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Kono M, Saito S, Rokugo M, Egloff AM, Uppaluri R. Enhanced oral versus flank lymph node T cell response parallels anti-PD1 efficacy in head and neck cancer. Oral Oncol 2024; 152:106795. [PMID: 38599127 PMCID: PMC11065458 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Understanding head and neck tissue specific immune responses is important for elucidating immunotherapy resistance mechanisms to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this study, we aimed to investigate HNSCC-specific immune response differences between oral and subcutaneous flank tumor transplantation in preclinical models. MATERIALS AND METHODS The MOC1 syngeneic mouse oral carcinoma cell line or versions expressing either the H2Kb-restricted SIINFEKL peptide from ovalbumin (MOC1OVA) or ZsGreen (MOC1ZsGreen) were inoculated into mouse oral mucosa (buccal space) or subcutaneous flank and compared for immune cell kinetics in tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) and for anti-PD1 response. RESULTS Compared to subcutaneous flank tumors, orthotopic oral MOC1OVA induced a higher number of OVA-specific T cells, PD1 + or CD69 + activated OVA-specific T cells in both primary tumors and TDLNs. Tumors were also larger in the flank site and CD8 depletion eliminated the difference in tumor weight between the two sites. Oral versus flank SIINFEKL peptide vaccination showed enhanced TDLN lymphocyte response in the former site. Notably, cDC1 from oral TDLN showed enhanced antigen uptake and co-stimulatory marker expression, resulting in elicitation of an increased antigen specific T cell response and increased activated T cells. Parental MOC1 in the oral site showed increased endogenous antigen-reactive T cells in TDLNs and anti-PD1 blockade rejected oral MOC1 tumors but not subcutaneous flank MOC1. CONCLUSION Collectively, we find distinct immune responses between orthotopic oral and heterotopic subcutaneous models, including priming by cDC1 in TDLN, revealing important implications for head and neck cancer preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihisa Kono
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
| | - Shin Saito
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Masahiro Rokugo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Ann Marie Egloff
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States.
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States.
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2
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Balcerak A, Szafron LA, Rubel T, Swiderska B, Bonna AM, Konarzewska M, Sołtyszewski I, Kupryjanczyk J, Szafron LM. A Multi-Faceted Analysis Showing CRNDE Transcripts and a Recently Confirmed Micropeptide as Important Players in Ovarian Carcinogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4381. [PMID: 38673965 PMCID: PMC11050281 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084381] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
CRNDE is considered an oncogene expressed as long non-coding RNA. Our previous paper is the only one reporting CRNDE as a micropeptide-coding gene. The amino acid sequence of this micropeptide (CRNDEP) has recently been confirmed by other researchers. This study aimed at providing a mass spectrometry (MS)-based validation of the CRNDEP sequence and an investigation of how the differential expression of CRNDE(P) influences the metabolism and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer (OvCa) cells. We also assessed cellular localization changes of CRNDEP, looked for its protein partners, and bioinformatically evaluated its RNA-binding capacities. Herein, we detected most of the CRNDEP sequence by MS. Moreover, our results corroborated the oncogenic role of CRNDE, portraying it as the gene impacting carcinogenesis at the stages of DNA transcription and replication, affecting the RNA metabolism, and stimulating the cell cycle progression and proliferation, with CRNDEP being detected in the centrosomes of dividing cells. We also showed that CRNDEP is located in nucleoli and revealed interactions of this micropeptide with p54, an RNA helicase. Additionally, we proved that high CRNDE(P) expression increases the resistance of OvCa cells to treatment with microtubule-targeted cytostatics. Furthermore, altered CRNDE(P) expression affected the activity of the microtubular cytoskeleton and the formation of focal adhesion plaques. Finally, according to our in silico analyses, CRNDEP is likely capable of RNA binding. All these results contribute to a better understanding of the CRNDE(P) role in OvCa biology, which may potentially improve the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Balcerak
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Tymon Rubel
- Institute of Radioelectronics and Multimedia Technology, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bianka Swiderska
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Jolanta Kupryjanczyk
- Department of Cancer Pathomorphology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lukasz Michal Szafron
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
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3
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Zhou Q, Wang R, Su Y, Wang B, Zhang Y, Qin X. The molecular circadian rhythms regulating the cell cycle. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30539. [PMID: 38372014 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The circadian clock controls the expression of a large proportion of protein-coding genes in mammals and can modulate a wide range of physiological processes. Recent studies have demonstrated that disruption or dysregulation of the circadian clock is involved in the development and progression of several diseases, including cancer. The cell cycle is considered to be the fundamental process related to cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that the circadian clock can control the expression of a large number of genes related to the cell cycle. This article reviews the mechanism of cell cycle-related genes whose chromatin regulatory elements are rhythmically occupied by core circadian clock transcription factors, while their RNAs are rhythmically expressed. This article further reviews the identified oscillatory cell cycle-related genes in higher organisms such as baboons and humans. The potential functions of these identified genes in regulating cell cycle progression are also discussed. Understanding how the molecular clock controls the expression of cell cycle genes will be beneficial for combating and treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Zhou
- Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Ruohan Wang
- Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yunxia Su
- Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Bowen Wang
- Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yunfei Zhang
- Modern Experiment Technology Center, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Ximing Qin
- Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
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4
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Kostecki KL, Iida M, Crossman BE, Salgia R, Harari PM, Bruce JY, Wheeler DL. Immune Escape Strategies in Head and Neck Cancer: Evade, Resist, Inhibit, Recruit. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:312. [PMID: 38254801 PMCID: PMC10814769 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancers (HNCs) arise from the mucosal lining of the aerodigestive tract and are often associated with alcohol use, tobacco use, and/or human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Over 600,000 new cases of HNC are diagnosed each year, making it the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Historically, treatments have included surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, and while these treatments are still the backbone of current therapy, several immunotherapies have recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in HNC. The role of the immune system in tumorigenesis and cancer progression has been explored since the early 20th century, eventually coalescing into the current three-phase model of cancer immunoediting. During each of the three phases-elimination, equilibrium, and escape-cancer cells develop and utilize multiple strategies to either reach or remain in the final phase, escape, at which point the tumor is able to grow and metastasize with little to no detrimental interference from the immune system. In this review, we summarize the many strategies used by HNC to escape the immune system, which include ways to evade immune detection, resist immune cell attacks, inhibit immune cell functions, and recruit pro-tumor immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kourtney L. Kostecki
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
| | - Mari Iida
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
| | - Bridget E. Crossman
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Paul M. Harari
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Justine Y. Bruce
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Deric L. Wheeler
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
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5
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Zhang C, Peng K, Liu Q, Huang Q, Liu T. Adavosertib and beyond: Biomarkers, drug combination and toxicity of WEE1 inhibitors. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 193:104233. [PMID: 38103761 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
WEE1 kinase is renowned as an S-G2 checkpoint inhibitor activated by ATR-CHK1 in response to replication stress. WEE1 inhibition enhances replication stress and effectively circumvents checkpoints into mitosis, which triggers significant genetic impairs and culminates in cell death. This approach has been validated clinically for its promising anti-tumor efficacy across various cancer types, notably in cases of ovarian cancers. Nonetheless, the initial stage of clinical trials has shown that the first-in-human WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib is limited by dose-limiting adverse events. As a result, recent efforts have been made to explore predictive biomarkers and smart combination schedules to alleviate adverse effects. In this review, we focused on the exploration of therapeutic biomarkers, as well as schedules of combination utilizing WEE1 inhibitors and canonical anticancer drugs, according to the latest preclinical and clinical studies, indicating that the optimal application of WEE1 inhibitors will likely be as part of dose-reducing combination and be tailored to specific patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhang
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Peng
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qihong Huang
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Tianshu Liu
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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6
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Xie Y, Li Y, Yang M. DJ-1: A Potential Biomarker Related to Prognosis, Chemoresistance, and Expression of Microenvironmental Chemokine in HR-Positive Breast Cancer. J Immunol Res 2023; 2023:5041223. [PMID: 38125697 PMCID: PMC10732869 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5041223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
DJ-1 is significantly elevated in various malignancies. However, the clinical significance of DJ-1 in hormone receptor (HR)-positive (HR+) breast cancer remains unclear. We evaluated DJ-1 expression in different databases and validated in vitro assay by RT-PCR and western blot among HR+ breast cancer. The correlations between DJ-1 level and tumor-immune were calculated. Mutational landscape, enriched signaling pathways, and drug sensitivity analyses were also assessed between DJ-1 high and low-expression groups. DJ-1 was upregulated in HR+ breast cancer, and high DJ-1 expression was significantly linked with poor prognosis. DJ-1 was correlated with the expression and function of different immune cells. The low DJ-1 group showed sensitivity to paclitaxel and docetaxel, while the high-expression group showed sensitivity to doxorubicin. CTLA4 and PD-L1 were more sensitive in high-DJ-1 group. It is involved in a range of pathways and might behave as a novel biomarker of prognostic value for the immune environment and drug sensitivity in HR+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghong Xie
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuancheng Li
- Institute of Dermatology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mengzhu Yang
- Department of Geriatric Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
- Core Facility Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
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7
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Tan J, Sun X, Zhao H, Guan H, Gao S, Zhou P. Double-strand DNA break repair: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e388. [PMID: 37808268 PMCID: PMC10556206 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Double-strand break (DSB), a significant DNA damage brought on by ionizing radiation, acts as an initiating signal in tumor radiotherapy, causing cancer cells death. The two primary pathways for DNA DSB repair in mammalian cells are nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR), which cooperate and compete with one another to achieve effective repair. The DSB repair mechanism depends on numerous regulatory variables. DSB recognition and the recruitment of DNA repair components, for instance, depend on the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex and the Ku70/80 heterodimer/DNA-PKcs (DNA-PK) complex, whose control is crucial in determining the DSB repair pathway choice and efficiency of HR and NHEJ. In-depth elucidation on the DSB repair pathway's molecular mechanisms has greatly facilitated for creation of repair proteins or pathways-specific inhibitors to advance precise cancer therapy and boost the effectiveness of cancer radiotherapy. The architectures, roles, molecular processes, and inhibitors of significant target proteins in the DSB repair pathways are reviewed in this article. The strategy and application in cancer therapy are also discussed based on the advancement of inhibitors targeted DSB damage response and repair proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Tan
- Hengyang Medical CollegeUniversity of South ChinaHengyangHunan ProvinceChina
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Xingyao Sun
- Hengyang Medical CollegeUniversity of South ChinaHengyangHunan ProvinceChina
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Hongling Zhao
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Hua Guan
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Ping‐Kun Zhou
- Hengyang Medical CollegeUniversity of South ChinaHengyangHunan ProvinceChina
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
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8
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Al-Jamaei AH, de Visscher JGAM, Subramanyam VR, Forouzanfar T, Sminia P, Doulabi BZ, Helder MN. WEE1 kinase inhibitor MK-1775 sensitizes oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells to radiation irrespective of TP53 status. Oral Dis 2023; 29:2640-2649. [PMID: 35672254 DOI: 10.1111/odi.14269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) frequently harbors non-functional p53 and depends on G2/M checkpoint mediated by WEE1. WEE1 suppression has been identified as a promising anti-tumor strategy. This study investigated the capacity of WEE1 kinase inhibitor (MK-1775) and its underlying mechanisms in enhancing radiation responses of OTSCC cells in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS WEE1 kinase expression and its downstream target (CDK1) were investigated in OTSCC versus normal oral tissue. A synergistic combination of MK-1775 with radiation on OTSCC cell lines with different p53 statuses was assessed by viability assay. The radio-sensitizing effects of MK-1775 on apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA damage, and mitotic entry were also determined. RESULTS Irradiation enhanced CDK1 expression in all tested cell lines, though the effect was far more pronounced in p53 mutated cell lines. MK-1775 exhibited inhibitory effects against the survival of all cell lines and enhanced their response to the radiation. These effects were strongly elicited by induction of apoptosis and lethal mitosis, but less likely by abrogation of radiation-induced G2 arrest. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate the efficacy of MK-1775 in enhancing the radiation effect on OTSCC in vitro associated with a significant apoptotic death rate, identifying WEE1 inhibitor as a potent radiosensitizer in OTSCC irrespective of p53 mutational status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Hussein Al-Jamaei
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology, Amsterdam UMC-location VUmc/Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan G A M de Visscher
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology, Amsterdam UMC-location VUmc/Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - V Ramadugula Subramanyam
- Department of OMFS and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tymour Forouzanfar
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology, Amsterdam UMC-location VUmc/Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Sminia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Behrouz Zandieh Doulabi
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam-University of Amsterdam and VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marco N Helder
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology, Amsterdam UMC-location VUmc/Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Klapp V, Álvarez-Abril B, Leuzzi G, Kroemer G, Ciccia A, Galluzzi L. The DNA Damage Response and Inflammation in Cancer. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:1521-1545. [PMID: 37026695 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-1220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Genomic stability in normal cells is crucial to avoid oncogenesis. Accordingly, multiple components of the DNA damage response (DDR) operate as bona fide tumor suppressor proteins by preserving genomic stability, eliciting the demise of cells with unrepairable DNA lesions, and engaging cell-extrinsic oncosuppression via immunosurveillance. That said, DDR sig-naling can also favor tumor progression and resistance to therapy. Indeed, DDR signaling in cancer cells has been consistently linked to the inhibition of tumor-targeting immune responses. Here, we discuss the complex interactions between the DDR and inflammation in the context of oncogenesis, tumor progression, and response to therapy. SIGNIFICANCE Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that DDR is intimately connected to the emission of immunomodulatory signals by normal and malignant cells, as part of a cell-extrinsic program to preserve organismal homeostasis. DDR-driven inflammation, however, can have diametrically opposed effects on tumor-targeting immunity. Understanding the links between the DDR and inflammation in normal and malignant cells may unlock novel immunotherapeutic paradigms to treat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Klapp
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
- Tumor Stroma Interactions, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Beatriz Álvarez-Abril
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Leuzzi
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1138, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Department of Biology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Alberto Ciccia
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, New York
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10
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Dong L, Vargas CPD, Tian X, Chu X, Yin C, Wong A, Yang Y. Harnessing the Potential of Non-Apoptotic Cell Death Processes in the Treatment of Drug-Resistant Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10376. [PMID: 37373523 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210376] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a highly malignant skin cancer that is known for its resistance to treatments. In recent years, there has been significant progress in the study of non-apoptotic cell death, such as pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and cuproptosis. This review provides an overview of the mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in non-apoptotic cell death in melanoma. This article explores the interplay between various forms of cell death, including pyroptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis, as well as apoptosis and autophagy. Importantly, we discuss how these non-apoptotic cell deaths could be targeted as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of drug-resistant melanoma. This review provides a comprehensive overview of non-apoptotic processes and gathers recent experimental evidence that will guide future research and eventually the creation of treatment strategies to combat drug resistance in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyinxue Dong
- Wenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory for Applied Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Informatics, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
- Zhejiang Bioinformatics International Science and Technology Cooperation Center, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
- College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
| | | | - Xuechen Tian
- Wenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory for Applied Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Informatics, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
- Zhejiang Bioinformatics International Science and Technology Cooperation Center, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
- College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
| | - Xiayu Chu
- College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
| | - Chenqi Yin
- College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
| | - Aloysius Wong
- Wenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory for Applied Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Informatics, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
- Zhejiang Bioinformatics International Science and Technology Cooperation Center, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
- College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
| | - Yixin Yang
- Wenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory for Applied Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Informatics, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
- Zhejiang Bioinformatics International Science and Technology Cooperation Center, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
- College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou 325060, China
- School of Natural Sciences, Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Kean University, Union, NJ 07083, USA
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11
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Xie D, Jiang B, Wang S, Wang Q, Wu G. The mechanism and clinical application of DNA damage repair inhibitors combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of urologic cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1200466. [PMID: 37305685 PMCID: PMC10248030 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1200466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Urologic cancers such as kidney, bladder, prostate, and uroepithelial cancers have recently become a considerable global health burden, and the response to immunotherapy is limited due to immune escape and immune resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to find appropriate and effective combination therapies to improve the sensitivity of patients to immunotherapy. DNA damage repair inhibitors can enhance the immunogenicity of tumor cells by increasing tumor mutational burden and neoantigen expression, activating immune-related signaling pathways, regulating PD-L1 expression, and reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment to activate the immune system and enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. Based on promising experimental results from preclinical studies, many clinical trials combining DNA damage repair inhibitors (e.g., PARP inhibitors and ATR inhibitors) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors) are underway in patients with urologic cancers. Results from several clinical trials have shown that the combination of DNA damage repair inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors can improve objective rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS) in patients with urologic tumors, especially in patients with defective DNA damage repair genes or a high mutational load. In this review, we present the results of preclinical and clinical trials of different DNA damage repair inhibitors in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors in urologic cancers and summarize the potential mechanism of action of the combination therapy. Finally, we also discuss the challenges of dose toxicity, biomarker selection, drug tolerance, drug interactions in the treatment of urologic tumors with this combination therapy and look into the future direction of this combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Qifei Wang
- *Correspondence: Guangzhen Wu, ; Qifei Wang,
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12
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Su YL, Xiao LY, Huang SY, Wu CC, Chang LC, Chen YH, Luo HL, Huang CC, Liu TT, Peng JM. Inhibiting WEE1 Augments the Antitumor Efficacy of Cisplatin in Urothelial Carcinoma by Enhancing the DNA Damage Process. Cells 2023; 12:1471. [PMID: 37296592 PMCID: PMC10252844 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111471] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is characterized by a high incidence of TP53 mutation, and overcoming resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in UC is a major concern. Wee1 is a G2/M phase regulator that controls the DNA damage response to chemotherapy in TP53-mutant cancers. The combination of Wee1 blockade with cisplatin has shown synergistic efficacy in several types of cancers, but little is known regarding UC. The antitumor efficacy of the Wee1 inhibitor (AZD-1775) alone or in combination with cisplatin was evaluated in UC cell lines and a xenograft mouse model. AZD-1775 enhanced the anticancer activity of cisplatin by increasing cellular apoptosis. AZD-1775 inhibited the G2/M checkpoint, improving the sensitivity of mutant TP53 UC cells to cisplatin by enhancing the DNA damage process. We confirmed that AZD-1775 combined with cisplatin reduced tumor volume and proliferation activity and increased the markers of cell apoptosis and DNA damage in the mouse xenograft model. In summary, the Wee1 inhibitor AZD-1775 combined with cisplatin elicited a promising anticancer efficacy in UC, and constitutes an innovative and promising therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Li Su
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
- Genomic & Proteomic Core Laboratory, Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Ling-Yi Xiao
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Yu Huang
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Che Wu
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Li-Chung Chang
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hua Chen
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Lun Luo
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chieh Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Ting Liu
- Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Jei-Ming Peng
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
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13
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Chien W, Tyner JW, Gery S, Zheng Y, Li LY, Gopinatha Pillai MS, Nam C, Bhowmick NA, Lin DC, Koeffler HP. Treatment for ovarian clear cell carcinoma with combined inhibition of WEE1 and ATR. J Ovarian Res 2023; 16:80. [PMID: 37087441 PMCID: PMC10122390 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-023-01160-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Standard platinum-based therapy for ovarian cancer is inefficient against ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC). OCCC is a distinct subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer. OCCC constitutes 25% of ovarian cancers in East Asia (Japan, Korea, China, Singapore) and 6-10% in Europe and North America. The cancer is characterized by frequent inactivation of ARID1A and 10% of cases of endometriosis progression to OCCC. The aim of this study was to identify drugs that are either FDA-approved or in clinical trials for the treatment of OCCC. RESULTS High throughput screening of 166 compounds that are either FDA-approved, in clinical trials or are in pre-clinical studies identified several cytotoxic compounds against OCCC. ARID1A knockdown cells were more sensitive to inhibitors of either mTOR (PP242), dual mTOR/PI3K (GDC0941), ATR (AZD6738) or MDM2 (RG7388) compared to control cells. Also, compounds targeting BH3 domain (AZD4320) and SRC (AZD0530) displayed preferential cytotoxicity against ARID1A mutant cell lines. In addition, WEE1 inhibitor (AZD1775) showed broad cytotoxicity toward OCCC cell lines, irrespective of ARID1A status. CONCLUSIONS In a selection of 166 compounds we showed that inhibitors of ATR and WEE1 were cytotoxic against a panel of OCCC cell lines. These two drugs are already in other clinical trials, making them ideal candidates for treatment of OCCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Chien
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
| | - Jeffrey W Tyner
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon Health and Science University, 2720 S.W. Moody Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Sigal Gery
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Yueyuan Zheng
- Clinical Big Data Research Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, P. R. China
| | - Li-Yan Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guandong Province, P. R. China
| | - Mohan Shankar Gopinatha Pillai
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Chehyun Nam
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Neil A Bhowmick
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - De-Chen Lin
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - H Phillip Koeffler
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute of Singapore, National University Hospital, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
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14
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Molecular targets that sensitize cancer to radiation killing: From the bench to the bedside. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114126. [PMID: 36521246 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is a standard cytotoxic therapy against solid cancers. It uses ionizing radiation to kill tumor cells through damage to DNA, either directly or indirectly. Radioresistance is often associated with dysregulated DNA damage repair processes. Most radiosensitizers enhance radiation-mediated DNA damage and reduce the rate of DNA repair ultimately leading to accumulation of DNA damages, cell-cycle arrest, and cell death. Recently, agents targeting key signals in DNA damage response such as DNA repair pathways and cell-cycle have been developed. This new class of molecularly targeted radiosensitizing agents is being evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies to monitor their activity in potentiating radiation cytotoxicity of tumors and reducing normal tissue toxicity. The molecular pathways of DNA damage response are reviewed with a focus on the repair mechanisms, therapeutic targets under current clinical evaluation including ATM, ATR, CDK1, CDK4/6, CHK1, DNA-PKcs, PARP-1, Wee1, & MPS1/TTK and potential new targets (BUB1, and DNA LIG4) for radiation sensitization.
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15
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Zhang Q, Jin S, Zou X. scAB detects multiresolution cell states with clinical significance by integrating single-cell genomics and bulk sequencing data. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:12112-12130. [PMID: 36440766 PMCID: PMC9757078 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although single-cell sequencing has provided a powerful tool to deconvolute cellular heterogeneity of diseases like cancer, extrapolating clinical significance or identifying clinically-relevant cells remains challenging. Here, we propose a novel computational method scAB, which integrates single-cell genomics data with clinically annotated bulk sequencing data via a knowledge- and graph-guided matrix factorization model. Once combined, scAB provides a coarse- and fine-grain multiresolution perspective of phenotype-associated cell states and prognostic signatures previously not visible by single-cell genomics. We use scAB to enhance live cancer single-cell RNA-seq data, identifying clinically-relevant previously unrecognized cancer and stromal cell subsets whose signatures show a stronger poor-survival association. The identified fine-grain cell subsets are associated with distinct cancer hallmarks and prognosis power. Furthermore, scAB demonstrates its utility as a biomarker identification tool, with the ability to predict immunotherapy, drug responses and survival when applied to melanoma single-cell RNA-seq datasets and glioma single-cell ATAC-seq datasets. Across multiple single-cell and bulk datasets from different cancer types, we also demonstrate the superior performance of scAB in generating prognosis signatures and survival predictions over existing models. Overall, scAB provides an efficient tool for prioritizing clinically-relevant cell subsets and predictive signatures, utilizing large publicly available databases to improve prognosis and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinran Zhang
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China,Hubei Key Laboratory of Computational Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Suoqin Jin
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +86 027 68752957; Fax: +86 027 68752256;
| | - Xiufen Zou
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Xiufen Zou. Tel: +86 027 68752957; Fax: +86 027 68752256;
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16
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Barton PR, Davenport AJ, Hukelmann J, Cantrell DA, Stinchcombe JC, Richard AC, Griffiths GM. Super-killer CTLs are generated by single gene deletion of Bach2. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:1776-1788. [PMID: 36086884 PMCID: PMC9828676 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202249797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Bach2 codes for a transcriptional regulator exerting major influences on T cell-mediated immune regulation. Effector CTLs derived from in vitro activation of murine CD8+ T cells showed increased proliferative and cytolytic capacity in the absence of BACH2. Before activation, BACH2-deficient splenic CD8+ T cells had a higher abundance of memory and reduced abundance of naïve cells compared to wild-type. CTLs derived from central memory T cells were more potently cytotoxic than those derived from naïve T cells, but even within separated subsets, BACH2-deficiency conferred a cytotoxic advantage. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy revealed larger granules in BACH2-deficient compared to wild-type CTLs, and proteomic analysis showed an increase in granule content, including perforin and granzymes. Thus, the enhanced cytotoxicity observed in effector CTLs lacking BACH2 arises not only from differences in their initial differentiation state but also inherent production of enlarged cytolytic granules. These results demonstrate how a single gene deletion can produce a CTL super-killer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippa R. Barton
- Cambridge Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of CambridgeCambridge Biomedical CampusCambridgeCB2 0XYUK
| | - Alexander J. Davenport
- Cambridge Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of CambridgeCambridge Biomedical CampusCambridgeCB2 0XYUK
| | - Jens Hukelmann
- Cell Signalling and Immunology Division, School of Life SciencesUniversity of DundeeDundeeDD1 5EHUK
| | - Doreen A. Cantrell
- Cell Signalling and Immunology Division, School of Life SciencesUniversity of DundeeDundeeDD1 5EHUK
| | - Jane C. Stinchcombe
- Cambridge Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of CambridgeCambridge Biomedical CampusCambridgeCB2 0XYUK
| | - Arianne C. Richard
- Cambridge Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of CambridgeCambridge Biomedical CampusCambridgeCB2 0XYUK
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridge Biomedical CampusCambridgeCB2 0REUK
| | - Gillian M Griffiths
- Cambridge Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of CambridgeCambridge Biomedical CampusCambridgeCB2 0XYUK
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17
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Carlsen L, El-Deiry WS. Anti-cancer immune responses to DNA damage response inhibitors: Molecular mechanisms and progress toward clinical translation. Front Oncol 2022; 12:998388. [PMID: 36276148 PMCID: PMC9583871 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.998388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage response inhibitors are widely used anti-cancer agents that have potent activity against tumor cells with deficiencies in various DNA damage response proteins such as BRCA1/2. Inhibition of other proteins in this pathway including PARP, DNA-PK, WEE1, CHK1/2, ATR, or ATM can sensitize cancer cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and such combinations are currently being tested in clinical trials for treatment of many malignancies including breast, ovarian, rectal, and lung cancer. Unrepaired DNA damage induced by DNA damage response inhibitors alone or in combination with radio- or chemotherapy has a direct cytotoxic effect on cancer cells and can also engage anti-cancer innate and adaptive immune responses. DNA damage-induced immune stimulation occurs by a variety of mechanisms including by the cGAS/STING pathway, STAT1 and downstream TRAIL pathway activation, and direct immune cell activation. Whether or not the relative contribution of these mechanisms varies after treatment with different DNA damage response inhibitors or across cancers with different genetic aberrations in DNA damage response enzymes is not well-characterized, limiting the design of optimal combinations with radio- and chemotherapy. Here, we review how the inhibition of key DNA damage response enzymes including PARP, DNA-PK, WEE1, CHK1/2, ATR, and ATM induces innate and adaptive immune responses alone or in combination with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or immunotherapy. We also discuss current progress in the clinical translation of immunostimulatory DNA-damaging treatment regimens and necessary future directions to optimize the immune-sensitizing potential of DNA damage response inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Carlsen
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- The Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University and the Lifespan Health System, Providence, RI, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- Pathobiology Graduate Program, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- Cancer Center, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Wafik S. El-Deiry
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- The Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University and the Lifespan Health System, Providence, RI, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- Pathobiology Graduate Program, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- Cancer Center, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- Department of Medicine, Hematology-Oncology Division, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- *Correspondence: Wafik S. El-Deiry,
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18
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Kono M, Saito S, Egloff AM, Allen CT, Uppaluri R. The mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) model: A 10-year retrospective on model development and head and neck cancer investigations. Oral Oncol 2022; 132:106012. [PMID: 35820346 PMCID: PMC9364442 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.106012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical models of cancer have long been paramount to understanding tumor development and advancing the treatment of cancer. Creating preclinical models that mimic the complexity and heterogeneity of human tumors is a key challenge in the advancement of cancer therapy. About ten years ago, we created the mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) cell line models that were derived from 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced mouse oral squamous cell cancers. This model has been used in numerous investigations, including studies on tumor biology and therapeutics. We have seen remarkable progress in cancer immunology in recent years, and these cell lines, which are syngeneic to C57BL/6 background, have also been used to study the anti-tumor immune response. Herein, we aim to review the MOC model from its development and characterization to its use in non-immunological and immunological preclinical head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) studies. Integrating and refining these MOC model studies and extending findings to other systems will provide crucial insights for translational approaches aimed at improving head and neck cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihisa Kono
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
| | - Shin Saito
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Ann Marie Egloff
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States.
| | - Clint T Allen
- Section on Translational Tumor Immunology, National Institutes on Deafness and Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States.
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19
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Non-Canonical Programmed Cell Death in Colon Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143309. [PMID: 35884370 PMCID: PMC9320762 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Non-canonical PCD is an important player in colon cancer cell suicide. It influences colon cancer in many ways, such as through tumorigenesis, treatment, and prognosis. In this review, we present the mechanism, application, and prospect of different types of non-canonical PCD in colon cancer. Abstract Programmed cell death (PCD) is an evolutionarily conserved process of cell suicide that is regulated by various genes and the interaction of multiple signal pathways. Non-canonical programmed cell death (PCD) represents different signaling excluding apoptosis. Colon cancer is the third most incident and the fourth most mortal worldwide. Multiple factors such as alcohol, obesity, and genetic and epigenetic alternations contribute to the carcinogenesis of colon cancer. In recent years, emerging evidence has suggested that diverse types of non-canonical programmed cell death are involved in the initiation and development of colon cancer, including mitotic catastrophe, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, parthanatos, oxeiptosis, NETosis, PANoptosis, and entosis. In this review, we summarized the association of different types of non-canonical PCD with tumorigenesis, progression, prevention, treatments, and prognosis of colon cancer. In addition, the prospect of drug-resistant colon cancer therapy related to non-canonical PCD, and the interaction between different types of non-canonical PCD, was systemically reviewed.
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20
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Redman JM, Friedman J, Robbins Y, Sievers C, Yang X, Lassoued W, Sinkoe A, Papanicolau-Sengos A, Lee CCR, Marte JL, Turkbey EB, Mydlarz W, Joshi AS, London NR, Pierce M, Taylor RJ, Hong S, Nguyen A, Soon-Shiong P, Schlom J, Gulley JL, Allen CT. Enhanced neoepitope-specific immunity following neoadjuvant PD-L1 and TGF-b blockade in HPV-unrelated head and neck cancer. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:161400. [PMID: 35727629 PMCID: PMC9479764 DOI: 10.1172/jci161400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma not associated with human papillomavirus (HPV-unrelated HNSCC) is associated with high rates of recurrence and poor survival. METHODS We conducted a clinical trial in 14 patients with newly diagnosed, HPV-unrelated HNSCC to evaluate the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein that blocks programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and neutralizes transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-). RESULTS Bintrafusp alfa was well tolerated, and no treatment-associated surgical delays or complications occurred. Objective pathologic responses were observed and 12 of 14 patients (86%) were alive and disease free at one year. Alterations in regulatory T cell infiltration and spatial distribution relative to proliferating CD8 T cells indicated reversal of Treg immunosuppression in the primary tumor. Detection of neoepitope-specific tumor T cell responses, but not viral-specific responses, correlated with development of a pathologic response. Detection of neoepitope-specific responses and pathologic responses in tumors was not correlated with genomic features or tumor antigenicity but was associated with reduced pre-treatment myeloid cell tumor infiltration. These results indicate that dual PD-L1 and TGF- blockade can safely enhance tumor antigen-specific immunity and highlight the feasibility of multi-mechanism neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with HPV-unrelated HNSCC. CONCLUSION Our studies provide new insight into the ability of neoadjuvant immunotherapy to induce polyclonal neoadjuvant-specific T cell responses in tumors and suggest that features of the tumor microenvironment, such as myeloid cell infiltration, may be a major determinant of enhanced anti-tumor immunity following such treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Redman
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, NCI, CCR. NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Jay Friedman
- Section on Translational Tumor Immunology, National Institute on Deafness a, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Section on Translational Tumor Immunology, National Institute on Deafness a, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Cem Sievers
- Section on Translational Tumor Immunology, National Institute on Deafness a, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Xinping Yang
- Section on Translational Tumor Immunology, National Institute on Deafness a, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Wiem Lassoued
- Tumor Immune Microenvironment Laboratory, Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, NCI, CCR. NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Andrew Sinkoe
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, NCI, CCR. NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | | | - Chyi-Chia R Lee
- Laboratory of Pathology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Jennifer L Marte
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, NCI, CCR. NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Evrim B Turkbey
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, NIH, Bethedsda, United States of America
| | - Wojciech Mydlarz
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America
| | - Arjun S Joshi
- Department of Surgery, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Nyall R London
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America
| | - Matthew Pierce
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Rodney J Taylor
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America
| | - Steven Hong
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda, United States of America
| | | | | | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, NCI, CCR, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, NCI, CCR, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Clint T Allen
- Section on Translational Tumor Immunology, National Institute on Deafness a, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
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21
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Hu Z, Viswanathan R, Cheng H, Chen J, Yang X, Huynh A, Clavijo P, An Y, Robbins Y, Silvin C, Allen C, Ormanoglu P, Martin S, Cornelius S, Saleh A, Chen Z, Van Waes C, Morgan EL. Inhibiting WEE1 and IKK-RELA Crosstalk Overcomes TNFα Resistance in Head and Neck Cancers. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:867-882. [PMID: 35176168 PMCID: PMC9177594 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
TNFα is a key mediator of immune and radiotherapy-induced cytotoxicity, but many cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), display TNF resistance due to activation of the canonical IKK-NF-κB/RELA pro-survival pathway. However, toxicities associated with direct targeting of the canonical pathway point to the need to identify mechanism(s) contributing to TNFα resistance and synthetic lethal targets to overcome such resistance in cancer cells. Here, RNAi screening for modulators of TNFα-NF-κB reporter activity and cell survival unexpectedly implicated the WEE1 and CDC2 G2-M checkpoint kinases. The IKKα/β-RELA and WEE1-CDC2 signaling pathways are activated by TNFα and form a complex in cell lines derived from both human papillomavirus (-) and (+) subtypes of HNSCC. WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 reduced IKK/RELA phosphorylation and the expression of NF-κB-dependent pro-survival proteins Cyclin D1 and BCL2. Combination of TNFα and AZD1775 enhanced caspase-mediated apoptosis in vitro, and combination treatment with radiotherapy and AZD1775 potentiated inhibition of HNSCC tumor xenograft growth in vivo, which could be significantly attenuated by TNFα depletion. These data offer new insight into the interplay between NF-κB signaling and WEE1-mediated regulation of the G2-M cell-cycle checkpoint in HNSCC. IMPLICATIONS Inhibiting WEE1 and IKK-RELA crosstalk could potentially enhance the effects of therapies mediated by TNFα with less systemic immune suppression and toxicity than observed with direct interruption of IKK-NF-κB/RELA signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengbo Hu
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Shaoguan First People’s Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shaoguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Ramya Viswanathan
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Hui Cheng
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jianghong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Xinping Yang
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Angel Huynh
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Paul Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yi An
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Christopher Silvin
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Clint Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Pinar Ormanoglu
- RNAi Screening Facility, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Scott Martin
- RNAi Screening Facility, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Shaleeka Cornelius
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Anthony Saleh
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Zhong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Contributed equally as senior authors
| | - Ethan L. Morgan
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Contributed equally as senior authors
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22
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Qian X, Jiang C, Zhu Z, Han G, Xu N, Ye J, Wang R. Long non-coding RNA LINC00511 facilitates colon cancer development through regulating microRNA-625-5p to target WEE1. Cell Death Dis 2022; 8:233. [PMID: 35477702 PMCID: PMC9046421 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00790-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The altered part of long non-coding RNA LINC00511 (LINC00511) is extensively discussed in malignancies. Finitely, the mechanism of LINC00511 in colon cancer (CC) development lacks thorough explorations. Hence, this work is started from the LINC00511-mediated microRNA (miR)-625-5p/WEE1 axis in the CC process. LINC00511, miR-625-5p, and WEE1 levels were tested in CC tissues and cells. Subcellular localization of LINC00511 was clarified. CC cells were transfected with oligonucleotides that altered LINC00511, and miR-625-5p expression to define their performance in CC cell progression. The tumorigenic ability of cells was verified in xenografted tumors. CC tissues and cells highly expressed LINC00511 and WEE1 and lowly expressed miR-625-5p. LINC00511 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Deleted LINC00511 or restored miR-625-5p delayed cellular growth in CC. LINC00511 sponged miR-625-5p to target WEE1. Silenced miR-625-5p mitigated the role of depleted LINC00511, while inhibited WEE1 rescued the effect of silenced miR-625-5p on the biological functions of CC cells. It is summarized that down-regulated LINC00511 obstructs tumorigenesis of CC through restoring miR-625-5p and silencing WEE1, consolidating a basal reference for CC-oriented therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowu Qian
- Department of Geriatrics, Taizhou People's Hospital (Taizhou People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University), 225300, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Chun Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou People's Hospital (Taizhou People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University), 225300, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhengtai Zhu
- Department of Geriatrics, Taizhou People's Hospital (Taizhou People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University), 225300, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Gaohua Han
- Department of Oncology, Taizhou People's Hospital (Taizhou People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University), 225300, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ning Xu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Taizhou People's Hospital (Taizhou People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University), 225300, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Ye
- Department of Central Laboratory, Taizhou People's Hospital (Taizhou People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University), Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruixing Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Taizhou People's Hospital (Taizhou People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University), 225300, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
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23
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Meng X, Gao JZ, Gomendoza SMT, Li JW, Yang S. Recent Advances of WEE1 Inhibitors and Statins in Cancers With p53 Mutations. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:737951. [PMID: 34671620 PMCID: PMC8520942 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.737951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
p53 is among the most frequently mutated tumor suppressor genes given its prevalence in >50% of all human cancers. One critical tumor suppression function of p53 is to regulate transcription of downstream genes and maintain genomic stability by inducing the G1/S checkpoint in response to DNA damage. Tumor cells lacking functional p53 are defective in the G1/S checkpoint and become highly dependent on the G2/M checkpoint to maintain genomic stability and are consequently vulnerable to Wee1 inhibitors, which override the cell cycle G2/M checkpoint and induce cell death through mitotic catastrophe. In addition to the lost tumor suppression function, many mutated p53 (Mutp53) proteins acquire gain-of-function (GOF) activities as oncogenes to promote cancer progression, which manifest through aberrant expression of p53. In cancer cells with GOF Mutp53, statins can induce CHIP-mediated degradation of Mutp53 within the mevalonate pathway by blocking the interaction between mutp53 and DNAJA1. Therefore, targeting critical downstream pathways of Mutp53 provides an alternative strategy for treating cancers expressing Mutp53. In this review, we summarize recent advances with Wee1 inhibitors, statins, and mevalonate pathway inhibitors in cancers with p53 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangbing Meng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Jason Z Gao
- Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | | | - John W Li
- Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Department of Human and Evolutionary Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Shujie Yang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
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24
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WEE1 inhibition reverses trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive cancers. Gastric Cancer 2021; 24:1003-1020. [PMID: 33723720 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-021-01176-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To date, many efforts have been made to understand the resistance mechanism of trastuzumab in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast and gastric cancer. However, there is still a huge unmet medical need for patients with trastuzumab resistance. METHODS In our study, we generated four trastuzumab-resistant (HR) cancer cell lines from ERBB2-amplified gastric and biliary tract cancer cell lines (SNU-216, NCI-N87, SNU-2670, and SNU-2773). RESULTS Here, we found higher PD-L1 expression in trastuzumab-resistant (HR) HER2-positive cancer cells than in parental cells, and blocking PD-L1 reversed the resistance to trastuzumab in HR cells. Trastuzumab upregulated PD-L1 expression via NF-κB activation in both parental and HR cells, however, led to DNA damage only in parental cells. The WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib, which downregulates PD-L1 expression, enhanced trastuzumab efficacy by blocking BRCA1-CMTM6-PD-L1 signals and the HER2-CDCP-1-SRC axis. Additionally, the levels of galectin-9, CD163, FoxP3, and CTLA-4 were diminished by blocking WEE1 in the presence of human PBMCs in vitro. CONCLUSION Taken together, the strategy of co-targeting HER2 and WEE1 could overcome resistance to trastuzumab in HER2-positive cancers, supporting further clinical development in HER2-positive cancer patients.
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25
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Marin-Acevedo JA, Kimbrough EO, Manochakian R, Zhao Y, Lou Y. Immunotherapies targeting stimulatory pathways and beyond. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:78. [PMID: 33980266 PMCID: PMC8117548 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01085-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules play a critical role in T cell function. Tumor cells escape immune surveillance by promoting immunosuppression. Immunotherapy targeting inhibitory molecules like anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 were developed to overcome these immunosuppressive effects. These agents have demonstrated remarkable, durable responses in a small subset of patients. The other mechanisms for enhancing anti-tumor activities are to target the stimulatory pathways that are expressed on T cells or other immune cells. In this review, we summarize current phase I/II clinical trials evaluating novel immunotherapies targeting stimulatory pathways and outline their advantages, limitations, and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian A Marin-Acevedo
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, 33612, FL, USA
| | - ErinMarie O Kimbrough
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road S., Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Rami Manochakian
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road S., Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Yujie Zhao
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road S., Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Yanyan Lou
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road S., Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
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26
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Moutafi M, Economopoulou P, Rimm D, Psyrri A. PARP inhibitors in head and neck cancer: Molecular mechanisms, preclinical and clinical data. Oral Oncol 2021; 117:105292. [PMID: 33862558 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) have revolutionized the treatment landscape in several cancers. PARPi increase DNA damage particularly in tumors with underlying defects in DNA repair. In addition to PARPi-induced DNA damage, PARPi enhance immune priming and induce adaptive upregulation of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are characterized by aberrant DNA repair pathways, including nucleotide excision repair (NER), base excision repair (BER) and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair and these deregulated repair mechanisms are implicated in both the pathogenesis of the disease and the outcome of therapy. Cisplatin represents the cornerstone of treatment of HNSCC and cisplatin resistance impedes successful treatment outcomes. To this end, research strategies that are testing modulation of cisplatin sensitivity by PARPi are of particular interest. Moreover, given the immune modulating effects of PARPi and the recent approval of Programmed Cell Death- 1 (PD-1) checkpoint inhibitors in HNSCC, the design of trials combining PARPi and PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors represent a rational research strategy. In this review, we summarize data supporting the integration of PARP inhibitors into HNSCC therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Moutafi
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Panagiota Economopoulou
- Section of Medical Oncology, 2(nd) Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - David Rimm
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amanda Psyrri
- Section of Medical Oncology, 2(nd) Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
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27
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Charap AJ, Enokida T, Brody R, Sfakianos J, Miles B, Bhardwaj N, Horowitz A. Landscape of natural killer cell activity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:jitc-2020-001523. [PMID: 33428584 PMCID: PMC7754625 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) encompasses a set of cancers arising from the epithelia of the upper aerodigestive tract, accounting for a significant burden of disease worldwide due to the disease’s mortality, morbidity, and predilection for recurrence. Prognosis of HNSCC in the recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M-HNSCC) setting is especially poor and effective treatment options increasingly rely on modulating T-cell antitumor responses. Still, immunotherapy response rates are generally low, prompting the exploration of novel strategies that incorporate other effector cells within the tumor microenvironment. Within the last decade, important advances have been made leveraging the powerful innate antitumor function of natural killer (NK) cells to treat solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. NK cells are hybrid innate-adaptive effector cells capable of directly eliminating tumor cells in addition to initiating adaptive antitumor immune responses. In the setting of HNSCC, NK cells are important for tumor surveillance and control, and NK cell infiltration has repeatedly been associated with a favorable prognosis. Yet, HNSCC-infiltrating NK cells are susceptible to an array of immune evasion strategies employed by tumors that must be overcome to fully realize the antitumor potential of NK cells. We believe that a conceptual framework informed by the basic biological understanding of the mechanisms underlying NK cell activation can improve treatment of HNSCC, in part by selecting for patients most likely to respond to NK cell-based immunotherapy. Herein, we review the activity of NK cells in HNSCC, paying special attention to the role of environmental and genetic determinants of NK cell antitumor function. Moreover, we explore the evidence that NK cells are a crucial determinant of the efficacy of both established and emerging treatments for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Charap
- Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tomohiro Enokida
- Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rachel Brody
- Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - John Sfakianos
- Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Brett Miles
- Otolaryngology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nina Bhardwaj
- Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amir Horowitz
- Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) associated with high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is a growing clinical problem. The WEE1 kinase inhibitor AZD1775 (WEE1i) overrides cell cycle checkpoints and is being studied in HNSCC regimens. We show that the HPV16 E6/E7 oncoproteins sensitize HNSCC cells to single-agent WEE1i treatment through activation of a FOXM1-CDK1 circuit that drives mitotic gene expression and DNA damage. An isogenic cell system indicated that E6 largely accounts for these phenotypes in ways that extend beyond p53 inactivation. A targeted genomic analysis implicated FOXM1 signaling downstream of E6/E7 expression and analyses of primary tumors and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data revealed an activated FOXM1-directed promitotic transcriptional signature in HPV+ versus HPV- HNSCCs. Finally, we demonstrate the causality of FOXM1 in driving WEE1i sensitivity. These data suggest that elevated basal FOXM1 activity predisposes HPV+ HNSCC to WEE1i-induced toxicity and provide mechanistic insights into WEE1i and HPV+ HNSCC therapies.
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29
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Pharmacological Inhibition of WEE1 Potentiates the Antitumoral Effect of the dl922-947 Oncolytic Virus in Malignant Mesothelioma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197333. [PMID: 33020398 PMCID: PMC7582744 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a very aggressive asbestos-related cancer, for which no therapy proves to be effective. We have recently shown that the oncolytic adenovirus dl922-947 had antitumor effects in MM cell lines and murine xenografts. Previous studies demonstrated that dl922-947-induced host cell cycle checkpoint deregulation and consequent DNA lesions associated with the virus efficacy. However, the cellular DNA damage response (DDR) can counteract this virus action. Therefore, we assessed whether AZD1775, an inhibitor of the G2/M DNA damage checkpoint kinase WEE1, could enhance MM cell sensitivity to dl922-947. Through cell viability assays, we found that AZD1775 synergized with dl922-947 selectively in MM cell lines and increased dl922-947-induced cell death, which showed hallmarks of apoptosis (annexinV-positivity, caspase-dependency, BCL-XL decrease, chromatin condensation). Predictably, dl922-947 and/or AZD1775 activated the DDR, as indicated by increased levels of three main DDR players: phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), phospho-replication protein A (RPA)32, phospho-checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1). Dl922-947 also increased inactive Tyr-15-phosphorylated cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), a key WEE1 substrate, which is indicative of G2/M checkpoint activation. This increase in phospho-CDK1 was effectively suppressed by AZD1775, thus suggesting that this compound could, indeed, abrogate the dl922-947-induced DNA damage checkpoint in MM cells. Overall, our data suggest that the dl922-947-AZD1775 combination could be a feasible strategy against MM.
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30
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Wang B, Sun L, Yuan Z, Tao Z. Wee1 kinase inhibitor AZD1775 potentiates CD8+ T cell-dependent antitumour activity via dendritic cell activation following a single high dose of irradiation. Med Oncol 2020; 37:66. [PMID: 32696094 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-020-01390-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
As standard treatments for cancer, DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents and irradiation therapy improve survival in patients with various cancers. Wee1, a kinase associated with the cell cycle, causes G2/M cell cycle arrest to allow repair of injured DNA in cancer cells, and a Wee1 inhibitor has been confirmed to lead to apoptosis in cancer cells. Recently, there has been renewed interest in exploring the immune environment which plays a significant role in tumour suppression. A Wee1 inhibitor combined with radiotherapy has been tested in lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancer and melanoma in vivo or in vitro. There is still no research evaluating the immunoregulatory effects of AZD1775 plus high-dose irradiation (IR) in vivo. T cell killing and CD8+ T cell depletion assays demonstrated that the combination of AZD1775 and IR delayed tumour growth in breast cancer mouse models. Additionally, combination treatment also suppressed the expression of PD-L1, a co-inhibitor, through the STAT3-IRF1 axis. The importance and originality of this study are that it explores the internal and external mechanisms of AZD1775 combined with a single high dose of IR and provides a rationale for applying the combination therapy described above in a clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127, Chang Le West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Lin Sun
- Department of Pathology, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiyong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Cyberknife Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China.
| | - Zhen Tao
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Cyberknife Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China.
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31
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Robbins Y, Greene S, Friedman J, Clavijo PE, Van Waes C, Fabian KP, Padget MR, Abdul Sater H, Lee JH, Soon-Shiong P, Gulley J, Schlom J, Hodge JW, Allen CT. Tumor control via targeting PD-L1 with chimeric antigen receptor modified NK cells. eLife 2020; 9:54854. [PMID: 32633234 PMCID: PMC7340502 DOI: 10.7554/elife.54854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Failed T cell-based immunotherapies in the presence of genomic alterations in antigen presentations pathways may be overcome by NK cell-based immunotherapy. This approach may still be limited by the presence of immunosuppressive myeloid populations. Here, we demonstrate that NK cells (haNKs) engineered to express a PD-L1 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) haNKs killed a panel of human and murine head and neck cancer cells at low effector-to-target ratios in a PD-L1-dependent fashion. Treatment of syngeneic tumors resulted in CD8 and PD-L1-dependent tumor rejection or growth inhibition and a reduction in myeloid cells endogenously expressing high levels of PD-L1. Treatment of xenograft tumors resulted in PD-L1-dependent tumor growth inhibition. PD-L1 CAR haNKs reduced levels of macrophages and other myeloid cells endogenously expressing high PD-L1 in peripheral blood from patients with head and neck cancer. The clinical study of PD-L1 CAR haNKs is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Sarah Greene
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Kellsye P Fabian
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Michelle R Padget
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Houssein Abdul Sater
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | | | | | - James Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
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Chew HY, Dolcetti R, Simpson F. Scientifically based combination therapies with immuno-oncology checkpoint inhibitors. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2020; 86:1711-1725. [PMID: 32372470 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of immune checkpoints and their role in modulating immune response have revolutionised cancer treatment in recent years. The immune checkpoints, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand, programmed cell death-ligand 1, have been extensively studied. Currently 7 monoclonal antibodies targeting these immune checkpoints are approved for treatment of various cancers. Inhibiting immune checkpoints has shown some success in clinic, however, a proportion of patients do not benefit from this treatment. Several other inhibitory molecules, in addition to lymphocyte-associated protein 4 and programmed cell death protein 1, are known to be involved in regulating immune response. To further improve patient outcomes, studies have examined targeting these inhibitory molecules through combination therapies. This review discusses the current landscape of combination therapies of checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yi Chew
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fiona Simpson
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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33
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Yang WF, Qin N, Song X, Jiang C, Li T, Ji P, Li Y, Ding D, Wang C, Dai J, Jin G, Chen TW, Chang YS, Ouyang DQ, Liao GQ, Hu Z, Chang KP, Su YX, Ma H. Genomic Signature of Mismatch Repair Deficiency in Areca Nut-Related Oral Cancer. J Dent Res 2020; 99:1252-1261. [PMID: 32527169 DOI: 10.1177/0022034520930641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Areca nut (AN) chewing contributes to an increase of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cases in South and Southeast Asia; however, genomic events underlying the carcinogenesis process of AN-related OSCC remain unclear. Here, we comprehensively describe the genomic and transcriptome alterations of 113 Chinese OSCC patients (89 AN related and 24 AN negative) by whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing, and we compared the genomic differences between AN-related and AN-negative samples by integrating sequencing data of 325 OSCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and 50 from a published Taiwanese study. We identified 11 significantly mutated genes for OSCC, including 4 novel ones (ATG2A, WEE1, DST, and TSC2), of which WEE1 and ATG2A mutated with significantly higher rates in AN-related samples (P = 0.04 and P = 0.003, respectively). Mutational signature analysis revealed that AN-related OSCCs were specially characterized by the genomic signature of mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), which could also predict the prognosis status of AN-related OSCC. In addition, an elevated PD-L1 expression was also observed in both AN-related patients (P = 3.71 × 10-11) and those with a high dMMR level (P = 1.99 × 10-4). Further differential expression analysis and in vitro experiments confirmed the role of dMMR in the development of OSCC induced by AN exposure. Taken together, this study first revealed the molecular profiles and highlighted the role of dMMR in AN-related OSCC among the Chinese population and identified that AN-related OSCC may represent a potential cohort for effective anti-PD-1/L1 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- W F Yang
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - N Qin
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
| | - X Song
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
| | - C Jiang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Mainland China
| | - T Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Mainland China
| | - P Ji
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
| | - Y Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
| | - D Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
| | - C Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
| | - J Dai
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
| | - G Jin
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
| | - T W Chen
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Y S Chang
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - D Q Ouyang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Mainland China
| | - G Q Liao
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Mainland China
| | - Z Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
| | - K P Chang
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Y X Su
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - H Ma
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Mainland China
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34
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DNA damage response signaling pathways and targets for radiotherapy sensitization in cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:60. [PMID: 32355263 PMCID: PMC7192953 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0150-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 464] [Impact Index Per Article: 116.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is one of the most common countermeasures for treating a wide range of tumors. However, the radioresistance of cancer cells is still a major limitation for radiotherapy applications. Efforts are continuously ongoing to explore sensitizing targets and develop radiosensitizers for improving the outcomes of radiotherapy. DNA double-strand breaks are the most lethal lesions induced by ionizing radiation and can trigger a series of cellular DNA damage responses (DDRs), including those helping cells recover from radiation injuries, such as the activation of DNA damage sensing and early transduction pathways, cell cycle arrest, and DNA repair. Obviously, these protective DDRs confer tumor radioresistance. Targeting DDR signaling pathways has become an attractive strategy for overcoming tumor radioresistance, and some important advances and breakthroughs have already been achieved in recent years. On the basis of comprehensively reviewing the DDR signal pathways, we provide an update on the novel and promising druggable targets emerging from DDR pathways that can be exploited for radiosensitization. We further discuss recent advances identified from preclinical studies, current clinical trials, and clinical application of chemical inhibitors targeting key DDR proteins, including DNA-PKcs (DNA-dependent protein kinase, catalytic subunit), ATM/ATR (ataxia–telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related), the MRN (MRE11-RAD50-NBS1) complex, the PARP (poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase) family, MDC1, Wee1, LIG4 (ligase IV), CDK1, BRCA1 (BRCA1 C terminal), CHK1, and HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor-1). Challenges for ionizing radiation-induced signal transduction and targeted therapy are also discussed based on recent achievements in the biological field of radiotherapy.
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35
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Nam AR, Jin MH, Bang JH, Oh KS, Seo HR, Oh DY, Bang YJ. Inhibition of ATR Increases the Sensitivity to WEE1 Inhibitor in Biliary Tract Cancer. Cancer Res Treat 2020; 52:945-956. [PMID: 32311864 PMCID: PMC7373879 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2020.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Currently, the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway represents a key target for new cancer drug development. Advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) has a poor prognosis because of the lack of efficacious treatment options. Although DNA repair pathway alterations have been reported in many patients with BTC, little is known regarding the effects of DDR-targeted agents against BTC. Materials and Methods In this study, nine BTC cell lines were exposed to the WEE1 inhibitor (AZD1775). In vitro, MTT assay, colony-forming assay, cell cycle analysis, phospho-histone H3 staining assay, Transwell migration assay, and western blot were performed. Then, to enhance the antitumor effect of AZD1775, the combination treatment of WEE1 inhibitor and ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related (ATR) inhibitor (AZD6738) was conducted using MTT assay and comet assay. Finally, HuCCT-1 and SNU2670 xenograft models were established to confirm the anti-tumor effect of AZD1775 alone. Furthermore, the combination treatment was also evaluated in SNU2670 xenograft models. Results AZD1775 blocked the phosphorylation of CDC2 and CDC25C in all cell lines, but significantly increased apoptosis and S phase arrest in sensitive cells. However, increased p-ATR and phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia mutated levels were observed in less sensitive cells. In addition, in vitro and in vivo data illustrated that AZD1775 combined with AZD6738 exerted more potent anti-tumor effects than either drug alone. Although WEE1 inhibition has promising anti-tumor effects in some BTC cells, the addition of ATR inhibitors could enhance its efficacy. Conclusion Taken together, this study supports further clinical development of DDR-targeted strategies as monotherapy or combination regimens for BTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ah-Rong Nam
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mei-Hua Jin
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ju-Hee Bang
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyoung-Seok Oh
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye-Rim Seo
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Do-Youn Oh
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yung-Jue Bang
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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36
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Targeting the DNA Damage Response for Radiosensitization. CANCER DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-49701-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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37
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Powles T, Kockx M, Rodriguez-Vida A, Duran I, Crabb SJ, Van Der Heijden MS, Szabados B, Pous AF, Gravis G, Herranz UA, Protheroe A, Ravaud A, Maillet D, Mendez MJ, Suarez C, Linch M, Prendergast A, van Dam PJ, Stanoeva D, Daelemans S, Mariathasan S, Tea JS, Mousa K, Banchereau R, Castellano D. Clinical efficacy and biomarker analysis of neoadjuvant atezolizumab in operable urothelial carcinoma in the ABACUS trial. Nat Med 2019; 25:1706-1714. [PMID: 31686036 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-019-0628-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 372] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies targeting PD-1 or its ligand 1 PD-L1 such as atezolizumab, have great efficacy in a proportion of metastatic urothelial cancers1,2. Biomarkers may facilitate identification of these responding tumors3. Neoadjuvant use of these agents is associated with pathological complete response in a spectrum of tumors, including urothelial cancer4-7. Sequential tissue sampling from these studies allowed for detailed on-treatment biomarker analysis. Here, we present a single-arm phase 2 study, investigating two cycles of atezolizumab before cystectomy in 95 patients with muscle-invasive urothelial cancer (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02662309). Pathological complete response was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints focused on safety, relapse-free survival and biomarker analysis. The pathological complete response rate was 31% (95% confidence interval: 21-41%), achieving the primary efficacy endpoint. Baseline biomarkers showed that the presence of preexisting activated T cells was more prominent than expected and correlated with outcome. Other established biomarkers, such as tumor mutational burden, did not predict outcome, differentiating this from the metastatic setting. Dynamic changes to gene expression signatures and protein biomarkers occurred with therapy, whereas changes in DNA alterations with treatment were uncommon. Responding tumors showed predominant expression of genes related to tissue repair after treatment, making tumor biomarker interpretation challenging in this group. Stromal factors such as transforming growth factor-β and fibroblast activation protein were linked to resistance, as was high expression of cell cycle gene signatures after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Powles
- Barts Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
| | | | | | - Ignacio Duran
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, CSIC and Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Simon J Crabb
- Southampton Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Bernadett Szabados
- Barts Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Albert Font Pous
- Catalan Institute of Oncology, Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (B.ARGO)-IGTP, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | | | - Urbano Anido Herranz
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Alain Ravaud
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hopital Saint-Andre, University of Bordeaux-CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Denis Maillet
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Lyon Sud, Lyon, France
| | - Maria Jose Mendez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Cristina Suarez
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mark Linch
- Department of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospital, London, UK
| | - Aaron Prendergast
- Barts Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Sofie Daelemans
- HistogeneX N.V., Wilrijk, Belgium
- Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Kelly Mousa
- Barts Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Daniel Castellano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
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38
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Friedman J, Moore EC, Zolkind P, Robbins Y, Clavijo PE, Sun L, Greene S, Morisada MV, Mydlarz WK, Schmitt N, Hodge JW, Schreiber H, Van Waes C, Uppaluri R, Allen C. Neoadjuvant PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Blockade Reverses Functional Immunodominance among Tumor Antigen-Specific T Cells. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 26:679-689. [PMID: 31645352 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-2209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Surgical resection of primary tumor with regional lymphadenectomy remains the treatment of choice for patients with advanced human papillomavirus-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, even when pathologic disease-free margins can be achieved, locoregional and/or distant disease relapse remains high. Perioperative immunotherapy may improve outcomes, but mechanistic data supporting the use of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment clinically are sparse. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Two syngeneic models of oral cavity carcinoma with defined T-cell antigens were treated with programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) mAb before or after surgical resection of primary tumors, and antigen-specific T-cell responses were explored with functional and in vivo challenge assays. RESULTS We demonstrated that functional immunodominance developed among T cells targeting multiple independent tumor antigens. T cells specific for subdominant antigens expressed greater levels of PD-1. Neoadjuvant, but not adjuvant, PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade broke immunodominance and induced T-cell responses to dominant and subdominant antigens. Using tumors lacking the immunodominant antigen as a model of antigen escape, neoadjuvant PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade induced effector T-cell immunity against tumor cells lacking immunodominant but retaining subdominant antigen. When combined with complete surgical excision, neoadjuvant PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade led to formation of immunologic memory capable of preventing engraftment of tumors lacking the immunodominant but retaining subdominant antigen. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results implicate PD-1 expression by T cells in the mechanism of functional immunodominance among independent T-cell clones within a progressing tumor and support the use of neoadjuvant PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade in patients with surgically resectable carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ellen C Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul Zolkind
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lilian Sun
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sarah Greene
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Megan V Morisada
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wojciech K Mydlarz
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nicole Schmitt
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hans Schreiber
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Clint Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. .,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Combining ERBB family and MET inhibitors is an effective therapeutic strategy in cutaneous malignant melanoma independent of BRAF/NRAS mutation status. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:663. [PMID: 31506424 PMCID: PMC6737096 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1875-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Current treatment modalities for disseminated cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) improve survival; however, relapses are common. A number of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) including EGFR and MET have been reported to be involved in CMM metastasis and in the development of resistance to therapy, targeting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK pathway). IHC analysis showed that patients with higher MET protein expression had a significantly shorter overall survival. In addition, silencing of MET caused an upregulation of EGFR and p-AKT, which was abrogated by concomitant silencing of MET and EGFR in CMM cells resistant to MAPK-targeting drugs. We therefore explored novel treatment strategies using clinically approved drugs afatinib (ERBB family inhibitor) and crizotinib (MET inhibitor), to simultaneously block MET and ERBB family RTKs. The effects of the combination were assessed in cell culture and spheroid models using established CMM and patient-derived short-term cell lines, and an in vivo xenograft mouse model. The combination had a synergistic effect, promoting cell death, concomitant with a potent downregulation of migratory and invasive capacity independent of their BRAF/NRAS mutational status. Furthermore, the combination attenuated tumor growth rate, as ascertained by the significant reduction of Ki67 expression and induced DNA damage in vivo. Importantly, this combination therapy had minimal therapy-related toxicity in mice. Lastly, the cell cycle G2 checkpoint kinase WEE1 and the RTK IGF1R, non-canonical targets, were altered upon exposure to the combination. Knockdown of WEE1 abrogated the combination-mediated effects on cell migration and proliferation in BRAF mutant BRAF inhibitor-sensitive cells, whereas WEE1 silencing alone inhibited cell migration in NRAS mutant cells. In summary, our results show that afatinib and crizotinib in combination is a promising alternative targeted therapy option for CMM patients, irrespective of BRAF/NRAS mutational status, as well as for cases where resistance has developed towards BRAF inhibitors.
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40
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Patel P, Sun L, Robbins Y, Clavijo PE, Friedman J, Silvin C, Van Waes C, Cook J, Mitchell J, Allen C. Enhancing direct cytotoxicity and response to immune checkpoint blockade following ionizing radiation with Wee1 kinase inhibition. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1638207. [PMID: 31646086 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1638207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells activate the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint in response to ionizing radiation (IR) and effector immune cell-derived granzyme B to facilitate repair and survival. Wee1 kinase inhibition reverses the ability of tumor cells to pause at G2/M. Here, we hypothesized that AZD1775, a small molecule inhibitor of Wee1 kinase, could sensitize tumor cells to IR and T-lymphocyte killing and improve responses to combination IR and programmed death (PD)-axis immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Multiple models of head and neck carcinoma, lung carcinoma and melanoma were used in vitro and in vivo to explore this hypothesis. AZD1775 reversed G2/M cell cycle checkpoint activation following IR, inducing cell death. Combination IR and AZD1775 induced accumulation of DNA damage in M-phase cells and was rescued with nucleoside supplementation, indicating mitotic catastrophe. Combination treatment enhanced control of syngeneic MOC1 tumors in vivo, and on-target effects of systemic AZD1775 could be localized with targeted IR. Combination treatment enhanced granzyme B-dependent T-lymphocyte killing through reversal of additive G2/M cell cycle block induced by IR and granzyme B. Combination IR and AZ1775-enhanced CD8+ cell-dependent MOC1 tumor growth control and rate of complete rejection of established tumors in the setting of PD-axis ICB. Functional assays demonstrated increased tumor antigen-specific immune responses in sorted T-lymphocytes. The combination of IR and AZD1775 not only lead to enhanced tumor-specific cytotoxicity, it also enhanced susceptibility to T-lymphocyte killing and responses to PD-axis ICB. These data provide the pre-clinical rationale for the combination of these therapies in the clinical trial setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Patel
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lily Sun
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher Silvin
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John Cook
- Radiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James Mitchell
- Radiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Clint Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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41
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Sun L, Clavijo PE, Robbins Y, Patel P, Friedman J, Greene S, Das R, Silvin C, Van Waes C, Horn LA, Schlom J, Palena C, Maeda D, Zebala J, Allen CT. Inhibiting myeloid-derived suppressor cell trafficking enhances T cell immunotherapy. JCI Insight 2019; 4:126853. [PMID: 30944253 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.126853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) into tumors induces local immunosuppression in carcinomas. Here, we assessed whether SX-682, an orally bioavailable small-molecule inhibitor of CXCR1 and CXCR2, could block tumor MDSC recruitment and enhance T cell activation and antitumor immunity following multiple forms of immunotherapy. CXCR2+ neutrophilic MDSCs (PMN-MDSCs) were the most abundant myeloid cell subset within oral and lung syngeneic carcinomas. PMN-MDSCs demonstrated greater suppression of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte killing of targets compared with macrophages. SX-682 significantly inhibited trafficking of PMN-MDSCs without altering CXCR2 ligand expression. Trafficking of CXCR1+ macrophages was unaltered, possibly due to coexpression of CSF1R. Reduced PMN-MDSC tumor infiltration correlated with enhanced accumulation of endogenous or adoptively transferred T cells. Accordingly, tumor growth inhibition or the rate of established tumor rejection following programed death-axis (PD-axis) immune checkpoint blockade or adoptive cell transfer of engineered T cells was enhanced in combination with SX-682. Despite CXCR1/2 expression on tumor cells, SX-682 appeared to have little direct antitumor effect on these carcinoma models. These data suggest that tumor-infiltrating CXCR2+ PMN-MDSCs may prevent optimal responses following both PD-axis immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T cell transfer therapy. Abrogation of PMN-MDSC trafficking with SX-682 enhances T cell-based immunotherapeutic efficacy and may be of benefit to patients with MDSC-infiltrated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Rita Das
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Chris Silvin
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lucas A Horn
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Dean Maeda
- Syntrix Pharmaceuticals, Auburn, Washington, USA
| | - John Zebala
- Syntrix Pharmaceuticals, Auburn, Washington, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translation Tumor Immunology Program and.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Greene S, Patel P, Allen CT. How patients with an intact immune system develop head and neck cancer. Oral Oncol 2019; 92:26-32. [PMID: 31010619 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Although the adaptive immune system can detect and eliminate malignant cells, patients with intact and fully functional immune systems develop head and neck cancer. How is this paradox explained? Manuscripts published in the English language from 1975 to 2018 were reviewed using search inputs related to tumor cell antigenicity and immunogenicity, immunodominance, cancer immunoediting and genomic alterations present within carcinomas. Early in tumor development, T cell responses to immunodominant antigens may lead to the elimination of cancer cells expressing these antigens and a tumor composed to tumor cells expressing only immunorecessive antigens. Conversely, other tumor cells may acquire genomic or epigenetic alterations that result in an antigen processing or presentation defect or other inability to be detected or killed by T cells. Such T cell insensitive tumor cells may also be selected for in a progressing tumor. Tumors harboring subpopulations of cells that cannot be eliminated by T cells may require non-T cell-based treatments, such as NK cell immunotherapies. Recognition of such tumor cell populations within a heterogeneous cancer may inform the selection of treatment for HNSCC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Greene
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Priya Patel
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
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