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Verma S, Swain D, Kushwaha PP, Brahmbhatt S, Gupta K, Sundi D, Gupta S. Melanoma Antigen Family A (MAGE A) as Promising Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Bladder Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:246. [PMID: 38254738 PMCID: PMC10813664 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020246] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The Melanoma Antigen Gene (MAGE) is a large family of highly conserved proteins that share a common MAGE homology domain. Interestingly, many MAGE family members exhibit restricted expression in reproductive tissues but are abnormally expressed in various human malignancies, including bladder cancer, which is a common urinary malignancy associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The recent literature suggests a more prominent role for MAGEA family members in driving bladder tumorigenesis. This review highlights the role of MAGEA proteins, the potential for them to serve as diagnostic or prognostic biomarker(s), and as therapeutic targets for bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiv Verma
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (S.V.); (P.P.K.); (K.G.)
- The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Diya Swain
- College of Arts and Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (D.S.); (S.B.)
| | - Prem Prakash Kushwaha
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (S.V.); (P.P.K.); (K.G.)
- The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Smit Brahmbhatt
- College of Arts and Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (D.S.); (S.B.)
| | - Karishma Gupta
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (S.V.); (P.P.K.); (K.G.)
- The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Debasish Sundi
- Department of Urology, Division of Urologic Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, James Cancer Hospital & Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Sanjay Gupta
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (S.V.); (P.P.K.); (K.G.)
- The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Division of General Medical Sciences, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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2
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Malviya M, Aretz Z, Molvi Z, Lee J, Pierre S, Wallisch P, Dao T, Scheinberg DA. Challenges and solutions for therapeutic TCR-based agents. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:58-82. [PMID: 37455333 PMCID: PMC11141734 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13233] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent development of methods to discover and engineer therapeutic T-cell receptors (TCRs) or antibody mimics of TCRs, and to understand their immunology and pharmacology, lag two decades behind therapeutic antibodies. Yet we have every expectation that TCR-based agents will be similarly important contributors to the treatment of a variety of medical conditions, especially cancers. TCR engineered cells, soluble TCRs and their derivatives, TCR-mimic antibodies, and TCR-based CAR T cells promise the possibility of highly specific drugs that can expand the scope of immunologic agents to recognize intracellular targets, including mutated proteins and undruggable transcription factors, not accessible by traditional antibodies. Hurdles exist regarding discovery, specificity, pharmacokinetics, and best modality of use that will need to be overcome before the full potential of TCR-based agents is achieved. HLA restriction may limit each agent to patient subpopulations and off-target reactivities remain important barriers to widespread development and use of these new agents. In this review we discuss the unique opportunities for these new classes of drugs, describe their unique antigenic targets, compare them to traditional antibody therapeutics and CAR T cells, and review the various obstacles that must be overcome before full application of these drugs can be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Malviya
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
| | - Zita Aretz
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
| | - Zaki Molvi
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
| | - Jayop Lee
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
| | - Stephanie Pierre
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Tri-Institutional Medical Scientist Program, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
| | - Patrick Wallisch
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
| | - Tao Dao
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
| | - David A. Scheinberg
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
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3
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Liu J, Cao YG, Zhang RL, Zhai WH, Chen X, Ma QL, Pang AM, Yang DL, Wei JL, He Y, Feng SZ, Han MZ, Jiang EL. [Effect and safety of 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 31 patients with acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2023; 44:472-478. [PMID: 37550202 PMCID: PMC10450562 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the early effect and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with a 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) /myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) . Methods: From April 2021 to May 2022, 31 AML/MDS patients who received allo-HSCT with a 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen were analyzed. Results: AML (n=10), MDS-AML (n=6), CMML-AML (n=1), and MDS (n=14) were identified in 31 patients, 16 males, and 15 females, with a median age of 41 (20-55) yr. Neutrophils and platelets were successfully implanted in 31 patients (100%), with a median implantation duration of 12 (9-30) and 14 (9-42) days, respectively. During the preconditioning period, 16 patients (51.6%) developed oral mucositis, with 15 cases of Ⅰ/Ⅱ grade (48.4%) and one case of Ⅲ grade (3.2%). After transplantation, 13 patients (41.9%) developed CMV viremia, six patients (19.4%) developed hemorrhagic cystitis, and four patients (12.9%) developed a local infection. The median time of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) following transplantation was 33 (12-111) days. The cumulative incidence of aGVHD and Ⅲ/Ⅳ grade aGVHD was 41.9% (95% CI 26.9%-61.0%) and 22.9% (95% CI 13.5%-47.5%), respectively. There was no severe cGVHD, and mild and moderate chronic GVHD (cGVHD) incidence was 23.5% (95% CI 12.1%-43.6%). As of November 30, 2022, only one of the 31 patients had relapsed, with a 1-yr cumulative relapse rate (CIR) of 3.2% (95% CI 0.5%-20.7%). There was only one relapse patient death and no non-relapse deaths. The 1-yr overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 92.9% (95% CI 80.3%-100%) and 96.8% (95% CI 90.8%-100%), respectively. Conclusions: A 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen for allo-HSCT reduced relapse and was safe and feasible in treating AML/MDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - Y G Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - R L Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - W H Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - X Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - Q L Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - A M Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - D L Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - J L Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - Y He
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - S Z Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - M Z Han
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
| | - E L Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Tianjin 301600, China
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Lyu SY, Xiao W, Cui GZ, Yu C, Liu H, Lyu M, Kuang QY, Xiao EH, Luo YH. Role and mechanism of DNA methylation and its inhibitors in hepatic fibrosis. Front Genet 2023; 14:1124330. [PMID: 37056286 PMCID: PMC10086238 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1124330] [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: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a repair response to injury caused by various chronic stimuli that continually act on the liver. Among them, the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and their transformation into a myofibroblast phenotype is a key event leading to liver fibrosis, however the mechanism has not yet been elucidated. The molecular basis of HSC activation involves changes in the regulation of gene expression without changes in the genome sequence, namely, via epigenetic regulation. DNA methylation is a key focus of epigenetic research, as it affects the expression of fibrosis-related, metabolism-related, and tumor suppressor genes. Increasing studies have shown that DNA methylation is closely related to several physiological and pathological processes including HSC activation and liver fibrosis. This review aimed to discuss the mechanism of DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, explore DNA methylation inhibitors as potential therapies for liver fibrosis, and provide new insights on the prevention and clinical treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Yi Lyu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wang Xiao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guang-Zu Cui
- XiangYa School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Cheng Yu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Min Lyu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qian-Ya Kuang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - En-Hua Xiao
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yong-Heng Luo
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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5
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Amaro A, Reggiani F, Fenoglio D, Gangemi R, Tosi A, Parodi A, Banelli B, Rigo V, Mastracci L, Grillo F, Cereghetti A, Tastanova A, Ghosh A, Sallustio F, Emionite L, Daga A, Altosole T, Filaci G, Rosato A, Levesque M, Maio M, Pfeffer U, Croce M. Guadecitabine increases response to combined anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 treatment in mouse melanoma in vivo by controlling T-cells, myeloid derived suppressor and NK cells. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:67. [PMID: 36934257 PMCID: PMC10024396 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02628-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The combination of Programmed Cell Death 1 (PD-1) and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4) blockade has dramatically improved the overall survival rate for malignant melanoma. Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) limit the tumor's immune escape yet only for approximately a third of all tumors and, in most cases, for a limited amount of time. Several approaches to overcome resistance to ICBs are being investigated among which the addition of epigenetic drugs that are expected to act on both immune and tumor cells. Guadecitabine, a dinucleotide prodrug of a decitabine linked via phosphodiester bond to a guanosine, showed promising results in the phase-1 clinical trial, NIBIT-M4 (NCT02608437). METHODS We used the syngeneic B16F10 murine melanoma model to study the effects of immune checkpoint blocking antibodies against CTLA-4 and PD-1 in combination, with and without the addition of Guadecitabine. We comprehensively characterized the tumor's and the host's responses under different treatments by flow cytometry, multiplex immunofluorescence and methylation analysis. RESULTS In combination with ICBs, Guadecitabine significantly reduced subcutaneous tumor growth as well as metastases formation compared to ICBs and Guadecitabine treatment. In particular, Guadecitabine greatly enhanced the efficacy of combined ICBs by increasing effector memory CD8+ T cells, inducing effector NK cells in the spleen and reducing tumor infiltrating regulatory T cells and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Guadecitabine in association with ICBs increased serum levels of IFN-γ and IFN-γ-induced chemokines with anti-angiogenic activity. Guadecitabine led to a general DNA-demethylation, in particular of sites of intermediate methylation levels. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate Guadecitabine as a promising epigenetic drug to be added to ICBs therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Amaro
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesco Reggiani
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Daniela Fenoglio
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Rosaria Gangemi
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Tosi
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Diagnostics, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessia Parodi
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Barbara Banelli
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Valentina Rigo
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Luca Mastracci
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Grillo
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cereghetti
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aizhan Tastanova
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adhideb Ghosh
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Sallustio
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Laura Emionite
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Antonio Daga
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Tiziana Altosole
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Gilberto Filaci
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Diagnostics, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mitchell Levesque
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Ulrich Pfeffer
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.
| | - Michela Croce
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
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Traynor S, Terp MG, Nielsen AY, Guldberg P, Jakobsen M, Pedersen PG, Gammelgaard OL, Pedersen CB, Pedersen MT, Rattenborg S, Ditzel HJ, Gjerstorff MF. DNA methyltransferase inhibition promotes recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells to the tumor microenvironment through induction of tumor cell-intrinsic interleukin-1. Cancer Lett 2023; 552:215982. [PMID: 36309209 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors are used for treatment of certain hematological malignancies and exert anti-cancer activity through diverse mechanisms, including reexpression of tumor suppressor genes and anti-viral responses triggered by expression of endogenous retroviruses. Despite advances in the pharmacokinetic properties of DNMT inhibitors, the efficacy of these drugs in solid cancers remains low. Here, we show in cell lines and clinical and experimental tumors across multiple cancer types that DNMT inhibition induces the expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1), a cytokine with proinflammatory and protumorigenic properties. Specifically, this tumor-intrinsic IL-1 expression modulates the chemokine landscape of tumors and leads to the recruitment of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells to the tumor microenvironment, processes that can be blocked by IL-1 antagonists. Molecular analysis demonstrates complex patterns of IL-1 and interferon activation and crosstalk in response to DNMT inhibition, which depend on the integrity of IRF- and NF-κB-mediated antiviral pathways and may determine the outcome of DNMT-inhibitor treatment. Together, our results show that DNMT inhibitors may negatively affect the microenvironment of a large subset of tumors and suggest that co-treatment with IL-1 antagonists may be a favorable combination for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Traynor
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Green Terp
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark
| | - Aaraby Yoheswaran Nielsen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark
| | - Per Guldberg
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark; Molecular Diagnostics Group, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mie Jakobsen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark
| | - Pernille Gejl Pedersen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark
| | - Odd Lilleng Gammelgaard
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christina Bøg Pedersen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mathilde Thybo Pedersen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark
| | - Sofie Rattenborg
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henrik Jørn Ditzel
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, Odense, Denmark; Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, Odense, Denmark
| | - Morten Frier Gjerstorff
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 25, Odense, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, Odense, Denmark; Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, Odense, Denmark.
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7
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Kang S, Wang L, Xu L, Wang R, Kang Q, Gao X, Yu L. Decitabine enhances targeting of AML cells by NY-ESO-1-specific TCR-T cells and promotes the maintenance of effector function and the memory phenotype. Oncogene 2022; 41:4696-4708. [PMID: 36097193 PMCID: PMC9568428 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02455-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
NY-ESO-1 is a well-known cancer-testis antigen (CTA) with re-expression in numerous cancer types, but its expression is suppressed in myeloid leukemia cells. Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving decitabine (DAC) exhibit induced expression of NY-ESO-1 in blasts; thus, we investigated the effects of NY-ESO-1-specific TCR-engineered T (TCR-T) cells combined with DAC against AML. NY-ESO-1-specific TCR-T cells could efficiently eliminate AML cell lines (including U937, HL60, and Kasumi-1cells) and primary AML blasts in vitro by targeting the DAC-induced NY-ESO-1 expression. Moreover, the incubation of T cells with DAC during TCR transduction (designated as dTCR-T cells) could further enhance the anti-leukemia efficacy of TCR-T cells and increase the generation of memory-like phenotype. The combination of DAC with NY-ESO-1-specific dTCR-T cells showed a superior anti-tumor efficacy in vivo and prolonged the survival of an AML xenograft mouse model, with three out of five mice showing complete elimination of AML cells over 90 days. This outcome was correlated with enhanced expressions of IFN-γ and TNF-α, and an increased proportion of central memory T cells (CD45RO+CD62L+ and CD45RO+CCR7+). Taken together, these data provide preclinical evidence for the combined use of DAC and NY-ESO-1-specific dTCR-T cells for the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Synat Kang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Lixin Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Lu Xu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruiqi Wang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Qingzheng Kang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuefeng Gao
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China. .,Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
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8
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Koizume S, Takahashi T, Nakamura Y, Yoshihara M, Ota Y, Sato S, Tadokoro H, Yokose T, Kato H, Miyagi E, Miyagi Y. Lipophagy-ICAM-1 pathway associated with fatty acid and oxygen deficiencies is involved in poor prognoses of ovarian clear cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2022; 127:462-473. [PMID: 35449452 PMCID: PMC9346109 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01808-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serum starvation and hypoxia (SSH) mimics a stress condition in tumours. We have shown that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein is synergistically expressed in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC) cells under SSH in response to an insufficient supply of fatty acids (FAs). This ICAM-1 expression is responsible for resistance against the lethal condition, thereby promoting tumour growth. However, the underlying mechanisms that link SSH-driven ICAM1 gene expression to impaired FA supply and its clinical relevance are unclear. METHODS The underlying mechanisms of how FA deficiency induces ICAM-1 expression in cooperation with hypoxia were analysed in vitro and in vivo. Clinical significance of CCC cell-derived ICAM-1 and the mechanism associated with the transcriptional synergism were also investigated. RESULTS ICAM-1 expression was mediated through lipophagy-driven lipid droplet degradation, followed by impaired FA-lipid droplet flow. Lipophagy induced ICAM1 expression through stabilisation of NFκB binding to the promoter region via Sam68 and hTERT. Analyses of clinical specimens revealed that expression of ICAM-1 and LC3B, an autophagy marker associated with lipophagy, significantly correlated with poor prognoses of CCC. CONCLUSIONS The lipophagy-ICAM-1 pathway induced under a tumour-like stress conditions contributes to CCC progression and is a potential therapeutic target for this aggressive cancer type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiro Koizume
- Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan. .,Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
| | - Tomoko Takahashi
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Yoshiyasu Nakamura
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Mitsuyo Yoshihara
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Yukihide Ota
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan ,grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Molecular Reproductive Science, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004 Japan
| | - Shinya Sato
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan ,grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Hiroko Tadokoro
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Yokose
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Hisamori Kato
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Department of Gynecology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Etsuko Miyagi
- grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Molecular Reproductive Science, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004 Japan
| | - Yohei Miyagi
- Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan. .,Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
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9
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Zhao L, Guo H, Chen X, Zhang W, He Q, Ding L, Yang B. Tackling drug resistance in ovarian cancer with epigenetic targeted drugs. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 927:175071. [PMID: 35636522 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic dysregulation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of ovarian cancer. Since the first experiment conducted on resistant ovarian cancer cells using demethylating drugs, multiple clinical trials have revealed that epigenetic targeted drugs combined with chemotherapy, molecular-targeted drugs, or even immunotherapy could enhance tumor sensitivity and reverse acquired resistances. Here, we summarized the combination strategies of epigenetic targeted drugs with other treatment strategies of ovarian cancer and discussed the principles of combination therapy. Finally, we enumerated several reasonable clinical trial designs as well as future drug development strategies, which may provide promising ideas for the application of epigenetic drugs to ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhao
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hongjie Guo
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wenxin Zhang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qiaojun He
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ling Ding
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Bo Yang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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10
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Yang P, Qiao Y, Meng M, Zhou Q. Cancer/Testis Antigens as Biomarker and Target for the Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapy of Lung Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:864159. [PMID: 35574342 PMCID: PMC9092596 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.864159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading type of malignant tumour among cancer-caused death worldwide, and the 5-year survival rate of lung cancer patients is only 18%. Various oncogenes are abnormally overexpressed in lung cancer, including cancer/testis antigens (CTAs), which are restrictively expressed in the male testis but are hardly expressed in other normal tissues, if at all. CTAs are aberrantly overexpressed in various types of cancer, with more than 60 CTAs abnormally overexpressed in lung cancer. Overexpression of oncogenic CTAs drives the initiation, metastasis and progression of lung cancer, and is closely associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Several CTAs, such as XAGE, SPAG9 and AKAP4, have been considered as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognostic prediction of lung cancer. More interestingly, due to the high immunogenicity and specificity of CTAs in cancer, several CTAs, including CT45, BCAP31 and ACTL8, have been targeted for developing novel therapeutics against cancer. CTA-based vaccines, chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells (CAR-T) and small molecules have been used in lung cancer treatment in pre-clinical and early clinical trials, with encouraging results being obtained. However, there are still many hurdles to be overcome before these therapeutics can be routinely used in clinical lung cancer therapy. This review summarises the recent rapid progress in oncogenic CTAs, focusing on CTAs as biomarkers for lung cancer diagnosis and prognostic prediction, and as targets for novel anti-cancer drug discovery and lung cancer therapy. We also identify challenges and opportunities in CTA-based cancer diagnosis and treatment. Finally, we provide perspectives on the mechanisms of oncogenic CTAs in lung cancer development, and we also suggest CTAs as a new platform for lung cancer diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and novel anti-cancer drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yingnan Qiao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mei Meng
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Quansheng Zhou
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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11
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Spiliopoulou P, Spear S, Mirza H, Garner I, McGarry L, Grundland-Freile F, Cheng Z, Ennis DP, Iyer N, McNamara S, Natoli M, Mason S, Blyth K, Adams PD, Roxburgh P, Fuchter MJ, Brown B, McNeish IA. Dual G9A/EZH2 Inhibition Stimulates Antitumor Immune Response in Ovarian High-Grade Serous Carcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:522-534. [PMID: 35131874 PMCID: PMC9377747 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) prognosis correlates directly with presence of intratumoral lymphocytes. However, cancer immunotherapy has yet to achieve meaningful survival benefit in patients with HGSC. Epigenetic silencing of immunostimulatory genes is implicated in immune evasion in HGSC and re-expression of these genes could promote tumor immune clearance. We discovered that simultaneous inhibition of the histone methyltransferases G9A and EZH2 activates the CXCL10-CXCR3 axis and increases homing of intratumoral effector lymphocytes and natural killer cells while suppressing tumor-promoting FoxP3+ CD4 T cells. The dual G9A/EZH2 inhibitor HKMTI-1-005 induced chromatin changes that resulted in the transcriptional activation of immunostimulatory gene networks, including the re-expression of elements of the ERV-K endogenous retroviral family. Importantly, treatment with HKMTI-1-005 improved the survival of mice bearing Trp53-/- null ID8 ovarian tumors and resulted in tumor burden reduction. These results indicate that inhibiting G9A and EZH2 in ovarian cancer alters the immune microenvironment and reduces tumor growth and therefore positions dual inhibition of G9A/EZH2 as a strategy for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlina Spiliopoulou
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Spear
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hasan Mirza
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Garner
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn McGarry
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Grundland-Freile
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zhao Cheng
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Darren P. Ennis
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nayana Iyer
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie McNamara
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marina Natoli
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Mason
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Blyth
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Peter D. Adams
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, San Diego, California
| | - Patricia Roxburgh
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J. Fuchter
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bob Brown
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Iain A. McNeish
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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12
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Taylor BC, Balko JM. Mechanisms of MHC-I Downregulation and Role in Immunotherapy Response. Front Immunol 2022; 13:844866. [PMID: 35296095 PMCID: PMC8920040 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.844866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a key therapeutic strategy in the treatment of many cancers. As a result, research efforts have been aimed at understanding mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy and how anti-tumor immune response can be therapeutically enhanced. It has been shown that tumor cell recognition by the immune system plays a key role in effective response to T cell targeting therapies in patients. One mechanism by which tumor cells can avoid immunosurveillance is through the downregulation of Major Histocompatibility Complex I (MHC-I). Downregulation of MHC-I has been described as a mechanism of intrinsic and acquired resistance to immunotherapy in patients with cancer. Depending on the mechanism, the downregulation of MHC-I can sometimes be therapeutically restored to aid in anti-tumor immunity. In this article, we will review current research in MHC-I downregulation and its impact on immunotherapy response in patients, as well as possible strategies for therapeutic upregulation of MHC-I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandie C. Taylor
- Department of Medicine, Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Justin M. Balko
- Department of Medicine, Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Justin M. Balko,
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13
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Zhao J, Xu Z, Liu Y, Wang X, Liu X, Gao Y, Jin Y. The expression of cancer-testis antigen in ovarian cancer and the development of immunotherapy. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:681-694. [PMID: 35261795 PMCID: PMC8899981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is a relatively common tumor in women with the highest mortality among female reproductive system tumors. The lack of apparent early symptoms and effective screening strategies often leads to ovarian cancer being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Immunotherapy relying on tumor-associated antigens might improve the treatment of ovarian cancer. Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are ideal tumor-associated antigens, and MAGE-A, NY-ESO-1, CT45, and Sp17 are classic CTAs highly expressed in ovarian cancer. Here, we review the research on CTAs in ovarian cancer, including prognostic value and advances in immunotherapy, all of which are essential for developing a theoretical basis for targeted therapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhang Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical UniversityShenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhaoxu Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical UniversityShenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Liaoning Research Institute of Family Planning (Reproductive Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University), Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetic Medicine, National Health Commission of ChinaShenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xinli Liu
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yanan Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical UniversityShenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Jin
- Liaoning Research Institute of Family Planning (Reproductive Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University), Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetic Medicine, National Health Commission of ChinaShenyang, Liaoning, China
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14
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The Role of DNA Methylation and DNA Methyltransferases in Cancer. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1389:317-348. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-11454-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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15
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Xie W, Sun H, Li X, Lin F, Wang Z, Wang X. Ovarian cancer: epigenetics, drug resistance, and progression. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:434. [PMID: 34404407 PMCID: PMC8369623 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02136-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. OC is associated with the activation of oncogenes, the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and the activation of abnormal cell signaling pathways. Moreover, epigenetic processes have been found to play an important role in OC tumorigenesis. Epigenetic processes do not change DNA sequences but regulate gene expression through DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA. This review comprehensively considers the importance of epigenetics in OC, with a focus on microRNA and long non-coding RNA. These types of RNA are promising molecular markers and therapeutic targets that may support precision medicine in OC. DNA methylation inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors may be useful for such targeting, with a possible novel approach combining these two therapies. Currently, the clinical application of such epigenetic approaches is limited by multiple obstacles, including the heterogeneity of OC, insufficient sample sizes in reported studies, and non-optimized methods for detecting potential tumor markers. Nonetheless, the application of epigenetic approaches to OC patient diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis is a promising area for future clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Huizhen Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoduan Li
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feikai Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziliang Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xipeng Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
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16
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Abstract
The term "epigenetics" refers to a series of meiotically/mitotically inheritable alterations in gene expression, related to environmental factors, without disruption on DNA sequences of bases. Recently, the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases (ADs) has been closely linked to epigenetic modifications. Actually, epigenetic mechanisms can modulate gene expression or repression of targeted cells and tissues involved in autoimmune/inflammatory conditions acting as keys effectors in regulation of adaptive and innate responses. ADs, as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a rare disease that still lacks effective treatment, is characterized by epigenetic marks in affected cells.Taking into account that epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed as a winning strategy in the search of new more specific and personalized therapeutics agents. Thus, pharmacology and pharmacoepigenetic studies about epigenetic regulations of ADs may provide novel individualized therapies. Focussing in possible implicated factors on development and predisposition of SLE, diet is feasibly one of the most important factors since it is linked directly to epigenetic alterations and these epigenetic changes may augment or diminish the risk of SLE. Nevertheless, several studies have guaranteed that dietary therapy could be a promise to SLE patients via prophylactic actions deprived of side effects of pharmacology, decreasing co-morbidities and improving lifestyle of SLE sufferers.Herein, we review and discuss the cross-link between epigenetic mechanisms on SLE predisposition and development, as well as the influence of dietary factors on regulation epigenetic modifications that would eventually make a positive impact on SLE patients.
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17
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Prospects for Epigenetic Targeted Therapies of Bone and Soft-Tissue Sarcomas. Sarcoma 2021; 2021:5575444. [PMID: 34349608 PMCID: PMC8328687 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5575444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment. It is well established that alterations of chromatin configuration and modifications affect tumorigenesis of some, possibly most, bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. As epigenetic regulators play a major role in the development of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas, epigenetic drugs provide a novel potential avenue for rational targeted therapies for these aggressive cancers. The present review summarizes the application of epigenetic drugs for clinical utilization in bone and soft-tissue sarcomas and provides an overview of clinical trials currently evaluating epigenetic therapies in this space.
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18
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Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that contributes to essential biological processes such as retrotransposon silencing, cell differentiation, genomic imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation. DNA methylation generates a stable epigenetic mark associated with silencing of gene expression. Aberrant DNA methylation is associated with the development of different tumor types. Reversing DNA methylation is a rational strategy to restore gene re-expression and induce cell differentiation in cancer. DNA hypomethylating agents is a class of drugs that demonstrated efficacy in different tumors. In this chapter, the classification of DNA hypomethylating agents, their pharmacodynamics and their potential drawbacks will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Gias Uddin
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Administrative Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Charleston, Charleston, WV, United States
| | - Tamer E Fandy
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Administrative Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Charleston, Charleston, WV, United States.
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19
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Wang W, Fang F, Ozes A, Nephew KP. Targeting Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells by Dual Inhibition of HOTAIR and DNA Methylation. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1092-1101. [PMID: 33785648 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is a chemoresponsive tumor with very high initial response rates to standard therapy consisting of platinum/paclitaxel. However, most women eventually develop recurrence, which rapidly evolves into chemoresistant disease. Persistence of ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) at the end of therapy has been shown to contribute to resistant tumors. In this study, we demonstrate that the long noncoding RNA HOTAIR is overexpressed in HGSOC cell lines. Furthermore, HOTAIR expression was upregulated in OCSCs compared with non-CSC, ectopic overexpression of HOTAIR enriched the ALDH+ cell population and HOTAIR overexpression increased spheroid formation and colony-forming ability. Targeting HOTAIR using peptide nucleic acid-PNA3, which acts by disrupting the interaction between HOTAIR and EZH2, in combination with a DNMT inhibitor inhibited OCSC spheroid formation and decreased the percentage of ALDH+ cells. Disrupting HOTAIR-EZH2 with PNA3 in combination with the DNMTi on the ability of OCSCs to initiate tumors in vivo as xenografts was examined. HGSOC OVCAR3 cells were treated with PNA3 in vitro and then implanted in nude mice. Tumor growth, initiation, and stem cell frequency were inhibited. Collectively, these results demonstrate that blocking HOTAIR-EZH2 interaction combined with inhibiting DNA methylation is a potential approach to eradicate OCSCs and block disease recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weini Wang
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Fang Fang
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Ali Ozes
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Kenneth P Nephew
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, Indiana. .,Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
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20
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Jakobsen MK, Traynor S, Stæhr M, Duijf PG, Nielsen AY, Terp MG, Pedersen CB, Guldberg P, Ditzel HJ, Gjerstorff MF. The Cancer/Testis Antigen Gene VCX2 Is Rarely Expressed in Malignancies but Can Be Epigenetically Activated Using DNA Methyltransferase and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors. Front Oncol 2021; 10:584024. [PMID: 33634013 PMCID: PMC7900521 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.584024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of novel tumor-specific targets is important for the future development of immunotherapeutic strategies using genetically engineered T cells or vaccines. In this study, we characterized the expression of VCX2, a member of the VCX/Y cancer/testis antigen family, in a large panel of normal tissues and tumors from multiple cancer types using immunohistochemical staining and RNA expression data. In normal tissues, VCX2 was detected in the germ cells of the testis at all stages of maturation but not in any somatic tissues. Among malignancies, VCX2 was only found in tumors of a small subset of melanoma patients and thus rarely expressed compared to other cancer/testis antigens such as GAGE and MAGE-A. The expression of VCX2 correlated with that of other VCX/Y genes. Importantly, we found that expression of VCX2 was inversely correlated with promoter methylation and could be activated by treatment with a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor in multiple breast cancer and melanoma cell lines and a breast cancer patient-derived xenograft. The effect could be further potentiated by combining the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor with a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Our results show that the expression of VCX2 can be epigenetically induced in cancer cells and therefore could be an attractive target for immunotherapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mie K Jakobsen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Sofie Traynor
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mette Stæhr
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Pascal G Duijf
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Aaraby Y Nielsen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mikkel G Terp
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christina B Pedersen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Per Guldberg
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Molecular Diagnostics Group, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik J Ditzel
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Morten F Gjerstorff
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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21
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Wu Y, Sang M, Liu F, Zhang J, Li W, Li Z, Gu L, Zheng Y, Li J, Shan B. Epigenetic modulation combined with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade enhances immunotherapy based on MAGE-A11 antigen-specific CD8+T cells against esophageal carcinoma. Carcinogenesis 2021; 41:894-903. [PMID: 32529260 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgaa057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are promising targets for T cell-based immunotherapy and studies have shown that certain CT genes are epigenetically depressed in cancer cells through DNA demethylation. Melanoma-associated antigen A11 (MAGE-A11) is a CTA that is frequently expressed in esophageal cancer and is correlated with a poor esophageal cancer prognosis. Consequently, MAGE-A11 is a potential immunotherapy target. In this study, we evaluated MAGE-A11 expression in esophageal cancer cells and found that it was downregulated in several tumor cell lines, which restricted the effect of immunotherapy. Additionally, the specific recognition and lytic potential of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) derived from the MAGE-A11 was determined. Specific CTLs could kill esophageal cancer cells expressing MAGE-A11 but rarely lysed MAGE-A11-negative tumor cells. Therefore, induction of MAGE-A11 expression is critical for CTLs recognition and lysis of esophageal cancer cells. Treatment with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine increased MAGE-A11 expression in esophageal cancer cells and subsequently enhanced the cytotoxicity of MAGE-A11-specific CD8+T cells against cancer cell lines. Furthermore, we found that PD-L1 expression in esophageal cancer cells affected the antitumor function of CTLs. programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 blockade could increase the specific CTL-induced lysis of HLA-A2+/MAGE-A11+ tumor cell lines treated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. These findings indicate that the treatment of tumor cells with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine augments MAGE-A11 expression in esophageal cancer cells. The combination of epigenetic modulation by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and PD-1/PD-L1 blockade may be useful for T cell-based immunotherapy against esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyan Wu
- Department of Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Meixiang Sang
- Department of Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Tumor Research, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiandong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Weijing Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Lina Gu
- Department of Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Department of Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Baoen Shan
- Department of Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Tumor Research, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
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22
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Drakes ML, Stiff PJ. Ovarian Cancer: Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome Immune Suppression. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1330:33-54. [PMID: 34339029 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-73359-9_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer generally escapes diagnosis until the advanced stages. High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most frequently occurring form of this malaise and is a disease which has the highest mortality rate of gynecologic cancers. Over recent years it has been revealed that the course of such cancers can be significantly influenced by the nature of immune cells in tumors at the time of diagnosis and by immune cells induced by therapy. Numerous investigators have since focused on disease biology to identify biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Yet, while over the past decade there have been significant improvements in state-of-the-art surgery for ovarian cancer as frontline therapy, there have been limited advancements in the development of novel curative or management drugs for this disease. This chapter discusses the major elements of immune suppression in HGSOC from a biological viewpoint, mechanisms of overcoming resistance to therapies, and recent therapy aimed at improving patient care and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen L Drakes
- Department of Medicine, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA.
| | - Patrick J Stiff
- Department of Medicine, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
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23
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Bewersdorf JP, Carraway H, Prebet T. Emerging treatment options for patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Ther Adv Hematol 2020; 11:2040620720955006. [PMID: 33240476 PMCID: PMC7675905 DOI: 10.1177/2040620720955006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders
characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis with peripheral blood cytopenias,
dysplastic cell morphology, and a variable risk of progression to acute myeloid
leukemia (AML). The hypomethylating agents (HMA) azacitidine and decitabine have
been used for over a decade in MDS treatment and lead to a modest survival
benefit. However, response rates are only around 40% and responses are mostly
transient. For HMA-refractory patients the prognosis is poor and there are no
therapies approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Combinations of HMAs, especially along with immune checkpoint inhibitors, have
shown promising signals in both the frontline and HMA-refractory setting.
Several other novel agents including orally available and longer acting HMAs,
the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, oral agents targeting driver mutations
(IDH1/2, FLT3), immunotherapies, and new options for
intensive chemotherapy have been studied with variable success and will be
reviewed herein. Except for the minority of patients with targetable driver
mutations, HMAs – likely as part of combination therapies – will remain the
backbone of frontline MDS treatment. However, the wider use of genetic testing
may enable a more targeted and individualized therapy of MDS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Philipp Bewersdorf
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hetty Carraway
- Leukemia Program, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Thomas Prebet
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, 37 College Street, Room 101, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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24
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Shallis RM, Gale RP, Lazarus HM, Roberts KB, Xu ML, Seropian SE, Gore SD, Podoltsev NA. Myeloid sarcoma, chloroma, or extramedullary acute myeloid leukemia tumor: A tale of misnomers, controversy and the unresolved. Blood Rev 2020; 47:100773. [PMID: 33213985 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The World Health Organization classification and definition of "myeloid sarcoma" is imprecise and misleading. A more accurate term is "extramedullary acute myeloid leukemia tumor (eAML)." The pathogenesis of eAML has been associated with aberrancy of cellular adhesion molecules, chemokine receptors/ligands and RAS-MAPK/ERK signaling. eAML can present with or without synchronous or metachronous intramedullary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) so a bone marrow evaluation is always recommended. Accurate diagnosis of eAML requires tissue biopsy. eAML confined to one or a few sites is frequently treated with local therapy such as radiotherapy. About 75-90% of patients with isolated eAML will develop metachronous intramedullary AML with a median latency period ranging from 4 to 12 months; thus, patients with isolated eAML may also be treated with systemic anti-leukemia therapy. eAML does not appear to have an independent prognostic impact; selection of post-remission therapy including allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT) is typically guided by intramedullary disease risk. Management of isolated eAML should be individualized based on patient characteristics as well as eAML location and cytogenetic/molecular features. The role of PET/CT in eAML is also currently being elucidated. Improving outcomes of patients with eAML requires further knowledge of its etiology and mechanism(s) as well as therapeutic approaches beyond conventional chemotherapy, ideally in the context of controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory M Shallis
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, USA
| | - Robert P Gale
- Haematology Section, Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Hillard M Lazarus
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kenneth B Roberts
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Mina L Xu
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Stuart E Seropian
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, USA
| | - Steven D Gore
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, USA
| | - Nikolai A Podoltsev
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, USA.
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25
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Hoshino I, Nabeya Y, Takiguchi N, Gunji H, Ishige F, Iwatate Y, Kuwajima A, Shiratori F, Okada R, Shimada H. Inducing multiple antibodies to treat squamous cell esophageal carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:1007. [PMID: 33069225 PMCID: PMC7568359 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07466-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The positive response and the clinical usefulness of 14 serum antibodies in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) were examined in this study. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to investigate the frequency of gene expressions, mutations, and amplification of these 14 antigens and also the possible effects of antibody induction. METHODS Blood serum derived from 85 patients with ESCC was collected and analyzed for the 14 antibodies using ELISA. The prognosis between positive and negative antibodies were then compared. The antibody panel included LGALS1, HCA25a, HCC-22-5, and HSP70. RESULTS Patient serum was positive for all antibodies, except VEGF, with the positive rates ranging from 1.18 to 10.59%. Positive rates for LGALS1, HCA25a, HCC-22-5, and HSP70 were > 10%. TCGA data revealed that all antigen-related genes had little or no mutation or amplification, and hence an increase in gene expression affected antibody induction. The positive results from the panel accounted for the positive rate comparable to the combination of CEA and SCC. No significant association was observed between the presence of antibodies and disease prognosis. CONCLUSIONS The detection rates of LGALS1, HCA25a, HCC-22-5, and HSP70 were 10% higher in patients with ESCC. Gene overexpression may be involved in such antibody production. These four antibodies were applied as a panel in comparison with conventional tumor markers. Moreover, it was confirmed that the combination of this panel and the conventional tumor markers significantly improved the positive rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isamu Hoshino
- Division of Gastroenterological Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center, 666-2 Nitonacho, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan.
| | - Yoshihiro Nabeya
- Division of Gastroenterological Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center, 666-2 Nitonacho, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Takiguchi
- Division of Gastroenterological Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center, 666-2 Nitonacho, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan
| | - Hisashi Gunji
- Division of Gastroenterological Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center, 666-2 Nitonacho, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Ishige
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center, 666-2 Nitonacho, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yosuke Iwatate
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center, 666-2 Nitonacho, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Akiko Kuwajima
- Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd, 4-5-3 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya, 460-0008, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Shiratori
- Division of Gastroenterological Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center, 666-2 Nitonacho, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterological Surgery and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Toho University, 6-11-1 Omori-Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan
| | - Rei Okada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Toho University, 6-11-1 Omori-Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan
| | - Hideaki Shimada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Toho University, 6-11-1 Omori-Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan
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26
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Exposing Hidden Targets: Combining epigenetic and immunotherapy to overcome cancer resistance. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 65:114-122. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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27
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Nielsen AY, Ormhøj M, Traynor S, Gjerstorff MF. Augmenting engineered T-cell strategies in solid cancers through epigenetic priming. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:2169-2178. [PMID: 32648166 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02661-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
T-cell receptor (TCR)- and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based adoptive cell transfer (ACT) has shown promising results in hematological malignancies, but remains immature in solid cancers. The challenges associated with identification of tumor-specific targets, the heterogenic antigen expression, limited T-cell trafficking to tumor sites and the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME), are all factors contributing to the limited efficacy of ACT therapies against solid tumors. Epigenetic priming of tumor cells and the microenvironment may be a way of overcoming these obstacles and improving the clinical efficacy of adoptive T-cell therapies in the future. Here, we review the current literature and suggest combining epigenetic modulators and ACT strategies as a way of augmenting the efficacy of TCR- and CAR-engineered T cells against solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaraby Y Nielsen
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Maria Ormhøj
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sofie Traynor
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Morten F Gjerstorff
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. .,Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. .,Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
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28
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Wong KK. DNMT1 as a therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer: mechanisms and clinical implications. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2020; 43:779-792. [PMID: 32504382 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-020-00526-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most devastating cancer types with a 5-year survival rate of only 9%. PDAC is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in both genders. Epigenetic alterations may lead to the suppression of tumor suppressor genes, and DNA methylation is a predominant epigenetic modification. DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is required for maintaining patterns of DNA methylation during cellular replication. Accumulating evidence has implicated the oncogenic roles of DNMT1 in various malignancies including PDACs. CONCLUSIONS Herein, the expression profiles, oncogenic roles, regulators and inhibitors of DNMT1 in PDACs are presented and discussed. DNMT1 is overexpressed in PDAC cases compared with non-cancerous pancreatic ducts, and its expression gradually increases from pre-neoplastic lesions to PDACs. DNMT1 plays oncogenic roles in suppressing PDAC cell differentiation and in promoting their proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as in induction of the self-renewal capacity of PDAC cancer stem cells. These effects are achieved via promoter hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes, including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (e.g., p14, p15, p16, p21 and p27), suppressors of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (e.g., E-cadherin) and tumor suppressor miRNAs (e.g., miR-148a, miR-152 and miR-17-92 cluster). Pre-clinical investigations have shown the potency of novel non-nucleoside DNMT1 inhibitors against PDAC cells. Finally, phase I/II clinical trials of DNMT1 inhibitors (azacitidine, decitabine and guadecitabine) in PDAC patients are currently underway, where these inhibitors have the potential to sensitize PDACs to chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kah Keng Wong
- Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
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29
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Wong KK. DNMT1: A key drug target in triple-negative breast cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 72:198-213. [PMID: 32461152 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Altered epigenetics regulation including DNA hypermethylation by DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) has been implicated as one of the causes of TNBC tumorigenesis. In this review, the oncogenic functions rendered by DNMT1 in TNBCs, and DNMT1 inhibitors targeting TNBC cells are presented and discussed. In summary, DNMT1 expression is associated with poor breast cancer survival, and it is overexpressed in TNBC subtype. The oncogenic roles of DNMT1 in TNBCs include: (1) Repression of estrogen receptor (ER) expression; (2) Promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) required for metastasis; (3) Induces cellular autophagy and; (4) Promotes the growth of cancer stem cells in TNBCs. DNMT1 confers these phenotypes by hypermethylating the promoter regions of ER, multiple tumor suppressor genes, microRNAs and epithelial markers involved in suppressing EMT. DNMT1 inhibitors exert anti-tumorigenic effects against TNBC cells. This includes the hypomethylating agents azacitidine, decitabine and guadecitabine that might sensitize TNBC patients to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. DNMT1 represents an epigenetic target for TNBC cells destruction as well as to derail their metastatic and aggressive phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kah Keng Wong
- Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
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30
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Immune checkpoint inhibition in myeloid malignancies: Moving beyond the PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 pathways. Blood Rev 2020; 45:100709. [PMID: 32487480 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have yielded mixed but largely underwhelming results in clinical trials in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes to date. However, increasing understanding of the immunologic landscape, potential biomarkers for benefits, and mechanisms of resistance, as well as the use of rational combinations, and identification of novel targets leaves plenty of room for optimism. Herein, we review recent advances in the preclinical and clinical development of ICI therapy in patients with myeloid malignancies and explore some of the important challenges facing the field such as the absence of validated biomarkers, the development of synergistic and safe combination therapies, and efforts to determine the best setting of ICI along the disease course. We finally foresee the future of the field and propose solutions to some of the major beforementioned obstacles.
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31
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Dan H, Zhang S, Zhou Y, Guan Q. DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors: Catalysts For Antitumour Immune Responses. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:10903-10916. [PMID: 31849494 PMCID: PMC6913319 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s217767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics is a kind of heritable change that involves the unaltered DNA sequence and can have effects on gene expression. The regulatory mechanism mainly includes DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNA regulation. DNA methylation is currently the most studied aspect of epigenetics. It is widely present in eukaryotic cells and is the most important epigenetic mark in the regulation of gene expression in the cell. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) have been increasingly recognized in the field of cancer immunotherapy, have been approved for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and are widely being used in clinical trials of cancer immunotherapies. DNMTi promote the reactivation of tumour suppressor genes, enhance tumour immunogenicity, and stimulate a variety of immune cells to secrete cytokines that exert cytotoxic effects, promote tumour cell death, including macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells, and upregulate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression levels. Here, we mainly summarize the epigenetics related to DNMTi and their regulation of the antitumour immune response and DNMTi combined with immuno-therapeutics or histone deacetylase inhibitors to demonstrate the great development potential and clinical application value of DNMTi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Dan
- Gansu Province Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Diseases, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Gansu Province Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Diseases, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongning Zhou
- Gansu Province Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Diseases, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Quanlin Guan
- Gansu Province Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Diseases, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
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32
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Ribeiro ML, Reyes-Garau D, Armengol M, Fernández-Serrano M, Roué G. Recent Advances in the Targeting of Epigenetic Regulators in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Front Genet 2019; 10:986. [PMID: 31681423 PMCID: PMC6807552 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last 10 years, major advances have been made in the diagnosis and development of selective therapies for several blood cancers, including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), a heterogeneous group of malignancies arising from the mature B lymphocyte compartment. However, most of these entities remain incurable and current treatments are associated with variable efficacy, several adverse events, and frequent relapses. Thus, new diagnostic paradigms and novel therapeutic options are required to improve the prognosis of patients with B-NHL. With the recent deciphering of the mutational landscapes of B-cell disorders by high-throughput sequencing, it came out that different epigenetic deregulations might drive and/or promote B lymphomagenesis. Consistently, over the last decade, numerous epigenetic drugs (or epidrugs) have emerged in the clinical management of B-NHL patients. In this review, we will present an overview of the most relevant epidrugs tested and/or used so far for the treatment of different subtypes of B-NHL, from first-generation epigenetic therapies like histone acetyl transferases (HDACs) or DNA-methyl transferases (DNMTs) inhibitors to new agents showing selectivity for proteins that are mutated, translocated, and/or overexpressed in these diseases, including EZH2, BET, and PRMT. We will dissect the mechanisms of action of these epigenetic inhibitors, as well as the molecular processes underlying their lack of efficacy in refractory patients. This review will also provide a summary of the latest strategies being employed in preclinical and clinical settings, and will point out the most promising lines of investigation in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo L Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Immunopharmacology and Molecular Biology, Sao Francisco University Medical School, Braganca Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Diana Reyes-Garau
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Armengol
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miranda Fernández-Serrano
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gaël Roué
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Duan YT, Sangani CB, Liu W, Soni KV, Yao Y. New Promises to Cure Cancer and Other Genetic Diseases/Disorders: Epi-drugs Through Epigenetics. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:972-994. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190603094439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
All the heritable alterations in gene expression and chromatin structure due to chemical modifications that do not involve changes in the primary gene nucleotide sequence are referred to as epigenetics. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs are distinct types of epigenetic inheritance. Epigenetic patterns have been linked to the developmental stages, environmental exposure, and diet. Therapeutic strategies are now being developed to target human diseases such as cancer with mutations in epigenetic regulatory genes using specific inhibitors. Within the past two decades, seven epigenetic drugs have received regulatory approval and many others show their candidature in clinical trials. The current article represents a review of epigenetic heritance, diseases connected with epigenetic alterations and regulatory approved epigenetic drugs as future medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Tao Duan
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450018, China
| | - Chetan B. Sangani
- Shri Maneklal M. Patel Institute of Sciences and Research, Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 362024, India
| | - Wei Liu
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450018, China
| | - Kunjal V. Soni
- Shri Maneklal M. Patel Institute of Sciences and Research, Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 362024, India
| | - Yongfang Yao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
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Maiuri AR, Savant SS, Podicheti R, Rusch DB, O'Hagan HM. DNA methyltransferase inhibition reduces inflammation-induced colon tumorigenesis. Epigenetics 2019; 14:1209-1223. [PMID: 31240997 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1634986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation is strongly associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. DNA hypermethylation of CpG islands alters the expression of genes in cancer cells and plays an important role in carcinogenesis. Chronic inflammation is also associated with DNA methylation alterations and in a mouse model of inflammation-induced colon tumorigenesis, we previously demonstrated that inflammation-induced tumours have 203 unique regions with DNA hypermethylation compared to uninflamed epithelium. To determine if altering inflammation-induced DNA hypermethylation reduces tumorigenesis, we used the same mouse model and treated mice with the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor decitabine (DAC) throughout the tumorigenesis time frame. DAC treatment caused a significant reduction in colon tumorigenesis. The tumours that did form after DAC treatment had reduced inflammation-specific DNA hypermethylation and alteration of expression of associated candidate genes. When compared, inflammation-induced tumours from control (PBS-treated) mice were enriched for cell proliferation associated gene expression pathways whereas inflammation-induced tumours from DAC-treated mice were enriched for interferon gene signatures. To further understand the altered tumorigenesis, we derived tumoroids from the different tumour types. Interestingly, tumoroids derived from inflammation-induced tumours from control mice maintained many of the inflammation-induced DNA hypermethylation alterations and had higher levels of DNA hypermethylation at these regions than tumoroids from DAC-treated mice. Importantly, tumoroids derived from inflammation-induced tumours from the DAC-treated mice proliferated more slowly than those derived from the inflammation-induced tumours from control mice. These studies suggest that inhibition of inflammation-induced DNA hypermethylation may be an effective strategy to reduce inflammation-induced tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley R Maiuri
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine , Bloomington , IN , USA
| | - Sudha S Savant
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine , Bloomington , IN , USA
| | - Ram Podicheti
- School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Indiana University , Bloomington , IN , USA.,Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University , Bloomington , IN , USA
| | - Douglas B Rusch
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University , Bloomington , IN , USA
| | - Heather M O'Hagan
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine , Bloomington , IN , USA.,Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center , Indianapolis , IN , USA
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Abstract
Epigenetic reprogramming plays a crucial role in the tumorigenicity and maintenance of tumor-specific gene expression that especially occurs through DNA methylation and/or histone modifications. It has well-defined mechanisms. It is known that alterations in the DNA methylation pattern and/or the loss of specific histone acetylation/methylation markers are related to several hallmarks of cancer, such as drug resistance, stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastasis. It has also recently been highlighted that epigenetic alterations are critical for the regulation of the stemlike properties of cancer cells (tumor-initiating cells; cancer stem cells). Cancer stem cells are thought to be responsible for the recurrence of cancer which makes the patient return to the clinic with metastatic tumor tissue. Hence, the dysregulation of epigenetic machinery represents potential new therapeutic targets. Therefore, compounds with epigenetic activities have become crucial for developing new therapy regimens (e.g., antimetastatic agents) in the fight against cancer. Here, we review the epigenetic modifiers that have already been used in the clinic and/or in clinical trials, related preclinical studies in cancer therapy, and the smart combination strategies that target cancer stem cells along with the other cancer cells. The emerging role of epitranscriptome (RNA epigenetic) in cancer therapy has also been included in this review as a new avenue and potential target for the better management of cancer-beneficial epigenetic machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remzi Okan Akar
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, Institute of Health Sciences, İstinye University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Selin Selvi
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, Institute of Health Sciences, İstinye University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Engin Ulukaya
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, İstinye University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Nazlıhan Aztopal
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and Literature, İstinye University, İstanbul, Turkey
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Philipp Bewersdorf J, Stahl M, Zeidan AM. Immune checkpoint-based therapy in myeloid malignancies: a promise yet to be fulfilled. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2019; 19:393-404. [PMID: 30887841 PMCID: PMC6527485 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2019.1589374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immune system evasion is essential for tumor cell survival and is mediated by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and the activation of inhibitory immune checkpoints. While immune checkpoint-based therapy yielded impressive results in several advanced solid malignancies such as melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, its role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is still evolving. Areas covered: Here we review the immunology in the tumor microenvironment in the bone marrow and discuss the current preclinical and clinical data for immune checkpoint-based therapy in myeloid neoplasms. Expert commentary: Clinical trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in AML and MDS are still in early stages and reported results so far have been modest especially for monotherapy use in the refractory settings. However, there are preliminary data for synergistic effects for combination of multiple ICI with hypomethylating agents and conventional chemotherapy. ICI might also be effective in eradicating minimal residual disease and to prevent relapse following induction chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Additional trials to provide insight into the efficacy and safety profile of immune checkpoint-based therapy, its optimal timing and potential combination with other types of therapy as well as identification of predictive biomarkers are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Philipp Bewersdorf
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Maximilian Stahl
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematologic Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Amer M Zeidan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
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Pang B, Wang Q, Ning S, Wu J, Zhang X, Chen Y, Xu S. Landscape of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs in breast cancer. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:79. [PMID: 30764831 PMCID: PMC6376750 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1096-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The landscape and biological functions of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs in breast cancer are still unknown. METHODS Data from whole transcriptome sequencing of 33 breast specimens in the Harbin Medical University Cancer Center cohort and The Cancer Genome Atlas was applied to identify and validate the landscape of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs, which was further validated by The Cancer Genome Atlas pancancer data including 33 cancer types and 12,839 patients. Next, the expression model, prognostic roles, potential biological functions and epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs were investigated and validated in the breast cancer and pancancer cohorts. Finally, EPB41L4A-AS2 was selected to validate our novel finding, and the tumor suppressive roles of EPB41L4A-AS2 in breast cancer were examined. RESULTS We identified and validated the landscape of tumor suppressor long noncoding RNAs in breast cancer. The expression of the identified long noncoding RNAs was downregulated in cancer tissue samples compared with normal tissue samples, and these long noncoding RNAs correlated with a favorable prognosis in breast cancer patients and the patients in the pancancer cohort. Multiple carcinogenesis-associated biological functions were predicted to be regulated negatively by these long noncoding RNAs. Moreover, these long noncoding RNAs were transcriptionally regulated by epigenetic modification, including DNA methylation and histone methylation modification. Finally, EPB41L4A-AS2 inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion and induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Mechanistically, EPB41L4A-AS2, acting at least in part as a tumor suppressor, upregulated tumor suppressor gene expression. Moreover, ZNF217 recruited EZH2 to the EPB41L4A-AS2 locus and suppressed the expression of EPB41L4A-AS2 by epigenetically increasing H3K27me3 enrichment. CONCLUSIONS This work enlarges the functional landscape of known long noncoding RNAs in human cancer and provides novel insights into the suppressive roles of these long noncoding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boran Pang
- Department of Surgery, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasm, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Shipeng Ning
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Junqiang Wu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Xingda Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Yanbo Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Shouping Xu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150040, China.
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Overcoming immune suppression with epigenetic modification in ovarian cancer. Transl Res 2019; 204:31-38. [PMID: 30048638 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The impressive successes of immunotherapy have yet to be reliably translated to treatment of ovarian cancer, which may be a consequence of the unique barriers to T cell migration and tumor engagement in the peritoneal cavity and omentum. Epigenetic alterations contribute to establishment of these barriers and other mechanisms of immune subversion; therefore, epigenetic modifying agents represent an opportunity to mount effective antitumor immune responses by disrupting this finely tuned tumor epigenetic framework. Here, we discuss how epigenetic modifiers might permit and stimulate de novo antitumor immune responses in ovarian cancer, focusing largely on 2 common classes, DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors. Specifically, increasing T and NK cell trafficking to the tumor microenvironment as well as induction of altered tumor cell phenotypes that promote immune engagement and cytotoxicity may provide a platform upon which to elaborate existing immunotherapeutic strategies. Indeed, promising combination of epigenetic modifying agents with checkpoint blockade antibodies or cellular therapies in preclinical models has led to a burgeoning number of clinical trials. Therefore, rather than implementation as a monotherapy, epigenetic modifiers may well be best suited as adjuvants in combinatorial strategies, potentiating antitumor immune responses and unleashing the promise of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer.
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Bewersdorf JP, Shallis R, Stahl M, Zeidan AM. Epigenetic therapy combinations in acute myeloid leukemia: what are the options? Ther Adv Hematol 2019; 10:2040620718816698. [PMID: 30719265 PMCID: PMC6348528 DOI: 10.1177/2040620718816698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics refers to the regulation of gene expression mainly by changes in DNA methylation and modifications of histone proteins without altering the actual DNA sequence. While epigenetic modifications are essential for normal cell differentiation, several driver mutations in leukemic pathogenesis have been identified in genes that affect epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation. Several therapeutic options to target epigenetic alterations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been successfully tested in preclinical studies and various drugs have already been approved for use in clinical practice. Among these already approved therapeutics are hypomethylating agents (azacitidine and decitabine) and isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibitors (ivosidenib, enasidenib). Other agents such as bromodomain-containing epigenetic reader proteins and histone methylation (e.g. DOT1L) inhibitors are currently in advanced clinical testing. As several epigenetic therapies have only limited efficacy when used as single agents, combination therapies that target AML pathogenesis at different levels and exploit synergistic mechanisms are also in clinical trials. Combinations of either epigenetic therapies with conventional chemotherapy, different forms of epigenetic therapies, or epigenetic therapies with immunotherapy are showing promising early results. In this review we summarize the underlying pathophysiology and rationale for epigenetically-based combination therapies, review current preclinical and clinical data and discuss the future directions of epigenetic therapy combinations in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Philipp Bewersdorf
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rory Shallis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Maximilian Stahl
- Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amer M Zeidan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, PO Box 208028, New Haven, CT 06520-8055, USA
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40
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Su Y, Hopfinger NR, Nguyen TD, Pogash TJ, Santucci-Pereira J, Russo J. Epigenetic reprogramming of epithelial mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells with DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2018; 37:314. [PMID: 30547810 PMCID: PMC6295063 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0988-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive neoplasia with no effective therapy. Our laboratory has developed a unique TNBC cell model presenting epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) a process known to be important for tumor progression and metastasis. There is increasing evidence showing that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the activation of EMT. The objective of this study is to epigenetically reverse the process of EMT in TNBC by using DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi). Methods We evaluated the antitumor effect of three DNMTi and six HDACi using our TNBC cell model by MTT assay, migration and invasion assay, three dimensional culture, and colony formation assay. We then performed the combined treatment both in vitro and in vivo using the most potent DNMTi and HDACi, and tested the combined treatment in a panel of breast cancer cell lines. We investigated changes of EMT markers and potential signaling pathways associated with the antitumor effects. Results We showed that DNMTi and HDACi can reprogram highly aggressive TNBC cells that have undergone EMT to a less aggressive phenotype. SGI-110 and MS275 are superior to other seven compounds being tested. The combination of SGI with MS275 exerts a greater effect than single agent alone in inhibiting cell proliferation, motility, colony formation, and stemness of cancer cells. We also demonstrated that MS275 and the combination of SGI with MS275 exert in vivo antitumor effect. We revealed that the combined treatment synergistically reverses EMT through inhibiting EpCAM cleavage and WNT signaling, suppressing mutant p53, ZEB1, and EZH2, and inducing E-cadherin, apoptosis, as well as histone H3 tri-methylation. Conclusions Our study showed that DNMTi and HDACi exert antitumor activity in TNBC cells partially by epigenetically reprograming EMT. Our findings strongly suggest that TNBC is sensitive to epigenetic therapies. Therefore, we propose a new strategy to treat TNBC by using the combination of SGI-110 with MS275, which exerts superior antitumor effects by simultaneously targeting multiple pathways. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-018-0988-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanrong Su
- The Irma H. Russo, MD Breast Cancer Research Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center-Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
| | - Nathan R Hopfinger
- The Irma H. Russo, MD Breast Cancer Research Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center-Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Theresa D Nguyen
- The Irma H. Russo, MD Breast Cancer Research Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center-Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Thomas J Pogash
- The Irma H. Russo, MD Breast Cancer Research Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center-Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Julia Santucci-Pereira
- The Irma H. Russo, MD Breast Cancer Research Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center-Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Jose Russo
- The Irma H. Russo, MD Breast Cancer Research Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center-Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
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41
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Nucleosidic DNA demethylating epigenetic drugs – A comprehensive review from discovery to clinic. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 188:45-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Marques-Magalhães Â, Graça I, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Targeting DNA Methyltranferases in Urological Tumors. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:366. [PMID: 29706891 PMCID: PMC5909196 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Urological cancers are a heterogeneous group of malignancies accounting for a considerable proportion of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Aberrant epigenetic traits, especially altered DNA methylation patterns constitute a hallmark of these tumors. Nonetheless, these alterations are reversible, and several efforts have been carried out to design and test several epigenetic compounds that might reprogram tumor cell phenotype back to a normal state. Indeed, several DNMT inhibitors are currently under evaluation for therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials. This review highlights the critical role of DNA methylation in urological cancers and summarizes the available data on pre-clinical assays and clinical trials with DNMT inhibitors in bladder, kidney, prostate, and testicular germ cell cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ângela Marques-Magalhães
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Graça
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Bai ZT, Bai B, Zhu J, Di CX, Li X, Zhou WC. Epigenetic actions of environmental factors and promising drugs for cancer therapy. Oncol Lett 2017; 15:2049-2056. [PMID: 29434904 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.7597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Carcinogenesis is known to be primarily associated with gene mutations. Recently, increasing evidence has suggested that epigenetic events also serve crucial roles in tumor etiology. Environmental factors, including nutrition, toxicants and ethanol, are involved in carcinogenesis through inducing epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone deacetylase and miRNA regulation. Studying epigenetic mechanisms has facilitated the development of early diagnostic strategies and potential therapeutic avenues. Modulation at the epigenetic level, including reversing epigenetic modifications using targeted drugs, has demonstrated promise in cancer therapy. Therefore, identifying novel epigenetic biomarkers and therapeutic targets has potential for the future of cancer therapy. The present review discusses the environmental factors involved in epigenetic modifications and potential drug candidates for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Tian Bai
- The Second Department of General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China.,Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu, Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Bing Bai
- The Second Department of General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China.,Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu, Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Jun Zhu
- Pathology Department of Donggang Branch Courts, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Cui-Xia Di
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Xun Li
- The Second Department of General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China.,Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu, Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Ce Zhou
- The Second Department of General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China.,Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu, Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
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Srivastava P, Paluch BE, Matsuzaki J, James SR, Collamat-Lai G, Blagitko-Dorfs N, Ford LA, Naqash R, Lübbert M, Karpf AR, Nemeth MJ, Griffiths EA. Induction of cancer testis antigen expression in circulating acute myeloid leukemia blasts following hypomethylating agent monotherapy. Oncotarget 2017; 7:12840-56. [PMID: 26883197 PMCID: PMC4914325 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are promising cancer associated antigens in solid tumors, but in acute myeloid leukemia, dense promoter methylation silences their expression. Leukemia cell lines exposed to HMAs induce expression of CTAs. We hypothesized that AML patients treated with standard of care decitabine (20mg/m2 per day for 10 days) would demonstrate induced expression of CTAs. Peripheral blood blasts serially isolated from AML patients treated with decitabine were evaluated for CTA gene expression and demethylation. Induction of NY-ESO-1 and MAGEA3/A6, were observed following decitabine. Re-expression of NY-ESO-1 and MAGEA3/A6 was associated with both promoter specific and global (LINE-1) hypomethylation. NY-ESO-1 and MAGEA3/A6 mRNA levels were increased irrespective of clinical response, suggesting that these antigens might be applicable even in patients who are not responsive to HMA therapy. Circulating blasts harvested after decitabine demonstrate induced NY-ESO-1 expression sufficient to activate NY-ESO-1 specific CD8+ T-cells. Induction of CTA expression sufficient for recognition by T-cells occurs in AML patients receiving decitabine. Vaccination against NY-ESO-1 in this patient population is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Srivastava
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin E Paluch
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Junko Matsuzaki
- Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Smitha R James
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Golda Collamat-Lai
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Nadja Blagitko-Dorfs
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Freiburg, Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laurie Ann Ford
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Rafeh Naqash
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Michael Lübbert
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Freiburg, Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Adam R Karpf
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Michael J Nemeth
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA.,Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Griffiths
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA.,Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
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45
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Griffiths EA, Srivastava P, Matsuzaki J, Brumberger Z, Wang ES, Kocent J, Miller A, Roloff GW, Wong HY, Paluch BE, Lutgen-Dunckley LG, Martens BL, Odunsi K, Karpf AR, Hourigan CS, Nemeth MJ. NY-ESO-1 Vaccination in Combination with Decitabine Induces Antigen-Specific T-lymphocyte Responses in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 24:1019-1029. [PMID: 28947565 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-1792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: Treatment options are limited for patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The azanucleosides, azacitidine and decitabine, are first-line therapy for MDS that induce promoter demethylation and gene expression of the highly immunogenic tumor antigen NY-ESO-1. We demonstrated that patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving decitabine exhibit induction of NY-ESO-1 expression in circulating blasts. We hypothesized that vaccinating against NY-ESO-1 in patients with MDS receiving decitabine would capitalize upon induced NY-ESO-1 expression in malignant myeloid cells to provoke an NY-ESO-1-specific MDS-directed cytotoxic T-cell immune response.Experimental Design: In a phase I study, 9 patients with MDS received an HLA-unrestricted NY-ESO-1 vaccine (CDX-1401 + poly-ICLC) in a nonoverlapping schedule every four weeks with standard-dose decitabine.Results: Analysis of samples serially obtained from the 7 patients who reached the end of the study demonstrated induction of NY-ESO-1 expression in 7 of 7 patients and NY-ESO-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte responses in 6 of 7 and 4 of 7 of the vaccinated patients, respectively. Myeloid cells expressing NY-ESO-1, isolated from a patient at different time points during decitabine therapy, were capable of activating a cytotoxic response from autologous NY-ESO-1-specific T lymphocytes. Vaccine responses were associated with a detectable population of CD141Hi conventional dendritic cells, which are critical for the uptake of NY-ESO-1 vaccine and have a recognized role in antitumor immune responses.Conclusions: These data indicate that vaccination against induced NY-ESO-1 expression can produce an antigen-specific immune response in a relatively nonimmunogenic myeloid cancer and highlight the potential for induced antigen-directed immunotherapy in a group of patients with limited options. Clin Cancer Res; 24(5); 1019-29. ©2017 AACRSee related commentary by Fuchs, p. 991.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Griffiths
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York. .,Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Pragya Srivastava
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Junko Matsuzaki
- Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Zachary Brumberger
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Eunice S Wang
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Justin Kocent
- Clinical Research Services, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Austin Miller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Gregory W Roloff
- Myeloid Malignancies Section, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hong Yuen Wong
- Myeloid Malignancies Section, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Benjamin E Paluch
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | | | - Brandon L Martens
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Kunle Odunsi
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.,Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.,Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Adam R Karpf
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Christopher S Hourigan
- Myeloid Malignancies Section, Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Michael J Nemeth
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York. .,Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
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Abstract
The malignant transformation of normal cells is driven by both genetic and epigenetic changes. With the advent of next-generation sequencing and large-scale multinational consortium studies, it has become possible to profile the genomes and epigenomes of thousands of primary tumors from nearly every cancer type. From these genome-wide studies, it became clear that the dynamic regulation of DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic mechanism of cancer initiation, maintenance, and progression. Proper control of DNA methylation is not only crucial for regulating gene transcription, but its broader consequences include maintaining the integrity of the genome and modulating immune response. Here, we describe the aberrant DNA methylation changes that take place in cancer and how they contribute to the disease phenotype. Further, we highlight potential clinical implications of these changes in the context of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets.
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Franzese O, Torino F, Fuggetta MP, Aquino A, Roselli M, Bonmassar E, Giuliani A, D’Atri S. Tumor immunotherapy: drug-induced neoantigens (xenogenization) and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Oncotarget 2017; 8:41641-41669. [PMID: 28404974 PMCID: PMC5522228 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 40 years ago, we discovered that novel transplantation antigens can be induced in vivo or in vitro by treating murine leukemia with dacarbazine. Years later, this phenomenon that we called "Chemical Xenogenization" (CX) and more recently, "Drug-Induced Xenogenization" (DIX), was reproduced by Thierry Boon with a mutagenic/carcinogenic compound (i.e. N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine). In both cases, the molecular bases of DIX rely on mutagenesis induced by methyl adducts to oxygen-6 of DNA guanine. In the present review we illustrate the main DIX-related immune-pharmacodynamic properties of triazene compounds of clinical use (i.e. dacarbazine and temozolomide).In recent years, tumor immunotherapy has come back to the stage with the discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICpI) that show an extraordinary immune-enhancing activity. Here we illustrate the salient biochemical features of some of the most interesting ICpI and the up-to-day status of their clinical use. Moreover, we illustrate the literature showing the direct relationship between somatic mutation burden and susceptibility of cancer cells to host's immune responses.When DIX was discovered, we were not able to satisfactorily exploit the possible presence of triazene-induced neoantigens in malignant cells since no device was available to adequately enhance host's immune responses in clinical settings. Today, ICpI show unprecedented efficacy in terms of survival times, especially when elevated mutation load is associated with cancer cells. Therefore, in the future, mutation-dependent neoantigens obtained by appropriate pharmacological intervention appear to disclose a novel approach for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of ICpI in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornella Franzese
- Department of Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Torino
- Department of Systems Medicine, Medical Oncology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Fuggetta
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Council of Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Aquino
- Department of Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Roselli
- Department of Systems Medicine, Medical Oncology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Bonmassar
- Department of Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Council of Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Giuliani
- Department of Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Council of Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania D’Atri
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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48
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Siebenkäs C, Chiappinelli KB, Guzzetta AA, Sharma A, Jeschke J, Vatapalli R, Baylin SB, Ahuja N. Inhibiting DNA methylation activates cancer testis antigens and expression of the antigen processing and presentation machinery in colon and ovarian cancer cells. PLoS One 2017. [PMID: 28622390 PMCID: PMC5473589 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Innovative therapies for solid tumors are urgently needed. Recently, therapies that harness the host immune system to fight cancer cells have successfully treated a subset of patients with solid tumors. These responses have been strong and durable but observed in subsets of patients. Work from our group and others has shown that epigenetic therapy, specifically inhibiting the silencing DNA methylation mark, activates immune signaling in tumor cells and can sensitize to immune therapy in murine models. Here we show that colon and ovarian cancer cell lines exhibit lower expression of transcripts involved in antigen processing and presentation to immune cells compared to normal tissues. In addition, treatment with clinically relevant low doses of DNMT inhibitors (that remove DNA methylation) increases expression of both antigen processing and presentation and Cancer Testis Antigens in these cell lines. We confirm that treatment with DNMT inhibitors upregulates expression of the antigen processing and presentation molecules B2M, CALR, CD58, PSMB8, PSMB9 at the RNA and protein level in a wider range of colon and ovarian cancer cell lines and treatment time points than had been described previously. In addition, we show that DNMTi treatment upregulates many Cancer Testis Antigens common to both colon and ovarian cancer. This increase of both antigens and antigen presentation by epigenetic therapy may be one mechanism to sensitize patients to immune therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Siebenkäs
- Department of Surgery, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Katherine B. Chiappinelli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
- * E-mail: (NA); (KBC)
| | - Angela A. Guzzetta
- Department of Surgery, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Anup Sharma
- Department of Surgery, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jana Jeschke
- Department of Surgery, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rajita Vatapalli
- Department of Surgery, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Urology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Stephen B. Baylin
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nita Ahuja
- Department of Surgery, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (NA); (KBC)
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49
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Koizume S, Miyagi Y. Potential Coagulation Factor-Driven Pro-Inflammatory Responses in Ovarian Cancer Tissues Associated with Insufficient O₂ and Plasma Supply. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18040809. [PMID: 28417928 PMCID: PMC5412393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18040809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue factor (TF) is a cell surface receptor for coagulation factor VII (fVII). The TF-activated fVII (fVIIa) complex is an essential initiator of the extrinsic blood coagulation process. Interactions between cancer cells and immune cells via coagulation factors and adhesion molecules can promote progression of cancer, including epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). This process is not necessarily advantageous, as tumor tissues generally undergo hypoxia due to aberrant vasculature, followed by reduced access to plasma components such as coagulation factors. However, hypoxia can activate TF expression. Expression of fVII, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines can be synergistically induced in EOC cells in response to hypoxia along with serum deprivation. Thus, pro-inflammatory responses associated with the TF-fVIIa-ICAM-1 interaction are expected within hypoxic tissues. Tumor tissue consists of multiple components such as stromal cells, interstitial fluid, albumin, and other micro-factors such as proton and metal ions. These factors, together with metabolism reprogramming in response to hypoxia and followed by functional modification of TF, may contribute to coagulation factor-driven inflammatory responses in EOC tissues. The aim of this review was to describe potential coagulation factor-driven inflammatory responses in hypoxic EOC tissues. Arguments were extended to clinical issues targeting this characteristic tumor environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiro Koizume
- Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama 241-8515, Japan.
| | - Yohei Miyagi
- Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama 241-8515, Japan.
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50
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Maiuri AR, O'Hagan HM. Interplay Between Inflammation and Epigenetic Changes in Cancer. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2016; 144:69-117. [PMID: 27865469 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2016.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Immune responses can suppress tumorigenesis, but also contribute to cancer initiation and progression suggesting a complex interaction between the immune system and cancer. Epigenetic alterations, which are heritable changes in gene expression without changes to the DNA sequence, also play a role in carcinogenesis through silencing expression of tumor suppressor genes and activating oncogenic signaling. Interestingly, epithelial cells at sites of chronic inflammation undergo DNA methylation alterations that are similar to those present in cancer cells, suggesting that inflammation may initiate cancer-specific epigenetic changes in epithelial cells. Furthermore, epigenetic changes occur during immune cell differentiation and participate in regulating the immune response, including the regulation of inflammatory cytokines. Cancer cells utilize epigenetic silencing of immune-related genes to evade the immune response. This chapter will detail the interactions between inflammation and epigenetics in tumor initiation, promotion, and immune evasion and how these connections are being leveraged in cancer prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Maiuri
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - H M O'Hagan
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, United States; Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
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