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Marin MLC, Rached MR, Monteiro SM, Kalil J, Abrao MS, Coelho V. Soluble MICA in endometriosis pathophysiology: Impairs NK cell degranulation and effector functions. Am J Reprod Immunol 2024; 91:e13830. [PMID: 38454570 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13830] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Endometriosis exhibits several immune dysfunctions, including deficient natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. MICA (MHC class I chain-related molecule A) is induced by biological stress and soluble MICA (sMICA) negatively modulates the expression of the activating receptor, NKG2D, reducing NK cells activities. We investigated the involvement of soluble MICA in NK cell-deficient activity in endometriosis. METHODS OF STUDY sMICA levels (serum and peritoneal fluid-PF) were evaluated by ELISA. Circulating NK cell subsets quantification and its NKG2D receptor expression, NK cell cytotoxicity and CD107a, IFN-γ and IL-10 expressions by NK cells stimulated with K562 cells were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS We found higher sMICA levels (serum and PF) in endometriosis, especially in advanced and deep endometriosis. Endometriosis presented lower percentages of CD56dim CD16+ cytotoxic cells and impaired NK cell responses upon stimulation, resulting in lower CD107a and IFN-γ expressions, and deficient NK cell cytotoxicity. NK cell stimulation in the MICA-blocked condition (mimicking the effect of sMICA) showed decreased cytotoxicity in initial endometriosis stages and the emergence of a negative correlation between CD107a expression and sMICA levels. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that soluble MICA is a potential player in endometriosis pathophysiology with involvement in disease progression and severity, contributing to NK cell impaired IFN-γ response and degranulation. NK cell compartment exhibits multiple perturbations, including quantitative deficiency and impaired cytotoxicity, contributing to inadequate elimination of ectopic endometrial tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lucia Carnevale Marin
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Laboratorio de Investigaçao Medica 19 (LIM-19), Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marici Rached Rached
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sandra Maria Monteiro
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jorge Kalil
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Laboratorio de Investigaçao Medica 19 (LIM-19), Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigacao em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia (iii-INCT), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Divisao de Imunologia Clinica e Alergia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Simoes Abrao
- Divisao de Imunologia Clinica e Alergia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Disciplina de Ginecologia, Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Ginecologia, BP - A Beneficencia Portuguesa de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Verônica Coelho
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigacao em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia (iii-INCT), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Divisao de Imunologia Clinica e Alergia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Mestiri S, El-Ella DMA, Fernandes Q, Bedhiafi T, Almoghrabi S, Akbar S, Inchakalody V, Assami L, Anwar S, Uddin S, Gul ARZ, Al-Muftah M, Merhi M, Raza A, Dermime S. The dynamic role of immune checkpoint molecules in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of head and neck cancers. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 171:116095. [PMID: 38183744 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer type, accounting for approximately 277,597 deaths worldwide. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents targeting programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) as a treatment regimen for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Studies have reported the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors as targeted therapeutic regimens that unleash the immune response against HNSCC tumors. However, the overall response rates to immunotherapy vary between 14-32% in recurrent or metastatic HNSCC, with clinical response and treatment success being unpredictable. Keeping this perspective in mind, it is imperative to understand the role of T cells, natural killer cells, and antigen-presenting cells in modulating the immune response to immunotherapy. In lieu of this, these immune molecules could serve as prognostic and predictive biomarkers to facilitate longitudinal monitoring and understanding of treatment dynamics. These immune biomarkers could pave the path for personalized monitoring and management of HNSCC. In this review, we aim to provide updated immunological insight on the mechanism of action, expression, and the clinical application of immune cells' stimulatory and inhibitory molecules as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in HNC. The review is focused mainly on CD27 and CD137 (members of the TNF-receptor superfamily), natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 4 (TNFRSF4 or OX40), S100 proteins, PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3), indoleamine-pyrrole 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA). It also highlights the importance of T, natural killer, and antigen-presenting cells as robust biomarker tools for understanding immune checkpoint inhibitor-based treatment dynamics. Though a comprehensive review, all aspects of the immune molecules could not be covered as they were beyond the scope of the review; Further review articles can cover other aspects to bridge the knowledge gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarra Mestiri
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dina Moustafa Abo El-Ella
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Queenie Fernandes
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Takwa Bedhiafi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Salam Almoghrabi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shayista Akbar
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Varghese Inchakalody
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Laila Assami
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shaheena Anwar
- Department of Biosciences, Salim Habib University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdul Rehman Zar Gul
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mariam Al-Muftah
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Centre, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar; College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Maysaloun Merhi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Afsheen Raza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Science, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Said Dermime
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
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Shi Y, Gao L, Tian Y, Bai C, Chen J, Wang J, Li X, Zhang C, Sun Y, Su H, Liu Z. Penpulimab combined with anlotinib in patients with R/M HNSCC after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy: a single-arm, multicenter, phase Ⅱ study. ESMO Open 2023; 8:102194. [PMID: 38100934 PMCID: PMC10774955 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2023.102194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment regimens for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy have been illustrated with limited efficacy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Here, we report a single-arm, multicenter, phase Ⅱ study of R/M HNSCC patients treated with a programmed cell death-1 antibody penpulimab (200 mg) and anlotinib (12 mg) after failing at least one line of platinum-based chemotherapy. RESULTS Of 38 patients in total, 13 (34.21%) patients achieved partial response and 16 (42.11%) patients achieved stable disease. After a median follow-up of 7.06 months (range: 4.14-15.70 months), the independent review committee-assessed objective response rate was 34.21%, the disease control rate was 76.32%. The median progression-free survival was 8.35 months (95% confidence interval 5.95-13.11 months). Twelve patients died and the median overall survival (OS) was not reached. The 12-month OS rate was 59.76%. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 47.37% of the patients. CONCLUSION Penpulimab combined with anlotinib demonstrated promising efficacy and manageable safety in R/M HNSCC patients after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs, Beijing.
| | - L Gao
- Third Ward, Department of Radiotherapy, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Y Tian
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou
| | - C Bai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing
| | - J Chen
- Thoracic Medicine Department, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha
| | - J Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou
| | - X Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou
| | - C Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs, Beijing
| | - Y Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing
| | - H Su
- Department of Oncology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an
| | - Z Liu
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
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Liu J, Zhao J, Qiao X. Research Progress of Metformin in the Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Endocrinology 2023; 164:bqad139. [PMID: 37738154 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignancies and has a high mortality, posing a great threat to both human physical and mental health. With the advancement of scientific research, a variety of cancer therapies have been used for OSCC treatment. However, the prognosis of OSCC shows no significant improvement. Metformin has been recognized as the first-line drug for the treatment of diabetes, and recent studies have shown that metformin has a remarkable suppressive effect on tumor progression. Metformin can not only affect the energy metabolism of tumor cells but also play an antitumor role by modulating the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells. In this review, the molecular mechanism of metformin and its anticancer mechanism in OSCC are summarized. In addition, this article summarizes the side effects of metformin and the future prospects of its application in the treatment of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Liu
- Department of Stomatology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Xue Qiao
- Department of Central Laboratory, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, China
- Department of Oral Biology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, China
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Pan M, Wang F, Nan L, Yang S, Qi J, Xie J, Shao S, Zou H, Wang M, Sun F, Zhang J. αVEGFR2-MICA fusion antibodies enhance immunotherapy effect and synergize with PD-1 blockade. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:969-984. [PMID: 36227341 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-022-03306-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Antiangiogenic therapy has shown significant clinical benefits in gastric cancer (GC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, their effectiveness is limited by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The MHC class I chain-related molecules A and B (MICA/B) are expressed in many human cancers, enabling elimination of cancer cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes through natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) receptor activation. To improve antiangiogenic therapy and prolong its efficacy, we generated a bi-specific fusion protein (mAb04-MICA). This was comprised of an antibody targeting VEGFR2 fused to a MICA α1-α2 ectodomain. mAb04-MICA inhibited proliferation of GC and NSCLC cells through specific binding to VEGFR2 and had superior anti-tumor efficacy in both GC and NSCLC-bearing mouse models compared with ramucirumab. Further investigation revealed that the mAb04-MICA promoted NKG2D+ NK cell activation and induced the tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) polarization from M2 type to M1 type both in vitro and in vivo. The polarization of TAMs upon NKG2D and MICA mediated activation has not yet been reported. Moreover, given the up-regulation of PD-L1 in tumors during anti-angiogenesis therapy, anti-PD-1 antibody enhanced the anti-tumoral activity of mAb04-MICA through stimulating infiltration and activation of NKs and CD8+T cells in responding tumors. Our findings demonstrate that dual targeting of angiogenesis and NKG2D, or in combination with the PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, is a promising anti-tumor therapeutic strategy. This is accomplished through maintaining or reinstating tumor immunosurveillance during treatment, which expands the repertoire of anti-angiogenesis-based cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Pan
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Lidi Nan
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Siyu Yang
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jinyao Qi
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jiajun Xie
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Shuai Shao
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Hongyi Zou
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Min Wang
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Fumou Sun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Myeloma Center, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Juan Zhang
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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Starska-Kowarska K. The Role of Different Immunocompetent Cell Populations in the Pathogenesis of Head and Neck Cancer-Regulatory Mechanisms of Pro- and Anti-Cancer Activity and Their Impact on Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1642. [PMID: 36980527 PMCID: PMC10046400 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061642] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous groups of human neoplasms. HNSCC is characterized by high morbidity, accounting for 3% of all cancers, and high mortality with ~1.5% of all cancer deaths. It was the most common cancer worldwide in 2020, according to the latest GLOBOCAN data, representing the seventh most prevalent human malignancy. Despite great advances in surgical techniques and the application of modern combinations and cytotoxic therapies, HNSCC remains a leading cause of death worldwide with a low overall survival rate not exceeding 40-60% of the patient population. The most common causes of death in patients are its frequent nodal metastases and local neoplastic recurrences, as well as the relatively low response to treatment and severe drug resistance. Much evidence suggests that the tumour microenvironment (TME), tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and circulating various subpopulations of immunocompetent cells, such regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Tregs), cytotoxic CD3+CD8+ T cells (CTLs) and CD3+CD4+ T helper type 1/2/9/17 (Th1/Th2/Th9/Th17) lymphocytes, T follicular helper cells (Tfh) and CD56dim/CD16bright activated natural killer cells (NK), carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumour-associated neutrophils (N1/N2 TANs), as well as tumour-associated macrophages (M1/M2 phenotype TAMs) can affect initiation, progression and spread of HNSCC and determine the response to immunotherapy. Rapid advances in the field of immuno-oncology and the constantly growing knowledge of the immunosuppressive mechanisms and effects of tumour cancer have allowed for the use of effective and personalized immunotherapy as a first-line therapeutic procedure or an essential component of a combination therapy for primary, relapsed and metastatic HNSCC. This review presents the latest reports and molecular studies regarding the anti-tumour role of selected subpopulations of immunocompetent cells in the pathogenesis of HNSCC, including HPV+ve (HPV+) and HPV-ve (HPV-) tumours. The article focuses on the crucial regulatory mechanisms of pro- and anti-tumour activity, key genetic or epigenetic changes that favour tumour immune escape, and the strategies that the tumour employs to avoid recognition by immunocompetent cells, as well as resistance mechanisms to T and NK cell-based immunotherapy in HNSCC. The present review also provides an overview of the pre- and clinical early trials (I/II phase) and phase-III clinical trials published in this arena, which highlight the unprecedented effectiveness and limitations of immunotherapy in HNSCC, and the emerging issues facing the field of HNSCC immuno-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Starska-Kowarska
- Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical Physiology, Medical University of Lodz, Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Lodz, Poland; ; Tel.: +48-604-541-412
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, EnelMed Center Expert, Drewnowska 58, 91-001 Lodz, Poland
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Novel Insights of Anti-EGFR Therapy in HNSCC: Combined with Immunotherapy or Not? Curr Oncol Rep 2023; 25:93-105. [PMID: 36585960 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-022-01349-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The efficacy of anti-EGFR therapy is still unfavorable in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Disorder of antitumor immunity and aberrantly expressed checkpoint biomarkers had been validated to involve anti-EGFR therapy tolerance and efficacy. Here we review the immunomodulation of anti-EGFR therapy in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of HNSCC and assist clinicians in finding the potential strategies to rescue anti-EGFR tolerance therapy in the era of immunotherapy for HNSCC. RECENT FINDINGS Anti-EGFR therapy, especially cetuximab, was validated to induce the innate and adaptive immune responses of HNSCC patients. It is mainly through inducing natural killer (NK) cells mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), recruiting multiple tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and finally remodeling the TIME. Moreover, mountains of preclinical models and clinical trials revealed that combining anti-EGFR agents with immunotherapy could enhance the antitumor effectiveness in HNSCC. Anti-EGFR therapy may usher in another dawn in the treatment of patients with HNSCC through combination with immunotherapy. We offer an overview of the ongoing efforts to make out the immunomodulation of the EGFR pathway in both innate and adaptive immune responses; update the constant preclinical models and clinical trials for the combination of anti-EGFR and immunotherapy in HNSCC; and finally evaluate the efficacy and advantages of the combination therapeutic strategies in clinical use.
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8
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Crist M, Yaniv B, Palackdharry S, Lehn MA, Medvedovic M, Stone T, Gulati S, Karivedu V, Borchers M, Fuhrman B, Crago A, Curry J, Martinez-Outschoorn U, Takiar V, Wise-Draper TM. Metformin increases natural killer cell functions in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through CXCL1 inhibition. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-005632. [PMID: 36328378 PMCID: PMC9639146 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin slows tumor growth and progression in vitro, and in combination with chemoradiotherapy, resulted in high overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in our phase 1 clinical trial (NCT02325401). Metformin is also postulated to activate an antitumor immune response. Here, we investigate immunologic effects of metformin on natural killer (NK) and natural killer T cells, including results from two phase I open-label studies in patients with HNSCC treated with metformin (NCT02325401, NCT02083692). METHODS Peripheral blood was collected before and after metformin treatment or from newly diagnosed patients with HNSCC. Peripheral immune cell phenotypes were evaluated using flow cytometry, cytokine expression by ELISA and/or IsoLight, and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity was determined with a flow-based NK cell cytotoxicity assay (NKCA). Patient tumor immune infiltration before and after metformin treatment was analyzed with immunofluorescence. NK cells were treated with either vehicle or metformin and analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). NK cells were then treated with inhibitors of significant pathways determined by RNA-seq and analyzed by NKCA, ELISA, and western blot analyses. RESULTS Increased peripheral NK cell activated populations were observed in patients treated with metformin. NK cell tumor infiltration was enhanced in patients with HNSCC treated with metformin preoperatively. Metformin increased antitumorigenic cytokines ex vivo, including significant increases in perforin. Metformin increased HNSCC NK cell cytotoxicity and inhibited the CXCL1 pathway while stimulating the STAT1 pathway within HNSCC NK cells. Exogenous CXCL1 prevented metformin-enhanced NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Metformin-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity was found to be AMP-activated protein kinase independent, but dependent on both mechanistic target of rapamycin and pSTAT1. CONCLUSIONS Our data identifies a new role for metformin-mediated immune antitumorigenic function through NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and downregulation of CXCL1 in HNSCC. These findings will inform future immunomodulating therapies in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenzie Crist
- Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Benyamin Yaniv
- Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Palackdharry
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Maria A Lehn
- Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA,Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Mario Medvedovic
- Department of Environmental Health; Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Timothy Stone
- Department of Environmental Health; Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Shuchi Gulati
- Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Vidhya Karivedu
- Department of Medical Oncology Head and Neck Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael Borchers
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA,Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Bethany Fuhrman
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Audrey Crago
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Joseph Curry
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Vinita Takiar
- Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA,Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Trisha M Wise-Draper
- Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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9
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Mele D, Pessino G, Trisolini G, Luchena A, Benazzo M, Morbini P, Mantovani S, Oliviero B, Mondelli MU, Varchetta S. Impaired intratumoral natural killer cell function in head and neck carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:997806. [PMID: 36341402 PMCID: PMC9630640 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.997806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are emerging as unique players in the immune response against cancer; however, only limited data are available on tumor infiltrating NK cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), one of the most common cancer. Occurrence of HNSCC is closely related to the immune microenvironment, and immunotherapy is increasingly being applied to this setting. However, the limited success of this type of treatment in this tumor calls for further investigation in the field. Surgical HNSSC specimens of 32 consecutive patients were mechanically and enzymatically dissociated. Tumor cells were separated from infiltrating cells by short centrifugation and infiltrating NK cells were phenotypically and functionally characterized by multiple antibody staining and flow cytometry. Tumor infiltrating NK cells in HNSCC showed a peculiar phenotype predominantly characterized by increased NKG2A and reduced Siglec-7, NKG2D, NKp30 and CD16 expression. This phenotype was associated with a decreased ability to perform antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). However, NK, CD4 and CD8 shared an increment of glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor-related (GITR) costimulatory receptor which could be exploited for immunotherapy with agonistic anti-GITR antibodies combined with checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalila Mele
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Greta Pessino
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Trisolini
- Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alberto Luchena
- Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Benazzo
- Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Morbini
- Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania Mantovani
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Barbara Oliviero
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mario U. Mondelli
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Stefania Varchetta, ; Mario U. Mondelli,
| | - Stefania Varchetta
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Stefania Varchetta, ; Mario U. Mondelli,
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10
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Seliger B, Koehl U. Underlying mechanisms of evasion from NK cells as rational for improvement of NK cell-based immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:910595. [PMID: 36045670 PMCID: PMC9422402 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.910595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the family of innate immune cells with the capacity to recognize and kill tumor cells. Different phenotypes and functional properties of NK cells have been described in tumor patients, which could be shaped by the tumor microenvironment. The discovery of HLA class I-specific inhibitory receptors controlling NK cell activity paved the way to the fundamental concept of modulating immune responses that are regulated by an array of inhibitory receptors, and emphasized the importance to explore the potential of NK cells in cancer therapy. Although a whole range of NK cell-based approaches are currently being developed, there are still major challenges that need to be overcome for improved efficacy of these therapies. These include escape of tumor cells from NK cell recognition due to their expression of inhibitory molecules, immune suppressive signals of NK cells, reduced NK cell infiltration of tumors, an immune suppressive micromilieu and limited in vivo persistence of NK cells. Therefore, this review provides an overview about the NK cell biology, alterations of NK cell activities, changes in tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment contributing to immune escape or immune surveillance by NK cells and their underlying molecular mechanisms as well as the current status and novel aspects of NK cell-based therapeutic strategies including their genetic engineering and their combination with conventional treatment options to overcome tumor-mediated evasion strategies and improve therapy efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Barbara Seliger,
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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11
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Hawlina S, Chowdhury HH, Smrkolj T, Zorec R. Dendritic cell-based vaccine prolongs survival and time to next therapy independently of the vaccine cell number. Biol Direct 2022; 17:5. [PMID: 35197090 PMCID: PMC8864901 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-022-00318-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2009, new EU legislation regulating advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), consisting of gene therapy, tissue engineering and cell-based medicines, was introduced. Although less than 20 ATMPs were authorized since that time, the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2018 revived interest in developing new cancer immunotherapies involving significant manipulation of the patient's own immune cells, including lymphocytes and dendritic cells. The lymphocytes are mainly thought to directly affect tumour cells, dendritic cells are involved in indirect mechanisms by antigen presentation to other leukocytes orchestrating the immune response. It is the latter cells that are the focus of this brief review. Based on the recent results of our study treating patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with an immunohybridoma cell construct (termed aHyC), produced by electrofusion of autologous tumour and dendritic cells, we compare their effectiveness with a matched documented control group of patients. The results revealed that cancer-specific survival and the time to next in-line therapy (TTNT) were both significantly prolonged versus controls. When patients were observed for longer periods since the time of diagnosis of CRPC, 20% of patients had not yet progressed to the next in-line therapy even though the time under observation was ~ 80 months. Interestingly, analysis of survival of patients revealed that the effectiveness of treatment was independent of the number of cells in the vaccine used for treatment. It is concluded that autologous dendritic cell-based immunotherapy is a new possibility to treat not only CRPC but also other solid tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Hawlina
- Clinical Department of Urology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Helena H Chowdhury
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Celica Biomedical, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology - Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 4, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tomaž Smrkolj
- Clinical Department of Urology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Robert Zorec
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Celica Biomedical, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. .,Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology - Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 4, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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12
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Sun J, Fang G, Zuo Z, Yu X, Xue L, Li C, Li S. Identification of Immune Subtypes for Predicting the Prognosis of Patients in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2021; 20:15330338211045823. [PMID: 34657509 PMCID: PMC8521413 DOI: 10.1177/15330338211045823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common malignancy with poor prognosis and immune response, which plays an important role in tumor progression. Recently, immunotherapies have revolutionized the therapeutic means of malignancies including HNSCC. However, the relationship between immunophenotypes of HNSCC and its clinical response to immune-checkpoint inhibitors remains unclear. We aim to identify molecular subtyping related to distinct immunophenotypes in HNSCC. Consensus clustering algorithm was conducted for subtyping. Immunophenotypes between subtypes were compared according to infiltrating immunocytes, immune reactions, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) family, immunoinhibitory, immunostimulatory and immune scores. The relationship between immunophenotype and genotype was investigated from gene mutation and tumor mutation burden. The potential response of Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy was estimated with TIDE and ImmuCellAI algorithms, and immune-checkpoint genes. The immune characteristics were also investigated. Biological functions were annotated by the gene-set enrichment analysis (GSEA) algorithm. Two distinct immune subtypes of HNSCC with different survival outcomes, biological characteristics, immunophenotype, and ICB response were identified. The subtype-1 was featured with better prognosis, more infiltrated immunocytes, stronger immune reaction, higher immune-related gene expression, higher immune-checkpoint gene expression (PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4), and better ICB response. A higher immune response in subtype-1 was also revealed by GSEA. Subtype-1 possessed a higher immune response and more sensitivity to ICB therapy leading to a better prognosis. These findings may shed promising light on the immunotherapy strategy in HNSCC
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Sun
- Department of Periodontology, Jinan Stomatological Hospital, Jinan, China
- Jing Sun, No.101 Jingliu Road, Jinan, Shandong 250001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guiqing Fang
- Department of Periodontology, Jinan Stomatological Hospital, Jinan, China
- Jing Sun, No.101 Jingliu Road, Jinan, Shandong 250001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhibin Zuo
- Department of Periodontology, Jinan Stomatological Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Xijiao Yu
- Department of Periodontology, Jinan Stomatological Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Lande Xue
- Department of Periodontology, Jinan Stomatological Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Chong Li
- Department of Periodontology, Jinan Stomatological Hospital, Jinan, China
- Chong Li, No.44 to 1 Wenhua Road West, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Shu Li
- Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, China
- Shu Li, Department of Periodontology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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13
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Wang H, Nan S, Wang Y, Xu C. CDX2 enhances natural killer cell-mediated immunotherapy against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through up-regulating CXCL14. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:4596-4607. [PMID: 33733587 PMCID: PMC8107099 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
(NK) cells are at the first line of defence against tumours, but their anti‐tumour mechanisms are not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the mechanism by which NK cells can mediate immunotherapy against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We collected fifty‐two pairs of HNSCC tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissues; analysis by RT‐qPCR showed underexpression of CXCL14 in HNSCC tissues. Primary NK cells were then isolated from the peripheral blood of HNSCC patients and healthy donors. CXCL14 was found to be consistently under‐expressed in the primary NK cells from the HNSCC patients. However, CXCL14 expression was increased in IL2‐activated primary NK cells and NK‐92 cells. We next evaluated NK cell migration, IFN‐γ and TNF‐α expression, cytotoxicity and infiltration in response to CXCL14 overexpression or knockdown using gain‐ and loss‐of‐function approach. The results exhibited that CXCL14 overexpression promoted NK cell migration, cytotoxicity and infiltration. Subsequent in vivo experiments revealed that CXCL14 suppressed the growth of HNSCC cells via activation of NK cells. ChIP was applied to study the enrichment of H3K27ac, p300, H3K4me1 and CDX2 in the enhancer region of CXCL14, which showed that CDX2/p300 activated the enhancer of CXCL14 to up‐regulate its expression. Rescue experiments demonstrated that CDX2 stimulated NK cell migration, cytotoxicity and infiltration through up‐regulating CXCL14. In vivo data further revealed that CDX2 suppressed tumorigenicity of HNSCC cells through enhancement of CXCL14. To conclude, CDX2 promotes CXCL14 expression by activating its enhancer, which promotes NK cell–mediated immunotherapy against HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jilin University Second Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Shanji Nan
- Department of Neurology, Jilin University Second Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jilin University First Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Chengbi Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jilin University Second Hospital, Changchun, China
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14
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Cózar B, Greppi M, Carpentier S, Narni-Mancinelli E, Chiossone L, Vivier E. Tumor-Infiltrating Natural Killer Cells. Cancer Discov 2020; 11:34-44. [PMID: 33277307 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-0655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Because of their potent antitumor activity and their proinflammatory role, natural killer (NK) cells are at the forefront of efforts to develop immuno-oncologic treatments. NK cells participate in immune responses to tumors by killing target cells and producing cytokines. However, in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, NK cells become dysfunctional through exposure to inhibitory molecules produced by cancer cells, leading to tumor escape. We provide an overview of what is known about NK tumor infiltration and surveillance and about the mechanisms by which NK cells become dysfunctional. SIGNIFICANCE: The functions of tumor-infiltrating NK cells may be impaired. This review aims to describe the various mechanisms by which tumors alter NK-cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Cózar
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
| | - Marco Greppi
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France.,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Laura Chiossone
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Vivier
- Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France. .,Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hôpital de la Timone, Service d'Immunologie, Marseille-Immunopôle, Marseille, France
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15
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Zhu X, Qin X, Wang X, Wang Y, Cao W, Zhang J, Chen W. Oral cancer cell‑derived exosomes modulate natural killer cell activity by regulating the receptors on these cells. Int J Mol Med 2020; 46:2115-2125. [PMID: 33125101 PMCID: PMC7595664 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral cancer (OC) is the most common type of head and neck malignant tumor. Tumor‑derived exosomes induce a complex extracellular environment that affects tumor immunity. In the present study, exosomes were isolated from OC cell lines (WSU‑HN4 and SCC‑9) by ultrafiltration and the protein content of these oral cancer‑derived exosomes (OCEXs) was analyzed by mass spectrometry, which revealed the enrichment of transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β1. Natural killer (NK) cells were examined by flow cytometry following co‑culture with OCEXs. The expression of killer cell lectin like receptor K1 (KLRK1; also known as NKG2D, as used herein) and natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 3 (NCR3; also known as NKp30, as used herein) in NK cells was found to be significantly upregulated following co‑culture with the OCEXs for 1 day, whereas this expression decreased at 7 days. Killer cell lectin like receptor C1 (KLRC1; also known as NKG2A; as used herein) expression exhibited an opposite trend at 1 day. In addition, NK cell cytotoxicity against the OC cells was enhanced at 1 day, but was attenuated at 7 days. TGF‑β1 inhibited the function of NK cells at 7 days, whereas it had no obvious effects at 1 and 3 days. On the whole, the findings of the present study reveal changes in NK cell function and provide new insight into NK cell dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Zhu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology and Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology and Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Xing Qin
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology and Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology and Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoning Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology and Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology and Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Yingnan Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology and Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology and Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology and Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology and Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Jianjun Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology and Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology and Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Wantao Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology and Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology and Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Correspondence to: Professor Wantao Chen, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology and Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China, E-mail:
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16
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Fialová A, Koucký V, Hajdušková M, Hladíková K, Špíšek R. Immunological Network in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma-A Prognostic Tool Beyond HPV Status. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1701. [PMID: 33042814 PMCID: PMC7522596 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01701] [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: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly heterogeneous disease that affects more than 800,000 patients worldwide each year. The variability of HNSCC is associated with differences in the carcinogenesis processes that are caused by two major etiological agents, namely, alcohol/tobacco, and human papillomavirus (HPV). Compared to non-virally induced carcinomas, the oropharyngeal tumors associated with HPV infection show markedly better clinical outcomes and are characterized by an immunologically “hot” landscape with high levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. However, the standard of care remains the same for both HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC. Surprisingly, treatment de-escalation trials have not shown any clinical benefit in patients with HPV-positive tumors to date, most likely due to insufficient patient stratification. The in-depth analysis of the immune response, which places an emphasis on tumor-infiltrating immune cells, is a widely accepted prognostic tool that might significantly improve both the stratification of HNSCC patients in de-escalation trials and the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vladimír Koucký
- Sotio, Prague, Czechia.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czechia
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17
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The Emerging Role of Exosomes in Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114072. [PMID: 32517240 PMCID: PMC7312915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes, the smallest group of extracellular vesicles, carry proteins, miRNA, mRNA, DNA, and lipids, which they efficiently deliver to recipient cells, generating a communication network. Exosomes strongly contribute to the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Isolation of exosomes from HNSCC cell culture or patient’s plasma allows for analyzing their molecular cargo and functional role in immune suppression and tumor progression. Immune affinity-based separation of different exosome subsets, such as tumor-derived or T cell-derived exosomes, from patient’s plasma simultaneously informs about tumor status and immune dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the recent understanding of how exosomes behave in the HNSCC tumor microenvironment and why they are promising liquid biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy in HNSCC.
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18
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Hofmann L, Ludwig S, Schuler PJ, Hoffmann TK, Brunner C, Theodoraki MN. The Potential of CD16 on Plasma-Derived Exosomes as a Liquid Biomarker in Head and Neck Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113739. [PMID: 32466374 PMCID: PMC7312379 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are highly immune suppressive and aggressive malignancies. As part of the tumor microenvironment, exosomes contribute to this immune suppression. The Fc receptor CD16 is widely expressed on monocytes, neutrophils, and natural killer (NK) cells and is involved in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Here, surface levels of CD16 on total exosomes and tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) from plasma of HNSCC patients were analyzed regarding their potential as liquid biomarkers for disease stage. Exosomes were isolated from plasma using mini size exclusion chromatography. TEX were enriched by immune affinity capture with CD44v3 antibodies. On-bead flow cytometry was used to measure CD16 levels on total exosomes and TEX. The results were correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Total exosomes from HNSCC patients had significantly higher CD16 levels compared to TEX. Further, CD16 surface levels of total exosomes, but not TEX, correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Patients with advanced tumor stages T3/4 and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stages III/IV had significantly higher CD16 levels on total exosomes compared to patients with early tumor stages T1/2 and UICC stages I/II, respectively. Overall, CD16 positive exosomes have the potential as liquid biomarkers for HNSCC tumor stage and aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Hofmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany; (L.H.); (P.J.S.); (T.K.H.); (C.B.)
| | - Sonja Ludwig
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany;
| | - Patrick J. Schuler
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany; (L.H.); (P.J.S.); (T.K.H.); (C.B.)
| | - Thomas K. Hoffmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany; (L.H.); (P.J.S.); (T.K.H.); (C.B.)
| | - Cornelia Brunner
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany; (L.H.); (P.J.S.); (T.K.H.); (C.B.)
| | - Marie-Nicole Theodoraki
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany; (L.H.); (P.J.S.); (T.K.H.); (C.B.)
- Correspondence:
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19
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Luo Q, Luo W, Zhu Q, Huang H, Peng H, Liu R, Xie M, Li S, Li M, Hu X, Zou Y. Tumor-Derived Soluble MICA Obstructs the NKG2D Pathway to Restrain NK Cytotoxicity. Aging Dis 2020; 11:118-128. [PMID: 32010486 PMCID: PMC6961768 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2019.1017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) receptor and its ligands play important roles in immune surveillance. In this study, we observed that the average serum soluble MICA (sMICA) concentration of 174 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients was significantly higher than that in 80 healthy subjects (602.17 ± 338.15 vs. 72.26 ± 87.88 pg/ml, t = 3.107, P=0.002). The levels of serum sMICA in 44 HCC patients with initial levels above 400 pg/ml declined significantly after surgical removal of the liver cancer tissue (P<0.001). Moreover, the mean survival time of HCC patients who had sMICA above 400 pg/ml was significantly shorter than that HCC patients with lower sMICA levels (P<0.001). Using the reporter cell line (NKG2D-2B4) in which activation of the NKG2D receptor pathway results in GFP expression based on the stimulation of immobilized rMICA, we showed that the number of GFP-expressing cells decreased sharply in presence of sMICA. Upon adding sMICA, the release of cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-8 by NK cell line (NKL) under stimulation of immobilized rMICA was blocked. Using MICA-expressing cells as the target cells, we observed that about 80% of target cells were killed by NKL at E:T of 10:1, but in presence of sMICAhigh serum of HCC patients, the dead target cells were reduced to 30.8%. Compared in presence of sMICAlow serum from HCC patients, there were 63.7% of target cells dead (p=0.043). Thus, our data suggested that sMICA obstructs the activation of NKG2D pathway to protect tumor cells from NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qizhi Luo
- 1Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Weiguang Luo
- 1Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,2Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Quan Zhu
- 1Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongjun Huang
- 3Cancer Hospital of Hunan, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Huiyun Peng
- 1Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Rongjiao Liu
- 1Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Min Xie
- 1Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shili Li
- 1Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ming Li
- 1Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaocui Hu
- 3Cancer Hospital of Hunan, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yizhou Zou
- 1Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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20
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Hitting More Birds with a Stone: Impact of TGF-β on ILC Activity in Cancer. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9010143. [PMID: 31948072 PMCID: PMC7019362 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9010143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a central immunosuppressive cytokine within tumor microenvironment inhibiting the expansion and function of major cellular components of adaptive and innate immune system. Among them, compelling evidence has demonstrated that TGF-β is a key regulator of natural killer (NK) cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) with a critical role in immunosurveillance against different kinds of cancer cells. A TGF-β rich tumor microenvironment blocks NK cell activity at multiple levels. This immunosuppressive factor exerts direct regulatory effects on NK cells including inhibition of cytokine production, alteration of activating/inhibitory receptor expression, and promotion of the conversion into non cytotoxic group I ILC (ILC1). Concomitantly, TGF-β can render tumor cells less susceptible to NK cell-mediated recognition and lysis. Indeed, accumulating evidence suggest that changes in levels of NKG2D ligands, mainly MICA, as well as an increase of immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., PD-L1) and other inhibitory ligands on cancer cells significantly contribute to TGF-β-mediated suppression of NK cell activity. Here, we will take into consideration two major mechanisms underlying the negative regulation of ILC function by TGF-β in cancer. First, we will address how TGF-β impacts the balance of signals governing NK cell activity. Second, we will review recent advances on the role of this cytokine in driving ILC plasticity in cancer. Finally, we will discuss how the development of therapeutic approaches blocking TGF-β may reverse the suppression of host immune surveillance and improve anti-tumor NK cell response in the clinic.
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21
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Zhang J, Larrocha PSL, Zhang B, Wainwright D, Dhar P, Wu JD. Antibody targeting tumor-derived soluble NKG2D ligand sMIC provides dual co-stimulation of CD8 T cells and enables sMIC + tumors respond to PD1/PD-L1 blockade therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:223. [PMID: 31446896 PMCID: PMC6709558 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0693-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Insufficient co-stimulation accounts for a great deal of the suboptimal activation of cytotoxic CD8 T cells (CTLs) and presumably unsatisfactory clinical expectation of PD1/PD-L1 therapy. Tumor-derived soluble NKG2D ligands are associated with poor clinical response to PD1/PD-L1 blockade therapy in cancer patients. One of the mostly occurring tumor-derived soluble NKG2D ligands, the soluble MHC I chain related molecule (sMIC) can impair co-stimulation to CD8 T cells. We investigated whether co-targeting sMIC can provide optimal co-stimulation to CTLs and enhance the therapeutic effect of PD1/PD-L1 blockades. Methods Single agent therapy of a PD1/PD-L1 blockade antibody or a sMIC-targeting non-blocking antibody or a combination therapy of the two antibodies were implied to well-characterized pre-clinical MIC/sMIC+ tumor models that closely resemble the NKG2D-mediated oncoimmune dynamics of MIC+ cancer patients. Therapeutic efficacy and associated effector mechanisms were evaluated. Results We show that antibody co-targeting sMIC enables or enhances the response of sMIC+ tumors to PD1/PD-L1 blockade therapy. The therapy response of the combination therapy was associated with enhanced antigen-specific CD8 T cell enrichment and function in tumors. We show that co-targeting sMIC with a nonblocking antibody provides antigen-specific CD8 T cells with NKG2D and CD28 dual co-stimulation, in addition to elimination of inhibitory signals, and thus amplifies antigen-specific CD8 T cell anti-tumor responses. Conclusion Our findings provide the proof-of-concept rationale and previously undiscovered mechanisms for co-targeting sMIC to enable and enhance the response to PD1/PD-L1 blockade therapy in sMIC+ cancer patients. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40425-019-0693-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | - Bin Zhang
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Derek Wainwright
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Payal Dhar
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Jennifer D Wu
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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22
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Muñoz DP, Yannone SM, Daemen A, Sun Y, Vakar-Lopez F, Kawahara M, Freund AM, Rodier F, Wu JD, Desprez PY, Raulet DH, Nelson PS, van 't Veer LJ, Campisi J, Coppé JP. Targetable mechanisms driving immunoevasion of persistent senescent cells link chemotherapy-resistant cancer to aging. JCI Insight 2019; 5:124716. [PMID: 31184599 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.124716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a tumor suppressive mechanism that can paradoxically contribute to aging pathologies. Despite evidence of immune clearance in mouse models, it is not known how senescent cells (SnCs) persist and accumulate with age or in tumors in individuals. Here, we identify cooperative mechanisms that orchestrate the immunoevasion and persistence of normal and cancer human SnCs through extracellular targeting of natural killer receptor signaling. Damaged SnCs avoid immune recognition through MMPs-dependent shedding of NKG2D-ligands reinforced via paracrine suppression of NKG2D receptor-mediated immunosurveillance. These coordinated immunoediting processes are evident in residual, drug-resistant tumors from cohorts of >700 prostate and breast cancer patients treated with senescence-inducing genotoxic chemotherapies. Unlike in mice, these reversible senescence-subversion mechanisms are independent of p53/p16 and exacerbated in oncogenic RAS-induced senescence. Critically, the p16INK4A tumor suppressor can disengage the senescence growth arrest from the damage-associated immune senescence program, which is manifest in benign nevi lesions where indolent SnCs accumulate over time and preserve a non-pro-inflammatory tissue microenvironment maintaining NKG2D-mediated immunosurveillance. Our study shows how subpopulations of SnCs elude immunosurveillance, and reveals secretome-targeted therapeutic strategies to selectively eliminate -and restore the clearance of- the detrimental SnCs that actively persist after chemotherapy and accumulate at sites of aging pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise P Muñoz
- Swim Across America National Laboratory, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Steven M Yannone
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Anneleen Daemen
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Yu Sun
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Funda Vakar-Lopez
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Misako Kawahara
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Berkeley, California, USA.,Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Adam M Freund
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Berkeley, California, USA.,Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | - Francis Rodier
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Jennifer D Wu
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Pierre-Yves Desprez
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA.,Research Institute, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David H Raulet
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Peter S Nelson
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Laura J van 't Veer
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Judith Campisi
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Berkeley, California, USA.,Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Coppé
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Berkeley, California, USA.,Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
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23
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Amini RM, Enblad G, Hollander P, Laszlo S, Eriksson E, Ayoola Gustafsson K, Loskog A, Thörn I. Altered profile of immune regulatory cells in the peripheral blood of lymphoma patients. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:316. [PMID: 30953461 PMCID: PMC6449984 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-5529-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regulatory immune cells may modulate the lymphoma microenvironment and are of great interest due to the increasing prevalence of treatment with immunotherapies in lymphoma patients. The aim was to explore the composition of different immune regulatory cell subsets in the peripheral blood of newly diagnosed lymphoma patients in relation to treatment outcome. METHODS Forty-three newly diagnosed patients with lymphoma were included in the study; 24 with high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBCL) and 19 with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Peripheral blood was prospectively collected and immune regulatory cells were identified by multi-color flow cytometry and analyzed in relation to healthy blood donors and clinical characteristics and outcome. RESULTS The percentage of CD3-positive T-cells was lower (p = 0.03) in the peripheral blood of lymphoma patients at diagnosis compared to healthy blood donors regardless of lymphoma subtype, although statistically, neither the percentage of monocytes (p = 0.2) nor the T-cell/monocyte ratio (p = 0.055) differed significantly. A significant decrease in the percentage of a subset of regulatory NK cells (CD7+/CD3-/CD56bright/CD16dim/-) was identified in the peripheral blood of lymphoma patients compared to healthy blood donors (p = 0.003). Lymphoma patients also had more granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) (p = 0.003) compared to healthy blood donors, whereas monocytic MDSCs did not differ significantly (p = 0.07). A superior disease-free survival was observed for cHL patients who had an increase in the percentage of granulocytic MDSCs (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS An altered profile of immune cells in the peripheral blood with a decrease in T-cells and regulatory NK-cells was observed in newly diagnosed lymphoma patients. CHL patients with higher percentages of regulatory NK cells and higher percentages of granulocytic MDSCs might have a better outcome, although the number of patients was low.
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Affiliation(s)
- R-M Amini
- Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and Uppsala University Hospital, Rudbeck Laboratory, C5, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - G Enblad
- Experimental and Clinical Oncology, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - P Hollander
- Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and Uppsala University Hospital, Rudbeck Laboratory, C5, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - S Laszlo
- Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and Uppsala University Hospital, Rudbeck Laboratory, C5, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - E Eriksson
- Clinical Immunology, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - K Ayoola Gustafsson
- Medical Genetics and Genomics, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - A Loskog
- Clinical Immunology, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Lokon Pharma, AB, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - I Thörn
- Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University and Uppsala University Hospital, Rudbeck Laboratory, C5, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
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24
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Duan S, Guo W, Xu Z, He Y, Liang C, Mo Y, Wang Y, Xiong F, Guo C, Li Y, Li X, Li G, Zeng Z, Xiong W, Wang F. Natural killer group 2D receptor and its ligands in cancer immune escape. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:29. [PMID: 30813924 PMCID: PMC6391774 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-0956-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system plays important roles in tumor development. According to the immune-editing theory, immune escape is the key to tumor survival, and exploring the mechanisms of tumor immune escape can provide a new basis for the treatment of tumors. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) receptor and NKG2D ligand (NKG2DL) in tumor immune responses. Natural killer (NK) cells are important cytotoxic cells in the immune system, and the activated NKG2D receptor on the NK cell surface can bind to NKG2DL expressed in tumor cells, enabling NK cells to activate and kill tumor cells. However, tumors can escape the immune clearance mediated by NKG2D receptor/NKG2DL through various mechanisms. The expression of NKG2D receptor on NK cells can be regulated by cells, molecules, and hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment. Tumor cells regulate the expression of NKG2DL at the level of transcription, translation, and post-translation and thereby escape recognition by NK cells. In particular, viruses and hormones have special mechanisms to affect the expression of NKG2D receptor and NKG2DL. Therefore, NKG2D\NKG2DL may have applications as targets for more effective antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixin Duan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University) and Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Disease Genome Research Center, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Weihua Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University) and Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Disease Genome Research Center, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zuxing Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yunbo He
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chuting Liang
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yongzhen Mo
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yian Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fang Xiong
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Can Guo
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yong Li
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Xiaoling Li
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guiyuan Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University) and Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Disease Genome Research Center, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhaoyang Zeng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University) and Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Disease Genome Research Center, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University) and Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Disease Genome Research Center, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Fuyan Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University) and Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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25
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Kloess S, Kretschmer A, Stahl L, Fricke S, Koehl U. CAR-Expressing Natural Killer Cells for Cancer Retargeting. Transfus Med Hemother 2019; 46:4-13. [PMID: 31244577 DOI: 10.1159/000495771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the approval in 2017 and the outstanding success of Kymriah® and Yescarta®, the number of clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor-modified autologous T cells has been constantly rising. Currently, more than 200 clinical trials are listed on clinicaltrial.gov. In contrast to CAR-T cells, natural killer (NK) cells can be used from allogeneic donors as an "off the shelf product" and provide alternative candidates for cancer retargeting. This review summarises preclinical results of CAR-engineered NK cells using both primary human NK cells and the cell line NK-92, and provides an overview about the first clinical CAR-NK cell studies targeting haematological malignancies and solid tumours, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Kloess
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany.,Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, ATMP-GMPDU, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna Kretschmer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lilly Stahl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Fricke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, ATMP-GMPDU, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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26
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Chen JLY, Chang CC, Huang YS, Kuo HY, Chen TY, Wang CW, Kuo SH, Lin YL. Persistently elevated soluble MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A and transforming growth factor-β1 levels are poor prognostic factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after definitive chemoradiotherapy. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202224. [PMID: 30096190 PMCID: PMC6086445 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the prognostic significance of immunologic inhibitory biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Thirty patients were prospectively enrolled. Plasma levels of soluble MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A (sMICA) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured before and 2 weeks after CRT. The median follow-up was 32.9 months (range: 12.4-40.6 months). The pre-treatment sMICA (p < 0.001) and TGF-β1 (p < 0.001) levels were significantly increased in HNSCC patients, compared to healthy controls. In HNSCC patients, the median pre-CRT and post-CRT sMICA levels were 43.1 pg/mL and 65.3 pg/mL, respectively, while the median pre-CRT and post-CRT TGF-β1 levels were 57.7 ng/mL and 36.0 ng/mL, respectively. After CRT, 19 patients (63.3%) exhibited persistently elevated sMICA, six patients (20.0%) exhibited persistently elevated TGF-β1, and five patients (16.7%) exhibited persistently elevated sMICA and TGF-β1. Patients with persistently elevated sMICA and TGF-β1 after CRT experienced an earlier tumor progression (p = 0.030), and poor overall survival (p = 0.010). Our results suggest that HNSCC patients who exhibit persistently elevated sMICA and TGF-β1 levels after CRT are at higher risk of tumor progression or death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Ling-Yu Chen
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chung Chang
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Sen Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yang Kuo
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yu Chen
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Wei Wang
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Hsin Kuo
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Li Lin
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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27
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Upadhyay S, Sharma N, Gupta KB, Dhiman M. Role of immune system in tumor progression and carcinogenesis. J Cell Biochem 2018; 119:5028-5042. [PMID: 29327370 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Tumor micro-environment has potential to customize the behavior of the immune cell according to their need. In immune-eliminating phase, immune cells eliminate transformed cells but after tumor establishment innate and adaptive immune cells synergistically provide shelter as well as fulfill their requirement that helps in progression. In between eliminating and establishment phase, equilibrium and escaping phase regulate the immune cells response. During immune-escaping, (1) the antigenic response generated is either inadequate, or focused entirely on tolerance, and (2) immune response generated is specific and effective, but the tumor skips immune recognition. In this review, we are discussing the critical role of immune cells and their cytokines before and after the establishment of tumor which might play a critical role during immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shishir Upadhyay
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Nidhi Sharma
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Kunj Bihari Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbial Sciences, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Monisha Dhiman
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbial Sciences, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
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28
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Ren X, Xie W, Wang Y, Xu M, Liu F, Tang M, Li C, Wang M, Zhang J. VEGFR2-targeted fusion antibody improved NK cell-mediated immunosurveillance against K562 cells. Immunol Res 2017; 64:1060-70. [PMID: 27154226 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-016-8800-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA), which is normally expressed on cancer cells, activates NK cells via NK group 2-member D pathway. However, some cancer cells escape NK-mediated immune surveillance by shedding membrane MICA causing immune suppression. To address this issue, we designed an antibody-MICA fusion targeting tumor-specific antigen (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, VEGFR2) based on our patented antibody (mAb04) against VEGFR2. In vitro results demonstrate that the fusion antibody retains both the antineoplastic and the immunomodulatory activity of mAb04. Further, we revealed that it enhanced NK-mediated immunosurveillance against K562 cells through increasing degranulation and cytokine production of NK cells. The overall data suggest our new fusion protein provides a promising approach for cancer-targeted immunotherapy and has prospects for potential application of chronic myeloid leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyan Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Youfu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Menghuai Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingying Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenchen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Juan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 154#, Tong Jia Xiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
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Hofer E, Koehl U. Natural Killer Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapies: From Immune Evasion to Promising Targeted Cellular Therapies. Front Immunol 2017; 8:745. [PMID: 28747910 PMCID: PMC5506076 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies based on natural killer (NK) cells are among the most promising therapies under development for the treatment of so far incurable forms of leukemia and other types of cancer. The importance of NK cells for the control of viral infections and cancer is supported among others by the findings that viruses and tumors use a multitude of mechanisms to subvert and evade the NK cell system. Infections and malignant diseases can further lead to the shaping of NK cell populations with altered reactivity. Counter measures of potential therapeutic impact include the blocking of inhibitory interactions between NK cell receptors and their cellular ligands, the enhancement of activating receptor signals, and the infusion of large numbers of ex vivo generated and selected NK cells. Moreover, the specific cross-linking of NK cells to their target cells using chimeric antigen receptors or therapeutic bi-/trispecific antibody reagents is a promising approach. In this context, NK cells stand out by their positive effects and safety demonstrated in most clinical trials so far. Based in part on results of the recent EC-sponsored project “NATURIMMUN” and considering additional published work in the field, we discuss below new developments and future directions that have the potential to further advance and establish NK cell-based therapies at the clinics on a broader scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erhard Hofer
- Department of Vascular Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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30
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de Freitas AC, de Oliveira THA, Barros MR, Venuti A. hrHPV E5 oncoprotein: immune evasion and related immunotherapies. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2017; 36:71. [PMID: 28545552 PMCID: PMC5445378 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-017-0541-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The immune response is a key factor in the fight against HPV infection and related cancers, and thus, HPV is able to promote immune evasion through the expression of oncogenes. In particular, the E5 oncogene is responsible for modulation of several immune mechanisms, including antigen presentation and inflammatory pathways. Moreover, E5 was suggested as a promising therapeutic target, since there is still no effective medical therapy for the treatment of HPV-related pre-neoplasia and cancer. Indeed, several studies have shown good prospective for E5 immunotherapy, suggesting that it could be applied for the treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. Thus, insofar as the majority of cervical, oropharyngeal and anal cancers are caused by high-risk HPV (hrHPV), mainly by HPV16, the aim of this review is to discuss the immune pathways interfered by E5 oncoprotein of hrHPV highlighting the various aspects of the potential immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Carlos de Freitas
- Department of Genetics, Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy (LEMTE), Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, CEP 50670-901, Brazil.
| | - Talita Helena Araújo de Oliveira
- Department of Genetics, Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy (LEMTE), Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, CEP 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Marconi Rego Barros
- Department of Genetics, Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy (LEMTE), Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, CEP 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Aldo Venuti
- Department of Research, HPV-Unit, UOSD Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
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31
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Zhang C, Oberoi P, Oelsner S, Waldmann A, Lindner A, Tonn T, Wels WS. Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Engineered NK-92 Cells: An Off-the-Shelf Cellular Therapeutic for Targeted Elimination of Cancer Cells and Induction of Protective Antitumor Immunity. Front Immunol 2017; 8:533. [PMID: 28572802 PMCID: PMC5435757 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in recent years toward realizing the potential of natural killer (NK) cells for cancer immunotherapy. NK cells can respond rapidly to transformed and stressed cells and have the intrinsic potential to extravasate and reach their targets in almost all body tissues. In addition to donor-derived primary NK cells, also the established NK cell line NK-92 is being developed for adoptive immunotherapy, and general safety of infusion of irradiated NK-92 cells has been established in phase I clinical trials with clinical responses observed in some of the cancer patients treated. To enhance their therapeutic utility, NK-92 cells have been modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) composed of a tumor-specific single chain fragment variable antibody fragment fused via hinge and transmembrane regions to intracellular signaling moieties such as CD3ζ or composite signaling domains containing a costimulatory protein together with CD3ζ. CAR-mediated activation of NK cells then bypasses inhibitory signals and overcomes NK resistance of tumor cells. In contrast to primary NK cells, CAR-engineered NK-92 cell lines suitable for clinical development can be established from molecularly and functionally well-characterized single cell clones following good manufacturing practice-compliant procedures. In preclinical in vitro and in vivo models, potent antitumor activity of NK-92 variants targeted to differentiation antigens expressed by hematologic malignancies, and overexpressed or mutated self-antigens associated with solid tumors has been found, encouraging further development of CAR-engineered NK-92 cells. Importantly, in syngeneic mouse tumor models, induction of endogenous antitumor immunity after treatment with CAR-expressing NK-92 cells has been demonstrated, resulting in cures and long-lasting immunological memory protecting against tumor rechallenge at distant sites. Here, we summarize the current status and future prospects of CAR-engineered NK-92 cells as off-the-shelf cellular therapeutics, with special emphasis on ErbB2 (HER2)-specific NK-92 cells that are approaching clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Zhang
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pranav Oberoi
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sarah Oelsner
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Anja Waldmann
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Aline Lindner
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Torsten Tonn
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Dresden, Germany.,Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Winfried S Wels
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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32
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Weidhaas JB, Harris J, Schaue D, Chen AM, Chin R, Axelrod R, El-Naggar AK, Singh AK, Galloway TJ, Raben D, Wang D, Matthiesen C, Avizonis VN, Manon RR, Yumen O, Nguyen-Tan PF, Trotti A, Skinner H, Zhang Q, Ferris RL, Sidransky D, Chung CH. The KRAS-Variant and Cetuximab Response in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol 2017; 3:483-491. [PMID: 28006059 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.5478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Importance There is a significant need to find biomarkers of response to radiotherapy and cetuximab in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and biomarkers that predict altered immunity, thereby enabling personalized treatment. Objectives To examine whether the Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS)-variant, a germline mutation in a microRNA-binding site in KRAS, is a predictive biomarker of cetuximab response and altered immunity in the setting of radiotherapy and cisplatin treatment and to evaluate the interaction of the KRAS-variant with p16 status and blood-based transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). Design, Setting, and Participants A total of 891 patients with advanced HNSCC from a phase 3 trial of cisplatin plus radiotherapy with or without cetuximab (NRG Oncology RTOG 0522) were included in this study, and 413 patients with available samples were genotyped for the KRAS-variant. Genomic DNA was tested for the KRAS-variant in a CLIA-certified laboratory. Correlation of the KRAS-variant, p16 positivity, outcome, and TGF-β1 levels was evaluated. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated with the Cox proportional hazards model. Main Outcomes and Measures The correlation of KRAS-variant status with cetuximab response and outcome, p16 status, and plasma TGF-β1 levels was tested. Results Of 891 patients eligible for protocol analyses (786 male [88.2%], 105 [11.2%] female, 810 white [90.9%], 81 nonwhite [9.1%]), 413 had biological samples for KRAS-variant testing, and 376 had plasma samples for TGF-β1 measurement. Seventy patients (16.9%) had the KRAS-variant. Overall, for patients with the KRAS-variant, cetuximab improved both progression-free survival (PFS) for the first year (HR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10-0.94; P = .04) and overall survival (OS) in years 1 to 2 (HR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04-0.86; P = .03). There was a significant interaction of the KRAS-variant with p16 status for PFS in patients treated without cetuximab. The p16-positive patients with the KRAS-variant treated without cetuximab had worse PFS than patients without the KRAS-variant (HR, 2.59; 95% CI, 0.91-7.33; P = .07). There was a significant 3-way interaction among the KRAS-variant, p16 status, and treatment for OS (HR, for KRAS-variant, cetuximab and p16 positive, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.03-1.66; HR for KRAS-variant, cetuximab and p16 negative, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.48-4.26; HR for KRAS-variant, no cetuximab and p16 positive, 2.48; 95% CI, 0.64-9.65; and HR for KRAS-variant, no cetuximab and p16 negative, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.23-1.59; P = .02). Patients with the KRAS-variant had significantly elevated TGF-β1 plasma levels (median, 23 376.49 vs 18 476.52 pg/mL; P = .03) and worse treatment-related toxic effects. Conclusions and Relevance Patients with the KRAS-variant with HNSCC significantly benefit from the addition of cetuximab to radiotherapy and cisplatin, and there is a significant interaction between the KRAS-variant and p16 status. Elevated TGF-β1 levels in patients with the KRAS-variant suggests that cetuximab may help these patients by overcoming TGF-β1-induced suppression of antitumor immunity. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00265941.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne B Weidhaas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Los Angeles, California
| | - Jonathan Harris
- NRG Oncology Statistics and Data Management Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Dörthe Schaue
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Los Angeles, California
| | - Allen M Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Los Angeles, California
| | - Robert Chin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Los Angeles, California
| | - Rita Axelrod
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Adel K El-Naggar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
| | | | | | - David Raben
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado at Denver, Aurora
| | - Dian Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Chance Matthiesen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City
| | - Vilija N Avizonis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Intermountain Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Rafael R Manon
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Orlando Health, Orlando
| | - Omar Yumen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Geisinger Medical Center CCOP, Danville, Pennsylvania
| | - Phuc Felix Nguyen-Tan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Andy Trotti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Heath Skinner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
| | - Qiang Zhang
- NRG Oncology Statistics and Data Management Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert L Ferris
- Cancer Immunology Program and Tumor Microvenvironment Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David Sidransky
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Christine H Chung
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
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33
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Weil S, Memmer S, Lechner A, Huppert V, Giannattasio A, Becker T, Müller-Runte A, Lampe K, Beutner D, Quaas A, Schubert R, Herrmann E, Steinle A, Koehl U, Walter L, von Bergwelt-Baildon MS, Koch J. Natural Killer Group 2D Ligand Depletion Reconstitutes Natural Killer Cell Immunosurveillance of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2017; 8:387. [PMID: 28443091 PMCID: PMC5385630 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly heterogeneous and aggressive tumor originating from the epithelial lining of the upper aero-digestive tract accounting for 300,000 annual deaths worldwide due to failure of current therapies. The natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) receptors on natural killer (NK) cells and several T cell subsets play an important role for immunosurveillance of HNSCC and are thus targeted by tumor immune evasion strategies in particular by shedding of various NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs). Based on plasma and tumor samples of 44 HNSCC patients, we found that despite compositional heterogeneity the total plasma level of NKG2DLs correlates with NK cell inhibition and disease progression. Strikingly, based on tumor spheroids and primary tumors of HNSCC patients, we found that NK cells failed to infiltrate HNSCC tumors in the presence of high levels of NKG2DLs, demonstrating a novel mechanism of NKG2DL-dependent tumor immune escape. Therefore, the diagnostic acquisition of the plasma level of all NKG2DLs might be instrumental for prognosis and to decipher a patient cohort, which could benefit from restoration of NKG2D-dependent tumor immunosurveillance. Along these lines, we could show that removal of shed NKG2DLs (sNKG2DLs) from HNSCC patients’ plasma restored NK cell function in vitro and in individual patients following surgical removal of the primary tumor. In order to translate these findings into a therapeutic setting, we performed a proof-of-concept study to test the efficacy of adsorption apheresis of sNKG2DLs from plasma after infusion of human MICA in rhesus monkeys. Complete removal of MICA was achieved after three plasma volume exchanges. Therefore, we propose adsorption apheresis of sNKG2DLs as a future preconditioning strategy to improve the efficacy of autologous and adoptively transferred immune cells in cellular cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Weil
- NK Cell Biology, Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefanie Memmer
- NK Cell Biology, Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Axel Lechner
- Medical Faculty, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Köln Bonn, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Ariane Giannattasio
- NK Cell Biology, Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tamara Becker
- Primate Husbandry, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Karen Lampe
- Infectious Pathology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Beutner
- Medical Faculty, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Köln Bonn, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Quaas
- Institute of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ralf Schubert
- Allergy, Pulmonology, and Cystic Fibrosis, Children's Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eva Herrmann
- Institute for Biostatistics and Mathematical Modelling, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Alexander Steinle
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, IFB-Tx, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lutz Walter
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Joachim Koch
- NK Cell Biology, Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
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34
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Liu JF, Ma SR, Mao L, Bu LL, Yu GT, Li YC, Huang CF, Deng WW, Kulkarni AB, Zhang WF, Sun ZJ. T-cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 blockade drives an antitumor immune response in head and neck cancer. Mol Oncol 2017; 11:235-247. [PMID: 28102051 PMCID: PMC5527458 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12029] [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: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
T‐cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 (TIM3) contributes to immune suppression during progression of many cancers, but the precise role of TIM3 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is not clearly understood. In this study, we report that TIM3 expression was significantly up‐regulated in patients with HNSCC and associated with lymph node metastasis. Additionally, TIM3 expression was increased in patients with recurrent HNSCC and patients with preradiotherapy or prechemotherapy. We also characterized CD8+ T cells and CD11b+CD33+ myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in human HNSCC, and found that their expression was positively correlated with TIM3 expression. To determine the underlying mechanism of TIM3 in immune response during HNSCC progression, we utilized the Tgfbr1/Pten 2cKO HNSCC mouse model with TIM3 overexpression. Treatment with anti‐TIM3 monoclonal antibody effectively suppressed tumor growth through restoring effector T‐cell function by targeting CD4+TIM3+ cells and CD8+TIM3+ cells and decreasing MDSCs. Our findings demonstrate TIM3 expression in patients with HNSCC and suggest anti‐TIM3 immunotherapy as a novel therapeutic approach for effective treatment of HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Feng Liu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
| | - Si-Rui Ma
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
| | - Liang Mao
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
| | - Lin-Lin Bu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China.,Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
| | - Guang-Tao Yu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
| | - Yi-Cun Li
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
| | - Cong-Fa Huang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
| | - Wei-Wei Deng
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
| | - Ashok B Kulkarni
- Functional Genomics Section, Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wen-Feng Zhang
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China.,Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, China
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35
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Ferreira-Teixeira M, Paiva-Oliveira D, Parada B, Alves V, Sousa V, Chijioke O, Münz C, Reis F, Rodrigues-Santos P, Gomes C. Natural killer cell-based adoptive immunotherapy eradicates and drives differentiation of chemoresistant bladder cancer stem-like cells. BMC Med 2016; 14:163. [PMID: 27769244 PMCID: PMC5075212 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-016-0715-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has a high risk of recurrence and progression to muscle-invasive forms, which seems to be largely related to the presence of tumorigenic stem-like cell populations that are refractory to conventional therapies. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of Natural Killer (NK) cell-based adoptive immunotherapy against chemoresistant bladder cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) in a pre-clinical relevant model, using NK cells from healthy donors and NMIBC patients. METHODS Cytokine-activated NK cells from healthy donors and from high-grade NMIBC patients were phenotypically characterized and assayed in vitro against stem-like and bulk differentiated bladder cancer cells. Stem-like cells were isolated from two bladder cancer cell lines using the sphere-forming assay. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in mice bearing a CSC-induced orthotopic bladder cancer. Animals were treated by intravesical instillation of interleukin-activated NK cells. Tumor response was evaluated longitudinally by non-invasive bioluminescence imaging. RESULTS NK cells from healthy donors upon activation with IL-2 and IL-15 kills indiscriminately both stem-like and differentiated tumor cells via stress ligand recognition. In addition to cell killing, NK cells shifted CSCs towards a more differentiated phenotype, rendering them more susceptible to cisplatin, highlighting the benefits of a possible combined therapy. On the contrary, NK cells from NMIBC patients displayed a low density on NK cytotoxicity receptors, adhesion molecules and a more immature phenotype, losing their ability to kill and drive differentiation of CSCs. The local administration, via the transurethral route, of activated NK cells from healthy donors provides an efficient tumor infiltration and a subsequent robust tumoricidal activity against bladder cancer with high selective cytolytic activity against CSCs, leading to a dramatic reduction in tumor burden from 80 % to complete remission. CONCLUSION Although pre-clinical, our results strongly suggest that an immunotherapeutic strategy using allogeneic activated NK cells from healthy donors is effective and should be exploited as a complementary therapeutic strategy in high-risk NMIBC patients to prevent tumor recurrence and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Ferreira-Teixeira
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniela Paiva-Oliveira
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Belmiro Parada
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Urology and Renal Transplantation Department, Coimbra University Hospital Centre (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vera Alves
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vitor Sousa
- Service of Anatomical Pathology, Coimbra University Hospital Centre (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute of Anatomical and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Obinna Chijioke
- Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Münz
- Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Flávio Reis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paulo Rodrigues-Santos
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center of Investigation in Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Immunology and Oncology Laboratory, Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Célia Gomes
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. .,CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. .,Center of Investigation in Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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36
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Schneiderova P, Pika T, Gajdos P, Fillerova R, Kromer P, Kudelka M, Minarik J, Papajik T, Scudla V, Kriegova E. Serum protein fingerprinting by PEA immunoassay coupled with a pattern-recognition algorithms distinguishes MGUS and multiple myeloma. Oncotarget 2016; 8:69408-69421. [PMID: 29050213 PMCID: PMC5642488 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Serum protein fingerprints associated with MGUS and MM and their changes in MM after autologous stem cell transplantation (MM-ASCT, day 100) remain unexplored. Using highly-sensitive Proximity Extension ImmunoAssay on 92 cancer biomarkers (Proseek Multiplex, Olink), enhanced serum levels of Adrenomedullin (ADM, Pcorr= .0004), Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15, Pcorr= .003), and soluble Major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (sMICA, Pcorr= .023), all prosurvival and chemoprotective factors for myeloma cells, were detected in MM comparing to MGUS. Comparison of MGUS and healthy subjects revealed elevation of angiogenic and antia-poptotic midkine (Pcorr= .0007) and downregulation of Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1, Pcorr= .005) in MGUS. Importantly, altered serum pattern was associated with MM-ASCT compared to paired MM at the diagnosis as well as to healthy controls, namely by upregulated B-Cell Activating Factor (sBAFF) (Pcorr< .006) and sustained elevation of other pro-tumorigenic factors. In conclusion, the serum fingerprints of MM and MM-ASCT were characteristic by elevated levels of prosurvival and chemoprotective factors for myeloma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Schneiderova
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Pika
- Department of Hemato-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University and University Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Gajdos
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Regina Fillerova
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Kromer
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Milos Kudelka
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Minarik
- Department of Hemato-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University and University Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Papajik
- Department of Hemato-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University and University Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Vlastimil Scudla
- Department of Hemato-Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University and University Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Kriegova
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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37
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Michel T, Poli A, Cuapio A, Briquemont B, Iserentant G, Ollert M, Zimmer J. Human CD56bright NK Cells: An Update. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:2923-31. [PMID: 26994304 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1502570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 255] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Human NK cells can be subdivided into various subsets based on the relative expression of CD16 and CD56. In particular, CD56(bright)CD16(-/dim) NK cells are the focus of interest. They are considered efficient cytokine producers endowed with immunoregulatory properties, but they can also become cytotoxic upon appropriate activation. These cells were shown to play a role in different disease states, such as cancer, autoimmunity, neuroinflammation, and infection. Although their phenotype and functional properties are well known and have been extensively studied, their lineage relationship with other NK cell subsets is not fully defined, nor is their precise hematopoietic origin. In this article, we summarize recent studies about CD56(bright) NK cells in health and disease and briefly discuss the current controversies surrounding them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Michel
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Aurélie Poli
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Angelica Cuapio
- Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; and
| | - Benjamin Briquemont
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Gilles Iserentant
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Markus Ollert
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Allergy Center, Department of Dermatology Odense Research Centre for Anaphylaxis, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Jacques Zimmer
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg;
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38
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Immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. MEMO-MAGAZINE OF EUROPEAN MEDICAL ONCOLOGY 2016; 9:66-69. [PMID: 27429658 PMCID: PMC4923082 DOI: 10.1007/s12254-016-0270-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Over the past years immuno-oncology has evolved and become a novel promising strategy for cancer therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab, which target the interaction between programmed death receptor 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PDL-1) and PDL-2, have been recently approved for the treatment of various malignancies and are currently being investigated in clinical phase III trials for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Data available from these trials indicate substantial activity accompanied by a favorable safety and toxicity profile in this patient population. This review article focuses on the molecular background, gives an overview of current clinical data of checkpoint inhibitors in HNSCC, and points out future challenges such as the need for appropriate biomarkers for these novel compounds.
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39
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Buqué A, Bloy N, Aranda F, Cremer I, Eggermont A, Fridman WH, Fucikova J, Galon J, Spisek R, Tartour E, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial Watch-Small molecules targeting the immunological tumor microenvironment for cancer therapy. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1149674. [PMID: 27471617 PMCID: PMC4938376 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1149674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Progressing malignancies establish robust immunosuppressive networks that operate both systemically and locally. In particular, as tumors escape immunosurveillance, they recruit increasing amounts of myeloid and lymphoid cells that exert pronounced immunosuppressive effects. These cells not only prevent the natural recognition of growing neoplasms by the immune system, but also inhibit anticancer immune responses elicited by chemo-, radio- and immuno therapeutic interventions. Throughout the past decade, multiple strategies have been devised to counteract the accumulation or activation of tumor-infiltrating immunosuppressive cells for therapeutic purposes. Here, we review recent preclinical and clinical advances on the use of small molecules that target the immunological tumor microenvironment for cancer therapy. These agents include inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxigenase 1 (IDO1), prostaglandin E2, and specific cytokine receptors, as well as modulators of intratumoral purinergic signaling and arginine metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitziber Buqué
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Norma Bloy
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Fernando Aranda
- Group of Immune receptors of the Innate and Adaptive System, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabelle Cremer
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
- Equipe 13, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | | | - Wolf Hervé Fridman
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
- Equipe 13, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic
- Dept. of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jérôme Galon
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio, Prague, Czech Republic
- Dept. of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eric Tartour
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- INSERM, U970, Paris, France
- Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC), Paris, France
- Service d'Immunologie Biologique, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou (HEGP), AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- INSERM, U1015, CICBT507, Villejuif, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
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40
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Klöss S, Chambron N, Gardlowski T, Weil S, Koch J, Esser R, Pogge von Strandmann E, Morgan MA, Arseniev L, Seitz O, Köhl U. Cetuximab Reconstitutes Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Secretions and Tumor-Infiltrating Capabilities of sMICA-Inhibited NK Cells in HNSCC Tumor Spheroids. Front Immunol 2015; 6:543. [PMID: 26579120 PMCID: PMC4629470 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppressive factors, such as soluble major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related peptide A (sMICA) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), are involved in tumor immune escape mechanisms (TIEMs) exhibited by head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) and may represent opportunities for therapeutic intervention. In order to overcome TIEMs, we investigated the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), cytokine release and retargeted tumor infiltration of sMICA-inhibited patient NK cells expressing Fcγ receptor IIIa (FcγRIIIa, CD16a) in the presence of cetuximab, an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1) monoclonal antibody (mAb). Compared to healthy controls, relapsed HNSCC patients (n = 5), not currently in treatment revealed decreased levels of circulating regulatory NK cell subsets in relation to increased cytotoxic NK cell subpopulations. Elevated sMICA and TGF-β1 plasma levels correlated with diminished TNFα and IFN-γ release and decreased NKG2D (natural killer group 2 member D)-dependent killing of HNSCC cells by NK cells. Incubation of IL-2-activated patient NK cells with patient plasma containing elevated sMICA or sMICA analogs (shed MICA and recombinant MICA) significantly impaired NKG2D-mediated killing by down-regulation of NKG2D surface expression. Of note, CD16 surface expression levels, pro-apoptotic and activation markers, and viability of patient and healthy donor NK cell subpopulations were not affected by this treatment. Accordingly, cetuximab restored killing activity of sMICA-inhibited patient NK cells against cetuximab-coated primary HNSCC cells via ADCC in a dose-dependent manner. Rapid reconstitution of anti-tumor recognition and enhanced tumor infiltration of treated NK cells was monitored by 24 h co-incubation of HNSCC tumor spheroids with cetuximab (1 μg/ml) and was characterized by increased IFN-γ and TNFα secretion. This data show that the impaired NK cell-dependent tumor surveillance in relapsed HNSCC patients could be reversed by the re-establishment of ADCC-mediated effector cell activity, thus supporting NK cell-based immunotherapy in combination with antineoplastic monoclonal mAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Klöss
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany
| | - Nicole Chambron
- Department of Oral, Cranio-Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Klinikum Hanau GmbH , Hanau , Germany
| | - Tanja Gardlowski
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany
| | - Sandra Weil
- Georg-Speyer-Haus Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Joachim Koch
- Georg-Speyer-Haus Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Ruth Esser
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany
| | | | - Michael A Morgan
- Institute of Experimental Haematology, Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany
| | - Lubomir Arseniev
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany
| | - Oliver Seitz
- Department of Oral, Cranio-Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Klinikum Hanau GmbH , Hanau , Germany
| | - Ulrike Köhl
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany
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