A vaccine targeting basic fibroblast growth factor elicits a protective immune response against murine melanoma

Therapeutic Efficacy of Bovine Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Combined with Ultrapulsed Fractional CO2 Laser in Acne Scars: Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective

To observe the therapeutic efficacy of ultrapulsed fractional CO2 laser combined with bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on acne scars, so as to provide clinical evidence for future treatment of acne scars.

Methods

One hundred and twenty patients with acne scars admitted between October 2021 and August 2022 were selected as the research participants, of which 60 cases treated with bFGF plus ultrapulsed fractional CO2 laser were regarded as the research group (RG) and 60 cases with ultrapulsed fractional CO2 laser therapy alone were set as the control group (CG). The clinical efficacy, Échelle d'évaluation clinique des cicatrices d'acné (ECCA) score, and scar base depth before and after treatment were comparatively analyzed, and changes in skin pore value, texture value and skin barrier function were detected. Finally, the duration of redness, scabbing and erythema after treatment and the incidence of adverse reactions after treatment were counted.

Results

A higher overall response rate was determined in RG versus CG (P<0.05). Besides, RG was lower than CG in post-treatment ECCA score, scar base depth, skin pore value, texture value and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and higher in skin water and epidermal oil content (P<0.05). Moreover, the duration of redness, scabbing and erythema was shorter and the incidence of adverse reactions was lower in RG than in CG after treatment (P<0.05).

Conclusion

The combination of bFGF and ultrapulsed fractional CO2 laser is highly effective and safe in the treatment of acne scars, which reserves widespread use in clinical practice.

The role of angiogenesis in melanoma: Clinical treatments and future expectations

The incidence of melanoma has increased rapidly over the past few decades, with mortality accounting for more than 75% of all skin cancers. The high metastatic potential of Melanoma is an essential factor in its high mortality. Vascular angiogenic system has been proved to be crucial for the metastasis of melanoma. An in-depth understanding of angiogenesis will be of great benefit to melanoma treatment and may promote the development of melanoma therapies. This review summarizes the recent advances and challenges of anti-angiogenic agents, including monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, human recombinant Endostatin, and traditional Chinese herbal medicine. We hope to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms, clinical research progress, and future research directions of melanoma.

Vaccines targeting angiogenesis in melanoma

Angiogenesis has a significant role in metastasis and progression of melanoma. Even small tumors may be susceptible to metastasis and hence lead to a worse outcome in patients with melanoma. One of the anti-angiogenic treatment approaches that is undergoing comprehensive study is specific immunotherapy. While tumor cells are challenging targets for immunotherapy due to their genetic instability and heterogeneity, endothelial cells (ECs) are genetically stable. Therefore, vaccines targeting angiogenesis in melanoma are appropriate choices that target both tumor cells and ECs while capable of inducing strong, anti-tumor immune responses with limited toxicity. The main targets of angiogenesis are VEGFs and their receptors but other potential targets have also been investigated, especially in preclinical studies. Various types of vaccines that target angiogenesis in melanoma have been studied including DNA, peptide, protein, dendritic cell-based, and endothelial cell vaccines. This review outlines a number of target antigens that are important for potential progress in developing vaccines for targeting angiogenesis in melanoma. We also discuss different types of vaccines that have been investigated, delivery mechanisms and popular adjuvants, and suggest ways to improve future clinical outcomes.

A therapeutic HPV16 E7 vaccine in combination with active anti-FGF-2 immunization synergistically elicits robust antitumor immunity in mice

FGF-2 accumulates in many tumor tissues and is closely related to the development of tumor angiogenesis and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. This study aimed to investigate whether active immunization against FGF-2 could modify antitumor immunity and enhance the efficacy of an HPV16 E7-specific therapeutic vaccine. Combined immunization targeting both FGF-2 and E7 significantly suppressed tumor growth, which was accompanied by significantly increased levels of IFN-γ-expressing splenocytes and effector CD8 T cells and decreased levels of immunosuppressive cells such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs) in both the spleen and tumor; in addition, the levels of FGF-2 and neovascularization in tumors were decreased in the mice receiving the combined immunization, and tumor cell apoptosis was promoted. The combination of an HPV16 E7-specific vaccine and active immunization against FGF-2 significantly enhances antitumor immune responses in mice with TC-1 tumors, indicating a promising strategy for tumor immunotherapy.

Virus-Like Particles Presenting the FGF-2 Protein or Identified Antigenic Peptides Promoted Antitumor Immune Responses in Mice

Background

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 is overexpressed in various tumor tissues. It affects tumor cell proliferation, invasion and survival, promotes tumor angiogenesis and is tightly involved in the development of systemic and local immunosuppressive tumor mechanisms.

Purpose

This study aimed to develop an effective vaccine against FGF-2 and to investigate the effects of anti-FGF-2 immunization on tumor growth and antitumor immune responses.

Methods

A set of thirteen synthesized overlapping peptides covering all possible linear B-cell epitopes of murine FGF-2 and a recombinant FGF-2 protein were conjugated to virus-like particles (VLPs) of recombinant hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). The VLPs were immunized through a preventive or therapeutic strategy in a TC-1 or 4T1 grafted tumor model.

Results

Immunization with FGF-2 peptides or full-length protein-coupled VLPs produced FGF-2-specific antibodies with a high titer. Peptide 12, which is located in the heparin-binding site of FGF-2, or protein-conjugated VLPs presented the most significant effects on the suppression of TC-1 tumor growth. The levels of IFN-γ-expressing splenocytes and serum IFN-γ were significantly elevated; further, the immune effector cells CD8⁺ IFN-γ⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and CD4⁺ IFN-γ⁺ Th1 cells were significantly increased, whereas the immunosuppressive cells CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3⁺ Treg cells and Gr-1⁺ CD11b⁺ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were decreased in the immunized mice. In addition, VLP immunization significantly suppressed tumor vascularization and promoted tumor cell apoptosis. In mice bearing 4T1 breast tumor, preventive immunization with FGF-2-conjugated VLPs suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis, and increased effector cell responses.

Conclusion

Active immunization against FGF-2 is a new possible strategy for tumor immunotherapy.

Role of angiogenesis in melanoma progression: Update on key angiogenic mechanisms and other associated components

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels, is a complex and highly regulated process that plays a role in a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes. In malignancy, angiogenesis is essential for neoplastic cells to acquire the nutrients and oxygen critical for their continued proliferation. Angiogenesis requires a sequence of well-coordinated events mediated by a number of tightly regulated interactions between pro-angiogenic factors and their corresponding receptors expressed on various vascular components (e.g., endothelial cells and pericytes) and stromal components forming the extracellular matrix. In this review, we discuss the functional roles of key growth factors and cytokines known to promote angiogenesis in cutaneous melanoma and key factors implicated in the extracellular matrix remodeling that acts synergistically with angiogenesis to promote tumor progression in melanoma, incorporating some of the most up-to-date basic science knowledge from recently published in vivo and in vitro experimental studies.