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Kirkpatrick C, Lu YCW. Deciphering CD4 + T cell-mediated responses against cancer. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:1209-1220. [PMID: 38725218 PMCID: PMC11166516 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23730] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
It's been long thought that CD8+ cytotoxic T cells play a major role in T cell-mediated antitumor responses, whereas CD4+ T cells merely provide some assistance to CD8+ T cells as the "helpers." In recent years, numerous studies support the notion that CD4+ T cells play an indispensable role in antitumor responses. Here, we summarize and discuss the current knowledge regarding the roles of CD4+ T cells in antitumor responses and immunotherapy, with a focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind these observations. These new insights on CD4+ T cells may pave the way to further optimize cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Kirkpatrick
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Yong-Chen William Lu
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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2
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Chuang L, Qifeng J, Shaolei Y. The tumor immune microenvironment and T-cell-related immunotherapies in colorectal cancer. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:244. [PMID: 38918278 PMCID: PMC11199466 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01117-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment includes a complex network of immune T-cell subsets that play important roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and are key elements of CRC immunotherapy. T cells develop and migrate within tumors, recognizing tumor-specific antigens to regulate immune surveillance. Current immunotherapies are divided into the following main categories based on the regulatory role of T-cell subsets in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME): cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, peptide vaccines, CAR-T cells and more. This review describes the composition of the tumor immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer and the involvement of T cells in the pathogenesis and progression of CRC as well as current T-cell-related immunotherapies. Further studies on CRC-specific tumor antigens, the gene regulation of T cells, and the regulation of immune activity are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Chuang
- Hanan Branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Guogoli Street, Nangang District, Harbin, China
| | - Ju Qifeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Yu Shaolei
- Hanan Branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Guogoli Street, Nangang District, Harbin, China.
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Lv CX, Zhou LP, Yang YB, Shi J, Dong FH, Wei HR, Shan YQ. The relationship between innate/adaptive immunity and gastrointestinal cancer : a multi-omics Mendelian randomization study. BMC Gastroenterol 2024; 24:197. [PMID: 38877387 PMCID: PMC11177483 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-024-03284-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innate/adaptive immunity is the key to anti-tumor therapy. However, its causal relationship to Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer remains unclear. METHODS Immunity genes were extracted from the MSigDB database. The Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data of GI cancer were integrated with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and DNA methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) associated with genes. Summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) and co-localization analysis were used to reveal causal relationships between genes and GI cancer. Two-sample MR analysis was used for sensitivity analysis. Single cell analysis clarified the enrichment of genes. RESULTS Three-step SMR analysis showed that a putative mechanism, cg17294865 CpG site regulating HLA-DRA expression was negatively associated with gastric cancer risk. HLA-DRA was significantly differentially expressed in monocyte/macrophage and myeloid cells in gastric cancer. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that upregulating the expression level of HLA-DRA can reduce the risk of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Xi Lv
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Lin-Po Zhou
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Ye-Bing Yang
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Jing Shi
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Fan-He Dong
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Hao-Ran Wei
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Yu-Qiang Shan
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China.
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Lee SH, Pankaj A, Rickelt S, Ting D, Ferrone C, Patil DT, Yilmaz O, Berger D, Deshpande V, Yilmaz O. β2-microglobulin expression is associated with aggressive histology, activated tumor immune milieu, and outcome in colon carcinoma. Am J Clin Pathol 2024:aqae066. [PMID: 38869306 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqae066] [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: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We sought to assess the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins and β2-microglobulin (B2M) in tumor cells and the relationship with immune microenvironment and outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS A total of 953 CRC cases were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for HLA class I, HLA class II, and B2M. The expression level of these biomarkers was correlated with clinicopathologic information, BRAF V600E and mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, and the quantitated expression levels of immune cells (CD8 and CD163) and immune regulatory proteins (FoxP3, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 [PD-L1], and LAG3). RESULTS We found that B2M-low tumors were statistically correlated with aggressive histologic features, including higher stage, higher grade, extramural venous invasion, perineural invasion, and distant metastasis. Expression of B2M was positively correlated (R2 = 0.3) and significantly associated with MMR-deficient tumors (P < .001); B2M-low tumors were also associated with an "immune cold"' microenvironment, including a reduced number of immune cells (CD8 and CD163), reduced expression of immune regulatory proteins by immune cells (PD-L1, FoxP3, and LAG3), and reduced tumor cell expression of PD-L1. These B2M-low tumors correlated with lower disease-specific survival (P = .018), a finding that maintained significance only for the proficient MMR cohort (P = .037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that B2M expression may support predictive models for both outcome and checkpoint inhibitor therapy treatment response for colorectal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Hyun Lee
- Department of Pathology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, US
| | - Amaya Pankaj
- Departments of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
| | - Steffen Rickelt
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, US
| | - David Ting
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, US
- Departments of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, US
| | - Cristina Ferrone
- Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
| | - Deepa T Patil
- Departments of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, US
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, US
| | - Omer Yilmaz
- Departments of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Departments of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, US
| | - David Berger
- Division of General Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
| | - Vikram Deshpande
- Departments of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, US
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, US
| | - Osman Yilmaz
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, US
- Departments of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, US
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Ndou L, Chambuso R, Valley-Omar Z, Rebello G, Algar U, Goldberg P, Boutall A, Ramesar R. Human Leukocyte Antigen-Allelic Variations May Influence the Age at Cancer Diagnosis in Lynch Syndrome. J Pers Med 2024; 14:575. [PMID: 38929796 PMCID: PMC11204704 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Lynch syndrome (LS) is an inherited cancer predisposition disorder associated with an elevated risk of developing various solid cancers, but mostly colorectal cancer (CRC). Despite having the same germline pathogenic variant (PV) in one of the mis-match repair genes or the EPCAM gene, Lynch syndrome variant heterozygotes (LSVH) exhibit a remarkable phenotypic variability in the risk of developing cancer. The role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in modifying cancer development risk prompted our hypothesis into whether HLA variations act as potential genetic modifiers influencing the age at cancer diagnosis in LSVH. To investigate this, we studied a unique cohort of 426 LSVH carrying the same germline PV in the hMLH1 gene (MLH1:c.1528C > T) in South Africa. We intuitively selected 100 LSVH with the greatest diversity in age at cancer diagnosis (N = 80) and the oldest cancer unaffected LSVH (N = 20) for a high-throughput HLA genotyping of 11 HLA class I and class II loci using the shotgun next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Statistical analyses employed Kaplan-Meier survival analyses with log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards using binned HLA data to minimize type I error. Significant associations were observed between young age at cancer diagnosis and HLA-DPB1*04:02 (mean age: 37 y (25-50); hazard ratio (HR) = 3.37; corrected p-value (q) = 0.043) as well as HLA-DPB1 binned alleles (including HLA-DPB1*09:01, HLA-DPB1*10:01, HLA-DPB1*106:01, HLA-DPB1*18:01, HLA-DPB1*20:01, HLA-DPB1*26:01, HLA-DPB1*28:01, HLA-DPB1*296:01, and HLA-DPB1*55:01) (mean age: 37 y (17-63); HR = 2.30, q = 0.045). The involvement of HLA-DPB1 alleles in the age at cancer diagnosis may highlight the potential role of HLA class II in the immune response against cancer development in LSVH. When validated in a larger cohort, these high-risk HLA-DPB1 alleles could be factored into cancer risk prediction models for personalized cancer screening in LSVH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutricia Ndou
- UCT/MRC Genomic and Precision Medicine Research Unit, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, The University of Cape Town, Affiliated Hospitals, Cape Town 7704, South Africa
| | - Ramadhani Chambuso
- UCT/MRC Genomic and Precision Medicine Research Unit, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, The University of Cape Town, Affiliated Hospitals, Cape Town 7704, South Africa
| | - Ziyaad Valley-Omar
- Medical Virology, National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, The University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - George Rebello
- UCT/MRC Genomic and Precision Medicine Research Unit, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, The University of Cape Town, Affiliated Hospitals, Cape Town 7704, South Africa
| | - Ursula Algar
- The Colorectal Unit of the Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, The University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Paul Goldberg
- The Colorectal Unit of the Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, The University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Adam Boutall
- The Colorectal Unit of the Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, The University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Raj Ramesar
- UCT/MRC Genomic and Precision Medicine Research Unit, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, The University of Cape Town, Affiliated Hospitals, Cape Town 7704, South Africa
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Li X, Zhang Y, Guo S, Wu Z, Wang H, Huang Y, Wang Y, Qiu M, Lang J, Xiao Y, Zhu Y, Jin G, Hu L, Kong X. Global analysis of T-cell groups reveals immunological features and common antigen targets of digestive tract tumors. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:129. [PMID: 38488909 PMCID: PMC10943170 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05645-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cells are key players in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), as they can recognize and eliminate cancer cells that express neoantigens derived from somatic mutations. However, the diversity and specificity of T-cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize neoantigens are largely unknown, due to the high variability of TCR sequences among individuals. METHODS To address this challenge, we applied GLIPH2, a novel algorithm that groups TCRs based on their predicted antigen specificity and HLA restriction, to cluster the TCR repertoire of 1,702 patients with digestive tract cancer. The patients were divided into five groups based on whether they carried tumor-infiltrating or clonal-expanded TCRs and calculated their TCR diversity. The prognosis, tumor subtype, gene mutation, gene expression, and immune microenvironment of these groups were compared. Viral specificity inference and immunotherapy relevance analysis performed for the TCR groups. RESULTS This approach reduced the complexity of TCR sequences to 249 clonally expanded and 150 tumor-infiltrating TCR groups, which revealed distinct patterns of TRBV usage, HLA association, and TCR diversity. In gastric adenocarcinoma (STAD), patients with tumor-infiltrating TCRs (Patients-TI) had significantly worse prognosis than other patients (Patients-nonTI). Patients-TI had richer CD8+ T cells in the immune microenvironment, and their gene expression features were positively correlated with immunotherapy response. We also found that tumor-infiltrating TCR groups were associated with four distinct tumor subtypes, 26 common gene mutations, and 39 gene expression signatures. We discovered that tumor-infiltrating TCRs had cross-reactivity with viral antigens, indicating a possible link between viral infections and tumor immunity. CONCLUSION By applying GLIPH2 to TCR sequences from digestive tract tumors, we uncovered novel insights into the tumor immune landscape and identified potential candidates for shared TCRs and neoantigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Li
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Yuchao Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiwei Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenchuan Wu
- Anda Biology Medicine Development (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Hailong Wang
- Anda Biology Medicine Development (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Yue Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengni Qiu
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Jingyu Lang
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yichuan Xiao
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yufei Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China.
| | - Landian Hu
- Anda Biology Medicine Development (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xiangyin Kong
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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7
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Attia A, Lagha A, Mezlini A, Ghazouani E, Yacoubi-Loueslati B, Namouchi I. HLA class II polymorphisms as prognostic biomarkers for right and left-sided colon cancer. Int J Biol Markers 2024; 39:40-51. [PMID: 38179594 DOI: 10.1177/03936155231224469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colon cancer (CC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Characterization of new prognostic biomarkers for right-sided CC (RCC) and left-sided CC (LCC) may contribute to improving early detection. An association of human leukocyte antigens class II (HLA-II) with the predisposition to CC was suggested. AIM OF THE STUDY We evaluated the association of DRB1 and DQB1 with the risk of LCC and RCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Our study comprised 93 CC patients and 100 healthy controls. Genotyping of HLA class II alleles were performed by the Polymerase Chain Reaction Sequence-Specific Primers (PCR-SSP). RESULTS DRB1*03 was positively associated with CC. In contrast, DRB1*11, DRB1*13, DQB1*03, and DQB1*05 were negatively linked to CC. Haplotype analysis revealed that DRB1*04-DQB1*04 and DRB1*09-DQB1*02 were positive, while DRB1*01-DQB1*05, DRB1*04-DQB1*03, DRB1*07-DQB1*02, DRB1*11-DQB1*03, DRB1*11-DQB1*05, and DRB1*13-DQB1*06 were negatively associated with CC. For sigmoid CC, DRB1*13, DRB1*11, and DQB1*05 were negative, while DRB1*04-DQB1*02, and DRB1*07-DQB1*03 were positively associated. DRB1*03 and DRB1*04-DQB1*04 were positive, while DRB1*11 and DQB1*03 were negatively linked to RCC. According to the LCC, DRB1*07, DRB1*11, DQB1*03, DQB1*05, and DRB1*07-DQB1*02 were negative. In contrast, DRB1*09-DQB1*02 was positively associated with LCC. Stratified analysis revealed that DRB1*11 is associated with higher risk of metastasis in CC and sigmoid CC, and tolerance to treatment in RCC. DQB1*03 was associated with lymph-node invasion in CC. CONCLUSION DRB1 and DQB1 polymorphisms could be used as future biomarkers for the early detection of subjects at a higher risk of developing RCC and LCC, metastasis in sigmoid CC, and tolerance to treatment in RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amani Attia
- Laboratory of Mycology, Pathologies, and Biomarkers (LR16ES05), University of Tunis El Manar, (UTM), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST), Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Awatef Lagha
- Laboratory of Mycology, Pathologies, and Biomarkers (LR16ES05), University of Tunis El Manar, (UTM), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST), Tunis, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Immunology, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amel Mezlini
- Medical Oncology Department, Salah Azaiez Oncology Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | | | - Besma Yacoubi-Loueslati
- Laboratory of Mycology, Pathologies, and Biomarkers (LR16ES05), University of Tunis El Manar, (UTM), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST), Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Imene Namouchi
- Laboratory of Mycology, Pathologies, and Biomarkers (LR16ES05), University of Tunis El Manar, (UTM), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST), Tunis, Tunisia
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Jafari N, Khajenabi F, Masumi N, Abediankenari S, Ranjbaran H. Evaluation of HLA-DR and HLA-DQ expression in gastric cancer tissues. J Cancer Res Ther 2024; 20:204-210. [PMID: 38554322 DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_144_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Despite recent advances in understanding the gastric cancer (GC) biology, the precise molecular mechanism of gastric carcinogenesis and role of deregulated immune responses in GC progression are still not well understood. In this study, mRNA levels of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRA and -DQA1 were assessed in GC patients to find a potential association between expression of these HLA-II molecules and gastric carcinogenesis. METHODS Using quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR, mRNA levels of HLA-DRA and -DQA1 were assessed in 20 pairs of matched GC and normal tissues. RESULTS Our results showed that overall mRNA level of HLA-DRA was decreased in the tumor samples relative to control tissues (median fold change [FC] = 0.693; P = 0.445). Overall HLA-DQA1 level was increased in the tumor samples relative to control tissues (median FC = 1.659; P = 0.5117). However, the mentioned data were not statistically significant. Meanwhile, using a ≥ 2.5 FC as the cutoff to determine upregulation or downregulation, 35% of patients showed a downregulated expression of HLA-DRA, while 10% of those showed upregulation in HLA-DRA expression. Upregulation and downregulation of HLA-DQA1 expression were detected, respectively, in 35% and 25% of samples. A strong positive correlation was determined between HLA-DRA and HLA-DQA1 levels in tumor tissues (r = 0.7298; P = 0.0003). CONCLUSION The results reported here along with future studies can be useful to understand the interplay between immune system and GC, therefore, may be helpful to design an effective immune-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narjes Jafari
- Immunogenetics Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Khajenabi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Khatam Al-Anbia Hospital, Behshahr, Iran
| | - Nastaran Masumi
- Immunogenetics Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Saeid Abediankenari
- Immunogenetics Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Hossein Ranjbaran
- Immunogenetics Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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9
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Chen Y, Li H, Fan Y. Shaping the tumor immune microenvironment of SCLC: Mechanisms, and opportunities for immunotherapy. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 120:102606. [PMID: 37579532 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102606] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a very aggressive neuroendocrine tumor with a poor prognosis. Whereas immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for treating SCLC, its unique tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) might limit patient responses. To fully characterize the TIME and understand the mechanism of its formation with respect to SCLC is crucial. The recent rapid development of multi-omics technologies has rapidly advanced knowledge of TIME features and the regulatory mechanisms associated with SCLC. This review summarizes the TIME features of SCLC as well as shaping the TIME according to the genomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics of tumors. Future opportunities and challenges for immunotherapy are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfei Chen
- Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China; Postgraduate Training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China; Postgraduate Training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China.
| | - Yun Fan
- Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China; Postgraduate Training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China.
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10
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Jia Y, Yao P, Li J, Wei X, Liu X, Wu H, Wang W, Feng C, Li C, Zhang Y, Cai Y, Zhang S, Ma X. Causal associations of Sjögren's syndrome with cancers: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:171. [PMID: 37715206 PMCID: PMC10503000 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03157-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several observational studies have explored the associations between Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and certain cancers. Nevertheless, the causal relationships remain unclear. Mendelian randomization (MR) method was used to investigate the causality between SS and different types of cancers. METHODS We conducted the two-sample Mendelian randomization with the public genome-wide association studies (GWASs) summary statistics in European population to evaluate the causality between SS and nine types of cancers. The sample size varies from 1080 to 372,373. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used to estimate the causal effects. A Bonferroni-corrected threshold of P < 0.0031 was considered significant, and P value between 0.0031 and 0.05 was considered to be suggestive of an association. Sensitivity analysis was performed to validate the causality. Moreover, additional analysis was used to assess the associations between SS and well-accepted risk factors of cancers. RESULTS After correcting the heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy, the results indicated that patients with SS were significantly associated with an increased risk of lymphomas (odds ratio [OR] = 1.0010, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0005-1.0015, P = 0.0002) and reduced risks of prostate cancer (OR = 0.9972, 95% CI: 0.9960-0.9985, P = 2.45 × 10-5) and endometrial cancer (OR = 0.9414, 95% CI: 0.9158-0.9676, P = 1.65 × 10-5). Suggestive associations were found in liver and bile duct cancer (OR = 0.9999, 95% CI: 0.9997-1.0000, P = 0.0291) and cancer of urinary tract (OR = 0.9996, 95% CI: 0.9992-1.0000, P = 0.0281). No causal effect of SS on other cancer types was detected. Additional MR analysis indicated that causal effects between SS and cancers were not mediated by the well-accepted risk factors of cancers. No evidence of the causal relationship was observed for cancers on SS. CONCLUSIONS SS had significant causal relationships with lymphomas, prostate cancer, and endometrial cancer, and suggestive evidence of association was found in liver and bile duct cancer and cancer of urinary tract, indicating that SS may play a vital role in the incidence of these malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Jia
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Peizhuo Yao
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Wei
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuanyu Liu
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Huizi Wu
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Cong Feng
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaofan Li
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifan Cai
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xingcong Ma
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Pasella M, Pisano F, Cannas B, Fanni A, Cocco E, Frau J, Lai F, Mocci S, Littera R, Giglio SR. Decision trees to evaluate the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Front Neuroinform 2023; 17:1248632. [PMID: 37649987 PMCID: PMC10465164 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2023.1248632] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a persistent neurological condition impacting the central nervous system (CNS). The precise cause of multiple sclerosis is still uncertain; however, it is thought to arise from a blend of genetic and environmental factors. MS diagnosis includes assessing medical history, conducting neurological exams, performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and analyzing cerebrospinal fluid. While there is currently no cure for MS, numerous treatments exist to address symptoms, decelerate disease progression, and enhance the quality of life for individuals with MS. Methods This paper introduces a novel machine learning (ML) algorithm utilizing decision trees to address a key objective: creating a predictive tool for assessing the likelihood of MS development. It achieves this by combining prevalent demographic risk factors, specifically gender, with crucial immunogenetic risk markers, such as the alleles responsible for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules and the killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) genes responsible for natural killer lymphocyte receptors. Results The study included 619 healthy controls and 299 patients affected by MS, all of whom originated from Sardinia. The gender feature has been disregarded due to its substantial bias in influencing the classification outcomes. By solely considering immunogenetic risk markers, the algorithm demonstrates an ability to accurately identify 73.24% of MS patients and 66.07% of individuals without the disease. Discussion Given its notable performance, this system has the potential to support clinicians in monitoring the relatives of MS patients and identifying individuals who are at an increased risk of developing the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Pasella
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fabio Pisano
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Barbara Cannas
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fanni
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cocco
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, Centro Sclerosi Multipla, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Jessica Frau
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, Centro Sclerosi Multipla, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Lai
- Unit of Oncology and Molecular Pathology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Stefano Mocci
- Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Centre for Research University Services, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Roberto Littera
- AART-ODV (Association for the Advancement of Research on Transplantation), Cagliari, Italy
- Medical Genetics, R. Binaghi Hospital, ASSL Cagliari, ATS Sardegna, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sabrina Rita Giglio
- Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Centre for Research University Services, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
- AART-ODV (Association for the Advancement of Research on Transplantation), Cagliari, Italy
- Medical Genetics, R. Binaghi Hospital, ASSL Cagliari, ATS Sardegna, Cagliari, Italy
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12
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Yan C, Ma Y, Li J, Chen X, Ma J. Identification of key immune cell-related genes involved in tumorigenesis and prognosis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2254239. [PMID: 37799074 PMCID: PMC10561582 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2254239] [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: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The infiltration of immune cells can significantly affect the prognosis and immune therapy of patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). This study aimed to explore key immune cell-related genes in the tumorigenesis and prognosis of CSCC. The module significantly related to immunity was screened by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and ESTIMATE analysis, followed by correlation analysis with clinical traits. Key candidate genes were intersected with the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network genes for immune-related genes. The relationship between immune cell infiltration and key genes was analyzed. Tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) and immunophenoscore (IPS) predicted the response to immunotherapy in CSCC patients. Clinically, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were manipulated for analyzing the changes in mRNA and protein expression of key genes in cancer. Western blot was conducted to assess the correlation between key genes and immune infiltration. The brown module was notably associated with the immune microenvironment of CSCC, from which three immune-related key genes (TYROBP, CCL5, and HLA-DRA) were obtained. High expression of these genes was significantly positively associated with the infiltration abundance of T cells, B cells, and other immune cells. High expression levels of three key genes were confirmed in para-cancer tissue and correlated with the abundance of immune cells. The high-expression group of key genes was more sensitive to immunotherapy. We provide a theoretical basis for searching for potential targets for effective treatment and diagnosis of CSCC and provide new ideas for developing novel immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxiao Yan
- School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanyan Ma
- School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junyan Li
- School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuejun Chen
- School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiong Ma
- School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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13
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Benavente S. Remodeling the tumor microenvironment to overcome treatment resistance in HPV-negative head and neck cancer. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2023; 6:291-313. [PMID: 37457128 PMCID: PMC10344731 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2022.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Despite intensive efforts and refined techniques, overall survival in HPV-negative head and neck cancer remains poor. Robust immune priming is required to elicit a strong and durable antitumor immune response in immunologically cold and excluded tumors like HPV-negative head and neck cancer. This review highlights how the tumor microenvironment could be affected by different immune and stromal cell types, weighs the need to integrate metabolic regulation of the tumor microenvironment into cancer treatment strategies and summarizes the emerging clinical applicability of personalized immunotherapeutic strategies in HPV-negative head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Benavente
- Correspondence to: Dr. Sergi Benavente, Department of Radiation Oncology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119, Barcelona 08035, Spain. E-mail:
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14
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Lin W, Singh V, Springer R, Choonoo G, Gupta N, Patel A, Frleta D, Zhong J, Owczarek T, Decker C, Macdonald L, Murphy A, Thurston G, Mohrs M, Ioffe E, Lu YF. Human CD4 cytotoxic T lymphocytes mediate potent tumor control in humanized immune system mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:447. [PMID: 37185301 PMCID: PMC10130128 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04812-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancers can be limited by CD8 T cell dysfunction or HLA-I down-regulation. Tumor control mechanisms independent of CD8/HLA-I axis would overcome these limitations. Here, we report potent CD4 T cell-mediated tumor regression and memory responses in humanized immune system (HIS) mice implanted with HT-29 colorectal tumors. The regressing tumors showed increased CD4 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) infiltration and enhanced tumor HLA-II expression compared to progressing tumors. The intratumoral CD4 T cell subset associated with tumor regression expressed multiple cytotoxic markers and exhibited clonal expansion. Notably, tumor control was abrogated by depletion of CD4 but not CD8 T cells. CD4 T cells derived from tumor-regressing mice exhibited HLA-II-dependent and tumor-specific killing ex vivo. Taken together, our study demonstrates a critical role of human CD4 CTLs in mediating tumor clearance independent of CD8 T cells and provides a platform to study human anti-tumor immunity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Lin
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Varan Singh
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Raynel Springer
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Gabrielle Choonoo
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Namita Gupta
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Aditi Patel
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Davor Frleta
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Jun Zhong
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Tomasz Owczarek
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Corinne Decker
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Lynn Macdonald
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Andrew Murphy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Gavin Thurston
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Markus Mohrs
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Ella Ioffe
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Yi-Fen Lu
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA.
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15
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Massa C, Wang Y, Marr N, Seliger B. Interferons and Resistance Mechanisms in Tumors and Pathogen-Driven Diseases—Focus on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Antigen Processing Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076736. [PMID: 37047709 PMCID: PMC10095295 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferons (IFNs), divided into type I, type II, and type III IFNs represent proteins that are secreted from cells in response to various stimuli and provide important information for understanding the evolution, structure, and function of the immune system, as well as the signaling pathways of other cytokines and their receptors. They exert comparable, but also distinct physiologic and pathophysiologic activities accompanied by pleiotropic effects, such as the modulation of host responses against bacterial and viral infections, tumor surveillance, innate and adaptive immune responses. IFNs were the first cytokines used for the treatment of tumor patients including hairy leukemia, renal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. However, tumor cells often develop a transient or permanent resistance to IFNs, which has been linked to the escape of tumor cells and unresponsiveness to immunotherapies. In addition, loss-of-function mutations in IFN signaling components have been associated with susceptibility to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and mycobacterial infections. In this review, we summarize general features of the three IFN families and their function, the expression and activity of the different IFN signal transduction pathways, and their role in tumor immune evasion and pathogen clearance, with links to alterations in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II antigen processing machinery (APM). In addition, we discuss insights regarding the clinical applications of IFNs alone or in combination with other therapeutic options including immunotherapies as well as strategies reversing the deficient IFN signaling. Therefore, this review provides an overview on the function and clinical relevance of the different IFN family members, with a specific focus on the MHC pathways in cancers and infections and their contribution to immune escape of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Massa
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Hochstr. 29, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Yuan Wang
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle, Germany
| | - Nico Marr
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Hochstr. 29, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Hochstr. 29, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstr. 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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16
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CD4 + T cells in cancer. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:317-329. [PMID: 36894637 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00521-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 92.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunology and immunotherapy are driving forces of research and development in oncology, mostly focusing on CD8+ T cells and the tumor microenvironment. Recent progress highlights the importance of CD4+ T cells, corresponding to the long-known fact that CD4+ T cells are central players and coordinators of innate and antigen-specific immune responses. Moreover, they have now been recognized as anti-tumor effector cells in their own right. Here we review the current status of CD4+ T cells in cancer, which hold great promise for improving knowledge and therapies in cancer.
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17
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The relevance of HLA class II genes in JAK2 V617F-positive myeloproliferative neoplasms. Hum Immunol 2023; 84:199-207. [PMID: 36707384 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2023.01.006] [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: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In the present study we analyzed the relevance of HLA class II in JAK2 V617F-positive (JAK2 V617F+) myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) focusing on genotype diversity, associations with specific alleles and haplotypes and the level of gene expression. One hundred and thirty-nine JAK2 V617F+ MPN patients and 1083 healthy controls, typed by Next generation sequencing (NGS) were included in the study. Multivariate generalized linear models with age as a covariate were applied for analysis of HLA-II allele and haplotype associations. Publicly available gene expression datasets were used to analyze HLA-II pathway genes expression in CD34+ stem cells (SCs) from MPN patients and healthy controls. We did not observe differences in HLA evolutionary divergence (HED) between JAK2 V617F+ MPNs and healthy controls. Two alleles: HLA-DPB1*03:01, DQB1*04:02 and 4 haplotypes: DPB1*02:01-DQA1*05:05-DQB1*03:01-DRB1*11:01, DPB1*04:02-DQA1*05:05-DQB1*03:01-DRB1*11:03, DPB1*02:01-DQA1*01:04-DQB1*05:03-DRB1*14:04, and DPB1*04:01-DQA1*03:01-DQB1*03:02-DRB1*04:01 had significantly lower frequency in MPN patients compared to controls. Additionally, we observed HLA-II alleles and haplotypes with statistically higher frequencies in JAK2 V617F+ patients. Differential gene expression analysis showed down-regulation of HLA-DRB1, -DRA, -DMA, -DMB, -DOA,-DRB4, CIITA, and CD74 genes in JAK2 V617F+ MPN CD34+ SCs as compared to normal CD34 + SCs. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the pleiotropic effects of HLA-II genes in JAK2 V617F-driven MPNs.
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HLA and tumour immunology: immune escape, immunotherapy and immune-related adverse events. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:737-747. [PMID: 36662304 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04493-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE As molecules responsible for presenting antigens to T lymphocytes, leukocytes antigens (HLAs) play a vital role in cancer immunology. This review aims to provide current understanding of HLAs in tumour immunology. METHODS Perspectives on how HLA alterations may contribute to the immune escape of cancer cells and resistance to immunotherapy, and potential methods to overcome HLA defects were summarized. In addition, we discussed the potential association between HLA and immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which has not been reviewed elsewhere. RESULTS Downregulation, loss of heterogeneity and entire loss of HLAs are responsible for the immune escape of tumour cells. The strategies to overcome the HLA defects can be effective therapies of cancer. Compared with classical HLA-I, non-classical HLA-I molecules, such as HLA-E and HLA-G, appear to be more reliable predictors of prognosis, as they tend to play immunosuppressive roles in antitumor response. Relative diversified or high expression of classical HLA-I are potential predictors of favourable response of immunotherapy. Certain HLA types may be associated to enhanced affinity to self-antigen-mimicked tumour-antigens, thus may positively correlated to irAEs triggered by checkpoint inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS Further studies exploring the relationship between HLAs and cancer may not only lead to the development of novel therapies but also bring about better management of irAEs.
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Nowicka D, Mertowska P, Mertowski S, Hymos A, Forma A, Michalski A, Morawska I, Hrynkiewicz R, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P, Grywalska E. Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment Strategies for Lymphomatoid Papulosis with Particular Emphasis on the Role of the Immune System. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223697. [PMID: 36429125 PMCID: PMC9688547 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a very rare disease that belongs to the group of CD30+ lymphoproliferative skin diseases. LyP is localized or generalized and usually presents as isolated or clustered red/brown-red lesions in the form of nodules and/or papules. The course of the disease is in most cases mild; however, depending on concomitant risk factors and history, it may progress to lymphoma, significantly reducing the survival rate and prognosis. Importantly, the clinical picture of the disease remains somewhat ambiguous, leading to a large number of misdiagnoses that result in inappropriate treatment, which is usually insufficient to alleviate symptoms. In addition to clinical manifestations, the histological characteristics vary widely and usually overlap with other conditions, especially those belonging to the group of lymphoproliferative disorders. Although diagnosis remains a challenge, several recommendations and guidelines have been introduced to standardize and facilitate the diagnostic process. This article reviews the available literature on the most important aspects of etiopathogenesis, clinical and histopathological features, diagnostic criteria, and possible treatment strategies for LyP, with particular emphasis on the role of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta Nowicka
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wrocław Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paulina Mertowska
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Sebastian Mertowski
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Hymos
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Alicja Forma
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Adam Michalski
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Izabela Morawska
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Rafał Hrynkiewicz
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland
| | | | - Ewelina Grywalska
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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20
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Transcription profiling of feline mammary carcinomas and derived cell lines reveals biomarkers and drug targets associated with metabolic and cell cycle pathways. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17025. [PMID: 36220861 PMCID: PMC9553959 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20874-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular heterogeneity of feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) represents a prognostic and therapeutic challenge. RNA-Seq-based comparative transcriptomic profiling serves to identify recurrent and exclusive differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across sample types and molecular subtypes. Using mass-parallel RNA-Seq, we identified DEGs and performed comparative function-based analysis across 15 tumours (four basal-like triple-negative [TN], eight normal-like TN, and three luminal B fHER2 negative [LB fHER2-]), two cell lines (CL, TiHo-0906, and TiHo-1403) isolated from the primary tumours (LB fHER2-) of two cats included in this study, and 13 healthy mammary tissue controls. DEGs in tumours were predominantly upregulated; dysregulation of CLs transcriptome was more extensive, including mostly downregulated genes. Cell-cycle and metabolic-related DEGs were upregulated in both tumours and CLs, including therapeutically-targetable cell cycle regulators (e.g. CCNB1, CCNB2, CDK1, CDK4, GTSE1, MCM4, and MCM5), metabolic-related genes (e.g. FADS2 and SLC16A3), heat-shock proteins (e.g. HSPH1, HSP90B1, and HSPA5), genes controlling centrosome disjunction (e.g. RACGAP1 and NEK2), and collagen molecules (e.g. COL2A1). DEGs specifically upregulated in basal-like TN tumours were involved in antigen processing and presentation, in normal-like TN tumours encoded G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and in LB fHER2- tumours were associated with lysosomes, phagosomes, and endosomes formation. Downregulated DEGs in CLs were associated with structural and signalling cell surface components. Hence, our results suggest that upregulation of genes enhancing proliferation and metabolism is a common feature among FMCs and derived CLs. In contrast, the dissimilarities observed in dysregulation of membrane components highlight CLs' disconnection with the tumour microenvironment. Furthermore, recurrent and exclusive DEGs associated with dysregulated pathways might be useful for the development of prognostically and therapeutically-relevant targeted panels.
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Wu G, Xiao G, Yan Y, Guo C, Hu N, Shen S. Bioinformatics analysis of the clinical significance of HLA class II in breast cancer. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e31071. [PMID: 36221383 PMCID: PMC9543021 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000031071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II plays critical roles in antigen presentation and the initiation of immune responses. However, the correlation between the HLA class II gene expression level and the survival of patients with breast cancer is still under investigation. We analyzed microarray and RNA-Seq data of breast cancer from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), genotype-tissue expression (GTEx) and Oncomine databases by using bioinformatics tools. The expression of the HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQA2, and HLA-DQB2 genes was significantly upregulated in breast cancer. Higher expression levels of HLA class II genes in breast cancer, especially HLA-DOB and HLA-DQB2, were significantly associated with better overall survival. Furthermore, the expression of HLA class II genes was more closely associated with survival in breast cancer than in other cancer types. CD48 coexpressed with both HLA-DOB and HLA-DQB2 was also positively associated with the overall survival of breast cancer patients. The results indicated that HLA class II and CD48 may enhance antitumor immunity, and their expression patterns may serve as potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guihua Wu
- Finance Section, Yuebei People’s Hospital, Shantou University, Shaoguan, China
| | - Gaofang Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Yuebei People’s Hospital, Shantou University, Shaoguan, China
| | - Yuhang Yan
- Breast Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Chengwei Guo
- Department of Radiology, 82 Group Hospital of PLA, Baoding, China
| | - Ningdong Hu
- Thoracic surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Sandi Shen
- Breast Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital, Qingyuan, China
- *Correspondence: Sandi Shen, Breast Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital, 21 Yinquan South Road, Qingyuan 511518, China (e-mail: )
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22
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Hosokawa K, Nakao S. Somatic mutations and clonal expansions in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Semin Hematol 2022; 59:143-149. [DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Mei J, Jiang G, Chen Y, Xu Y, Wan Y, Chen R, Liu F, Mao W, Zheng M, Xu J. HLA class II molecule HLA-DRA identifies immuno-hot tumors and predicts the therapeutic response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in NSCLC. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:738. [PMID: 35794593 PMCID: PMC9258174 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09840-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) only works well for a certain subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, biomarkers for patient stratification are desired, which can suggest the most beneficial treatment. Methods In this study, three datasets (GSE126044, GSE135222, and GSE136961) of immunotherapy from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed, and seven intersected candidates were extracted as potential biomarkers for ICB followed by validation with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and the in-house cohort data. Results Among these candidates, we found that human leukocyte antigen-DR alpha (HLA-DRA) was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and both tumor and immune cells expressed HLA-DRA. In addition, HLA-DRA was associated with an inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) and could predict the response to ICB in NSCLC. Moreover, we validated the predictive value of HLA-DRA in immunotherapy using an in-house cohort. Furthermore, HLA-DRA was related to the features of inflamed TME in not only NSCLC but also in most cancer types. Conclusion Overall, HLA-DRA could be a promising biomarker for guiding ICB in NSCLC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09840-6.
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24
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Tsuji N, Hosokawa K, Urushihara R, Tanabe M, Zaimoku Y, Katagiri T, Ozawa T, Takamatsu H, Ishiyama K, Yamazaki H, Kishi H, Ogawa S, Nakao S. Frequent HLA-DR loss on hematopoietic stem progenitor cells in patients with cyclosporine-dependent aplastic anemia carrying HLA-DR15. Leukemia 2022; 36:1666-1675. [PMID: 35474098 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01549-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
To determine whether antigen presentation by HLA-DR on hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) is involved in the development of acquired aplastic anemia (AA), we studied the HLA-DR expression on CD45dimCD34+CD38+ cells in the peripheral blood of 61 AA patients including 23 patients possessing HLA-class I allele-lacking (HLA-class I[-]) leukocytes. HLA-DR-lacking (DR[-]) cells accounted for 13.0-57.1% of the total HSPCs in seven (11.5%) patients with HLA-DR15 who did not possess HLA-class I(-) leukocytes. The incubation of sorted DR(-) HSPCs in the presence of IFN-γ for 72 h resulted in the full restoration of the DR expression. A comparison of the transcriptome profile between DR(-) and DR(+) HSPCs revealed the lower expression of immune response-related genes including co-stimulatory molecules (e.g., CD48, CD74, and CD86) in DR(-) cells, which was not evident in HLA-class I(-) HSPCs. DR(-) cells were exclusively detected in GPI(+) HSPCs in four patients whose HSPCs could be analyzed separately for GPI(+) and GPI(-) HSPCs. These findings suggest that CD4+ T cells specific to antigens presented by HLA-DR15 on HSPCs may contribute to the development of AA as well as the immune escape of GPI(-) HSPCs in a distinct way from CD8+ T cells recognizing HLA-class I-restricted antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriaki Tsuji
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kohei Hosokawa
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Ryota Urushihara
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Mikoto Tanabe
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Zaimoku
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Takamasa Katagiri
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Kanazawa University Graduate School, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiko Ozawa
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Takamatsu
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Ken Ishiyama
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hirohito Yamazaki
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kishi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Seishi Ogawa
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Medicine, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shinji Nakao
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
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Ma X, Zhao M, Wu ZX, Yao J, Zhang L, Wang J, Hu Z, Wei L, Chen ZS. The Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor I13 Induces Differentiation of M2, M3 and M5 Subtypes of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells and Leukemic Stem-Like Cells. Front Oncol 2022; 12:855570. [PMID: 35494054 PMCID: PMC9039182 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.855570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy characterized by reduced differentiation of myeloid cells and uncontrolled cell proliferation. AML is prone to drug resistance and has a high recurrence rate during treatment with cytarabine-based chemotherapy. Our study aims to explore the cell differentiation effect of a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), I13, and its possible mechanism on AML cell lines (Kasumi-1, KG-1, MOLM-13 and NB4). It has been shown that I13 can significantly inhibit proliferation and colony formation of these AML cells by inducing cell differentiation coupled with cell-cycle exit at G0/G1. Mechanically, I13 presented the property of HDAC inhibition, as assessed by the acetylation of histone H3, which led to the differentiation of Kasumi-1 cells. In addition, the HDAC inhibition of I13 likely dictated the activation of the antigen processing and presentation pathway, which maybe has the potential to promote immune cells to recognize leukemic cells and respond directly against leukemic cells. These results indicated that I13 could induce differentiation of M3 and M5 subtypes of AML cells, M2 subtype AML cells with t(8;21) translocation and leukemic stem-like cells. Therefore, I13 could be an alternative compound which is able to overcome differentiation blocks in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Mengjie Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhuo-Xun Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jingfang Yao
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Jinhong Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhenbo Hu
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Liuya Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, United States
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26
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Ellingsen EB, Aamdal E, Guren T, Lilleby W, Brunsvig PF, Mangsbo SM, Aamdal S, Hovig E, Mensali N, Gaudernack G, Inderberg EM. Durable and dynamic hTERT immune responses following vaccination with the long-peptide cancer vaccine UV1: long-term follow-up of three phase I clinical trials. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e004345. [PMID: 35613827 PMCID: PMC9134181 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Therapeutic cancer vaccines represent a promising approach to improve clinical outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibition. UV1 is a second generation telomerase-targeting therapeutic cancer vaccine being investigated across multiple indications. Although telomerase is a near-universal tumor target, different treatment combinations applied across indications may affect the induced immune response. Three phase I/IIa clinical trials covering malignant melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and prostate cancer have been completed, with patients in follow-up for up to 8 years. METHODS 52 patients were enrolled across the three trials. UV1 was given as monotherapy in the lung cancer trial and concurrent with combined androgen blockade in the prostate cancer trial. In the melanoma study, patients initiated ipilimumab treatment 1 week after the first vaccine dose. Patients were followed for UV1-specific immune responses at frequent intervals during vaccination, and every 6 months for up to 8 years in a follow-up period. Phenotypic and functional characterizations were performed on patient-derived vaccine-specific T cell responses. RESULTS In total, 78.4% of treated patients mounted a measurable vaccine-induced T cell response in blood. The immune responses in the malignant melanoma trial, where UV1 was combined with ipilimumab, occurred more rapidly and frequently than in the lung and prostate cancer trials. In several patients, immune responses peaked years after their last vaccination. An in-depth characterization of the immune responses revealed polyfunctional CD4+ T cells producing interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α on interaction with their antigen. CONCLUSION Long-term immunomonitoring of patients showed highly dynamic and persistent telomerase peptide-specific immune responses lasting up to 7.5 years after the initial vaccination, suggesting a plausible functional role of these T cells in long-term survivors. The superior immune response kinetics observed in the melanoma study substantiate the rationale for future combinatorial treatment strategies with UV1 vaccination and checkpoint inhibition for rapid and frequent induction of anti-telomerase immune responses in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Espen Basmo Ellingsen
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Ultimovacs ASA, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elin Aamdal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Tormod Guren
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Paal F Brunsvig
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara M Mangsbo
- Department of Pharmacy, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Ultimovacs AB, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Eivind Hovig
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nadia Mensali
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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27
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Sim MJW, Sun PD. T Cell Recognition of Tumor Neoantigens and Insights Into T Cell Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:833017. [PMID: 35222422 PMCID: PMC8867076 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.833017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In cancer, non-synonymous DNA base changes alter protein sequence and produce neoantigens that are detected by the immune system. For immune detection, neoantigens must first be presented on class I or II human leukocyte antigens (HLA) followed by recognition by peptide-specific receptors, exemplified by the T-cell receptor (TCR). Detection of neoantigens represents a unique challenge to the immune system due to their high similarity with endogenous ‘self’ proteins. Here, we review insights into how TCRs detect neoantigens from structural studies and delineate two broad mechanistic categories: 1) recognition of mutated ‘self’ peptides and 2) recognition of novel ‘non-self’ peptides generated through anchor residue modifications. While mutated ‘self’ peptides differ only by a single amino acid from an existing ‘self’ epitope, mutations that form anchor residues generate an entirely new epitope, hitherto unknown to the immune system. We review recent structural studies that highlight these structurally distinct mechanisms and discuss how they may lead to differential anti-tumor immune responses. We discuss how T cells specific for neoantigens derived from anchor mutations can be of high affinity and provide insights to their use in adoptive T cell transfer-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm J W Sim
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Peter D Sun
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, United States
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28
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Cook K, Xue W, Atabani S, Symonds P, Al Omari A, Daniels I, Shah S, Choudhury RH, Weston D, Metheringham R, Brentville V, Durrant L. Vaccine Can Induce CD4-Mediated Responses to Homocitrullinated Peptides via Multiple HLA-Types and Confer Anti-Tumor Immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:873947. [PMID: 35464453 PMCID: PMC9028767 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.873947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Homocitrullination is the post translation modification (PTM) of the amino acid lysine to homocitrulline also referred to as carbamylation. This PTM has mainly been studied in relation to autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. Homocitrullination of lysines alters their charge which can lead to generation of neoepitopes that are differentially presented by MHC-II and induce modification-specific immune responses. Homocitrullination is often considered a process which triggers autoimmune disease by bypassing self-tolerance however, we suggest that homocitrullination may also have an alternative role in immune responses including protection against cancer. Here we demonstrate that immune responses to homocitrullinated peptides from three different proteins can be induced via multiple HLA-types. Immunization of Balb/c or HLA-transgenic DR4 and DR1 mice can induce modification-specific CD4 mediated IFNγ responses. Healthy human donors show a clear repertoire for the homocitrullinated Vimentin peptide (Vim116-135Hcit), with modification-specific and oligoclonal responses. Importantly, in vivo homocitrulline specific Vim116-135Hcit,Cyk8 371-388Hcit and Aldo 140-157Hcit responses are able to confer an anti-tumor effect in the murine B16 melanoma model. The Vim116-135Hcit anti-tumor response was dependent upon tumor expression of MHC-II suggesting the direct recognition of PTMs on tumor is an important anti-tumor mechanism. Cancer patients also have a CD4 repertoire for Vim116-135Hcit. Together these results suggest that homocitrulline-specific immune responses can be generated in healthy mice and detected in human donors through a variety of HLA-restrictions. Immunization can induce responses to Vim116-135Hcit,Aldolase 140-157Hcit and Cyk8 371-388Hcit which provide anti-tumor therapy across several HLA-types. Our results advance our understanding of homocitrulline-specific immune responses, with implications for a number of fields beyond autoimmunity, including tumor immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Cook
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Wei Xue
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Suha Atabani
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- The Cancer Vaccine Group, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Symonds
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Abdullah Al Omari
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Daniels
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sabaria Shah
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ruhul Hasan Choudhury
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Daisy Weston
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Metheringham
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Brentville
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Lindy Durrant
- Scancell Limited, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- The Cancer Vaccine Group, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Lindy Durrant,
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Regulation of the antigen presentation machinery in cancer and its implication for immune surveillance. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:825-837. [PMID: 35343573 PMCID: PMC9162455 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Evading immune destruction is one of the hallmarks of cancer. A key mechanism of immune evasion deployed by tumour cells is to reduce neoantigen presentation through down-regulation of the antigen presentation machinery. MHC-I and MHC-II proteins are key components of the antigen presentation machinery responsible for neoantigen presentation to CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes, respectively. Their expression in tumour cells is modulated by a complex interplay of genomic, transcriptomic and post translational factors involving multiple intracellular antigen processing pathways. Ongoing research investigates mechanisms invoked by cancer cells to abrogate MHC-I expression and attenuate anti-tumour CD8+ cytotoxic T cell response. The discovery of MHC-II on tumour cells has been less characterized. However, this finding has triggered further interest in utilising tumour-specific MHC-II to harness sustained anti-tumour immunity through the activation of CD4+ T helper cells. Tumour-specific expression of MHC-I and MHC-II has been associated with improved patient survival in most clinical studies. Thus, their reactivation represents an attractive way to unleash anti-tumour immunity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of physiologically conserved or novel mechanisms utilised by tumour cells to reduce MHC-I or MHC-II expression. It outlines current approaches employed at the preclinical and clinical trial interface towards reversing these processes in order to improve response to immunotherapy and survival outcomes for patients with cancer.
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30
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Balakrishnan CK, Tye GJ, Balasubramaniam SD, Kaur G. CD74 and HLA-DRA in Cervical Carcinogenesis: Potential Targets for Antitumour Therapy. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58020190. [PMID: 35208514 PMCID: PMC8877221 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Abnormal expressions of CD74 and human leukocyte antigen-DR alpha (HLA-DRA) have been reported in various cancers, though their roles in cervical cancer remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the gene and protein expressions of CD74 and HLA-DRA in the progression from normal cervix to precancerous cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and finally to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Materials and Methods: The gene expression profiles of CD74 and HLA-DRA were determined in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, with three samples each from normal cervixes, human papillomavirus type 16/18-positive, low-grade CIN (LGCIN), high-grade CIN (HGCIN), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) using Human Transcriptome Array 2.0. Immunohistochemical expression of the proteins was semi-quantitatively assessed in another cohort of tissue microarray samples comprising 7 normal cervix cases, 10 LGCIN, 10 HGCIN, and 95 SCC. Results: The transcriptomics profile and proteins’ expression demonstrated similar trends of upregulation of CD74 and HLA-DRA from normal cervix to CIN and highest in SCC. There was a significant difference in both proteins’ expression between the histological groups (p = 0.0001). CD74 and HLA-DRA expressions were significantly associated with CIN grade (p = 0.001 and p = 0.030, respectively) but not with the subjects’ age or SCC stage. Further analysis revealed a positive correlation between CD74 and HLA-DRA proteins. Conclusions: CD74 appears to promote cervical carcinogenesis via oncogenic signalling mechanisms and may serve as a potential antitumour target. Additionally, the upregulation of HLA-DRA, often associated with stronger immunogenicity, could be a promising biomarker for developing immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol K. Balakrishnan
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; (C.K.B.); (G.J.T.); (S.D.B.)
| | - Gee Jun Tye
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; (C.K.B.); (G.J.T.); (S.D.B.)
| | - Shandra Devi Balasubramaniam
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; (C.K.B.); (G.J.T.); (S.D.B.)
- Unit of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University, Bedong 08100, Semeling, Malaysia
| | - Gurjeet Kaur
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; (C.K.B.); (G.J.T.); (S.D.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +604-6534865
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31
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Elkoshi Z. Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases: A Tale of Two Immunological Opposites? Front Immunol 2022; 13:821598. [PMID: 35145524 PMCID: PMC8822211 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.821598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The present article compares, side-by-side, cancer and autoimmune diseases in terms of innate and adaptive immune cells involvement, MHC Class I and Class II expression, TGFβ effect, immune modulating drugs effect and the effect of reactive oxygen species. The change in the inflammatory immune reaction during the progress of cancer and the effect of this change on the comorbidity of autoimmune diseases and cancer are discussed. The similar inflammatory properties of autoimmune diseases and early cancer, and the contrasting inflammatory properties of autoimmune diseases and advanced cancer elucidate the increased incidence of many types of cancer in patients with pre-existing autoimmune diseases and the decreased cancer-specific mortality of these patients. Stage-dependent effects of reactive oxygen-species on tumor proliferation are an additional probable cause for these epidemiological observations. The relationship: {standardized incidence ratio (SIR)} > {cancer-specific hazard ratio (HR)} for cancer patients with a history of autoimmune diseases is substantiated and rationalized.
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32
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Mahdevar E, Kefayat A, Safavi A, Behnia A, Hejazi SH, Javid A, Ghahremani F. Immunoprotective effect of an in silico designed multiepitope cancer vaccine with BORIS cancer-testis antigen target in a murine mammary carcinoma model. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23121. [PMID: 34848739 PMCID: PMC8632969 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01770-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In our previous study, immunoinformatic tools were used to design a novel multiepitope cancer vaccine based on the most immunodominant regions of BORIS cancer-testis antigen. The final vaccine construct was an immunogenic, non-allergenic, and stable protein consisted of multiple cytotoxic T lymphocytes epitopes, IFN-γ inducing epitopes, and B cell epitopes according to bioinformatic analyzes. Herein, the DNA sequence of the final vaccine construct was placed into the pcDNA3.1 vector as a DNA vaccine (pcDNA3.1-VAC). Also, the recombinant multiepitope peptide vaccine (MPV) was produced by a transfected BL21 E. coli strain using a recombinant pET-28a vector and then, purified and screened by Fast protein liquid chromatography technique (FPLC) and Western blot, respectively. The anti-tumor effects of prophylactic co-immunization with these DNA and protein cancer vaccines were evaluated in the metastatic non-immunogenic 4T1 mammary carcinoma in BALB/c mice. Co-immunization with the pcDNA3.1-VAC and MPV significantly (P < 0.001) increased the serum levels of the MPV-specific IgG total, IgG2a, and IgG1. The splenocytes of co-immunized mice exhibited a significantly higher efficacy to produce interleukin-4 and interferon-γ and proliferation in response to MPV in comparison with the control. The prophylactic co-immunization regime caused significant breast tumors' growth inhibition, tumors' weight decrease, inhibition of metastasis formation, and enlarging tumor-bearing mice survival time, without any considerable side effects. Taking together, this cancer vaccine can evoke strong immune response against breast tumor and inhibits its growth and metastasis.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cancer Vaccines/chemistry
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cell Line
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Chromatography, Liquid
- Computational Biology
- Computer Simulation
- DNA-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis
- Disease Models, Animal
- Epitopes
- Female
- Immunity, Humoral
- Interferon-gamma/chemistry
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/prevention & control
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/therapy
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/prevention & control
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Vaccines, Subunit
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Mahdevar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Kefayat
- Department of Oncology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ashkan Safavi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Amirhossein Behnia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of the Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Seyed Hossein Hejazi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Amaneh Javid
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghahremani
- Department of Medical Physics and Radiotherapy, School of Paramedicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
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Contribution of HLA class II genes, DRB4*01:01, DRB1*07:01, and DQB1*03:03:2 to clinical features of Vitiligo disease in Iranian population. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 49:171-178. [PMID: 34686989 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06855-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitiligo is a multifactorial depigmentation condition, which is due to skin melanocyte destruction. Increased expression of HLA class II genes in patients with pre-lesions of Vitiligo suggests a crucial role for the participation of immune response in Vitiligo development. Recent studies progressively focused on HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 genes. In this study, we have evaluated the association and role of HLA-DRB4*01:01, -DRB1*07:01, and -DQB1*03:03:2 genes in different clinical subtypes of Vitiligo in the Iranian population. METHODS First, Genomic DNA from peripheral blood of 125 unrelated Vitiligo patients and 100 unrelated healthy controls were extracted through the salting-out method. Then, HLA class II genotyping was performed using the sequence-specific primer PCR method. Finally, the clinical relevance of the testing for these genotypes was evaluated by applying the PcPPV (prevalence-corrected positive predictive value) formula. RESULTS Our results indicated the positive associations of DRB4*01:01 and DRB1*07:01 allelic genes with early-onset Vitiligo (p = 0.024 and 0.022, respectively). DRB4*01:01 also showed strong protection against late-onset Vitiligo (p = 0.0016, RR = 0.360). Moreover, our data revealed that the DRB1*07:01 increases the susceptibility to Sporadic Vitiligo (p = 0.030, RR = 1.702). Furthermore, our findings proposed that elevated vulnerability of Vitiligo patients due to DRB4*01:01 and DRB1*07:01 alleles maybe is correlated with the presence of amino acid Arginine at position 71 at pocket 4 on the antigen-binding site of the HLA-DRB1 receptor. CONCLUSION Our findings on different subtypes of Vitiligo suggest that, despite a more apparent autoimmune involvement, a non-autoimmune nature for the etiology of Vitiligo should also be considered.
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Chen P, Zhao L, Wang H, Zhang L, Zhang W, Zhu J, Yu J, Zhao S, Li W, Sun C, Wu C, He Y, Zhou C. Human leukocyte antigen class II-based immune risk model for recurrence evaluation in stage I-III small cell lung cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002554. [PMID: 34362829 PMCID: PMC8351500 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Immunotherapy has revolutionized therapeutic patterns of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Human leukocyte antigen class II (HLA class II) is related to antitumor immunity. However, the implications of HLA class II in SCLC remain incompletely understood. Materials and methods We investigated the expression patterns of HLA class II on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) by immunohistochemistry staining and its association with clinical parameters, immune markers, and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in 102 patients with stage I–III SCLC with radical surgery. Additionally, an HLA class II-based immune risk model was established by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. With bioinformatics methods, we investigated HLA class II-related enrichment pathways and immune infiltration landscape in SCLC. Results HLA class II on tumor cells and TILs was positively expressed in 9 (8.8%) and 45 (44.1%) patients with SCLC, respectively. HLA class II on TILs was negatively associated with lymph node metastasis and positively correlated with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) on TILs (p<0.001) and multiple immune markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, FOXP3; p<0.001). Lymph node metastasis (OR 0.314, 95% CI 0.118 to 0.838, p=0.021) and PD-L1 on TILs (OR 3.233, 95% CI 1.051 to 9.95, p=0.041) were independent predictive factors of HLA class II on TILs. HLA class II positivity on TILs prompted a longer RFS (40.2 months, 95% CI 31.7 to 48.7 vs 28.8 months, 95% CI 21.4 to 36.3, p=0.014). HLA class II on TILs, PD-L1 on TILs, CD4, and FOXP3 were enrolled in the immune risk model, which categorized patients into high-risk and low-risk groups and had better power for predicting the recurrence than tumor stage. Pathway enrichment analyses showed that patients with high HLA class II expression demonstrated signatures of transmembrane transportation, channel activity, and neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction. High-risk SCLC patients had a higher proportion of T follicular helper cells (p=0.034) and a lower proportion of activated memory CD4-positive T cells (p=0.040) and resting dendritic cells (p=0.045) versus low-risk patients. Conclusions HLA class II plays a crucial role in tumor immune microenvironment and recurrence prediction. This work demonstrates the prognostic and clinical values of HLA class II in patients with SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peixin Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.,Tongji University, No 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Lishu Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.,Tongji University, No 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200433, China.,Department of Oncology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.,Tongji University, No 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Liping Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jun Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.,Tongji University, No 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jia Yu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Sha Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Chenglong Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.,Anhui No.2 Provincial People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Chunyan Wu
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yayi He
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China .,Tongji University, No 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Caicun Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.,Tongji University, No 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200433, China
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Meyer S, Handke D, Mueller A, Biehl K, Kreuz M, Bukur J, Koehl U, Lazaridou MF, Berneburg M, Steven A, Massa C, Seliger B. Distinct Molecular Mechanisms of Altered HLA Class II Expression in Malignant Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153907. [PMID: 34359808 PMCID: PMC8345549 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules are constitutively expressed in some melanoma, but the underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been characterized. METHODS The expression of HLA class II antigen processing machinery (APM) components was determined in melanoma samples by qPCR, Western blot, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical and TCGA datasets were used for correlation of HLA class II expression to tumor grading, T-cell infiltration and patients' survival. RESULTS The heterogeneous HLA class II expression in melanoma samples allowed us to characterize four distinct phenotypes. Phenotype I totally lacks constitutive HLA class II surface expression, which is inducible by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ); phenotype II expresses low basal surface HLA class II that is further upregulated by IFN-γ; phenotype III lacks constitutive and IFN-γ controlled HLA class II expression, but could be induced by epigenetic drugs; and in phenotype IV, lack of HLA class II expression is not recovered by any drug tested. High levels of HLA class II APM component expression were associated with an increased intra-tumoral CD4+ T-cell density and increased patients' survival. CONCLUSIONS The heterogeneous basal expression of HLA class II antigens and/or APM components in melanoma cells is caused by distinct molecular mechanisms and has clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Meyer
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (S.M.); (M.B.)
| | - Diana Handke
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (D.H.); (A.M.); (K.B.); (J.B.); (M.-F.L.); (A.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Anja Mueller
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (D.H.); (A.M.); (K.B.); (J.B.); (M.-F.L.); (A.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Katharina Biehl
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (D.H.); (A.M.); (K.B.); (J.B.); (M.-F.L.); (A.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Markus Kreuz
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstr. 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (M.K.); (U.K.)
| | - Jürgen Bukur
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (D.H.); (A.M.); (K.B.); (J.B.); (M.-F.L.); (A.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstr. 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (M.K.); (U.K.)
| | - Maria-Filothei Lazaridou
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (D.H.); (A.M.); (K.B.); (J.B.); (M.-F.L.); (A.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Mark Berneburg
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (S.M.); (M.B.)
| | - André Steven
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (D.H.); (A.M.); (K.B.); (J.B.); (M.-F.L.); (A.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Chiara Massa
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (D.H.); (A.M.); (K.B.); (J.B.); (M.-F.L.); (A.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany; (D.H.); (A.M.); (K.B.); (J.B.); (M.-F.L.); (A.S.); (C.M.)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstr. 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (M.K.); (U.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)-345-557-4054
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36
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Pozzi S, Scomparin A, Israeli Dangoor S, Rodriguez Ajamil D, Ofek P, Neufeld L, Krivitsky A, Vaskovich-Koubi D, Kleiner R, Dey P, Koshrovski-Michael S, Reisman N, Satchi-Fainaro R. Meet me halfway: Are in vitro 3D cancer models on the way to replace in vivo models for nanomedicine development? Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113760. [PMID: 33838208 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The complexity and diversity of the biochemical processes that occur during tumorigenesis and metastasis are frequently over-simplified in the traditional in vitro cell cultures. Two-dimensional cultures limit researchers' experimental observations and frequently give rise to misleading and contradictory results. Therefore, in order to overcome the limitations of in vitro studies and bridge the translational gap to in vivo applications, 3D models of cancer were developed in the last decades. The three dimensions of the tumor, including its cellular and extracellular microenvironment, are recreated by combining co-cultures of cancer and stromal cells in 3D hydrogel-based growth factors-inclusive scaffolds. More complex 3D cultures, containing functional blood vasculature, can integrate in the system external stimuli (e.g. oxygen and nutrient deprivation, cytokines, growth factors) along with drugs, or other therapeutic compounds. In this scenario, cell signaling pathways, metastatic cascade steps, cell differentiation and self-renewal, tumor-microenvironment interactions, and precision and personalized medicine, are among the wide range of biological applications that can be studied. Here, we discuss a broad variety of strategies exploited by scientists to create in vitro 3D cancer models that resemble as much as possible the biology and patho-physiology of in vivo tumors and predict faithfully the treatment outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Pozzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Anna Scomparin
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Sahar Israeli Dangoor
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Daniel Rodriguez Ajamil
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Paula Ofek
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Lena Neufeld
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Adva Krivitsky
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Daniella Vaskovich-Koubi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ron Kleiner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Pradip Dey
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Shani Koshrovski-Michael
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Noa Reisman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ronit Satchi-Fainaro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
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37
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Cook KW, Xue W, Symonds P, Daniels I, Gijon M, Boocock D, Coveney C, Miles AK, Shah S, Atabani S, Choudhury RH, Vaghela P, Weston D, Metheringham RL, Brentville VA, Durrant LG. Homocitrullination of lysine residues mediated by myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor environment is a target for cancer immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2020-001910. [PMID: 34321274 PMCID: PMC8320257 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Homocitrullination is the post-translational modification of lysine that is recognized by T cells. Methods This study identified homocitrullinated peptides from aldolase, enolase, cytokeratin and binding immunoglobulin protein and used human leukocyte antigen (HLA) transgenic mice to assess immunogenicity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay. Vaccine efficacy was assessed in tumor therapy studies using HLA-matched B16 melanoma expressing constitutive or interferon γ (IFNγ)-inducible major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) as represented by most human tumors. To determine the mechanism behind the therapy, immune cell infiltrates were analyzed using flow cytometry and therapy studies in the presence of myeloperoxidase (MPO) inhibitor and T-cell depletion performed. We assessed the T-cell repertoire to homocitrullinated peptides in patients with cancer and healthy donors using flow cytometry. Results Homocitrulline (Hcit) peptide vaccination stimulated strong CD4 T-cell responses and induced significant antitumor therapy in an established tumor model. The antitumor response was dependent on CD4 T cells and the effect was driven mainly via direct tumor recognition, as responses were only observed if the tumors were induced to express MHC-II. In vitro proliferation assays show that healthy donors and patients with cancer have an oligoclonal CD4 T-cell repertoire recognizing homocitrullinated peptides. Inhibition of cyanate generation, which mediates homocitrullination, by MPO inhibition reduced tumor therapy by the vaccine induced T cells (p=0.0018). Analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME) suggested that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were a potential source of MPO. The selected B16 melanoma model showed MDSC infiltration and was appropriate to see if the Hcit vaccine could overcome the immunosuppression associated with MDSCs. The vaccine was very effective (90% survival) as the induced CD4 T cells directly targeted the homocitrullinated tumor and likely reversed the immunosuppressive environment. Conclusion We propose that MPO, potentially produced by MDSCs, catalyzes the buildup of cyanate in the TME which diffuses into tumor cells causing homocitrullination of cytoplasmic proteins which are degraded and, in the presence of IFNγ, presented by MHC-II for direct CD4 T-cell recognition. Homocitrullinated proteins are a new target for cancer vaccines and may be particularly effective against tumors containing high levels of MPO expressing MDSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wei Xue
- Scancell Ltd, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | | | - David Boocock
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Clare Coveney
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Amanda K Miles
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Suha Atabani
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Poonam Vaghela
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | | | - Lindy G Durrant
- Scancell Ltd, Nottingham, UK .,Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK
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de Sousa E, Lérias JR, Beltran A, Paraschoudi G, Condeço C, Kamiki J, António PA, Figueiredo N, Carvalho C, Castillo-Martin M, Wang Z, Ligeiro D, Rao M, Maeurer M. Targeting Neoepitopes to Treat Solid Malignancies: Immunosurgery. Front Immunol 2021; 12:592031. [PMID: 34335558 PMCID: PMC8320363 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.592031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful outcome of immune checkpoint blockade in patients with solid cancers is in part associated with a high tumor mutational burden (TMB) and the recognition of private neoantigens by T-cells. The quality and quantity of target recognition is determined by the repertoire of ‘neoepitope’-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), or peripheral T-cells. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), produced by T-cells and other immune cells, is essential for controlling proliferation of transformed cells, induction of apoptosis and enhancing human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression, thereby increasing immunogenicity of cancer cells. TCR αβ-dependent therapies should account for tumor heterogeneity and availability of the TCR repertoire capable of reacting to neoepitopes and functional HLA pathways. Immunogenic epitopes in the tumor-stroma may also be targeted to achieve tumor-containment by changing the immune-contexture in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Non protein-coding regions of the tumor-cell genome may also contain many aberrantly expressed, non-mutated tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) capable of eliciting productive anti-tumor immune responses. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and/or RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) of cancer tissue, combined with several layers of bioinformatic analysis is commonly used to predict possible neoepitopes present in clinical samples. At the ImmunoSurgery Unit of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown (CCU), a pipeline combining several tools is used for predicting private mutations from WES and RNA-Seq data followed by the construction of synthetic peptides tailored for immunological response assessment reflecting the patient’s tumor mutations, guided by MHC typing. Subsequent immunoassays allow the detection of differential IFN-γ production patterns associated with (intra-tumoral) spatiotemporal differences in TIL or peripheral T-cells versus TIL. These bioinformatics tools, in addition to histopathological assessment, immunological readouts from functional bioassays and deep T-cell ‘adaptome’ analyses, are expected to advance discovery and development of next-generation personalized precision medicine strategies to improve clinical outcomes in cancer in the context of i) anti-tumor vaccination strategies, ii) gauging mutation-reactive T-cell responses in biological therapies and iii) expansion of tumor-reactive T-cells for the cellular treatment of patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric de Sousa
- ImmunoSurgery Unit, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana R Lérias
- ImmunoSurgery Unit, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Antonio Beltran
- Department of Pathology, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Carolina Condeço
- ImmunoSurgery Unit, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jéssica Kamiki
- ImmunoSurgery Unit, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Nuno Figueiredo
- Digestive Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carlos Carvalho
- Digestive Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Zhe Wang
- Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI), Applied Adaptome Immunology Institute, Nanjing, China
| | - Dário Ligeiro
- Lisbon Centre for Blood and Transplantation, Instituto Português do Sangue e Transplantação (IPST), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Martin Rao
- ImmunoSurgery Unit, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Markus Maeurer
- ImmunoSurgery Unit, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal.,I Medical Clinic, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Ellingsen EB, Mangsbo SM, Hovig E, Gaudernack G. Telomerase as a Target for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines and Considerations for Optimizing Their Clinical Potential. Front Immunol 2021; 12:682492. [PMID: 34290704 PMCID: PMC8288190 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.682492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase-based therapeutic cancer vaccines (TCVs) have been under clinical investigation for the past two decades. Despite past failures, TCVs have gained renewed enthusiasm for their potential to improve the efficacy of checkpoint inhibition. Telomerase stands as an attractive target for TCVs due to its almost universal presence in cancer and its essential function promoting tumor growth. Herein, we review tumor telomerase biology that may affect the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination and provide insights on optimal vaccine design and treatment combinations. Tumor types possessing mechanisms of increased telomerase expression combined with an immune permissive tumor microenvironment are expected to increase the therapeutic potential of telomerase-targeting cancer vaccines. Regardless, rational treatment combinations, such as checkpoint inhibitors, are likely necessary to bring out the true clinical potential of TCVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Espen Basmo Ellingsen
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Research and Development, Ultimovacs ASA, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara M Mangsbo
- Research and Development, Ultimovacs AB, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eivind Hovig
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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40
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Wanji S, Deribe K, Minich J, Debrah AY, Kalinga A, Kroidl I, Luguet A, Hoerauf A, Ritter M. Podoconiosis - From known to unknown: Obstacles to tackle. Acta Trop 2021; 219:105918. [PMID: 33839086 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Podoconiosis is a non-filarial and non-communicable disease leading to lymphedema of the lower limbs. Worldwide, 4 million individuals live with podoconiosis, which is accompanied by disability and painful intermittent acute inflammatory episodes that attribute to significant disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Different risk factors like contact with volcanic red clay soil, high altitude (above 1000 m), high seasonal rainfall (above 1000 mm/year) and occupation (e.g., subsistence farmer) are associated with the risk of podoconiosis. Although podoconiosis was described to be endemic in 32 countries in Africa, parts of Latin America and South East Asia, knowledge about related genetics, pathophysiology, immunology and especially the causing molecule(s) in the soil remain uncertain. Thus, podoconiosis can be considered as one of the most neglected diseases. This review provides an overview about this non-filarial related geochemical disease and aim to present perspectives and future directions that might be important for better understanding of the disease, prospect for point-of-care diagnosis, achieving protection and developing novel treatment strategies.
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41
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Guan R, Lyu Q, Lin A, Liang J, Ding W, Cao M, Luo P, Zhang J. Influence of Different Age Cutoff Points on the Prediction of Prognosis of Cancer Patients Receiving ICIs and Potential Mechanistic Exploration. Front Oncol 2021; 11:670927. [PMID: 34249711 PMCID: PMC8260982 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.670927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Age is a potential predictive marker for the prognosis of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but the appropriate age cutoff point is still controversial. We aimed to explore the influence of different age cutoff points on the prediction of prognosis for patients receiving ICIs and explore the mechanism underlying the appropriate age cutoff point from the aspects of gene mutation and expression, immune cell infiltration and so on. We applied cutoff points of 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75 years old to divide 1660 patients from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) immunotherapy cohort into older and younger groups and performed survival analysis of the six subgroups. The results showed that older patients had better survival than younger patients in accordance with the cutoff point of 50 years old [median overall survival (OS) (95% CI): 13.0 (10.5-15.5) months vs. 20.0 (16.7-23.3) months; p=0.002; unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI): 0.77 (0.65-0.91)], whereas no significant difference was observed with other cutoff points. Further analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the MSKCC immunotherapy cohort data showed that the tumor mutation burden (TMB), neoantigen load (NAL), DNA damage response and repair (DDR) pathway mutation status, mutation frequencies of most genes (except IDH1, BRAF and ATRX), the expression of most immune-related genes and the degree of infiltration of most immune cells (such as CD8+ T cells and M1 macrophages) were higher in the elderly group (aged ≥50 years).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Guan
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Lyu
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anqi Lin
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junyi Liang
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weimin Ding
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manming Cao
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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42
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Michelakos T, Cai L, Villani V, Sabbatino F, Kontos F, Fernández-Del Castillo C, Yamada T, Neyaz A, Taylor MS, Deshpande V, Kurokawa T, Ting DT, Qadan M, Weekes CD, Allen JN, Clark JW, Hong TS, Ryan DP, Wo JY, Warshaw AL, Lillemoe KD, Ferrone S, Ferrone CR. Tumor Microenvironment Immune Response in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients Treated With Neoadjuvant Therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst 2021; 113:182-191. [PMID: 32497200 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaa073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant folinic acid, fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) and chemoradiation have been used to downstage borderline and locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Whether neoadjuvant therapy-induced tumor immune response contributes to the improved survival is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated whether neoadjuvant therapy induces an immune response towards PDAC. METHODS Clinicopathological variables were collected for surgically resected PDACs at the Massachusetts General Hospital (1998-2016). Neoadjuvant regimens included FOLFIRINOX with or without chemoradiation, proton chemoradiation (25 Gy), photon chemoradiation (50.4 Gy), or no neoadjuvant therapy. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II expression and immune cell infiltration (CD4+, FoxP3+, CD8+, granzyme B+ cells, and M2 macrophages) were analyzed immunohistochemically and correlated with clinicopathologic variables. The antitumor immune response was compared among neoadjuvant therapy regimens. All statistical tests were 2-sided. RESULTS Two hundred forty-eight PDAC patients were included. The median age was 64 years and 50.0% were female. HLA-A defects were less frequent in the FOLFIRINOX cohort (P = .006). HLA class II expression was lowest in photon and highest in proton patients (P = .02). The FOLFIRINOX cohort exhibited the densest CD8+ cell infiltration (P < .001). FOLFIRINOX and proton patients had the highest CD4+ and lowest T regulatory (FoxP3+) cell density, respectively. M2 macrophage density was statistically significantly higher in the treatment-naïve group (P < .001) in which dense M2 macrophage infiltration was an independent predictor of poor overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX with or without chemoradiation may induce immunologically relevant changes in the tumor microenvironment. It may reduce HLA-A defects, increase CD8+ cell density, and decrease T regulatory cell and M2 macrophage density. Therefore, neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX therapy may benefit from combinations with checkpoint inhibitors, which can enhance patients' antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodoros Michelakos
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lei Cai
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Vincenzo Villani
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francesco Sabbatino
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Filippos Kontos
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Teppei Yamada
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Azfar Neyaz
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martin S Taylor
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vikram Deshpande
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tomohiro Kurokawa
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David T Ting
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Motaz Qadan
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Colin D Weekes
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jill N Allen
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Clark
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Theodore S Hong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David P Ryan
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Y Wo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew L Warshaw
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keith D Lillemoe
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cristina R Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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43
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Bram Ednersson S, Stern M, Fagman H, Nilsson-Ehle H, Hasselblom S, Thorsell A, Andersson PO. Proteomic analysis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma identifies dysregulated tumor microenvironment proteins in non-GCB/ABC subtype patients. Leuk Lymphoma 2021; 62:2360-2373. [PMID: 34114929 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1913147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The complexity of the activated B-cell like (ABC) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtype is probably not only explained by genetic alterations and methods to measure global protein expression could bring new knowledge regarding the pathophysiology. We used quantitative proteomics to analyze the global protein expression of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues from 202 DLBCL patients. We identified 6430 proteins and 498 were significantly regulated between the germinal center B-cell like (GCB) and non-GCB groups. A number of proteins previously not described to be upregulated in non-GCB or ABC DLBCL was found, e.g. CD64, CD85A, guanylate-binding protein 1 (GBP1), interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeat (IFIT)2, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) and immunohistochemical staining showed higher expression of GBP1 and MLKL. A cluster analysis revealed that the most prominent cluster contained proteins involved in the tumor microenvironment and regulation of the immune system. Our data suggest that the therapeutic focus should be expanded toward the tumor microenvironment in non-GCB/ABC subtype patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Bram Ednersson
- Department of Pathology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mimmie Stern
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, South Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, Sweden.,Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Fagman
- Department of Pathology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Herman Nilsson-Ehle
- Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Section of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sverker Hasselblom
- Department of Research, Development & Education, Region Halland, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Annika Thorsell
- Proteomics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Per-Ola Andersson
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, South Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, Sweden.,Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Brentville VA, Metheringham RL, Daniels I, Atabani S, Symonds P, Cook KW, Vankemmelbeke M, Choudhury R, Vaghela P, Gijon M, Meiners G, Krebber WJ, Melief CJM, Durrant LG. Combination vaccine based on citrullinated vimentin and enolase peptides induces potent CD4-mediated anti-tumor responses. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-000560. [PMID: 32561639 PMCID: PMC7304843 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress-induced post-translational modifications occur during autophagy and can result in generation of new epitopes and immune recognition. One such modification is the conversion of arginine to citrulline by peptidylarginine deiminase enzymes. METHODS We used Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) transgenic mouse models to assess the immunogenicity of citrullinated peptide vaccine by cytokine Enzyme linked immunosorbant spot (ELISpot) assay. Vaccine efficacy was assessed in tumor therapy studies using HLA-matched B16 melanoma and ID8 ovarian models expressing either constitutive or interferon-gamma (IFNγ) inducible Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II (MHC-II) as represented by most human tumors. To determine the importance of CD4 T cells in tumor therapy, we analyzed the immune cell infiltrate into murine tumors using flow cytometry and performed therapy studies in the presence of CD4 and CD8 T cell depletion. We assessed the T cell repertoire to citrullinated peptides in ovarian cancer patients and healthy donors using flow cytometry. RESULTS The combination of citrullinated vimentin and enolase peptides (Modi-1) stimulated strong CD4 T cell responses in mice. Responses resulted in a potent anti-tumor therapy against established tumors and generated immunological memory which protected against tumor rechallenge. Depletion of CD4, but not CD8 T cells, abrogated the primary anti-tumor response as well as the memory response to tumor rechallenge. This was further reinforced by successful tumor regression being associated with an increase in tumor-infiltrating CD4 T cells and a reduction in tumor-associated myeloid suppressor cells. The anti-tumor response also relied on direct CD4 T cell recognition as only tumors expressing MHC-II were rejected. A comparison of different Toll-like receptor (TLR)-stimulating adjuvants showed that Modi-1 induced strong Th1 responses when combined with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF), TLR9/TLR4, TLR9, TLR3, TLR1/2 and TLR7 agonists. Direct linkage of the TLR1/2 agonist to the peptides allowed the vaccine dose to be reduced by 10-fold to 100-fold without loss of anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, a CD4 Th1 response to the citrullinated peptides was seen in ovarian cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS Modi-1 citrullinated peptide vaccine induces potent CD4-mediated anti-tumor responses in mouse models and a CD4 T cell repertoire is present in ovarian cancer patients to the citrullinated peptides suggesting that Modi-1 could be an effective vaccine for ovarian cancer patients.
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MESH Headings
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage
- Animals
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Citrullination/immunology
- Female
- HLA Antigens/genetics
- HLA Antigens/immunology
- Humans
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Interferon-gamma/immunology
- Lymphocyte Depletion
- Male
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/genetics
- Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/immunology
- Vaccines, Combined/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Combined/genetics
- Vaccines, Combined/immunology
- Vaccines, Subunit/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Subunit/genetics
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
- Vimentin/genetics
- Vimentin/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ian Daniels
- Scancell Ltd, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, Nottingham, UK
| | - Suha Atabani
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK
| | - Peter Symonds
- Scancell Ltd, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, Nottingham, UK
| | - Katherine W Cook
- Scancell Ltd, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Ruhul Choudhury
- Scancell Ltd, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, Nottingham, UK
| | - Poonam Vaghela
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK
| | - Mohamed Gijon
- Scancell Ltd, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | - Cornelis J M Melief
- ISA Pharmaceuticals, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Lindy G Durrant
- Scancell Ltd, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, Nottingham, UK
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK
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45
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Jhunjhunwala S, Hammer C, Delamarre L. Antigen presentation in cancer: insights into tumour immunogenicity and immune evasion. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:298-312. [PMID: 33750922 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00339-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 536] [Impact Index Per Article: 178.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade, which blocks inhibitory signals of T cell activation, has shown tremendous success in treating cancer, although success still remains limited to a fraction of patients. To date, clinically effective CD8+ T cell responses appear to target predominantly antigens derived from tumour-specific mutations that accumulate in cancer, also called neoantigens. Tumour antigens are displayed on the surface of cells by class I human leukocyte antigens (HLA-I). To elicit an effective antitumour response, antigen presentation has to be successful at two distinct events: first, cancer antigens have to be taken up by dendritic cells (DCs) and cross-presented for CD8+ T cell priming. Second, the antigens have to be directly presented by the tumour for recognition by primed CD8+ T cells and killing. Tumours exploit multiple escape mechanisms to evade immune recognition at both of these steps. Here, we review the tumour-derived factors modulating DC function, and we summarize evidence of immune evasion by means of quantitative modulation or qualitative alteration of the antigen repertoire presented on tumours. These mechanisms include modulation of antigen expression, HLA-I surface levels, alterations in the antigen processing and presentation machinery in tumour cells. Lastly, as complete abrogation of antigen presentation can lead to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated tumour killing, we also discuss how tumours can harbour antigen presentation defects and still evade NK cell recognition.
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46
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Nota SPFT, Al-Sukaini A, Patel SS, Sabbatino F, Nielsen GP, Deshpande V, Yearley JH, Ferrone S, Wang X, Schwab JH. High TIL, HLA, and Immune Checkpoint Expression in Conventional High-Grade and Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcoma and Poor Clinical Course of the Disease. Front Oncol 2021; 11:598001. [PMID: 33912442 PMCID: PMC8071983 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.598001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to characterize chondrosarcoma tumor infiltration by immune cells and the expression of immunologically relevant molecules. This information may contribute to our understanding of the role of immunological events in the pathogenesis of chondrosarcoma and to the rational design of immunotherapeutic strategies. Patients and Methods A tissue microarray (TMA) containing 52 conventional and 24 dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma specimens was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining for the expression of parameters associated with tumor antigen-specific immune responses, namely, CD4+ and CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the expression of HLA class I heavy chain, beta-2 microglobulin (β2m), HLA class II and immune checkpoint molecules, B7-H3 and PD-1/PD-L1. The results were correlated with histopathological characteristics and the clinical course of the disease. Results CD8+ TILs were present in 21% of the conventional and 90% of the dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma tumors tested. B7-H3 was expressed in 69% of the conventional and 96% of the dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma tumors tested. PD-1 and PD-L1 were expressed 53% and 33% respectively of the dedifferentiated tumors tested. PD-L1 expression was associated with shorter time to metastasis. Conclusion The tumor infiltration by lymphocytes suggests that chondrosarcoma is immunogenic. Defects in HLA class I antigen and expression of the checkpoint molecules B7-H3 and PD-1/PD-L1 suggest that tumor cells utilize escape mechanisms to avoid immune recognition and destruction. This data implies that chondrosarcoma will benefit from strategies that enhance the immunogenicity of tumor antigens and/or counteract the escape mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjoerd P F T Nota
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ahmad Al-Sukaini
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shalin S Patel
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Francesco Sabbatino
- Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - G Petur Nielsen
- Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Vikram Deshpande
- Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jennifer H Yearley
- Department of Translational Medicine, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Xinhui Wang
- Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joseph H Schwab
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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47
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El-Meligui YM, Abd Elrhman HE, Salahuddin A, Hamouda MA, Kassem AB. Correlation Study on HLA-DR and CD117 (c-Kit) Expressions: Its Prognosis and Treatment Response in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients. PHARMACOGENOMICS & PERSONALIZED MEDICINE 2021; 14:381-393. [PMID: 33833549 PMCID: PMC8019664 DOI: 10.2147/pgpm.s268986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. HLA-DR and CD117 (c-Kit) are important diagnostic markers of AML. Our objective is to determine the prognostic significance of HLA-DR and CD117 expressions in newly diagnosed AML patients and determine the correlation between HLA-DR and CD117 expressions and other prognostic markers such as cytogenetic abnormalities, FLT3-ITD, response to treatment, and patient’s survival. Methods This study included 100 newly diagnosed AML patients. All patients were subjected to clinical, morphological, cytochemical, cytogenetic analysis, molecular genetic analysis to detect FLT3-ITD, and Flowcytometric detection of HLA-DR, CD117, and CD 34. Results The results showed that HLA-DR expression was found in 75 patients (77.3%), while CD117 expression was found in 63 patients (64.9%). Patients with HLA-DR expression showed significantly higher mean Hb concentration, significantly higher platelet count, associated with AML-FAB subtypes (M0, M1, and M2), CD34 expression, and favorable cytogenetic group. M3 subtype was significantly associated with HLA-DR-ve. While patients with CD117 expression showed significantly lower platelets count. Double positive patients (HLA-DR+ve/CD117+ve) showed significant association with the intermediate cytogenetic group, while double-negative patients (HLA-DR-ve/CD117-ve) were associated with the favorable and intermediate cytogenetic group and either positive (HLA-DR+ve /CD117-ve or HLA-DR-ve/CD117+ve) associated with poor cytogenetic groups. FLT3-ITD expression had significantly worse overall survival. Conclusion The current study suggested that the expression of CD117 and HLA-DR may be a prognostic marker in AML, as they are associated with M0, M1, and M2 FAB subtypes; moreover, patients with combined HLA-DR and CD117 positive expression are associated with CD34 expression and intermediate cytogenetic group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yomna M El-Meligui
- Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Heba E Abd Elrhman
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Ahmad Salahuddin
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Manal Ali Hamouda
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Amira B Kassem
- Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
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48
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Paston SJ, Brentville VA, Symonds P, Durrant LG. Cancer Vaccines, Adjuvants, and Delivery Systems. Front Immunol 2021; 12:627932. [PMID: 33859638 PMCID: PMC8042385 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.627932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination was first pioneered in the 18th century by Edward Jenner and eventually led to the development of the smallpox vaccine and subsequently the eradication of smallpox. The impact of vaccination to prevent infectious diseases has been outstanding with many infections being prevented and a significant decrease in mortality worldwide. Cancer vaccines aim to clear active disease instead of aiming to prevent disease, the only exception being the recently approved vaccine that prevents cancers caused by the Human Papillomavirus. The development of therapeutic cancer vaccines has been disappointing with many early cancer vaccines that showed promise in preclinical models often failing to translate into efficacy in the clinic. In this review we provide an overview of the current vaccine platforms, adjuvants and delivery systems that are currently being investigated or have been approved. With the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors, we also review the potential of these to be used with cancer vaccines to improve efficacy and help to overcome the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Peter Symonds
- Biodiscovery Institute, Scancell Limited, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Lindy G. Durrant
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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49
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HLA class I loss in colorectal cancer: implications for immune escape and immunotherapy. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:556-565. [PMID: 33473191 PMCID: PMC8027055 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00634-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell-mediated immune therapies have emerged as a promising treatment modality in different malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, only a fraction of patients currently respond to treatment. Understanding the lack of responses and finding biomarkers with predictive value is of great importance. There is evidence that CRC is a heterogeneous disease and several classification systems have been proposed that are based on genomic instability, immune cell infiltration, stromal content and molecular subtypes of gene expression. Human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) plays a pivotal role in presenting processed antigens to T lymphocytes, including tumour antigens. These molecules are frequently lost in different types of cancers, including CRC, resulting in tumour immune escape from cytotoxic T lymphocytes during the natural history of cancer development. The aim of this review is to (i) summarize the prevalence and molecular mechanisms behind HLA-I loss in CRC, (ii) discuss HLA-I expression/loss in the context of the newly identified CRC molecular subtypes, (iii) analyze the HLA-I phenotypes of CRC metastases disseminated via blood or the lymphatic system, (iv) discuss strategies to recover/circumvent HLA-I expression/loss and finally (v) review the role of HLA class II (HLA-II) in CRC prognosis.
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Iafolla MAJ, Yang C, Chandran V, Pintilie M, Li Q, Bedard PL, Hansen A, Lheureux S, Spreafico A, Razak AA, Hakgor S, Giesler A, Pugh TJ, Siu LL. Predicting Toxicity and Response to Pembrolizumab Through Germline Genomic HLA Class 1 Analysis. JNCI Cancer Spectr 2021; 5:pkaa115. [PMID: 33554038 PMCID: PMC7853183 DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkaa115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human leukocyte antigen class 1 (HLA-1)–dependent immune activity is linked to autoimmune diseases. HLA-1–dependent CD8+ T cells are required for immune checkpoint blockade antitumor activity. It is unknown if HLA-1 genotype is predictive of toxicity to immune checkpoint blockade. Methods Patients with advanced solid tumors stratified into 5 cohorts received single agent pembrolizumab (anti-programmed cell death-1) 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks in an investigator-initiated phase II trial (Investigator-Initiated Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab Immunological Response Evaluation study, NCT02644369). Germline whole-exome sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed using the Illumina HiSeq2500 platform. HLA-1 haplotypes were predicted from whole-exome sequencing using HLAminer and HLAVBSeq. Heterozygosity of HLA-A, -B, and -C, individual HLA-1 alleles, and HLA haplotype dimorphism at positions −21 M and −21 T of the HLA-A and -B leader sequence were analyzed as predictors of toxicity defined as grade 2 or greater immune-related adverse events and clinical benefit defined as complete or partial response, or stable disease for 6 or more cycles of pembrolizumab. Statistical significance tests were 2-sided. Results In the overall cohort of 101 patients, the frequency of toxicity and clinical benefit from pembrolizumab was 22.8% and 25.7%, respectively. There was no association between any of the HLA-1 loci or alleles with toxicity. HLA-C heterozygosity had an association with decreased clinical benefit relative to HLA-C homozygosity when controlling for cohort (odds ratio = 0.28, 95% confidence interval = 0.09 to 0.91, P = .04). HLA-A and -B haplotype −21 M/T dimorphism and heterozygosity of HLA-A, -B, and -C were not predictive of outcomes. Conclusions HLA-C heterozygosity may predict decreased response to pembrolizumab. Prospective validation is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A J Iafolla
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cindy Yang
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Melania Pintilie
- Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Quan Li
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Philippe L Bedard
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron Hansen
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephanie Lheureux
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anna Spreafico
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Albiruni A Razak
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sevan Hakgor
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amanda Giesler
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Trevor J Pugh
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lillian L Siu
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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