD-L1 in cancers. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:108. [PMID: 38762484 PMCID: PMC11102195 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02023-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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune evasion contributes to cancer growth and progression. Cancer cells have the ability to activate different immune checkpoint pathways that harbor immunosuppressive functions. The programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligands (PD-Ls) are considered to be the major immune checkpoint molecules. The interaction of PD-1 and PD-L1 negatively regulates adaptive immune response mainly by inhibiting the activity of effector T cells while enhancing the function of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs), largely contributing to the maintenance of immune homeostasis that prevents dysregulated immunity and harmful immune responses. However, cancer cells exploit the PD-1/PD-L1 axis to cause immune escape in cancer development and progression. Blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 by neutralizing antibodies restores T cells activity and enhances anti-tumor immunity, achieving remarkable success in cancer therapy. Therefore, the regulatory mechanisms of PD-1/PD-L1 in cancers have attracted an increasing attention. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the roles of the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling in human autoimmune diseases and cancers. We summarize all aspects of regulatory mechanisms underlying the expression and activity of PD-1 and PD-L1 in cancers, including genetic, epigenetic, post-transcriptional and post-translational regulatory mechanisms. In addition, we further summarize the progress in clinical research on the antitumor effects of targeting PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies alone and in combination with other therapeutic approaches, providing new strategies for finding new tumor markers and developing combined therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Lin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
- FuRong Laboratory, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Kuan Kang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
- FuRong Laboratory, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Pan Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Zhaoyang Zeng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
- FuRong Laboratory, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Guiyuan Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
- FuRong Laboratory, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
- FuRong Laboratory, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Mei Yi
- Department of Dermotology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
| | - Bo Xiang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
- FuRong Laboratory, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
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13
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Huang KCY, Chiang SF, Chang HY, Hong WZ, Chen JY, Lee PC, Liang JA, Ke TW, Peng SL, Shiau AC, Chen TW, Yang PC, Chen WTL, Chao KSC. Colorectal cancer-specific IFNβ delivery overcomes dysfunctional dsRNA-mediated type I interferon signaling to increase the abscopal effect of radiotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008515. [PMID: 38749537 PMCID: PMC11097864 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008515] [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] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-intrinsic type I interferon (IFN-I) production triggered by radiotherapy (RT) is mainly dependent on cytosolic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)-mediated cGAS/STING signaling and increases cancer immunogenicity and enhances the antitumor immune response to increase therapeutic efficacy. However, cGAS/STING deficiency in colorectal cancer (CRC) may suppress the RT-induced antitumor immunity. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the importance of the dsRNA-mediated antitumor immune response induced by RT in patients with CRC. METHODS Cytosolic dsRNA level and its sensors were evaluated via cell-based assays (co-culture assay, confocal microscopy, pharmacological inhibition and immunofluorescent staining) and in vivo experiments. Biopsies and surgical tissues from patients with CRC who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy (neoCRT) were collected for multiplex cytokine assays, immunohistochemical analysis and SNP genotyping. We also generated a cancer-specific adenovirus-associated virus (AAV)-IFNβ1 construct to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in combination with RT, and the immune profiles were analyzed by flow cytometry and RNA-seq. RESULTS Our studies revealed that RT stimulates the autonomous release of dsRNA from cancer cells to activate TLR3-mediated IFN-I signatures to facilitate antitumor immune responses. Patients harboring a dysfunctional TLR3 variant had reduced serum levels of IFN-I-related cytokines and intratumoral CD8+ immune cells and shorter disease-free survival following neoCRT treatment. The engineered cancer-targeted construct AAV-IFNβ1 significantly improved the response to RT, leading to systematic eradication of distant tumors and prolonged survival in defective TLR3 preclinical models. CONCLUSION Our results support that increasing cancer-intrinsic IFNβ1 expression is an immunotherapeutic strategy that enhances the RT-induced antitumor immune response in locally patients with advanced CRC with dysfunctional TLR3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Chih-Yang Huang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Translation Research Core, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Fen Chiang
- Lab of Precision Medicine, Feng-Yuan Hospital Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yu Chang
- Translation Research Core, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Proton Cancer, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ze Hong
- Proton Cancer, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jhen-Yu Chen
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Translation Research Core, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Proton Cancer, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chih Lee
- Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ji-An Liang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tao-Wei Ke
- Department of Colorectal Cancer, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Lei Peng
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - An-Cheng Shiau
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Proton Cancer, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Wei Chen
- Department of Pathology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chen Yang
- Proton Cancer, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - William Tzu-Liang Chen
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Colorectal Cancer, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, China Medical University HsinChu Hospital, China Medical University Hospital, HsinChu, Taiwan
| | - K S Clifford Chao
- Proton Cancer, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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14
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Guven DC, Kavgaci G, Erul E, Syed MP, Magge T, Saeed A, Yalcin S, Sahin IH. The Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review. Oncologist 2024; 29:e580-e600. [PMID: 38309719 PMCID: PMC11067816 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae013] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized cancer care, particularly in immune-inflamed tumors and tumors with a high mutational burden, like microsatellite instable colorectal cancer (CRC). However, their effectiveness in microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC is limited. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of ICIs in MSS CRC and explore promising combination strategies. A comprehensive search from the Web of Science, Medline, and Embase databases, for studies published until 14 November 2022, identified 53 clinical trials included in the review. ICI monotherapy or ICI-ICI combinations demonstrated limited clinical activity for patients with MSS CRC, with overall response rates below (ORR) 10% in most studies. The ICI and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) garnered ORRs ranging from 10% to 40% and indicated a higher benefit for patients, particularly those without active liver metastases. The combination of ICIs with anti-VEGF agents showed modest ORRs, especially in the earlier treatment lines and in combination with chemotherapy. While these combinations could lead to modest improvements, well-defined biomarkers for long-term benefit are yet to be delineated. Combinations involving BRAF inhibitors with ICIs were studied, showing promising responses with combination approaches in molecularly defined subgroups. In conclusion, while ICI monotherapy has limited efficacy in MSS CRC, combination strategies hold promise to enhance survival outcomes. Further research is necessary to identify optimal combination approaches, predictive biomarkers for treatment response, as well as enrollment according to tumor molecular characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Can Guven
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
- Health Sciences University, Elazig City Hospital, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Gozde Kavgaci
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Enes Erul
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Masood Pasha Syed
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tara Magge
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anwaar Saeed
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Suayib Yalcin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Halil Sahin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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15
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George B, Kudryashova O, Kravets A, Thalji S, Malarkannan S, Kurzrock R, Chernyavskaya E, Gusakova M, Kravchenko D, Tychinin D, Savin E, Alekseeva L, Butusova A, Bagaev A, Shin N, Brown JH, Sethi I, Wang D, Taylor B, McFall T, Kamgar M, Hall WA, Erickson B, Christians KK, Evans DB, Tsai S. Transcriptomic-Based Microenvironment Classification Reveals Precision Medicine Strategies for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Gastroenterology 2024; 166:859-871.e3. [PMID: 38280684 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The complex tumor microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has hindered the development of reliable predictive biomarkers for targeted therapy and immunomodulatory strategies. A comprehensive characterization of the TME is necessary to advance precision therapeutics in PDAC. METHODS A transcriptomic profiling platform for TME classification based on functional gene signatures was applied to 14 publicly available PDAC datasets (n = 1657) and validated in a clinically annotated independent cohort of patients with PDAC (n = 79). Four distinct subtypes were identified using unsupervised clustering and assessed to evaluate predictive and prognostic utility. RESULTS TME classification using transcriptomic profiling identified 4 biologically distinct subtypes based on their TME immune composition: immune enriched (IE); immune enriched, fibrotic (IE/F); fibrotic (F); and immune depleted (D). The IE and IE/F subtypes demonstrated a more favorable prognosis and potential for response to immunotherapy compared with the F and D subtypes. Most lung metastases and liver metastases were subtypes IE and D, respectively, indicating the role of clonal phenotype and immune milieu in developing personalized therapeutic strategies. In addition, distinct TMEs with potential therapeutic implications were identified in treatment-naive primary tumors compared with tumors that underwent neoadjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS This novel approach defines a distinct subgroup of PADC patients that may benefit from immunotherapeutic strategies based on their TME subtype and provides a framework to select patients for prospective clinical trials investigating precision immunotherapy in PDAC. Further, the predictive utility and real-world clinical applicability espoused by this transcriptomic-based TME classification approach will accelerate the advancement of precision medicine in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben George
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
| | | | | | - Samih Thalji
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Subramaniam Malarkannan
- Versiti Blood Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Razelle Kurzrock
- Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | | | | | | | | | - Egor Savin
- BostonGene Corporation, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | - Nara Shin
- BostonGene Corporation, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | | | - Isha Sethi
- BostonGene Corporation, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | - Dandan Wang
- Versiti Blood Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Bradley Taylor
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Thomas McFall
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Mandana Kamgar
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - William A Hall
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Beth Erickson
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Kathleen K Christians
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Douglas B Evans
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Susan Tsai
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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16
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Wang P, Chen J, Zhong R, Xia Y, Wu Z, Zhang C, Yao H. Recent advances of ultrasound-responsive nanosystems in tumor immunotherapy. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 198:114246. [PMID: 38479562 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114246] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by boosting the immune system and preventing disease escape mechanisms. Despite its potential, challenges like limited response rates and adverse immune effects impede its widespread clinical adoption. Ultrasound (US), known for its safety and effectiveness in tumor diagnosis and therapy, has been shown to significantly enhance immunotherapy when used with nanosystems. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can obliterate tumor cells and elicit immune reactions through the creation of immunogenic debris. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) bolsters tumor immunosuppression and mitigates metastasis risk by concentrating dendritic cells. Ultrasonic cavitation (UC) produces microbubbles that can transport immune enhancers directly, thus strengthening the immune response and therapeutic impact. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) merges nanotechnology with immunotherapy, using specialized sonosensitizers to kill cancer cells and stimulate immune responses, increasing treatment success. This review discusses the integration of ultrasound-responsive nanosystems in tumor immunotherapy, exploring future opportunities and current hurdles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Wang
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Rui'an people's Hospital (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University), Rui'an 325200, China
| | - Ji Chen
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Rui'an people's Hospital (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University), Rui'an 325200, China
| | - Runming Zhong
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Rui'an people's Hospital (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University), Rui'an 325200, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xia
- Center For Peak of Excellence on Biological Science and Food Engineering, National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou 215004, China
| | - Zhina Wu
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Rui'an people's Hospital (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University), Rui'an 325200, China
| | - Chunye Zhang
- Center For Peak of Excellence on Biological Science and Food Engineering, National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou 215004, China
| | - Hai Yao
- Center For Peak of Excellence on Biological Science and Food Engineering, National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou 215004, China.
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17
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Marques A, Cavaco P, Torre C, Sepodes B, Rocha J. Tumor mutational burden in colorectal cancer: Implications for treatment. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 197:104342. [PMID: 38614266 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104342] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of several advanced solid cancers, in colorectal cancer, the transformative benefit of these innovative medicines is currently limited to those with deficient mismatch repair or high microsatellite instability. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) has emerged as a potential predictor of immunotherapy benefit, but the lack of standardization in its assessment and reporting has hindered the introduction of this biomarker in routine clinical practice. Here, we compiled 45 colorectal cancer studies utilizing numerical thresholds for high-TMB. In this group of studies, TMB cut-offs ranged from 6.88 to 41 mut/Mb and were most often set at 10, 17, or 20 mut/Mb. Additionally, we observed divergent TMB definitions and inconsistent disclosure of specific methodological details, which collectively emphasize the substantial lack of harmonization within the field. Ongoing efforts to harmonize TMB assessment will be critical to validate TMB as a predictive marker of immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Marques
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Cavaco
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Pharmacy Department, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisboa 1449-005, Portugal
| | - Carla Torre
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sepodes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal
| | - João Rocha
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649-003, Portugal.
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Zhu M, Jin M, Zhao X, Shen S, Chen Y, Xiao H, Wei G, He Q, Li B, Peng Z. Anti-PD-1 antibody in combination with radiotherapy as first-line therapy for unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. BMC Med 2024; 22:165. [PMID: 38637772 PMCID: PMC11027363 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03381-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has a poor prognosis despite treatment with standard combination chemotherapy. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody in unresectable iCCA without distant metastases. METHODS In this phase II study, patients with histopathologically confirmed unresectable primary or postoperative recurrent iCCA without distant metastases were enrolled. Patients received external radiotherapy with a dose of ≥45 Gy (2-2.5 Gy per fraction), followed by anti-PD-1 immunotherapy (camrelizumab 200 mg once, every 3 weeks) initiated within 7 days after completion of radiotherapy as first-line therapy. The primary endpoint was 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate. The secondary end points included safety, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS From December 2019 to March 2021, 36 patients completed radiotherapy and at least one cycle of immunotherapy and were included in efficacy and safety analyses. The median follow-up was 19.0 months (IQR 12.0-24.0), and the one-year PFS rate was 44.4% (95% CI, 30.8-64.0). The median PFS was 12.0 months (95% CI, 7.5-not estimable); the median OS was 22.0 months (95% CI, 15.0-not estimable). The ORR was 61.1% and the DCR was 86.1%. Seventeen of 36 (47.2%) patients experienced treatment-related adverse effects (AEs) of any grade. The most common AE was reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (25.0%). Five (13.9%) patients experienced grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs, including decreased lymphocyte (5.6%), bullous dermatitis (2.8%), decreased platelet count (2.8%), and deep-vein thrombosis (2.8%). CONCLUSIONS External radiotherapy plus camrelizumab, as first-line therapy, met its primary endpoint and showed antitumor activity and low toxicity levels in patients with unresectable iCCA without distant metastases, warranting further investigation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03898895. Registered 2 April 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiyan Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Meng Jin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Department of Radiation Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xiao Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Shunli Shen
- Department of Liver Surgery, Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yihan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Han Xiao
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Guangyan Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qiang He
- Department of Liver Surgery, Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Bin Li
- Clinical Trials Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zhenwei Peng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Clinical Trials Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Precision Medicine, Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No.58 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
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19
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Zou J, Zhang Y, Pan Y, Mao Z, Chen X. Advancing nanotechnology for neoantigen-based cancer theranostics. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:3224-3252. [PMID: 38379286 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00162h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Neoantigens play a pivotal role in the field of tumour therapy, encompassing the stimulation of anti-tumour immune response and the enhancement of tumour targeting capability. Nonetheless, numerous factors directly influence the effectiveness of neoantigens in bolstering anti-tumour immune responses, including neoantigen quantity and specificity, uptake rates by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), residence duration within the tumour microenvironment (TME), and their ability to facilitate the maturation of APCs for immune response activation. Nanotechnology assumes a significant role in several aspects, including facilitating neoantigen release, promoting neoantigen delivery to antigen-presenting cells, augmenting neoantigen uptake by dendritic cells, shielding neoantigens from protease degradation, and optimizing interactions between neoantigens and the immune system. Consequently, the development of nanotechnology synergistically enhances the efficacy of neoantigens in cancer theranostics. In this review, we provide an overview of neoantigen sources, the mechanisms of neoantigen-induced immune responses, and the evolution of precision neoantigen-based nanomedicine. This encompasses various therapeutic modalities, such as neoantigen-based immunotherapy, phototherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, and other strategies tailored to augment precision in cancer therapeutics. We also discuss the current challenges and prospects in the application of neoantigen-based precision nanomedicine, aiming to expedite its clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Zou
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore.
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, NUS Center for Nanomedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Yu Zhang
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore.
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, NUS Center for Nanomedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Yuanbo Pan
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore.
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, NUS Center for Nanomedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Zhengwei Mao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, P. R. China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumour of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore.
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, NUS Center for Nanomedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
- Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
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20
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Zhu Z, Peng Q, Duan X, Li J. Interleukin-12: Structure, Function, and Its Impact in Colorectal Cancer. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2024; 44:158-169. [PMID: 38498032 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2023.0190] [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] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a heterodimer consisting of 2 subunits, p35 and p40, with unique associations and interacting functions with its family members. IL-12 is one of the most important cytokines regulating the immune system response and is integral to adaptive immunity. IL-12 has shown marked therapeutic potential in a variety of tumor types. This review therefore summarizes the characteristics of IL-12 and its application in tumor treatment, focusing on its antitumor effects in colorectal cancer (CRC) and potential radiosensitization mechanisms. We aim to provide a current reference for IL-12 and other potential CRC treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Zhu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Peng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingmei Duan
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of. China
| | - Jie Li
- School of Medicine, Southwest Medical University of China, Luzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
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21
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Zhang QS, Hayes JP, Gondi V, Pollack SM. Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy Combinations for Sarcoma. Semin Radiat Oncol 2024; 34:229-242. [PMID: 38508787 DOI: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of bone and soft tissue tumors. Survival outcomes for advanced (unresectable or metastatic) disease remain poor, so therapeutic improvements are needed. Radiotherapy plays an integral role in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment of localized disease as well as in the treatment of metastatic disease. Combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy to potentiate immunotherapy has been used in a variety of cancers other than sarcoma, and there is opportunity to further investigate combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy to try to improve outcomes in sarcoma. In this review, we describe the diversity of the tumor immune microenvironments for sarcomas and describe the immunomodulatory effects of radiotherapy. We discuss studies on the timing of radiotherapy relative to immunotherapy and studies on the radiotherapy dose and fractionation regimen to be used in combination with immunotherapy. We describe the impact of radiotherapy on the tumor immune microenvironment. We review completed and ongoing clinical trials combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy for sarcoma and propose future directions for studies combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy in the treatment of sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian S Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - John P Hayes
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Vinai Gondi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Seth M Pollack
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL..
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22
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Levy A, Morel D, Texier M, Sun R, Durand-Labrunie J, Rodriguez-Ruiz ME, Racadot S, Supiot S, Magné N, Cyrille S, Louvel G, Massard C, Verlingue L, Bouquet F, Bustillos A, Bouarroudj L, Quevrin C, Clémenson C, Mondini M, Meziani L, Tselikas L, Bahleda R, Hollebecque A, Deutsch E. An international phase II trial and immune profiling of SBRT and atezolizumab in advanced pretreated colorectal cancer. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:61. [PMID: 38519913 PMCID: PMC10960440 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-01970-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immuno-radiotherapy may improve outcomes for patients with advanced solid tumors, although optimized combination modalities remain unclear. Here, we report the colorectal (CRC) cohort analysis from the SABR-PDL1 trial that evaluated the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab in combination with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in advanced cancer patients. METHODS Eligible patients received atezolizumab 1200 mg every 3 weeks until progression or unmanageable toxicity, together with ablative SBRT delivered concurrently with the 2nd cycle (recommended dose of 45 Gy in 3 fractions, adapted upon normal tissue tolerance constraint). SBRT was delivered to at least one tumor site, with at least one additional measurable lesion being kept from the radiation field. The primary efficacy endpoint was one-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate from the start of atezolizumab. Sequential tumor biopsies were collected for deep multi-feature immune profiling. RESULTS Sixty pretreated (median of 2 prior lines) advanced CRC patients (38 men [63%]; median age, 59 years [range, 20-81 years]; 77% with liver metastases) were enrolled in five centers (France: n = 4, Spain: n = 1) from 11/2016 to 04/2019. All but one (98%) received atezolizumab and 54/60 (90%) received SBRT. The most frequently irradiated site was lung (n = 30/54; 56.3%). Treatment-related G3 (no G4-5) toxicity was observed in 3 (5%) patients. Median OS and PFS were respectively 8.4 [95%CI:5.9-11.6] and 1.4 months [95%CI:1.2-2.6], including five (9%) patients with PFS > 1 year (median time to progression: 19.2 months, including 2/5 MMR-proficient). Best overall responses consisted of stable disease (n = 38; 64%), partial (n = 3; 5%) and complete response (n = 1; 2%). Immune-centric multiplex IHC and RNAseq showed that SBRT redirected immune cells towards tumor lesions, even in the case of radio-induced lymphopenia. Baseline tumor PD-L1 and IRF1 nuclear expression (both in CD3 + T cells and in CD68 + cells) were higher in responding patients. Upregulation of genes that encode for proteins known to increase T and B cell trafficking to tumors (CCL19, CXCL9), migration (MACF1) and tumor cell killing (GZMB) correlated with responses. CONCLUSIONS This study provides new data on the feasibility, efficacy, and immune context of tumors that may help identifying advanced CRC patients most likely to respond to immuno-radiotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION EudraCT N°: 2015-005464-42; Clinicaltrial.gov number: NCT02992912.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonin Levy
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue E. Vaillant, 94850, Villejuif, France.
- INSERM U1030, Radiothérapie Moléculaire, Villejuif, France.
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Paris Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
| | - Daphné Morel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue E. Vaillant, 94850, Villejuif, France
- INSERM U1030, Radiothérapie Moléculaire, Villejuif, France
| | - Matthieu Texier
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Office, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Oncostat 1018 INSERM, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Roger Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue E. Vaillant, 94850, Villejuif, France
- INSERM U1030, Radiothérapie Moléculaire, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Paris Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Jerome Durand-Labrunie
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue E. Vaillant, 94850, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Severine Racadot
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphane Supiot
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institut de Cancérologie de L'Ouest-Centre Rene Gauducheau, St Herblain, Nantes, France
| | - Nicolas Magné
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Stacy Cyrille
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Office, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Oncostat 1018 INSERM, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Guillaume Louvel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue E. Vaillant, 94850, Villejuif, France
| | - Christophe Massard
- INSERM U1030, Radiothérapie Moléculaire, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Paris Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy-Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Loic Verlingue
- Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy-Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Fanny Bouquet
- Product Development Medical Affairs, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alberto Bustillos
- Product Development Medical Affairs, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Bouarroudj
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue E. Vaillant, 94850, Villejuif, France
- INSERM U1030, Radiothérapie Moléculaire, Villejuif, France
- Bioinformatic Platform, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | | | | | | | - Lydia Meziani
- INSERM U1030, Radiothérapie Moléculaire, Villejuif, France
| | - Lambros Tselikas
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Paris Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Rastilav Bahleda
- Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy-Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Antoine Hollebecque
- Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy-Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Eric Deutsch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue E. Vaillant, 94850, Villejuif, France.
- INSERM U1030, Radiothérapie Moléculaire, Villejuif, France.
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Paris Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
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Cai L, Chen A, Tang D. A new strategy for immunotherapy of microsatellite-stable (MSS)-type advanced colorectal cancer: Multi-pathway combination therapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Immunology 2024. [PMID: 38517066 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequent gastrointestinal malignancy with high rates of morbidity and mortality; 85% of these tumours are proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)-microsatellite instability-low (MSI-L)/microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC known as 'cold' tumours that are resistant to immunosuppressive drugs. Monotherapy with programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors is ineffective for treating MSS CRC, making immunotherapy for MSS CRC a bottleneck. Recent studies have found that the multi-pathway regimens combined with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors can enhance the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 in MSS CRC by increasing the number of CD8+ T cells, upregulating PD-L1 expression and improving the tumour microenvironment. This paper reviews the research progress of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in combination with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, oncolytic virus, intestinal flora, antiangiogenic agents, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and epigenetic drugs for the treatment of pMMR-MSI-L/MSS CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingli Cai
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Anqi Chen
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Dong Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Institute of General Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
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Liu Y, Jiang X, Wu Y, Yu H. Global research landscape and trends of cancer radiotherapy plus immunotherapy: A bibliometric analysis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27103. [PMID: 38449655 PMCID: PMC10915415 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27103] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to present current research trends on the synergistic use of radiotherapy and immunotherapy (IRT) for cancer treatment. On March 1, 2023, we conducted a literature search for IRT papers using the Web of Science database. We extracted information and constructed two databases - the Core Database (CD) with 864 papers and Generalized Database (GD) with 6344 papers. A bibliometric analysis was performed to provide insights into the research landscape, to identify emerging trends and highly cited papers and journals in the field of IRT. The CD contained 864 papers that were collectively cited 31,818 times. Prominent journals in this area included the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Oncology, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Corresponding authors from the USA contributed the most publications. In recent years, lung cancer, melanoma, stereotactic radiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and the tumor microenvironment emerged as hot research areas. This bibliometric analysis presented quantitative insights into research concerning IRT and proposed potential avenues for further exploration. Moreover, researchers can use our findings to select appropriate journals for publication or identify prospective collaborators. In summary, this bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the historical progression and recent advancements in IRT research that may serve as inspiration for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhao Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Department of Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, China
| | - Xu Jiang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, China
| | - Yujuan Wu
- Department of Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, China
| | - Haiming Yu
- Department of Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, China
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Yuan L, Tan Z, Huang J, Chen F, Hambly BD, Bao S, Tao K. Exploring the clinical significance of IL-38 correlation with PD-1, CTLA-4, and FOXP3 in colorectal cancer draining lymph nodes. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1384548. [PMID: 38533512 PMCID: PMC10963446 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1384548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents a substantial challenge characterized by unacceptably high mortality and morbidity, primarily attributed to delayed diagnosis and reliance on palliative care. The immune response of the host plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis, with IL-38 emerging as a potential protective factor in CRC. However, the precise involvement of IL-38 among various leucocytes, its interactions with PD-1/PD-L1, and its impact on metastasis require further elucidation. Results Our investigation revealed a significant correlation between IL-38 expression and metastasis, particularly concerning survival and interactions among diverse leucocytes within draining lymph nodes. In the mesentery lymph nodes, we observed an inverse correlation between IL-38 expression and stages of lymph node invasions (TNM), invasion depth, distance, and differentiation. This aligns with an overall survival advantage associated with higher IL-38 expression in CRC patients' nodes compared to lower levels, as well as elevated IL-38 expression on CD4+ or CD8+ cells. Notably, a distinct subset of patients characterized by IL-38high/PD-1low expression exhibited superior survival outcomes compared to other combinations. Discussion Our findings demonstrate that IL-38 expression in colorectal regional nodes from CRC patients is inversely correlated with PD-1/PD-L1 but positively correlated with infiltrating CD4+ or CD8+ lymphocytes. The combined assessment of IL-38 and PD-1 expression in colorectal regional nodes emerges as a promising biomarker for predicting the prognosis of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuhong Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenyu Tan
- Department of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjie Huang
- Department of Pathology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feier Chen
- Department of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Brett D. Hambly
- Department of Pathology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shisan Bao
- Department of Pathology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Tao
- Department of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Ye X, Yu Y, Zheng X, Ma H. Clinical immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:64. [PMID: 38430289 PMCID: PMC10908626 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03632-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains a challenging disease with limited treatment options, resulting in high mortality rates. The predominant approach to managing pancreatic cancer patients continues to be systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy. Despite substantial advancements in immunotherapy strategies for various cancers, their clinical utility in pancreatic cancer has proven less effective and durable. Whether administered as monotherapy, employing immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, chimeric antigen receptors T cells, or in combination with conventional chemoradiotherapy, the clinical outcomes remain underwhelming. Extensive preclinical experiments and clinical trials in the realm of pancreatic cancer have provided valuable insights into the complexities of immunotherapy. Chief among the hurdles are the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, limited immunogenicity, and the inherent heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview and critical analysis of current clinical immunotherapy strategies for pancreatic cancer, emphasizing their endeavors to overcome immunotherapy resistance. Particular focus is placed on strategies aimed at reshaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment and enhancing T cell-mediated tumor cell killing. Ultimately, through deeper elucidation of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of pancreatic cancer and the refinement of therapeutic approaches, we anticipate breakthroughs that will pave the way for more effective treatments in this challenging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Ye
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaohu Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China.
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongdi Ma
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China.
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27
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Yang K, Yi T. Tumor cell stemness in gastrointestinal cancer: regulation and targeted therapy. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 10:1297611. [PMID: 38455361 PMCID: PMC10918437 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1297611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The cancer stem cells are a rare group of self-renewable cancer cells capable of the initiation, progression, metastasis and recurrence of tumors, and also a key contributor to the therapeutic resistance. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanism of tumor stemness regulation, especially in the gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, is of great importance for targeting CSC and designing novel therapeutic strategies. This review aims to elucidate current advancements in the understanding of CSC regulation, including CSC biomarkers, signaling pathways, and non-coding RNAs. We will also provide a comprehensive view on how the tumor microenvironment (TME) display an overall tumor-promoting effect, including the recruitment and impact of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the establishment of an immunosuppressive milieu, and the induction of angiogenesis and hypoxia. Lastly, this review consolidates mainstream novel therapeutic interventions targeting CSC stemness regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangqi Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tuo Yi
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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28
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Zhang Q, Jiang L, Wang W, Huber AK, Valvo VM, Jungles KM, Holcomb EA, Pearson AN, The S, Wang Z, Parsels LA, Parsels JD, Wahl DR, Rao A, Sahai V, Lawrence TS, Green MD, Morgan MA. Potentiating the radiation-induced type I interferon antitumoral immune response by ATM inhibition in pancreatic cancer. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e168824. [PMID: 38376927 PMCID: PMC11063931 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.168824] [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: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy induces a type I interferon-mediated (T1IFN-mediated) antitumoral immune response that we hypothesized could be potentiated by a first-in-class ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) inhibitor, leading to enhanced innate immune signaling, T1IFN expression, and sensitization to immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer. We evaluated the effects of AZD1390 or a structurally related compound, AZD0156, on innate immune signaling and found that both inhibitors enhanced radiation-induced T1IFN expression via the POLIII/RIG-I/MAVS pathway. In immunocompetent syngeneic mouse models of pancreatic cancer, ATM inhibitor enhanced radiation-induced antitumoral immune responses and sensitized tumors to anti-PD-L1, producing immunogenic memory and durable tumor control. Therapeutic responses were associated with increased intratumoral CD8+ T cell frequency and effector function. Tumor control was dependent on CD8+ T cells, as therapeutic efficacy was blunted in CD8+ T cell-depleted mice. Adaptive immune responses to combination therapy provided systemic control of contralateral tumors outside of the radiation field. Taken together, we show that a clinical candidate ATM inhibitor enhances radiation-induced T1IFN, leading to both innate and subsequent adaptive antitumoral immune responses and sensitization of otherwise resistant pancreatic cancer to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Weiwei Wang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | | | | | - Kassidy M. Jungles
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | - Stephanie The
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | | | - Daniel R. Wahl
- Department of Radiation Oncology and
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Arvind Rao
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Vaibhav Sahai
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, and
| | - Theodore S. Lawrence
- Department of Radiation Oncology and
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael D. Green
- Department of Radiation Oncology and
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Meredith A. Morgan
- Department of Radiation Oncology and
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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29
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Zhang H, Xu W, Zhu H, Chen X, Tsai HI. Overcoming the limitations of immunotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Combining radiotherapy and metabolic targeting therapy. J Cancer 2024; 15:2003-2023. [PMID: 38434964 PMCID: PMC10905401 DOI: 10.7150/jca.92502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
As a novel anticancer therapy, immunotherapy has demonstrated robust efficacy against a few solid tumors but poor efficacy against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This poor outcome is primarily attributable to the intrinsic cancer cell resistance and T-cell exhaustion, which is also the reason for the failure of conventional therapy. The present review summarizes the current PDAC immunotherapy avenues and the underlying resistance mechanisms. Then, the review discusses synergistic combination therapies, such as radiotherapy (RT) and metabolic targeting. Research suggests that RT boosts the antigen of PDAC, which facilitates the anti-tumor immune cell infiltration and exerts function. Metabolic reprogramming contributes to restoring the exhausted T cell function. The current review will help in tailoring combination regimens to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. In addition, it will help provide new approaches to address the limitations of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) by examining the relationship among immunotherapy, RT, and metabolism targeting therapy in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Wenjin Xu
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Haitao Zhu
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xuelian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hsiang-I Tsai
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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30
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Wang J, Gai J, Zhang T, Niu N, Qi H, Thomas DL, Li K, Xia T, Rodriguez C, Parkinson R, Durham J, McPhaul T, Narang AK, Anders RA, Osipov A, Wang H, He J, Laheru DA, Herman JM, Lee V, Jaffee EM, Thompson ED, Zhu Q, Zheng L. Neoadjuvant radioimmunotherapy in pancreatic cancer enhances effector T cell infiltration and shortens their distances to tumor cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk1827. [PMID: 38324679 PMCID: PMC10849596 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk1827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Radiotherapy is hypothesized to have an immune-modulating effect on the tumor microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to sensitize it to anti-PD-1 antibody (a-PD-1) treatment. We collected paired pre- and posttreatment specimens from a clinical trial evaluating combination treatment with GVAX vaccine, a-PD-1, and stereotactic body radiation (SBRT) following chemotherapy for locally advanced PDACs (LAPC). With resected PDACs following different neoadjuvant therapies as comparisons, effector cells in PDACs were found to skew toward a more exhausted status in LAPCs following chemotherapy. The combination of GVAX/a-PD-1/SBRT drives TME to favor antitumor immune response including increased densities of GZMB+CD8+ T cells, TH1, and TH17, which are associated with longer survival, however increases immunosuppressive M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Adding SBRT to GVAX/a-PD-1 shortens the distances from PD-1+CD8+ T cells to tumor cells and to PD-L1+ myeloid cells, which portends prolonged survival. These findings have guided the design of next radioimmunotherapy studies by targeting M2-like TAM in PDACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junke Wang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jessica Gai
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Tengyi Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Nan Niu
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Hanfei Qi
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Quantitative Sciences Division, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Dwayne L. Thomas
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Keyu Li
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Tao Xia
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Christina Rodriguez
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Rose Parkinson
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jennifer Durham
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Thomas McPhaul
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Amol K. Narang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Robert A. Anders
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Arsen Osipov
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Quantitative Sciences Division, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jin He
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Daniel A. Laheru
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Joseph M. Herman
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Northwell Health System, New Hyde Park, NY, 11042, USA
| | - Valerie Lee
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Jaffee
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Elizabeth D. Thompson
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Qingfeng Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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31
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Mustafa AR, Miyasato D, Wehrenberg-Klee E. Synergizing Thermal Ablation Modalities with Immunotherapy: Enough to Induce Systemic Antitumoral Immunity? J Vasc Interv Radiol 2024; 35:185-197. [PMID: 38272639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2023.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Thermal ablation modalities (cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, and microwave ablation) have long been noted to occasionally induce a systemic antitumoral response. With the widespread use of checkpoint inhibitors, there is a significant interest in whether thermal ablation can promote immune system tumor recognition and increase checkpoint inhibitor response rates. In this review, we examine the current state of preclinical and clinical evidence examining the combination of checkpoint inhibitor therapies and thermal ablation modalities as well as discuss remaining the unanswered questions and directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Rehman Mustafa
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Eric Wehrenberg-Klee
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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32
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Kamrani A, Nasiri H, Hassanzadeh A, Ahmadian Heris J, Mohammadinasab R, Sadeghvand S, Sadeghi M, Valedkarimi Z, Hosseinzadeh R, Shomali N, Akbari M. New immunotherapy approaches for colorectal cancer: focusing on CAR-T cell, BiTE, and oncolytic viruses. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:56. [PMID: 38243252 PMCID: PMC10799490 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01430-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of mortality worldwide. There are several potential risk factors responsible for the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer, including age, family history, a history of inflammatory bowel disease, and lifestyle factors such as physical activity and diet. For decades, there has been a vast amount of study on treatment approaches for colorectal cancer, which has led to conventional therapies such as chemotherapy, surgery, etc. Considering the high prevalence and incidence rate, scholars believe there is an urgent need for an alternative, more efficacious treatment with fewer adverse effects than the abovementioned treatments. Immunotherapy has emerged as a potential treatment alternative in a few years and has become one of the fastest-evolving therapeutic methods. Immunotherapy works by activating or enhancing the immune system's power to identify and attack cancerous cells. This review summarizes the most crucial new immunotherapy methods under investigation for colorectal cancer treatment, including Immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, BiTEs, Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and Oncolytic virus therapy. Furthermore, this study discusses the application of combination therapy, precision medicine, biomarker discovery, overcoming resistance, and immune-related adverse effects. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Kamrani
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hadi Nasiri
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Hassanzadeh
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Ahmadian Heris
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Pediatric Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Mohammadinasab
- Department of History of Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shahram Sadeghvand
- Pediatrics Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Sadeghi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Tabriz university of medical science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Valedkarimi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ramin Hosseinzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Navid Shomali
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Morteza Akbari
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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33
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Luo W, Wen T, Qu X. Tumor immune microenvironment-based therapies in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: time to update the concept. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:8. [PMID: 38167055 PMCID: PMC10759657 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02935-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal solid tumors. The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) formed by interactions among cancer cells, immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), and extracellular matrix (ECM) components drives PDAC in a more immunosuppressive direction: this is a major cause of therapy resistance and poor prognosis. In recent years, research has advanced our understanding of the signaling mechanism by which TIME components interact with the tumor and the evolution of immunophenotyping. Through revolutionary technologies such as single-cell sequencing, we have gone from simply classifying PDACs as "cold" and "hot" to a more comprehensive approach of immunophenotyping that considers all the cells and matrix components. This is key to improving the clinical efficacy of PDAC treatments. In this review, we elaborate on various TIME components in PDAC, the signaling mechanisms underlying their interactions, and the latest research into PDAC immunophenotyping. A deep understanding of these network interactions will contribute to the effective combination of TIME-based therapeutic approaches, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), adoptive cell therapy, therapies targeting myeloid cells, CAF reprogramming, and stromal normalization. By selecting the appropriate integrated therapies based on precise immunophenotyping, significant advances in the future treatment of PDAC are possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
- Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
- Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Ti Wen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
- Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China.
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
| | - Xiujuan Qu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
- Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China.
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
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Ding K, Mou P, Wang Z, Liu S, Liu J, Lu H, Yu G. The next bastion to be conquered in immunotherapy: microsatellite stable colorectal cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1298524. [PMID: 38187388 PMCID: PMC10770832 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1298524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise, particularly in developing countries. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has represented a significant advancement in CRC treatment. Deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) serves as a biomarker for immunotherapy, with dMMR/MSI-H CRC exhibiting significantly better response rates to immunotherapy compared to proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)or microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC. While some progress has been made in the treatment of pMMR/MSS CRC in recent years, it remains a challenging issue in clinical practice. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role not only in the development and progression of CRC but also in determining the response to immunotherapy. Understanding the characteristics of the TME in pMMR/MSS CRC could offer new insights to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. In this review, we provide an overview of the current research progress on the TME characteristics and advancements in immunotherapy for pMMR/MSS CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei Mou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Pudong New Area People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuqing Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - JinPei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ganjun Yu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine & National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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He J, Yan Y, Zhang J, Wei Z, Li H, Xing L. Synergistic treatment strategy: combining CAR-NK cell therapy and radiotherapy to combat solid tumors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1298683. [PMID: 38162672 PMCID: PMC10755030 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1298683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy, notably chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified natural killer (NK) cell therapy, has shown exciting promise in the treatment of hematologic malignancies due to its unique advantages including fewer side effects, diverse activation mechanisms, and wide availability. However, CAR-NK cell therapies have demonstrated limited efficacy against solid tumors, primarily due to challenges posed by the solid tumor microenvironment. In contrast, radiotherapy, a well-established treatment modality, has been proven to modulate the tumor microenvironment and facilitate immune cell infiltration. With these observations, we hypothesize that a novel therapeutic strategy integrating CAR-NK cell therapy with radiotherapy could enhance the ability to treat solid tumors. This hypothesis aims to address the obstacles CAR-NK cell therapies face within the solid tumor microenvironment and explore the potential efficacy of their combination with radiotherapy. By capitalizing on the synergistic advantages of CAR-NK cell therapy and radiotherapy, we posit that this could lead to improved prognoses for patients with solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie He
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Yushan Yan
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Asclepius (Soochow) Technology Company Group, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiming Wei
- Asclepius (Soochow) Technology Company Group, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huashun Li
- Asclepius (Soochow) Technology Company Group, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ligang Xing
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
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Coley AK, Lu C, Pankaj A, Emmett MJ, Lang ER, Song Y, Xu KH, Xu N, Patel BK, Chougule A, Nieman LT, Aryee MJ, Ferrone CR, Deshpande V, Franses JW, Ting DT. Dysregulated Repeat Element Viral-like Immune Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.04.570014. [PMID: 38105940 PMCID: PMC10723373 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.04.570014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Dysregulation of viral-like repeat RNAs are a common feature across many malignancies that are linked with immunological response, but the characterization of these in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is understudied. In this study, we performed RNA in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH) of different repeat RNAs, immunohistochemistry (IHC) for immune cell subpopulations, and spatial transcriptomics to understand the relationship of HCC repeat expression, immune response, and clinical outcomes. Experimental Design RNA-ISH for LINE1, HERV-K, HERV-H, and HSATII repeats and IHC for T-cell, Treg, B-cell, macrophage, and immune checkpoint markers were performed on 43 resected HCC specimens. Spatial transcriptomics on tumor and vessel regions of interest was performed on 28 specimens from the same cohort. Results High HERV-K and high LINE1 expression were both associated with worse overall survival. There was a positive correlation between LINE1 expression and FOXP3 T-regulatory cells (r = 0.51 p < 0.001) as well as expression of the TIM3 immune checkpoint (r = 0.34, p = 0.03). Spatial transcriptomic profiling of HERV-K high and LINE-1 high tumors identified elevated expression of multiple genes previously associated with epithelial mesenchymal transition, cellular proliferation, and worse overall prognosis in HCC including SSX1, MAGEC2, and SPINK1. Conclusion Repeat RNAs may serve as useful prognostic biomarkers in HCC and may also serve as novel therapeutic targets. Additional study is needed to understand the mechanisms by which repeat RNAs impact HCC tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avril K. Coley
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chenyue Lu
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
- Health Sciences and Technology Program; Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amaya Pankaj
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J. Emmett
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Evan R. Lang
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Yuhui Song
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Katherine H. Xu
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Nova Xu
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Bidish K. Patel
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Abhijit Chougule
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Linda T. Nieman
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Martin J. Aryee
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT; Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Vikram Deshpande
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph W. Franses
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Health Sciences and Technology Program; Cambridge, MA, USA
- Section of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago; Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David T. Ting
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School; Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Health Sciences and Technology Program; Cambridge, MA, USA
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Uchihara Y, Shibata A. Regulation of DNA damage-induced HLA class I presentation. DNA Repair (Amst) 2023; 132:103590. [PMID: 37944422 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2023.103590] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are cancer therapies that restore anti-tumor immunity; however, only a small percentage of patients have been completely cured by ICI alone. Multiple approaches in combination with other modalities have been used to improve the efficacy of ICI therapy. Among conventional cancer treatments, radiotherapy or DNA damage-based chemotherapy is a promising candidate as a partner of ICI because DNA damage signaling potentially stimulates immune activities turning the tumor's immune environment into hot tumors. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I), which are immune ligands, regulate the balance of anti-tumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment. PD-L1 functions as a brake to suppress cytotoxic T cell activity, whereas HLA-I is an immune accelerator that promotes the downstream of the T cell signaling. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that DNA damage enhances the presentation of HLA-I on the surface of damaged cells. However, it is unclear how signal transduction in DNA-damaged cells upregulates the presentation of HLA-I with antigens. Our recent study uncovered the mechanism underlying DNA damage-induced HLA-I presentation, which requires polypeptide synthesis through a pioneer round of translation. In this review, we summarize the latest overview of how DNA damage stimulates antigen production presented by HLA-I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Uchihara
- Division of Molecular Oncological Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Shibata
- Division of Molecular Oncological Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
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El Hajj J, Reddy S, Verma N, Huang EH, Kazmi SM. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in pMMR/MSS Colorectal Cancer. J Gastrointest Cancer 2023; 54:1017-1030. [PMID: 37009977 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-023-00927-2] [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] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors have recently replaced over chemotherapy as the first-line treatment for microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR/MSI-H) stage 4 colorectal cancers. Considering this success, many studies have tried to replicate the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, either as a single agent or in combination with other therapeutic agents, in the treatment of proficient mismatch repair (pMMR/MSS) stage 4 colorectal cancers. This review summarizes the seminal clinical data about the immune checkpoint inhibitors used in pMMR/MSS colorectal cancers and some future directions. RESULTS Studies concerning the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors as a single agent or in combination with other immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy have proven inefficient in the treatment of pMMR/MSS colorectal cancer. However, a small subset of patients with pMMR/MSS colorectal cancer who has a mutation in POLE and POLD1 enzymes may respond to immunotherapy. Moreover, patients without liver metastasis appear to have a better chance of response. New immune checkpoint targets are being identified, such as VISTA, TIGIT, LAG3, STING signal pathway, and BTLA, and studies are ongoing to determine their efficiency in this disease type. CONCLUSION Immune checkpoint inhibitor-based regimens have not yet shown any meaningful positive outcomes for most pMMR/MSS colorectal cancers. A beneficial effect among a minority of these patients has been observed, but concrete biomarkers of response are lacking. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of immune resistance should guide further research for overcoming these obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna El Hajj
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Sarah Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nilesh Verma
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Emina H Huang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Syed M Kazmi
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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Margalit O, Lieberman S, Redinsky I, Halparin S, Honig N, Raskin S, Ben-Ayun M, Shacham-Shmueli E, Halpern N, Urban D, Ackerstein A, Shulman K, Ben-Ami E, Semenisty V, Purim O, Yarom N, Golan T, Boursi B, Appel S, Symon Z, Berger R, Mauro D, Krieg AM, Lawrence YR. Combination Treatment of Intratumoral Vidutolimod, Radiosurgery, Nivolumab, and Ipilimumab for Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Carcinoma With Liver Metastases. Clin Colorectal Cancer 2023; 22:442-449.e1. [PMID: 37657954 DOI: 10.1016/j.clcc.2023.08.004] [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: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS mCRC) is largely refractory to immune checkpoint inhibition. We hypothesized that a combination of intratumoral TLR9 agonist, radiosurgery and dual PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockade would induce a local focus of immune stimulation, evoking a systemic immune response. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this phase I single-institution study, patients with MSS mCRC were treated with a priming dose of s.c vidutolimod, 3 intratumoral injections of vidutolimod and radiosurgery, combined with nivolumab and ipilimumab. Cytokine levels were measured at baseline and at 7 (± 2) weeks. Patients were accrued to 4 consecutive cohorts: (1) Safety run-in without radiosurgery, (2) Radiosurgery prior to intratumoral therapy, (3) Radiosurgery prior to intratumoral therapy with a condensed timeline, and (4) Radiosurgery to extrahepatic lesion following completion of intratumoral therapy. RESULTS A total of 19 patients were accrued. Median age was 59 years (range 40-71), 68% were male, median number of previous systemic treatments was 3 (range 2-5). None of the patients responded, aside from 1 patient, attributed to high tumor mutational burden. Grade 3 liver toxicity was reported in 0%, 0%, 75%, and 17% in cohorts 1 to 4, respectively. Systemic levels of CXCL10 and IL-10 increased, with a median of 407 versus 78 pg/mL (P = .01), and 66 versus 40 pg/mL (P = .03), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The combination of intratumoral vidutolimod, radiosurgery, nivolumab and ipilimumab was not found to be efficacious in MSS mCRC with liver metastases. The juxtaposition of liver irradiation and intratumoral vidutolimod injection was associated with high hepatic toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofer Margalit
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sivan Lieberman
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ilanit Redinsky
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sharon Halparin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nir Honig
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Stephen Raskin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Maoz Ben-Ayun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Einat Shacham-Shmueli
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Naama Halpern
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Damien Urban
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Aliza Ackerstein
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Katerina Shulman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Lady Davis Carmel Hospital, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eytan Ben-Ami
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Valeriya Semenisty
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
| | - Ofer Purim
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nirit Yarom
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shamir Medical Center, Beer Yaacov, Israel
| | - Talia Golan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ben Boursi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sarit Appel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Zvi Symon
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Raanan Berger
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | | | - Yaacov R Lawrence
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College & Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University-Jefferson Health, Phila, PA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Jeon SH, Song C, Eom KY, Kim IA, Kim JS. Modulation of CD8 + T Cell Responses by Radiotherapy-Current Evidence and Rationale for Combination with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16691. [PMID: 38069014 PMCID: PMC10706388 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy for cancer has been known to affect the responses of immune cells, especially those of CD8+ T cells that play a pivotal role in anti-tumor immunity. Clinical success of immune checkpoint inhibitors led to an increasing interest in the ability of radiation to modulate CD8+ T cell responses. Recent studies that carefully analyzed CD8+ T cell responses following radiotherapy suggest the beneficial roles of radiotherapy on anti-tumor immunity. In addition, numerous clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of combining radiotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors are currently undergoing. In this review, we summarize the current status of knowledge regarding the changes in CD8+ T cells following radiotherapy from various preclinical and clinical studies. Furthermore, key biological mechanisms that underlie such modulation, including both direct and indirect effects, are described. Lastly, we discuss the current evidence and essential considerations for harnessing radiotherapy as a combination partner for immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jae-Sung Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam 13620, Republic of Korea; (S.H.J.); (C.S.); (K.-Y.E.); (I.A.K.)
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Van Dingenen L, Segers C, Wouters S, Mysara M, Leys N, Kumar-Singh S, Malhotra-Kumar S, Van Houdt R. Dissecting the role of the gut microbiome and fecal microbiota transplantation in radio- and immunotherapy treatment of colorectal cancer. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1298264. [PMID: 38035338 PMCID: PMC10687483 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1298264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and poses a major burden on the human health worldwide. At the moment, treatment of CRC consists of surgery in combination with (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. More recently, immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) have also been approved for CRC treatment. In addition, recent studies have shown that radiotherapy and ICBs act synergistically, with radiotherapy stimulating the immune system that is activated by ICBs. However, both treatments are also associated with severe toxicity and efficacy issues, which can lead to temporary or permanent discontinuation of these treatment programs. There's growing evidence pointing to the gut microbiome playing a role in these issues. Some microorganisms seem to contribute to radiotherapy-associated toxicity and hinder ICB efficacy, while others seem to reduce radiotherapy-associated toxicity or enhance ICB efficacy. Consequently, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been applied to reduce radio- and immunotherapy-related toxicity and enhance their efficacies. Here, we have reviewed the currently available preclinical and clinical data in CRC treatment, with a focus on how the gut microbiome influences radio- and immunotherapy toxicity and efficacy and if these treatments could benefit from FMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Van Dingenen
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Segers
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Shari Wouters
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
- Molecular Pathology Group, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mohamed Mysara
- Bioinformatics Group, Center for Informatics Science, School of Information Technology and Computer Science, Nile University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Natalie Leys
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Samir Kumar-Singh
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Molecular Pathology Group, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Surbhi Malhotra-Kumar
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rob Van Houdt
- Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
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Borràs DM, Verbandt S, Ausserhofer M, Sturm G, Lim J, Verge GA, Vanmeerbeek I, Laureano RS, Govaerts J, Sprooten J, Hong Y, Wall R, De Hertogh G, Sagaert X, Bislenghi G, D'Hoore A, Wolthuis A, Finotello F, Park WY, Naulaerts S, Tejpar S, Garg AD. Single cell dynamics of tumor specificity vs bystander activity in CD8 + T cells define the diverse immune landscapes in colorectal cancer. Cell Discov 2023; 9:114. [PMID: 37968259 PMCID: PMC10652011 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00605-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cell activation via immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is successful in microsatellite instable (MSI) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. By comparison, the success of immunotherapy against microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC is limited. Little is known about the most critical features of CRC CD8+ T cells that together determine the diverse immune landscapes and contrasting ICB responses. Hence, we pursued a deep single cell mapping of CRC CD8+ T cells on transcriptomic and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire levels in a diverse patient cohort, with additional surface proteome validation. This revealed that CRC CD8+ T cell dynamics are underscored by complex interactions between interferon-γ signaling, tumor reactivity, TCR repertoire, (predicted) TCR antigen-specificities, and environmental cues like gut microbiome or colon tissue-specific 'self-like' features. MSI CRC CD8+ T cells showed tumor-specific activation reminiscent of canonical 'T cell hot' tumors, whereas the MSS CRC CD8+ T cells exhibited tumor unspecific or bystander-like features. This was accompanied by inflammation reminiscent of 'pseudo-T cell hot' tumors. Consequently, MSI and MSS CRC CD8+ T cells showed overlapping phenotypic features that differed dramatically in their TCR antigen-specificities. Given their high discriminating potential for CD8+ T cell features/specificities, we used the single cell tumor-reactive signaling modules in CD8+ T cells to build a bulk tumor transcriptome classification for CRC patients. This "Immune Subtype Classification" (ISC) successfully distinguished various tumoral immune landscapes that showed prognostic value and predicted immunotherapy responses in CRC patients. Thus, we deliver a unique map of CRC CD8+ T cells that drives a novel tumor immune landscape classification, with relevance for immunotherapy decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Morales Borràs
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sara Verbandt
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Markus Ausserhofer
- Universität Innsbruck, Department of Molecular Biology, Digital Science Center (DiSC), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gregor Sturm
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jinyeong Lim
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gil Arasa Verge
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isaure Vanmeerbeek
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Raquel S Laureano
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jannes Govaerts
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jenny Sprooten
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yourae Hong
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rebecca Wall
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gert De Hertogh
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Xavier Sagaert
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gabriele Bislenghi
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - André D'Hoore
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Albert Wolthuis
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesca Finotello
- Universität Innsbruck, Department of Molecular Biology, Digital Science Center (DiSC), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Woong-Yang Park
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Stefan Naulaerts
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sabine Tejpar
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Abhishek D Garg
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Montoya C, Spieler B, Welford SM, Kwon D, Pra AD, Lopes G, Mihaylov IB. Predicting response to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer- from bench to bedside. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1225720. [PMID: 38033493 PMCID: PMC10686412 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1225720] [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: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is first-line treatment for many advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) patients. Predicting response could help guide selection of intensified or alternative anti-cancer regimens. We hypothesized that radiomics and laboratory variables predictive of ICI response in a murine model would also predict response in aNSCLC patients. Methods Fifteen mice with lung carcinoma tumors implanted in bilateral flanks received ICI. Pre-ICI laboratory and computed tomography (CT) data were evaluated for association with systemic ICI response. Baseline clinical and CT data for 117 aNSCLC patients treated with nivolumab were correlated with overall survival (OS). Models for predicting treatment response were created and subjected to internal cross-validation, with the human model further tested on 42 aNSCLC patients who received pembrolizumab. Results Models incorporating baseline NLR and identical radiomics (surface-to-mass ratio, average Gray, and 2D kurtosis) predicted ICI response in mice and OS in humans with AUCs of 0.91 and 0.75, respectively. The human model successfully sorted pembrolizumab patients by longer vs. shorter predicted OS (median 35 months vs. 6 months, p=0.026 by log-rank). Discussion This study advances precision oncology by non-invasively classifying aNSCLC patients according to ICI response using pre-treatment data only. Interestingly, identical radiomics features and NLR correlated with outcomes in the preclinical study and with ICI response in 2 independent patient cohorts, suggesting translatability of the findings. Future directions include using a radiogenomic approach to optimize modeling of ICI response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Montoya
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Benjamin Spieler
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Scott M. Welford
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Deukwoo Kwon
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Alan Dal Pra
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Gilberto Lopes
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Ivaylo B. Mihaylov
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
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Karapetyan L, Iheagwara UK, Olson AC, Chmura SJ, Skinner HK, Luke JJ. Radiation dose, schedule, and novel systemic targets for radio-immunotherapy combinations. J Natl Cancer Inst 2023; 115:1278-1293. [PMID: 37348864 PMCID: PMC10637035 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djad118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy combinations are being investigated to expand the benefit of immune checkpoint blockade across many cancer types. Radiation combinations, in particular using stereotactic body radiotherapy, are of keen interest because of underlying mechanistic rationale, safety, and availability as a standard of care in certain cancers. In addition to direct tumor cytotoxicity, radiation therapy has immunomodulatory effects such as induction of immunogenic cell death, enhancement of antigen presentation, and expansion of the T-cell receptor repertoire as well as recruitment and increased activity of tumor-specific effector CD8+ cells. Combinations of radiation with cytokines and/or chemokines and anti-programmed death 1 and anticytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 therapies have demonstrated safety and feasibility, as well as the potential to improve long-term outcomes and possibly induce out of irradiated field or abscopal responses. Novel immunoradiotherapy combinations represent a promising therapeutic approach to overcome radioresistance and further enhance systemic immunotherapy. Potential benefits include reversing CD8+ T-cell exhaustion, inhibiting myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and reversing M2 macrophage polarization as well as decreasing levels of colony-stimulating factor-1 and transforming growth factor-β. Here, we discuss current data and mechanistic rationale for combining novel immunotherapy agents with radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilit Karapetyan
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Uzoma K Iheagwara
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adam C Olson
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steven J Chmura
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Heath K Skinner
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jason J Luke
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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45
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de Vries HM, Rafael TS, Gil-Jimenez A, de Feijter JM, Bekers E, van der Laan E, Lopez-Yurda M, Hooijberg E, Broeks A, Peters D, Seignette IM, Pos FJ, Horenblas S, van Rhijn BWG, Jordanova ES, Brouwer OR, Schaake E, van der Heijden MS. Atezolizumab With or Without Radiotherapy for Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis (The PERICLES Study): A Phase II Trial. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:4872-4880. [PMID: 37487169 DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.02894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma have a poor prognosis (21% 2-year overall survival [OS] from diagnosis). We assessed the activity of atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) in patients with advanced penile cancer, with or without radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS AND METHODS A single-center, nonrandomized phase II study with two treatment arms was conducted in 32 patients with histologically confirmed advanced penile cancer. All patients received atezolizumab (1,200 mg) once every 3 weeks. Twenty patients, who were expected to benefit from RT for locoregional disease control, received additional irradiation. The primary end point was 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) for the complete cohort and was reached if the actual 1-year PFS was at least 35%. Secondary end points included OS, objective response rate (ORR), and tolerability. Exploratory biomarker analyses were conducted in pretreatment specimens. RESULTS Median follow-up was 29.1 months (IQR, 18.1-33.5). Grade 3-4 adverse events related to atezolizumab or RT were observed in 3/32 (9.4%) and 13/20 (65%) patients, respectively. One-year PFS was 12.5% (95% CI, 5.0 to 31.3), which did not meet the study's primary end point. Median OS was 11.3 months (95% CI, 5.5 to 18.7). In the objective response-evaluable population (n = 30; 93.8%), the ORR was 16.7% (95% CI, 6 to 35), including 2 (6.7%) complete responders and 3 (10%) partial responders. Improved PFS was observed in patients with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV)-positive tumors (P = .003) and those with high infiltration of intratumoral CD3+CD8+ T cells (P = .037). CONCLUSION Although the primary end point of 1-year PFS was not met, durable antitumor activity to atezolizumab was observed in a subset of patients. Biomarkers, such as hrHPV and intratumoral CD3+CD8+ T-cell infiltration, may help to better select responders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hielke M de Vries
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tynisha S Rafael
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alberto Gil-Jimenez
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeantine M de Feijter
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elise Bekers
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elsbeth van der Laan
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marta Lopez-Yurda
- Department of Biostatistics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Erik Hooijberg
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annegien Broeks
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology and Biobanking, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dennis Peters
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology and Biobanking, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Iris M Seignette
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Floris J Pos
- Department of Radiation Therapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Simon Horenblas
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bas W G van Rhijn
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ekaterina S Jordanova
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Oscar R Brouwer
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eva Schaake
- Department of Radiation Therapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michiel S van der Heijden
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Ding Y, Weng S, Zhu N, Mi M, Xu Z, Zhong L, Yuan Y. Immunotherapy combined with local therapy in the late-line treatment of repair-proficient (pMMR)/microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22092. [PMID: 38058653 PMCID: PMC10695980 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22092] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies, and at the initial visit, most patients are diagnosed with metastatic CRC (mCRC). However, immunotherapy is only and highly effective in a very small proportion of patients with mCRC having mismatch repair defect (dMMR)/high microsatellite instability, and the majority of the patients with mCRC having mismatch repair proficient (pMMR)/microsatellite stability (MSS) cannot benefit from it. At present, many clinical studies of immunotherapy combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are trying to regulate the immune microenvironment of pMMR/MSS mCRC, transforming a "cold tumor" into a "hot tumor," which has not only surprising effects but also certain limitations, i.e., the response could not be specific to metastasis. Therefore, regarding the bottleneck encountered by immunotherapy in patients with patients pMMR/MSS mCRC, this study summarized current research and possible mechanisms of immunotherapy combined with local therapy for metastasis, including radiotherapy, ablation, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Ding
- Department of Medical Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Shanshan Weng
- Department of Medical Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ning Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Mi Mi
- Department of Medical Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ziheng Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Liping Zhong
- Department of Oncology, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ying Yuan
- Department of Medical Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310052, China
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47
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Das S, Acharya D. Immunological Assessment of Recent Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer. Immunol Invest 2023; 52:1065-1095. [PMID: 37812224 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2023.2264906] [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] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent malignancy with increased incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Traditional treatment approaches have attempted to efficiently target CRC; however, they have failed in most cases, owing to the cytotoxicity and non-specificity of these therapies. Therefore, it is essential to develop an effective alternative therapy to improve the clinical outcomes in heterogeneous CRC cases. Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment with remarkable efficacy and overcomes the limitations of traditional treatments. With an understanding of the cancer-immunity cycle and tumor microenvironment evolution, current immunotherapy approaches have elicited enhanced antitumor immune responses. In this comprehensive review, we outline the latest advances in immunotherapy targeting CRC and provide insights into antitumor immune responses reported in landmark clinical studies. We focused on highlighting the combination approaches that synergistically induce immune responses and eliminate immunosuppression. This review aimed to understand the limitations and potential of recent immunotherapy clinical studies conducted in the last five years (2019-2023) and to transform this knowledge into a rational design of clinical trials intended for effective antitumor immune responses in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhadeep Das
- Department of Biotechnology, GIET University, Gunupur, India
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48
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Yu W, Li M, Xia J. Identification of immunogenic cell death‑related prognostic signatures in pancreatic cancer. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:473. [PMID: 37809045 PMCID: PMC10551861 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.14061] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting immunogenic cell death (ICD) may enable the response of pancreatic cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of ICD-related genes in pancreatic cancer. Utilizing the k-means method, consensus clustering was employed to effectively group patients with pancreatic cancer. Subsequently, a set of differentially expressed genes was identified between the two subtypes related to ICD, facilitating the execution of a comprehensive enrichment analysis. Furthermore, the construction of an ICD-related prognostic signature (IRPS) was accomplished through LASSO Cox regression, thereby enabling the assessment of responses to both chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition, the biological functionality of 5'-nucleotidase ecto (NT5E) was elucidated through experimental investigations. Patients characterized as the ICD high subtype experienced a comparatively shorter overall survival. This subtype exhibited a noteworthy correlation with HLA families and immune checkpoint molecules, underscoring its immunological significance. Subsequently, patients with elevated IRPS risk scores displayed resistance towards immunotherapy interventions. Of note, synergistic downregulation of NT5E in combination with Gemcitabine was observed to significantly induce tumor cell apoptosis, emphasizing its potential therapeutic value. Leveraging ICD-related genes, a novel classification system was meticulously devised to comprehensively evaluate both the clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The 13th People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing 400053, P.R. China
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The 13th People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing 400053, P.R. China
| | - Jing Xia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The 13th People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing 400053, P.R. China
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Zlotnik O, Krzywon L, Bloom J, Kalil J, Altubi I, Lazaris A, Metrakos P. Targeting Liver Metastases to Potentiate Immunotherapy in MS-Stable Colorectal Cancer-A Review of the Literature. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5210. [PMID: 37958384 PMCID: PMC10649257 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of several cancers, including melanoma and lung cancer. However, for colorectal cancer, it is ineffective for 95% of patients with microsatellite-stable disease. Recent evidence suggests that the liver's immune microenvironment plays a pivotal role in limiting the effectiveness of immunotherapy. There is also evidence to show that targeting liver metastases with locoregional therapies, such as surgery or irradiation, could potentiate immunotherapy for these patients. This review presents evidence from preclinical studies regarding the underlying mechanisms and from clinical studies that support this approach. Furthermore, we outline potential directions for future clinical trials. This innovative strategy could potentially establish immunotherapy as an effective treatment for MS-stable colorectal cancer patients, which are currently considered resistant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oran Zlotnik
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (O.Z.); (L.K.); (J.B.); (J.K.); (A.L.)
- Division of General Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
| | - Lucyna Krzywon
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (O.Z.); (L.K.); (J.B.); (J.K.); (A.L.)
| | - Jessica Bloom
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (O.Z.); (L.K.); (J.B.); (J.K.); (A.L.)
| | - Jennifer Kalil
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (O.Z.); (L.K.); (J.B.); (J.K.); (A.L.)
- Division of General Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
| | - Ikhtiyar Altubi
- Division of General Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
| | - Anthoula Lazaris
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (O.Z.); (L.K.); (J.B.); (J.K.); (A.L.)
| | - Peter Metrakos
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (O.Z.); (L.K.); (J.B.); (J.K.); (A.L.)
- Division of General Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
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50
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Matteucci L, Bittoni A, Gallo G, Ridolfi L, Passardi A. Immunocheckpoint Inhibitors in Microsatellite-Stable or Proficient Mismatch Repair Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Are We Entering a New Era? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5189. [PMID: 37958363 PMCID: PMC10648369 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Europe. About 5% of metastatic CRC (mCRC) are characterized by high microsatellite instability (MSI) due to a deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR), and this condition has been related to a high sensitivity to immunotherapy, in particular to the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs). In fact, in MSI-H or dMMR mCRC, treatment with ICIs induced remarkable response rates and prolonged survival. However, the majority of mCRC cases are mismatch-repair-proficient (pMMR) and microsatellite-stable (MSS), and unfortunately these conditions involve resistance to ICIs. This review aims to provide an overview of the strategies implemented to overcome ICI resistance and/or define subgroups of patients with MSS or dMMR mCRC who may benefit from immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Matteucci
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bittoni
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy
| | - Graziana Gallo
- Operative Unit of Pathologic Anatomy, Azienda USL della Romagna, “Maurizio Bufalini” Hospital, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Laura Ridolfi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy
| | - Alessandro Passardi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy
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