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Cai S, Zhao M, Yang G, Li C, Hu M, Yang L, Xing L, Sun X. Modified spatial architecture of regulatory T cells after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 137:112434. [PMID: 38889507 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
It is crucial to decipher the modulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumor microenvironment (TME) induced by chemotherapy, which may contribute to improving the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We retrospectively collected specimens from patients with II-III NSCLC, constituting two cohorts: a neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) cohort (N = 141) with biopsy (N = 58) and postoperative specimens (N = 141), and a surgery-only cohort (N = 122) as the control group. Then, the cell density (Dens), infiltration score (InS), and Treg-cell proximity score (TrPS) were conducted using a panel of multiplex fluorescence staining (Foxp3, CD4, CD8, CK, CD31, ɑSMA). Subsequently, the association of Tregs with cancer microvessels (CMVs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) was analyzed. Patients with NAC treatment have a higher density of Tregs in both paired (P < 0.001) and unpaired analysis (P = 0.022). Additionally, patients with NAC treatment showed higher infiltration score (paired, P < 0.001; unpaired, P = 0.014) and more CD8+T cells around Tregs (paired/unpaired, both P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that tumors with a diameter of ≤ 5 cm exhibited increase in both Dens(Treg) and InS(Treg), and gemcitabine, pemetrexed and taxel enhanced Dens(Treg) and TrPS(CD8) following NAC. Multivariate analysis identified that the Dens(Tregs), InS(Tregs) and TrPS(CD8) were significantly associated with better chemotherapy response [OR = 8.54, 95%CI (1.69, 43.14), P = 0.009; OR = 7.14, 95%CI (1.70, 30.08), P = 0.024; OR = 5.50, 95%CI (1.09, 27.75), P = 0.039, respectively] and positive recurrence-free survival [HR = 3.23, 95%CI (1.47, 7.10), P = 0.004; HR = 2.70; 95%CI (1.27, 5.72); P = 0.010; HR = 2.55, 95%CI (1.21, 5.39), P = 0.014, respectively]. Moreover, TrPS(CD8) and TrPS(CD4) were negatively correlated with the CMVs and CAFs. These discoveries have deepened our comprehension of the immune-modulating impact of chemotherapy and underscored that the modified spatial landscape of Tregs after chemotherapy should be taken into account for personalized immunotherapy, aiming to ultimately improve clinical outcomes in patients with NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Cai
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Miaoqing Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Guanqun Yang
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chaozhuo Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Mengyu Hu
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Liying Yang
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ligang Xing
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaorong Sun
- Shandong University Cancer Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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Wang Y, Song Y, He Y, Wang Y, Maurer J, Kiessling F, Lammers T, Wang F, Shi Y. Direct immunoactivation by chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer treatment. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2023; 6:2300209. [PMID: 38249990 PMCID: PMC7615547 DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202300209] [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: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The immune system plays a crucial role in recognizing and eliminating pathogenic substances and malignant cells in the body. For cancer treatment, immunotherapy is becoming the standard treatment for many types of cancer and is often combined with chemotherapy. Although chemotherapeutic agents are often reported to have adverse effects, including immunosuppression, they can also play a positive role in immunotherapy by directly stimulating the immune system. This has been demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies in the past decades. Chemotherapeutics can activate immune cells through different immune receptors and signaling pathways depending on their chemical structure and formulation. In this review, we summarize and discuss the direct immunoactivation effects of chemotherapeutics and possible mechanisms behind these effects. Finally, we prospect chemo-immunotherapeutic combinations for the more effective and safer treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurui Wang
- Department of Polymer Therapeutics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen and Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Yiran Song
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai 10th People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Yazhi He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai 10th People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai 10th People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Jochen Maurer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Fabian Kiessling
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen and Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Twan Lammers
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen and Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Huadong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Yang Shi
- Department of Polymer Therapeutics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen and Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
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3
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Riaz F, Huang Z, Pan F. Targeting post-translational modifications of Foxp3: a new paradigm for regulatory T cell-specific therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1280741. [PMID: 37936703 PMCID: PMC10626496 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1280741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A healthy immune system is pivotal for the hosts to resist external pathogens and maintain homeostasis; however, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) damages the anti-tumor immunity and promotes tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. Recently, many studies have found that Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are the major immunosuppressive cells that facilitate the formation of TME by promoting the development of various tumor-associated cells and suppressing the activity of effector immune cells. Considering the role of Tregs in tumor progression, it is pivotal to identify new therapeutic drugs to target and deplete Tregs in tumors. Although several studies have developed strategies for targeted deletion of Treg to reduce the TME and support the accumulation of effector T cells in tumors, Treg-targeted therapy systematically affects the Treg population and may lead to the progression of autoimmune diseases. It has been understood that, nevertheless, in disease conditions, Foxp3 undergoes several definite post-translational modifications (PTMs), including acetylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, and methylation. These PTMs not only elevate or mitigate the transcriptional activity of Foxp3 but also affect the stability and immunosuppressive function of Tregs. Various studies have shown that pharmacological targeting of enzymes involved in PTMs can significantly influence the PTMs of Foxp3; thus, it may influence the progression of cancers and/or autoimmune diseases. Overall, this review will help researchers to understand the advances in the immune-suppressive mechanisms of Tregs, the post-translational regulations of Foxp3, and the potential therapeutic targets and strategies to target the Tregs in TME to improve anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fan Pan
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, China
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4
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Singh S, Barik D, Arukha AP, Prasad S, Mohapatra I, Singh A, Singh G. Small Molecule Targeting Immune Cells: A Novel Approach for Cancer Treatment. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2621. [PMID: 37892995 PMCID: PMC10604364 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional and cancer immunotherapies encompass diverse strategies to address various cancer types and stages. However, combining these approaches often encounters limitations such as non-specific targeting, resistance development, and high toxicity, leading to suboptimal outcomes in many cancers. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is orchestrated by intricate interactions between immune and non-immune cells dictating tumor progression. An innovative avenue in cancer therapy involves leveraging small molecules to influence a spectrum of resistant cell populations within the TME. Recent discoveries have unveiled a phenotypically diverse cohort of innate-like T (ILT) cells and tumor hybrid cells (HCs) exhibiting novel characteristics, including augmented proliferation, migration, resistance to exhaustion, evasion of immunosurveillance, reduced apoptosis, drug resistance, and heightened metastasis frequency. Leveraging small-molecule immunomodulators to target these immune players presents an exciting frontier in developing novel tumor immunotherapies. Moreover, combining small molecule modulators with immunotherapy can synergistically enhance the inhibitory impact on tumor progression by empowering the immune system to meticulously fine-tune responses within the TME, bolstering its capacity to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. This review outlines strategies involving small molecules that modify immune cells within the TME, potentially revolutionizing therapeutic interventions and enhancing the anti-tumor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpi Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Debashis Barik
- Center for Computational Natural Science and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad 500032, Telangana, India
| | | | | | - Iteeshree Mohapatra
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Amar Singh
- Schulze Diabetes Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Gatikrushna Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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5
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Shan F, Cillo AR, Cardello C, Yuan DY, Kunning SR, Cui J, Lampenfeld C, Williams AM, McDonough AP, Pennathur A, Luketich JD, Kirkwood JM, Ferris RL, Bruno TC, Workman CJ, Benos PV, Vignali DAA. Integrated BATF transcriptional network regulates suppressive intratumoral regulatory T cells. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eadf6717. [PMID: 37713508 PMCID: PMC11045170 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adf6717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Human regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial regulators of tissue repair, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. However, it is challenging to inhibit the suppressive function of Tregs for cancer therapy without affecting immune homeostasis. Identifying pathways that may distinguish tumor-restricted Tregs is important, yet the transcriptional programs that control intratumoral Treg gene expression, and that are distinct from Tregs in healthy tissues, remain largely unknown. We profiled single-cell transcriptomes of CD4+ T cells in tumors and peripheral blood from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and those in nontumor tonsil tissues and peripheral blood from healthy donors. We identified a subpopulation of activated Tregs expressing multiple tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) genes (TNFR+ Tregs) that is highly enriched in the tumor microenvironment (TME) compared with nontumor tissue and the periphery. TNFR+ Tregs are associated with worse prognosis in HNSCC and across multiple solid tumor types. Mechanistically, the transcription factor BATF is a central component of a gene regulatory network that governs key aspects of TNFR+ Tregs. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated BATF knockout in human activated Tregs in conjunction with bulk RNA sequencing, immunophenotyping, and in vitro functional assays corroborated the central role of BATF in limiting excessive activation and promoting the survival of human activated Tregs. Last, we identified a suite of surface molecules reflective of the BATF-driven transcriptional network on intratumoral Tregs in patients with HNSCC. These findings uncover a primary transcriptional regulator of highly suppressive intratumoral Tregs, highlighting potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention in cancer without affecting immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Shan
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Integrative Systems Biology Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anthony R. Cillo
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carly Cardello
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel Y. Yuan
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sheryl R. Kunning
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jian Cui
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Caleb Lampenfeld
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Asia M. Williams
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alexandra P. McDonough
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Arjun Pennathur
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - James D. Luketich
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - John M. Kirkwood
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert L. Ferris
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tullia C. Bruno
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Creg J. Workman
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Panayiotis V. Benos
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Dario A. A. Vignali
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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6
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Chen Y, Jiang M, Chen X. Therapeutic potential of TNFR2 agonists: a mechanistic perspective. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1209188. [PMID: 37662935 PMCID: PMC10469862 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1209188] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
TNFR2 agonists have been investigated as potential therapies for inflammatory diseases due to their ability to activate and expand immunosuppressive CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Despite TNFR2 being predominantly expressed in Treg cells at high levels, activated effector T cells also exhibit a certain degree of TNFR2 expression. Consequently, the role of TNFR2 signaling in coordinating immune or inflammatory responses under different pathological conditions is complex. In this review article, we analyze possible factors that may determine the therapeutic outcomes of TNFR2 agonism, including the levels of TNFR2 expression on different cell types, the biological properties of TNFR2 agonists, and disease status. Based on recent progress in the understanding of TNFR2 biology and the study of TNFR2 agonistic agents, we discuss the future direction of developing TNFR2 agonists as a therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Mengmeng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Ministry of Education (MoE) Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Macau, Macau SAR, China
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7
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Yang N, Wang Y, Liu S, Tariq SB, Luna JM, Mazo G, Tan A, Zhang T, Wang J, Yan W, Choi J, Rossi A, Xiang JZ, Rice CM, Merghoub T, Wolchok JD, Deng L. OX40L-expressing recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara induces potent antitumor immunity via reprogramming Tregs. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20221166. [PMID: 37145142 PMCID: PMC10165539 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective depletion of immune suppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenvironment without triggering systemic autoimmunity is an important strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is a highly attenuated, non-replicative vaccinia virus with a long history of human use. Here, we report rational engineering of an immune-activating recombinant MVA (rMVA, MVA∆E5R-Flt3L-OX40L) with deletion of the vaccinia E5R gene (encoding an inhibitor of the DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase, cGAS) and expression of two membrane-anchored transgenes, Flt3L and OX40L. Intratumoral (IT) delivery of rMVA (MVA∆E5R-Flt3L-OX40L) generates potent antitumor immunity, dependent on CD8+ T cells, the cGAS/STING-mediated cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, and type I IFN signaling. Remarkably, IT rMVA (MVA∆E5R-Flt3L-OX40L) depletes OX40hi regulatory T cells via OX40L/OX40 interaction and IFNAR signaling. Single-cell RNA-seq analyses of tumors treated with rMVA showed the depletion of OX40hiCCR8hi Tregs and expansion of IFN-responsive Tregs. Taken together, our study provides a proof-of-concept for depleting and reprogramming intratumoral Tregs via an immune-activating rMVA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Yang
- Department of Medicine, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Medicine, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shuaitong Liu
- Department of Medicine, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shanza Baseer Tariq
- Department of Medicine, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph M. Luna
- The Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory Mazo
- Department of Medicine, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adrian Tan
- Genomic Resources Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tuo Zhang
- Genomic Resources Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Wei Yan
- IMVAQ Therapeutics, Sammamish, WA, USA
| | - John Choi
- IMVAQ Therapeutics, Sammamish, WA, USA
| | - Anthony Rossi
- Department of Medicine, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jenny Zhaoying Xiang
- Genomic Resources Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles M. Rice
- The Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Taha Merghoub
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jedd D. Wolchok
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Liang Deng
- Department of Medicine, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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8
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Hirschhorn D, Budhu S, Kraehenbuehl L, Gigoux M, Schröder D, Chow A, Ricca JM, Gasmi B, De Henau O, Mangarin LMB, Li Y, Hamadene L, Flamar AL, Choi H, Cortez CA, Liu C, Holland A, Schad S, Schulze I, Betof Warner A, Hollmann TJ, Arora A, Panageas KS, Rizzuto GA, Duhen R, Weinberg AD, Spencer CN, Ng D, He XY, Albrengues J, Redmond D, Egeblad M, Wolchok JD, Merghoub T. T cell immunotherapies engage neutrophils to eliminate tumor antigen escape variants. Cell 2023; 186:1432-1447.e17. [PMID: 37001503 PMCID: PMC10994488 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies, including adoptive T cell transfer, can be ineffective because tumors evolve to display antigen-loss-variant clones. Therapies that activate multiple branches of the immune system may eliminate escape variants. Here, we show that melanoma-specific CD4+ T cell therapy in combination with OX40 co-stimulation or CTLA-4 blockade can eradicate melanomas containing antigen escape variants. As expected, early on-target recognition of melanoma antigens by tumor-specific CD4+ T cells was required. Surprisingly, complete tumor eradication was dependent on neutrophils and partly dependent on inducible nitric oxide synthase. In support of these findings, extensive neutrophil activation was observed in mouse tumors and in biopsies of melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade. Transcriptomic and flow cytometry analyses revealed a distinct anti-tumorigenic neutrophil subset present in treated mice. Our findings uncover an interplay between T cells mediating the initial anti-tumor immune response and neutrophils mediating the destruction of tumor antigen loss variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hirschhorn
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sadna Budhu
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lukas Kraehenbuehl
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Gigoux
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Schröder
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew Chow
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacob M Ricca
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Billel Gasmi
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Olivier De Henau
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Levi Mark B Mangarin
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yanyun Li
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Linda Hamadene
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anne-Laure Flamar
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hyejin Choi
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Czrina A Cortez
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cailian Liu
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aliya Holland
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sara Schad
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Isabell Schulze
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Allison Betof Warner
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Travis J Hollmann
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arshi Arora
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine S Panageas
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabrielle A Rizzuto
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebekka Duhen
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Andrew D Weinberg
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Christine N Spencer
- Department of Informatics, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David Ng
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Xue-Yan He
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | | | - David Redmond
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration, Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mikala Egeblad
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Jedd D Wolchok
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine and Graduate Schools, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Taha Merghoub
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine and Graduate Schools, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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9
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Shan F, Somasundaram A, Bruno TC, Workman CJ, Vignali DAA. Therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells in cancer. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:944-961. [PMID: 35853825 PMCID: PMC9588644 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The success of immunotherapy in oncology underscores the vital role of the immune system in cancer development. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain a fine balance between autoimmunity and immune suppression. They have multiple roles in the tumor microenvironment (TME) but act particularly in suppressing T cell activation. This review focuses on the detrimental and sometimes beneficial roles of Tregs in tumors, our current understanding of recruitment and stabilization of Tregs within the TME, and current Treg-targeted therapeutics. Research identifying subpopulations of Tregs and their respective functions and interactions within the complex networks of the TME will be crucial to develop the next generation of immunotherapies. Through these advances, Treg-targeted immunotherapy could have important implications for the future of oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Shan
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Ashwin Somasundaram
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Tullia C Bruno
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Creg J Workman
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Dario A A Vignali
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
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10
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Zhang Q, Rui W, Jiang Y, Yuan F, Chen Y, Guo X, Zhou Y, Wu Z, Wang C, Ding X. Tumor-infiltrating OX40 + lymphocytes is an independent positive prognostic factor for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2022; 24:2029-2038. [PMID: 35731350 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02864-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OX40 signaling pathway occupies a vital place in anti-tumor immunity; however, the role of tumor-infiltrating OX40+ lymphocytes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains to be identified. METHODS A total of 325 sequential PDAC patients who received curative tumor resection between January 2014 and December 2016 were enrolled. Tissues of these patients were immunohistochemically assessed for tumor infiltration of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), and OX40+ lymphocytes. The frequency of OX40+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was then analyzed to various clinicopathological features, densities of tumor infiltration of CD4+ T cells and CTLs, and survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves. The risk scores of associated markers were calculated by the Cox proportional-hazards model. RESULTS Our results showed that higher OX40+ lymphocytes infiltration was significantly correlated with superior median overall survival (OS) (25.8 vs 13.4 months, P < 0.001). Additionally, using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses, this study revealed that together with tumor differentiation, tumor size, serum CA199 levels, serum CA125 levels, and the infiltration of intratumoral CD8+ T cells. The abundance of OX40+ lymphocytes within the tumor was continued to be an independent predictor for OS (P = 0.023, HR = 0.713, 95% CI: 0.532-0.954). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that intratumoral infiltration by a high number of OX40+ lymphocytes is a novel biomarker for favorable prognosis in resected PDAC patients, which implies that OX40-agonist-based immunotherapy might be a potential target in PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwei Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Weiwei Rui
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yongsheng Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatic Disease Center, Research Institute of Pancreatic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Fei Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiaoxia Guo
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhiyuan Wu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Chaofu Wang
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Xiaoyi Ding
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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11
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Kim TW, Burris HA, de Miguel Luken MJ, Pishvaian MJ, Bang YJ, Gordon M, Awada A, Camidge DR, Hodi FS, McArthur GA, Miller WH, Cervantes A, Chow LQ, Lesokhin AM, Rutten A, Sznol M, Rishipathak D, Chen SC, Stefanich E, Pourmohamad T, Anderson M, Kim J, Huseni M, Rhee I, Siu LL. First-In-Human Phase I Study of the OX40 Agonist MOXR0916 in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:3452-3463. [PMID: 35699599 PMCID: PMC9662912 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-4020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OX40, a receptor transiently expressed by T cells upon antigen recognition, is associated with costimulation of effector T cells and impairment of regulatory T-cell function. This first-in-human study evaluated MOXR0916, a humanized effector-competent agonist IgG1 monoclonal anti-OX40 antibody. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients with locally advanced or metastatic refractory solid tumors were treated with MOXR0916 intravenously once every 3 weeks (Q3W). A 3+3 dose-escalation stage (0.2-1,200 mg; n = 34) was followed by expansion cohorts at 300 mg (n = 138) for patients with melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and triple-negative breast cancer. RESULTS MOXR0916 was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities observed. An MTD was not reached. Most patients (95%) experienced at least one adverse event (AE); 56% of AEs, mostly grade 1-2, were related to MOXR0916. Most common treatment-related AEs included fatigue (17%), diarrhea (8%), myalgia (7%), nausea (6%), decreased appetite (6%), and infusion-related reaction (5%). Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were dose proportional between 80 and 1,200 mg and supported Q3W administration. The recommended expansion dose based on PK and OX40 receptor saturation was 300 mg Q3W. Immune activation and upregulation of PD-L1 was observed in a subset of paired tumor biopsies. One renal cell carcinoma patient experienced a confirmed partial response. Overall, 33% of patients achieved stable disease. CONCLUSIONS Although objective responses were rarely observed with MOXR0916 monotherapy, the favorable safety profile and evidence of tumor immune activation in a subset of patients support further investigation in combination with complementary agents such as PD-1/PD-L1 antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Won Kim
- Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea
- Corresponding Author: Tae Won Kim, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, Seoul 138-736, South Korea. Phone: 82-23-010–3210; E-mail:
| | | | | | | | - Yung-Jue Bang
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | | | | | - D. Ross Camidge
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | - Grant A. McArthur
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wilson H. Miller
- Jewish General Hospital and Segal Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Andres Cervantes
- Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia Spain
| | | | - Alexander M. Lesokhin
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Annemie Rutten
- GasthuisZusters Antwerpen Sint-Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mario Sznol
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jeong Kim
- Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Ina Rhee
- Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | - Lillian L. Siu
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Lao J, Cao C, Niu X, Deng S, Ming S, Liang S, Shang Y, Yuan Y, Shi X, Liang Z, Wu M, Wu Y. OX40 enhances T cell immune response to PD-1 blockade therapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 108:108813. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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13
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Banik A, Sharma R, Chauhan A, Singh S. Cutting the umbilical cord: Cancer stem cell-targeted therapeutics. Life Sci 2022; 299:120502. [PMID: 35351466 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120502] [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: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) are a notoriously quiescent subpopulation of cells within heterogeneous tumors exhibiting self-renewal, differentiation and drug-resistant capabilities leading to tumor relapse. Heterogeneous cell populations in tumor microenvironment develop an elaborate network of signalling and factors supporting the CSC population within a niche. Identification of specific biomarkers for CSCs facilitates their isolation. CSCs demonstrate abilities that bypass immune surveillance, exhibit resistance to therapy, and induce cancer recurrence while promoting altered metabolism of the bulk tumor, thereby encouraging metastasis. The fight against cancer is prone to relapse without discussing the issue of CSCs, making it imperative for encapsulation of current studies. In this review, we provide extensive knowledge of recent therapeutics developed that target CSCs via multiple signalling cascades, altered metabolism and the tumor microenvironment. Thorough understanding of the functioning of CSCs, their interaction with different cells in the tumor microenvironment as well as current gaps in knowledge are addressed. We present possible strategies to disrupt the cellular and molecular interplay within the tumor microenvironment and make it less conducive for CSCs, which may aid in their eradication with subsequently better treatment outcomes. In conclusion, we discuss a brief yet functional idea of emerging concepts in CSC biology to develop efficient therapeutics acting on cancer recurrence and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Banik
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry University, Chinna Kalapet, Puducherry 605014, India
| | - Rishika Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
| | - Akansha Chauhan
- Amity Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, India
| | - Sandhya Singh
- Amity Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, India.
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14
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Smiline Girija AS. Protean role of epigenetic mechanisms and their impact in regulating the Tregs in TME. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:661-664. [PMID: 34321625 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00371-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Constitutive expression of Foxp3+ Tregs in the tumor microenvironment (TME) specifically renders immune suppression in the tumor tissues. Being highly stable and self-tolerant, Tregs may be influenced by various epigenetic-associated mechanisms while exhibiting their functions. DNA methylation, histone acetylation, epigenetic silencing, alteration in chromatin networks, etc., are some of the main factors underlying the epigenetic-based Treg cell functional modulations in the TME. The possible reasons on why these epigenetic modulations should be specifically targeted are thus discussed, so that enhanced anti-tumor immunity in TME can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Smiline Girija
- Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, 600 077, India.
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15
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Revisiting the melanomagenic pathways and current therapeutic approaches. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:9651-9671. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07412-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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16
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Hong MMY, Maleki Vareki S. Addressing the Elephant in the Immunotherapy Room: Effector T-Cell Priming versus Depletion of Regulatory T-Cells by Anti-CTLA-4 Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1580. [PMID: 35326731 PMCID: PMC8946681 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte Associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4) is an immune checkpoint molecule highly expressed on regulatory T-cells (Tregs) that can inhibit the activation of effector T-cells. Anti-CTLA-4 therapy can confer long-lasting clinical benefits in cancer patients as a single agent or in combination with other immunotherapy agents. However, patient response rates to anti-CTLA-4 are relatively low, and a high percentage of patients experience severe immune-related adverse events. Clinical use of anti-CTLA-4 has regained interest in recent years; however, the mechanism(s) of anti-CTLA-4 is not well understood. Although activating T-cells is regarded as the primary anti-tumor mechanism of anti-CTLA-4 therapies, mounting evidence in the literature suggests targeting intra-tumoral Tregs as the primary mechanism of action of these agents. Tregs in the tumor microenvironment can suppress the host anti-tumor immune responses through several cell contact-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Anti-CTLA-4 therapy can enhance the priming of T-cells by blockading CD80/86-CTLA-4 interactions or depleting Tregs through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and phagocytosis. This review will discuss proposed fundamental mechanisms of anti-CTLA-4 therapy, novel uses of anti-CTLA-4 in cancer treatment and approaches to improve the therapeutic efficacy of anti-CTLA-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Y Hong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada;
| | - Saman Maleki Vareki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada;
- London Regional Cancer Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5W9, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
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17
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Emerging photodynamic nanotherapeutics for inducing immunogenic cell death and potentiating cancer immunotherapy. Biomaterials 2022; 282:121433. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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18
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Enhancing immunotherapy in cancer by targeting emerging immunomodulatory pathways. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2022; 19:37-50. [PMID: 34580473 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-021-00552-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 356] [Impact Index Per Article: 178.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The discovery and clinical implementation of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting CTLA4, PD-1 and PD-L1 has revolutionized the treatment of cancer, as recognized by the 2018 Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology. This groundbreaking new approach has improved the outcomes of patients with various forms of advanced-stage cancer; however, the majority of patients receiving these therapies, even in combination, do not derive clinical benefit. Further development of agents targeting additional immune checkpoints, co-stimulatory receptors and/or co-inhibitory receptors that control T cell function is therefore critical. In this Review, we discuss the translational potential and clinical development of agents targeting both co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory T cell receptors. Specifically, we describe their mechanisms of action, and provide an overview of ongoing clinical trials involving novel ICIs including those targeting LAG3, TIM3, TIGIT and BTLA as well as agonists of the co-stimulatory receptors GITR, OX40, 41BB and ICOS. We also discuss several additional approaches, such as harnessing T cell metabolism, in particular via adenosine signalling, inhibition of IDO1, and targeting changes in glucose and fatty acid metabolism. We conclude that further efforts are needed to optimize the timing of combination ICI approaches and, most importantly, to individualize immunotherapy based on both patient-specific and tumour-specific characteristics.
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19
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Hirschhorn D, Betof Warner A, Maniyar R, Chow A, Mangarin LM, Cohen AD, Hamadene L, Rizzuto GA, Budhu S, Suek N, Liu C, Houghton AN, Merghoub T, Wolchok JD. Cyclophosphamide enhances the antitumor potency of GITR engagement by increasing oligoclonal cytotoxic T cell fitness. JCI Insight 2021; 6:151035. [PMID: 34676831 PMCID: PMC8564916 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.151035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Only a subset of cancer patients responds to checkpoint blockade inhibition in the clinic. Strategies to overcome resistance are promising areas of investigation. Targeting glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR) has shown efficacy in preclinical models, but GITR engagement is ineffective in controlling advanced, poorly immunogenic tumors, such as B16 melanoma, and has not yielded benefit in clinical trials. The alkylating agent cyclophosphamide (CTX) depletes regulatory T cells (Tregs), expands tumor-specific effector T cells (Teffs) via homeostatic proliferation, and induces immunogenic cell death. GITR agonism has an inhibitory effect on Tregs and activates Teffs. We therefore hypothesized that CTX and GITR agonism would promote effective antitumor immunity. Here we show that the combination of CTX and GITR agonism controlled tumor growth in clinically relevant mouse models. Mechanistically, we show that the combination therapy caused tumor cell death, clonal expansion of highly active CD8+ T cells, and depletion of Tregs by activation-induced cell death. Control of tumor growth was associated with the presence of an expanded population of highly activated, tumor-infiltrating, oligoclonal CD8+ T cells that led to a diminished TCR repertoire. Our studies show that the combination of CTX and GITR agonism is a rational chemoimmunotherapeutic approach that warrants further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hirschhorn
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Allison Betof Warner
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rachana Maniyar
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrew Chow
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Levi Mb Mangarin
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Adam D Cohen
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and
| | - Linda Hamadene
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Gabrielle A Rizzuto
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sadna Budhu
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Nathan Suek
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Cailian Liu
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Alan N Houghton
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Taha Merghoub
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jedd D Wolchok
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Immunology Program, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and.,Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
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20
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Xiao L, Zhou J, Liu H, Zhou Y, Chen W, Cui W, Zhao Y. RNA Sequence Profiling Reveals Unique Immune and Metabolic Features of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases. Front Oncol 2021; 11:679262. [PMID: 34513670 PMCID: PMC8427193 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.679262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to improve our understanding of breast cancer brain metastases (BCBMs). Thus, we obtained transcriptome data of BCBMs, primary breast cancers (BCs), and extracranial metastases (BCEMs) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, including GSE43837, GSE14017, and GSE14018, for immune and metabolic analysis. Firstly, we performed immune and metabolic analysis on BCBMs and primary breast cancers of GSE43837 using RNA sequence. We identified significant immunosuppression and gene signatures associated with immune infiltration in BCBMs; the lower the expression of the signatures, the worse the prognosis of breast cancer patients in the Kaplan–Meier (KM) plotter [Breast cancer] database. We also identified increased oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) utilization in BCBMs compared with BCs and gene signatures associated with increased OXPHOS utilization in BCBMs; the higher the expression of the signatures, the worse the prognosis of breast cancer patients in the KM plotter [Breast cancer] database, which can predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients better, as it can also predict the prognosis of patients with different breast cancer subtypes. In addition, we performed immune and metabolic analysis on BCBMs and extracranial metastases of GSE14017 and GSE14018 using RNA sequence. Compared with extracranial metastases, we identified more significant immunosuppression but no difference in OXPHOS utilization in BCBMs, which may be because OXPHOS was also involved in extracranial metastases. We have proven that OXPHOS was functionally significant in metastasis in vitro assays. Oligomycin, an OXPHOS inhibitor, substantially attenuated the migration and invasion potential of breast cancer cells. Our study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of BCBMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limei Xiao
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hongyi Liu
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhou
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Weibin Chen
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wugeng Cui
- School of Medical Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Department of Oncology and Vascular Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Xiamen University Affiliated ZhongShan Hospital), Xiamen, China
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21
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Jin F, Liu D, Xu X, Ji J, Du Y. Nanomaterials-Based Photodynamic Therapy with Combined Treatment Improves Antitumor Efficacy Through Boosting Immunogenic Cell Death. Int J Nanomedicine 2021; 16:4693-4712. [PMID: 34267518 PMCID: PMC8275223 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s314506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Benefiting from the rapid development of nanotechnology, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is arising as a novel non-invasive clinical treatment for specific cancers, which exerts direct efficacy in destroying primary tumors by generating excessive cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Notably, PDT-induced cell death is related to T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses through induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD). However, ICD elicited via PDT is not strong enough and is limited by immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM). Therefore, it is necessary to improve PDT efficacy through enhancing ICD with the combination of synergistic tumor therapies. Herein, the recent progress of nanomaterials-based PDT combined with chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, employing ICD-boosted treatments is reviewed. An outlook about the future application in clinics of nanomaterials-based PDT strategies is also mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Jin
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutics Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Liu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutics Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoling Xu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutics Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiansong Ji
- Department of Radiology, Lishui Hospital of Zhejiang University, Lishui, 323000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongzhong Du
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutics Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
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22
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Combinatorial therapy in tumor microenvironment: Where do we stand? Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1876:188585. [PMID: 34224836 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation and progression by creating a dynamic interaction with cancer cells. The tumor microenvironment consists of various cellular components, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, pericytes, adipocytes, immune cells, cancer stem cells and vasculature, which provide a sustained environment for cancer cell proliferation. Currently, targeting tumor microenvironment is increasingly being explored as a novel approach to improve cancer therapeutics, as it influences the growth and expansion of malignant cells in various ways. Despite continuous advancements in targeted therapies for cancer treatment, drug resistance, toxicity and immune escape mechanisms are the basis of treatment failure and cancer escape. Targeting tumor microenvironment efficiently with approved drugs and combination therapy is the solution to this enduring challenge that involves combining more than one treatment modality such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and nanotherapy that can effectively and synergistically target the critical pathways associated with disease pathogenesis. This review shed light on the composition of the tumor microenvironment, interaction of different components within tumor microenvironment with tumor cells and associated hallmarks, the current status of combinatorial therapies being developed, and various growing advancements. Furthermore, computational tools can also be used to monitor the significance and outcome of therapies being developed. We addressed the perceived barriers and regulatory hurdles in developing a combinatorial regimen and evaluated the present status of these therapies in the clinic. The accumulating depth of knowledge about the tumor microenvironment in cancer may facilitate further development of effective treatment modalities. This review presents the tumor microenvironment as a sweeping landscape for developing novel cancer therapies.
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23
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Zhang QW, Guo XX, Zhou Y, Wang QB, Liu Q, Wu ZY, Ding XY. OX40 agonist combined with irreversible electroporation synergistically eradicates established tumors and drives systemic antitumor immune response in a syngeneic pancreatic cancer model. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:2782-2801. [PMID: 34249428 PMCID: PMC8263674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we intended to explore a novel combination treatment scheme for pancreatic cancer, using irreversible electroporation (IRE) and OX40 agonist. We further aimed to investigate the capacity and mechanism of this combination treatment using an in vivo mouse aggressive pancreatic cancer model. To this end, mice subcutaneously injected with KPC1199 pancreatic tumor cells were treated with IRE, followed by intraperitoneal injection of OX40 agonist. Tumor growth and animal survival were observed. Flow cytometry analysis, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the immune cell populations within the tumors. The tumor-specific immunity was assessed using ELISpot assay. Besides, the cytokine patterns both in serum and tumors were identified using Luminex assay. After combination therapy with IRE and OX40 agonist, 80% of the mice completely eradicated the established subcutaneous tumors, during the 120 days observation period. Rechallenging these tumor-free mice at day 120 with KPC1199 tumor cells leads to complete resistance to tumor growth, suggesting that the combination therapy generated long-term-specific antitumor immune memory. Moreover, combination therapy significantly delayed the growth of contralateral untreated tumors, and significantly prolonged animal survival, suggesting that a potent systematic anti-tumor immunity was induced by combination therapy. Mechanically, combination therapy amplified antitumor immune response induced by IRE, as manifested by the increased quality and quantity of CD8+ T cells trigged by IRE. Together, these results provide strong evidence for the clinical assessment of the combination of IRE and OX40 agonist in patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Wei Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Guo
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qing-Bing Wang
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qin Liu
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Zhi-Yuan Wu
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiao-Yi Ding
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine No. 197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China
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24
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Pourakbari R, Hajizadeh F, Parhizkar F, Aghebati-Maleki A, Mansouri S, Aghebati-Maleki L. Co-stimulatory agonists: An insight into the immunotherapy of cancer. EXCLI JOURNAL 2021; 20:1055-1085. [PMID: 34267616 PMCID: PMC8278219 DOI: 10.17179/excli2021-3522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint pathways consist of stimulatory pathways, which can function like a strong impulse to promote T helper cells or killer CD8+ cells activation and proliferation. On the other hand, inhibitory pathways keep self-tolerance of the immune response. Increasing immunological activity by stimulating and blocking these signaling pathways are recognized as immune checkpoint therapies. Providing the best responses of CD8+ T cell needs the activation of T cell receptor along with the co-stimulation that is generated via stimulatory checkpoint pathways ligation including Inducible Co-Stimulator (ICOS), CD40, 4-1BB, GITR, and OX40. In cancer, programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1), Programmed cell death ligand-1(PD-L1) and Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte-Associated molecule-4 (CTLA-4) are the most known inhibitory checkpoint pathways, which can hinder the immune responses which have specifically anti-tumor characteristics and attenuate T cell activation and also cytokine production. The use of antagonistic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that block CTLA-4 or PD-1 activation is used in a variety of malignancies. It has been reported that they can lead to an increase in T cells and thereby strengthen anti-tumor immunity. Agonists of stimulatory checkpoint pathways can induce strong immunologic responses in metastatic patients; however, for achieving long-lasting benefits for the wide range of patients, efficient combinatorial therapies are required. In the present review, we focus on the preclinical and basic research on the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which immune checkpoint inhibitor blockade or other approaches with co-stimulatory agonists work together to improve T-cell antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramin Pourakbari
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student's Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farnaz Hajizadeh
- Department of Immunology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Forough Parhizkar
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Aghebati-Maleki
- Student's Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sanaz Mansouri
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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25
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Yan LH, Liu XL, Mo SS, Zhang D, Mo XW, Tang WZ. OX40 as a novel target for the reversal of immune escape in colorectal cancer. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:923-934. [PMID: 33841630 PMCID: PMC8014382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
First-generation immunological checkpoint inhibitors, such as CTLA-4, PD-L1 and PD-1 exhibit significant advantages over conventional cytotoxic drugs, such as oxaliplatin and 5-FU, for the treatment of colorectal cancer. However, these inhibitors are not ideal due to their low objective response rate and the vulnerability of these treatment methods when faced with emerging drug resistant cancers. This study summarizes the immunological characteristics of colorectal cancer treatment, and analyzes the ways in which OX40 may improve the efficacy of these treatments. Activation of the OX40 signaling pathway can enhance the activity of CD4+/CD8+ T cells and inhibit the function of Treg. Simultaneously, OX40 can directly inhibit the expression of Foxp3, affect the inhibitory function of Treg, and inhibit the immunosuppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment so as to reverse immune escape and reverse drug resistance. Therefore, OX40 is an important target for treating colorectal cancer in "cold tumors" with less immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Hai Yan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer HospitalNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
- Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Colorectal CancerNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xiao-Liang Liu
- Department of Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer HospitalNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Si-Si Mo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer HospitalNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
- Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Colorectal CancerNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer HospitalNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
- Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Colorectal CancerNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xian-Wei Mo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer HospitalNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
- Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Colorectal CancerNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Wei-Zhong Tang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer HospitalNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
- Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Colorectal CancerNanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
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26
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Critical Roles of Balanced T Helper 9 Cells and Regulatory T Cells in Allergic Airway Inflammation and Tumor Immunity. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:8816055. [PMID: 33748292 PMCID: PMC7943311 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8816055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
CD4+T helper (Th) cells are important mediators of immune responses in asthma and cancer. When counteracted by different classes of pathogens, naïve CD4+T cells undergo programmed differentiation into distinct types of Th cells. Th cells orchestrate antigen-specific immune responses upon their clonal T-cell receptor (TCR) interaction with the appropriate peptide antigen presented on MHC class II molecules expressed by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). T helper 9 (Th9) cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells and their corresponding cytokines have critical roles in tumor and allergic immunity. In the context of asthma and cancer, the dynamic internal microenvironment, along with chronic inflammatory stimuli, influences development, differentiation, and function of Th9 cells and Treg cells. Furthermore, the dysregulation of the balance between Th9 cells and Treg cells might trigger aberrant immune responses, resulting in development and exacerbation of asthma and cancer. In this review, the development, differentiation, and function of Th9 cells and Treg cells, which are synergistically regulated by various factors including cytokine signals, transcriptional factors (TFs), costimulatory signals, microenvironment cues, metabolic pathways, and different signal pathways, will be discussed. In addition, we focus on the recent progress that has helped to achieve a better understanding of the roles of Th9 cells and Treg cells in allergic airway inflammation and tumor immunity. We also discuss how various factors moderate their responses in asthma and cancer. Finally, we summarize the recent findings regarding potential mechanisms for regulating the balance between Th9 and Treg cells in asthma and cancer. These advances provide opportunities for novel therapeutic strategies that are aimed at reestablishing the balance of these cells in the diseases.
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27
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Pere H, Tanchot C, Bayry J, Terme M, Taieb J, Badoual C, Adotevi O, Merillon N, Marcheteau E, Quillien VR, Banissi C, Carpentier A, Sandoval F, Nizard M, Quintin-Colonna F, Kroemer G, Fridman WH, Zitvogel L, Oudard SP, Tartour E. Comprehensive analysis of current approaches to inhibit regulatory T cells in cancer. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:326-333. [PMID: 22737608 PMCID: PMC3382865 DOI: 10.4161/onci.18852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) have emerged as a dominant T cell population inhibiting anti-tumor effector T cells. Initial strategies used for Treg-depletion (cyclophosphamide, anti-CD25 mAb…) also targeted activated T cells, as they share many phenotypic markers. Current, ameliorated approaches to inhibit Treg aim to either block their function or their migration to lymph nodes and the tumor microenvironment. Various drugs originally developed for other therapeutic indications (anti-angiogenic molecules, tyrosine kinase inhibitors,etc) have recently been discovered to inhibit Treg. These approaches are expected to be rapidly translated to clinical applications for therapeutic use in combination with immunomodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Pere
- INSERM U970 PARCC (Paris Cardiovascular Research Center); Université Paris Descartes; Sorbonne Paris Cité; Paris, France ; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou; Service de Microbiologie; Paris, France
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28
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He S, Xu J, Wu J. The emerging role of co-stimulatory molecules and their agonistic mAb-based combination therapies in melanoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 89:107097. [PMID: 33091814 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Although anti-PD-1/L1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, the validated immune checkpoint blockades, can elicit durable long-lasting antitumor immunity and improve the clinical outcomes of melanoma treatment, there are still a fraction of patients who did not receive therapeutic benefits as expected. In addition to findings of blocking the co-inhibitory pathways, the preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that triggering the co-stimulatory pathways through agonists such as CD137, OX40, CD40, GITR and CD27 may be a rational next step for melanoma therapy. In this review, we discuss the progress of studies on these co-stimulatory molecules in terms of their promising therapeutic effects and underlying antitumor mechanisms, and provide a review of the possible combinations that orchestrate the interplay of co-stimulatory agonistic mAbs and other therapies for treating melanoma, including inhibitory immune checkpoint mAbs, adoptive T cell therapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We also briefly present the limitations and challenges involved in these co-stimulatory agonistic mAb-based combination strategies for melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan He
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Jinhua Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Jinfeng Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China.
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29
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Rocco D, Gregorc V, Della Gravara L, Lazzari C, Palazzolo G, Gridelli C. New immunotherapeutic drugs in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): from preclinical to phase I clinical trials. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:1005-1023. [PMID: 32643447 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1793956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has represented a revolution in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has established a new standard of care for different settings. However, through adaptive changes, cancer cells can develop resistance mechanisms to these drugs, hence the necessity for novel immunotherapeutic agents. AREAS COVERED This paper explores the immunotherapeutics currently under investigation in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of NSCLC as monotherapies and combination therapies. It provides two comprehensive tables of phase I agents which are listed according to target, drug, drug class, mechanism of action, setting, trial identifier, and trial status. A comprehensive literature search was carried out to identify eligible studies from MEDLINE/PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov. EXPERT OPINION A key hurdle to success in this field is our limited understanding of the synergic interactions of the immune targets in the context of the TME. While we can recognize the links between inhibitors and some particularly promising new targets such as TIM-3 and LAG3, we continue to develop approaches to exploit their interactions to enhance the immune response of the patient to tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Rocco
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, AORN Dei Colli Monaldi , Naples, Italy
| | - Vanesa Gregorc
- Department of Oncology, Division of Experimental Medicine, IRCCS San Raffaele , Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Della Gravara
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università Degli Studi Della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" , Caserta, Italy
| | - Chiara Lazzari
- Department of Oncology, Division of Experimental Medicine, IRCCS San Raffaele , Milan, Italy
| | | | - Cesare Gridelli
- Division of Medical Oncology, "S.G. Moscati" Hospital , Avellino, Italy
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30
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Murciano-Goroff YR, Warner AB, Wolchok JD. The future of cancer immunotherapy: microenvironment-targeting combinations. Cell Res 2020; 30:507-519. [PMID: 32467593 PMCID: PMC7264181 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-020-0337-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 432] [Impact Index Per Article: 108.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy holds the potential to induce durable responses, but only a minority of patients currently respond. The etiologies of primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy are multifaceted, deriving not only from tumor intrinsic factors, but also from the complex interplay between cancer and its microenvironment. In addressing frontiers in clinical immunotherapy, we describe two categories of approaches to the design of novel drugs and combination therapies: the first involves direct modification of the tumor, while the second indirectly enhances immunogenicity through alteration of the microenvironment. By systematically addressing the factors that mediate resistance, we are able to identify mechanistically-driven novel approaches to improve immunotherapy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allison Betof Warner
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jedd D Wolchok
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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31
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Fu Y, Lin Q, Zhang Z, Zhang L. Therapeutic strategies for the costimulatory molecule OX40 in T-cell-mediated immunity. Acta Pharm Sin B 2020; 10:414-433. [PMID: 32140389 PMCID: PMC7049610 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The T cell co-stimulatory molecule OX40 and its cognate ligand OX40L have attracted broad research interest as a therapeutic target in T cell-mediated diseases. Accumulating preclinical evidence highlights the therapeutic efficacy of both agonist and blockade of the OX40-OX40L interaction. Despite this progress, many questions about the immuno-modulator roles of OX40 on T cell function remain unanswered. In this review we summarize the impact of the OX40-OX40L interaction on T cell subsets, including Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, Treg, Tfh, and CD8+ T cells, to gain a comprehensive understanding of anti-OX40 mAb-based therapies. The potential therapeutic application of the OX40-OX40L interaction in autoimmunity diseases and cancer immunotherapy are further discussed; OX40-OX40L blockade may ameliorate autoantigen-specific T cell responses and reduce immune activity in autoimmunity diseases. We also explore the rationale of targeting OX40-OX40L interactions in cancer immunotherapy. Ligation of OX40 with targeted agonist anti-OX40 mAbs conveys activating signals to T cells. When combined with other therapeutic treatments, such as anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 blockade, cytokines, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, the anti-tumor activity of agonist anti-OX40 treatment will be further enhanced. These data collectively suggest great potential for OX40-mediated therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Fu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Qing Lin
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Zhirong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
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32
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Verma A, Mathur R, Farooque A, Kaul V, Gupta S, Dwarakanath BS. T-Regulatory Cells In Tumor Progression And Therapy. Cancer Manag Res 2019; 11:10731-10747. [PMID: 31920383 PMCID: PMC6935360 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s228887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important members of the immune system regulating the host responses to infection and neoplasms. Tregs prevent autoimmune disorders by protecting the host-cells from an immune response, related to the peripheral tolerance. However, tumor cells use Tregs as a shield to protect themselves against anti-tumor immune response. Thus, Tregs are a hurdle in achieving the complete potential of anti-cancer therapies including immunotherapy. This has prompted the development of novel adjuvant therapies that obviate their negative effects thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy. Our earlier studies have shown the efficacy of the glycolytic inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) by reducing the induced Tregs pool and enhance immune stimulation as well as local tumor control. These findings have suggested its potential for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy, besides radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review provides a brief account of the current status of Tregs as a component of the immune-biology of tumors and various preclinical and clinical strategies pursued to obviate the limitations imposed by them in achieving therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Verma
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rohit Mathur
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Vandana Kaul
- Division of Abdominal Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Seema Gupta
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
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OX40 Costimulation Inhibits Foxp3 Expression and Treg Induction via BATF3-Dependent and Independent Mechanisms. Cell Rep 2019; 24:607-618. [PMID: 30021159 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.06.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Naive CD4+ T cells can be converted to Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) in the periphery (iTregs), where induction of Foxp3 gene expression is central to Treg differentiation. OX40 signaling is known to inhibit Foxp3 expression and Treg induction, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. Here, we found that OX40 costimulation activates two distinct molecular pathways to suppress Foxp3 expression in freshly activated naive CD4+ T cells. Specifically, OX40 upregulates BATF3 and BATF, which produce a closed chromatin configuration to repress Foxp3 expression in a Sirt1/7-dependent manner. Moreover, OX40 can also activate the AKT-mTOR pathway, especially in the absence of BATF3 and BATF, to inhibit Foxp3 induction, and this is mediated by phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion of the transcription factor Foxo1. Taken together, our results provide key mechanistic insights into how OX40 inhibits Foxp3 expression and Treg induction in the periphery.
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Zhong S, Jeong JH, Chen Z, Chen Z, Luo JL. Targeting Tumor Microenvironment by Small-Molecule Inhibitors. Transl Oncol 2019; 13:57-69. [PMID: 31785429 PMCID: PMC6909103 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a hypoxic, acidic, and immune/inflammatory cell–enriched milieu that plays crucial roles in tumor development, growth, progression, and therapy resistance. Targeting TME is an attractive strategy for the treatment of solid tumors. Conventional cancer chemotherapies are mostly designed to directly kill cancer cells, and the effectiveness is always compromised by their penetration and accessibility to cancer cells. Small-molecule inhibitors, which exhibit good penetration and accessibility, are widely studied, and many of them have been successfully applied in clinics for cancer treatment. As TME is more penetrable and accessible than tumor cells, a lot of efforts have recently been made to generate small-molecule inhibitors that specifically target TME or the components of TME or develop special drug-delivery systems that release the cytotoxic drugs specifically in TME. In this review, we briefly summarize the recent advances of small-molecule inhibitors that target TME for the tumor treatment. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is an indispensable part of tumor and is an important therapeutic target. TME is more penetrable and accessible than tumor cell area. Small-molecule inhibitors that target TME are very promising. The target efficiency can be improved by specific deliver and release systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangwei Zhong
- The Hunan Provincial Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, 410008, China; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Ji-Hak Jeong
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Zhikang Chen
- The Hunan Provincial Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, 410008, China.
| | - Zihua Chen
- The Hunan Provincial Key Lab of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, 410008, China.
| | - Jun-Li Luo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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He Y, Zhang X, Jia K, Dziadziuszko R, Zhao S, Deng J, Wang H, Hirsch FR, Zhou C. OX40 and OX40L protein expression of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in non-small cell lung cancer and its role in clinical outcome and relationships with other immune biomarkers. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2019; 8:352-366. [PMID: 31555511 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr.2019.08.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Anti-tumoral immunotherapy of anti-program death-1/program death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) immune checkpoint therapy demonstrated promising efficacy and tolerability in patients with lung cancer. Apart from inhibitory checkpoints, OX40, the co-stimulatory receptor related to T cell priming and proliferation, was valued identically. In this study, the relationship between OX40/OX40L expressed on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), PD-1/PD-L1 and other immunological factors, as well as its role serving as the potential prognostic biomarker, were analyzed in NSCLC. Methods We investigated the relationship between OX40/OX40L, PD-1/PD-L1 and TILs in surgical samples from 139 patients with NSCLC by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Factors related to OX40/OX40L expression were analyzed by logistic regression and multi-linear regression. Cox analysis was also performed to find the influencing factors. Survival analysis was conducted in order to testify its role in predicting patients' prognosis. Results The TILs OX40, OX40L expression were negatively correlated with the PD-1/PD-L1 expression, respectively. PD-1 expression was negatively correlated with the TILs OX40 expression [R=0.250, (P=0.003)], it was also negatively correlated with the TILs OX40L expression [R=0.386, (P=0.0001)]. PD-1 expression was positively correlated with TILs grades and negatively correlated with the TILs OX40L expression in multiple linear model [R=0.531, (X1, 95% CI: 3.552-8.176, P=0.0001; X2, 95% CI: 0.216-0.683), (P=0.0001)]. The expression of TILs OX40 varied significantly among tumor OX40 and OX40L, PD-1, PD-L1, TILs and pathology types. Tumor OX40L expression, TILs OX40L expression, PD-1 expression, PD-L1 expression and TILs were considered as risk factors for TILs OX40 expression. The staging and TILs OX40L were considered as risk factors for overall survival (OS) while stage and gender were risk factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS). The low-expression of OX40 was related to longer RFS, OS and better prognosis. Conclusions OX40 plays a pivotal role in NSCLC, which was closely correlated with immunological factors, RFS and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayi He
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaoshen Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China.,Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Keyi Jia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China.,Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Rafal Dziadziuszko
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Sha Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China.,Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Juan Deng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China.,Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China.,Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Fred R Hirsch
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Caicun Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China
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Whiteside TL. Human regulatory T cells (Treg) and their response to cancer. EXPERT REVIEW OF PRECISION MEDICINE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT 2019; 4:215-228. [PMID: 32953989 PMCID: PMC7500484 DOI: 10.1080/23808993.2019.1634471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Regulatory T cells (Treg) and their role in health and disease is being intensively investigated. Today, human Treg emerge as a highly heterogeneous subset of CD4+ T cells which mediate immune suppression but also regulate responses of non-immune cells. In cancer, Treg occupy a critical although not yet entirely understood role. AREAS COVERED Newly acquired insights into Treg indicate a much greater plasticity and functional heterogeneity of this T cell subset than was previously known. Functional redundancy of Treg and their interactions with a variety of immune and non-immune cellular targets emphasize the central role Treg play in cancer. Treg not only regulate the host responses to cancer; they may also regulate responses to immune therapies. The impact of immune checkpoint blockade on Treg survival, stability and suppressive activity remains to be elucidated. T cell reprogramming by tumor-derived factors, including tumor-derived exosomes (TEX), plays a key role in shaping the Treg repertoire in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The reprogrammed or induced iTreg acquire capabilities to strongly down-regulate anti-tumor immune responses by mechanisms that are specific for each TME. Therapeutic silencing of such Treg calls for the discrimination of "bad" from "good" Treg subsets, an approach that remains elusive in the absence of a definitive "Treg signature." EXPERT OPINION Context-related plasticity and heterogeneity of Treg in the TME are significant barriers to selective therapeutic depletion of those Treg subsets that are reprogramed by the tumor to suppress anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa L. Whiteside
- Departments of Pathology, Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
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Expression of costimulatory and inhibitory receptors in FoxP3 + regulatory T cells within the tumor microenvironment: Implications for combination immunotherapy approaches. Adv Cancer Res 2019; 144:193-261. [PMID: 31349899 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The unprecedented success of immune checkpoint inhibitors has given rise to a rapidly growing number of immuno-oncology agents undergoing preclinical and clinical development and an exponential increase in possible combinations. Defining a clear rationale for combinations by identifying synergies between immunomodulatory pathways has therefore become a high priority. Immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) represent a major roadblock to endogenous and therapeutic tumor immunity. However, Tregs are also essential for the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance, and share many molecular pathways with conventional T cells including cytotoxic T cells, the primary mediators of tumor immunity. Hence the inability to specifically target and neutralize Tregs within the TME of cancer patients without globally compromising self-tolerance poses a significant challenge. Here we review recent advances in the characterization of tumor-infiltrating Tregs with a focus on costimulatory and inhibitory receptors. We discuss receptor expression patterns, their functional role in Treg biology and mechanistic insights gained from targeting these receptors in preclinical models to evaluate their potential as clinical targets. We further outline a framework of parameters that could be used to refine the assessment of Tregs in cancer patients and increase their value as predictive biomarkers. Finally, we propose modalities to integrate our increasing knowledge on Treg phenotype and function for the rational design of checkpoint inhibitor-based combination therapies. Such combinations have great potential for synergy, as they could concomitantly enhance cytotoxic T cells and inhibit Tregs within the TME, thereby increasing the efficacy of current cancer immunotherapies.
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León-Letelier RA, Bonifaz LC, Fuentes-Pananá EM. OMIC signatures to understand cancer immunosurveillance and immunoediting: Melanoma and immune cells interplay in immunotherapy. J Leukoc Biol 2019; 105:915-933. [PMID: 30698862 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.mr0618-241rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Cutaneous melanomas usually originate from exposure to the mutagenic effects of ultraviolet radiation, and as such they exhibit the highest rate of somatic mutations than any other human cancer, and an extensive expression of neoantigens concurrently with a dense infiltrate of immune cells. The coexistence of high immunogenicity and high immune cell infiltration may sound contradictory for cancers carrying a gloomy outcome. However, recent studies have unveiled a variety of immunosuppressive mechanisms that often permeate the tumor microenvironment and that are responsible for tumor escaping from immunosurveillance mechanisms. Nonetheless, this particular immune profile has opened a new window of treatments based on immunotherapy that have significantly improved the clinical outcome of melanoma patients. Still, positive and complete therapy responses have been limited, and this particular cancer continues to be a major clinical challenge. The transcriptomic signatures of those patients with clinical benefit and those with progressive disease have provided a more complete picture of the universe of interactions between the tumor and the immune system. In this review, we integrate the results of the immunotherapy clinical trials to discuss a novel understanding of the mechanisms guiding cancer immunosurveillance and immunoediting. A clear notion of the cellular and molecular processes shaping how the immune system and the tumor are continuously coevolving would result in the rational design of combinatory therapies aiming to counteract the signaling pathways and cellular processes responsible for immunoescape mechanisms and provide clinical benefit to immunotherapy nonresponsive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A León-Letelier
- Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunoquímica, Ciudad de México, México
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México Ciudad de México, México
| | - Laura C Bonifaz
- Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunoquímica, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ezequiel M Fuentes-Pananá
- Unidad de Investigación en Virología y Cáncer, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Ciudad de México, México
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Jiang DM, Fyles A, Nguyen LT, Neel BG, Sacher A, Rottapel R, Wang BX, Ohashi PS, Sridhar SS. Phase I study of local radiation and tremelimumab in patients with inoperable locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. Oncotarget 2019; 10:2947-2958. [PMID: 31105877 PMCID: PMC6508206 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has shown modest activity in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In this phase I dose escalation study, we assessed safety of tremelimumab, a humanized anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody, at starting dose 3 mg/kg, on the third day of palliative radiotherapy (2000cGy in 5 daily fractions) in patients with MBC. Primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of tremelimumab combined with RT. Secondary objective was to assess response. Among 6 patients enrolled between July 2010 and October 2011, 5 had hormone receptor-positive MBC, 1 had triple negative MBC. Median age was 45 years. Common toxicities included lymphopenia (83%), fatigue (50%) and rash (33%). One dose-limiting toxicity occurred at 6 mg/kg, however the trial closed before MTD could be determined. One patient discontinued treatment due to a pathological fracture. Best response was stable disease (SD), 1 patient had SD for >6 months. Median follow up was 27.0 months. Median OS was 50.8 months, with 1 patient surviving >8 years. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) profiles showed increasing proliferating (Ki67+) Treg cells 1 week post treatment in 5 patients. Overall, tremelimumab at 3 mg/kg combined with RT appears to be a tolerable treatment strategy. Further studies are needed to optimize this combination approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Maria Jiang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anthony Fyles
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Linh T Nguyen
- Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Benjamin G Neel
- Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adrian Sacher
- Department of Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Robert Rottapel
- Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ben X Wang
- Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Pamela S Ohashi
- Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Immunology, Faculty University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Srikala S Sridhar
- Department of Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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40
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Abstract
Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Traditional treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have had limited efficacy, especially with late stage cancers. Cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapy have revolutionized how cancer is treated, especially in patients with late stage disease. In 2013 cancer immunotherapy was named the breakthrough of the year, partially due to the established efficacy of blockade of CTLA-4 and PD-1, both T cell co-inhibitory molecules involved in tumor-induced immunosuppression. Though early trials promised success, toxicity and tolerance to immunotherapy have hindered long-term successes. Optimizing the use of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory pathways has the potential to increase the effectiveness of T cell-mediated antitumor immune response, leading to increased efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. This review will address major T cell co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory pathways and the role they play in regulating immune responses during cancer development and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E O'Neill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Xuefang Cao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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41
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Han S, Toker A, Liu ZQ, Ohashi PS. Turning the Tide Against Regulatory T Cells. Front Oncol 2019; 9:279. [PMID: 31058083 PMCID: PMC6477083 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells play crucial roles in health and disease through their immunosuppressive properties against various immune cells. In this review we will focus on the inhibitory role of Treg cells in anti-tumor immunity. We outline how Treg cells restrict T cell function based on our understanding of T cell biology, and how we can shift the equilibrium against regulatory T cells. To date, numerous strategies have been proposed to limit the suppressive effects of Treg cells, including Treg cell neutralization, destabilizing Treg cells and rendering T cells resistant to Treg cells. Here, we focus on key mechanisms which render T cells resistant to the suppressive effects of Treg cells. Lastly, we also examine current limitations and caveats of overcoming the inhibitory activity of Treg cells, and briefly discuss the potential to target Treg cell resistance in the context of anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- SeongJun Han
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aras Toker
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zhe Qi Liu
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pamela S. Ohashi
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The advent of immunotherapy significantly improved clinical outcomes in cancer patients, although immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) still lack of efficacy in a consistent proportion of treated patients. The purpose of this article is to review the most innovative and clinically promising ICB-based combinations designed to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. RECENT FINDINGS First-line combinatorial treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab has recently shown to be superior to the standard of care in a subset of metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The combination of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 blockade with antiangiogenics has demonstrated a consistent clinical efficacy, especially for the combination of bevacizumab and atezolizumab as first-line therapy in metastatic RCC. The sequential combination of definitive chemoradiotherapy followed by durvalumab maintenance in advanced, unresectable NSCLC became the new standard of care, while the addition of pembrolizumab to first-line chemotherapy in metastatic NSCLC significantly improves overall survival. Despite promising results for the combination of ICBs with v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B/MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitors or epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, especially in melanoma and NSCLC, safety concerns slowed down the development of such strategies. SUMMARY Immunotherapy-based combinations are becoming the standard of care for cancer treatment, in particularly for advanced melanoma, NSCLC and RCC.
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Medler J, Wajant H. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (TNFR2): an overview of an emerging drug target. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2019; 23:295-307. [PMID: 30856027 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2019.1586886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 2 (TNFR2) is one of two receptors of the cytokines, TNF and lymphotoxin-α. TNFR1 is a strong inducer of proinflammatory activities. TNFR2 has proinflammatory effects too, but it also elicits strong anti-inflammatory activities and has protective effects on oligodendrocytes, cardiomyocytes, and keratinocytes. The protective and anti-inflammatory effects of TNFR2 may explain why TNF inhibitors failed to be effective in diseases such as heart failure or multiple sclerosis, where TNF has been strongly implicated as a driving force. Stimulatory and inhibitory TNFR2 targeting hence attracts considerable interest for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Areas covered: Based on a brief description of the pathophysiological importance of the TNF-TNFR1/2 system, we discuss the potential applications of TNFR2 targeting therapies. We also debate TNFR2 activation as a way forward in the search for TNFR2-specific agents. Expert opinion: The use of TNFR2 to target regulatory T-cells is attractive, but this approach is just one amongst many suitable targets. With respect to its preference for Treg stimulation and protection of non-immune cells, TNFR2 is more unique and thus offers opportunities for translational success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Medler
- a Division for Molecular Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine II , University Hospital Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
| | - Harald Wajant
- a Division for Molecular Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine II , University Hospital Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
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44
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Smith WM, Purvis IJ, Bomstad CN, Labak CM, Velpula KK, Tsung AJ, Regan JN, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R, Asuthkar S. Therapeutic targeting of immune checkpoints with small molecule inhibitors. Am J Transl Res 2019; 11:529-541. [PMID: 30899360 PMCID: PMC6413273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoints are known to contribute to tumor progression by enhancing cancer's ability to evade the immune system and metastasize. Immunotherapies, including monoclonal antibodies, have been developed to target specific immunosuppressive molecules on the membranes of cancer cells and have proven revolutionary in the field of oncology. Recently, small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) have gained increased attention in cancer research with potential applications in immunotherapy. SMIs have desirable benefits over large-molecule inhibitors, such as monoclonal antibodies, including greater cell permeability, organ specificity, longer half-lives, cheaper production costs, and the possibility for oral administration. This paper will review the mechanisms by which noteworthy and novel immune checkpoints contribute to tumor progression, and how they may be targeted by SMIs and epigenetic modifiers to offer possible adjuvants to established therapeutic regimens. SMIs target immune checkpoints in several ways, such as blocking signaling between tumorigenic factors, building immune tolerance, and direct inhibition via epigenetic repression of immune inhibitory molecules. Further investigation into combination therapies utilizing SMIs and conventional cancer therapies will uncover new treatment options that may provide better patient outcomes across a range of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wade M Smith
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Ian J Purvis
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Colin N Bomstad
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Collin M Labak
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Kiran K Velpula
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Andrew J Tsung
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
- Department of Illinois Neurological Institute, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | - Jenna N Regan
- Department of Health Sciences Education, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
| | | | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of MedicineAurora, CO
| | - Swapna Asuthkar
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of MedicinePeoria, IL
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Beadnell T, Borriello L, Christenson J, Fornetti J, Guldner I, Hanna A, Kyjacova L, Marinak-Whately K, de Melo Martins PC, Rotinen M, Te Boekhorst V, Cox TR. Meeting report: Metastasis Research Society (MRS) 17th Biennial conference and associated Young Investigator Satellite Meeting (YISM) on cancer metastasis. Clin Exp Metastasis 2019; 36:119-137. [PMID: 30673912 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-018-09953-y] [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: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Metastasis Research Society (MRS) 17th Biennial conference on metastasis was held on the 1st to the 5th of August 2018 at Princeton University, NJ, USA. The meeting was held around themes addressing notable aspects of the understanding and treatment of metastasis and metastatic disease covering basic, translational, and clinical research. Importantly, the meeting was largely supported by our patient advocate partners including Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Theresa's Research Foundation and METAvivor. There were a total of 85 presentations from invited and selected speakers spread across the main congress and presentations from the preceding Young Investigator Satellite Meeting. Presentations are summarized in this report by session topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Beadnell
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Kansas University Medical Center, and The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Lucia Borriello
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.,Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jessica Christenson
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jaime Fornetti
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Ian Guldner
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Ann Hanna
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lenka Kyjacova
- European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 681 67, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Kristina Marinak-Whately
- WVU Cancer Institute, Cancer Cell Biology, West Virginia School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | | | - Mirja Rotinen
- Division of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Surgery & Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Veronika Te Boekhorst
- David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 77030, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas R Cox
- Cancer Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research & The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia. .,Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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46
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Han X, Vesely MD. Stimulating T Cells Against Cancer With Agonist Immunostimulatory Monoclonal Antibodies. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 342:1-25. [PMID: 30635089 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Elimination of cancer cells through antitumor immunity has been a long-sought after goal since Sir F. Macfarlane Burnet postulated the theory of immune surveillance against tumors in the 1950s. Finally, the use of immunotherapeutics against established cancer is becoming a reality in the past 5years. Most notable are the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against inhibitory T-cell receptors cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 and programmed death-1. The next generation of mAbs targeting T cells is designed to stimulate costimulatory receptors on T cells. Here we review the recent progress on these immunostimulatory agonist antibodies against the costimulatory receptors CD137, GITR, OX40, and CD27.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Han
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Matthew D Vesely
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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Popovic A, Jaffee EM, Zaidi N. Emerging strategies for combination checkpoint modulators in cancer immunotherapy. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:3209-3218. [PMID: 30067248 DOI: 10.1172/jci120775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Current immune checkpoint-modulating agents have demonstrated clinical efficacy in certain tumor types, particularly those with a high burden of tumor-specific neoantigens, high tumor-mutational burden, and abundant tumor-infiltrating T cells. However, these tumors often stop responding, with signs of T cells exhaustion, decreased T cell effector function, and upregulated inhibitory checkpoints. To enhance antitumor immunity and rescue exhausted T cells, newer inhibitory and stimulatory checkpoint modulators are being tested as monotherapy or in combination with approved checkpoint inhibitors. In contrast, tumors with low tumor-mutational burden, low neoantigen burden, and a paucity of T cells are immunologically "cold," and therefore first require the addition of agents to facilitate the induction of T cells into tumors. Cold tumors also often recruit immunosuppressive cell subsets, including regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and macrophages, and secrete immunosuppressive soluble cytokines, chemokines, and metabolites. To unleash an optimal antitumor immune response, combinatorial therapeutics that combine immune checkpoints with other modalities, such as vaccines, are being developed. From current preclinical data, it appears that combinatorial strategies will provide robust and durable responses in patients with immunologically cold cancers.
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Tran T, Blanc C, Granier C, Saldmann A, Tanchot C, Tartour E. Therapeutic cancer vaccine: building the future from lessons of the past. Semin Immunopathol 2018; 41:69-85. [PMID: 29978248 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-018-0691-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Anti-cancer vaccines have raised many hopes from the start of immunotherapy but have not yet been clinically successful. The few positive results of anti-cancer vaccines have been observed in clinical situations of low tumor burden or preneoplastic lesions. Several new concepts and new results reposition this therapeutic approach in the field of immunotherapy. Indeed, cancers that respond to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (20-30%) are those that are infiltrated by anti-tumor T cells with an inflammatory infiltrate. However, 70% of cancers do not appear to have an anti-tumor immune reaction in the tumor microenvironment. To induce this anti-tumor immunity, therapeutic combinations between vaccines and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 are being evaluated. In addition, the identification of neoepitopes against which the immune system is less tolerated is giving rise to a new enthusiasm by the first clinical results of the vaccine including these neoepitopes in humans. The ability of anti-cancer vaccines to induce a population of anti-tumor T cells called memory resident T cells that play an important role in immunosurveillance is also a new criterion to consider in the design of therapeutic vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Tran
- INSERM U970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC), Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - C Blanc
- INSERM U970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC), Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - C Granier
- INSERM U970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC), Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - A Saldmann
- INSERM U970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC), Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - C Tanchot
- INSERM U970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC), Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Eric Tartour
- INSERM U970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC), Paris, France.
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
- Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Laboratory of Immunology, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Paris, France.
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49
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Donini C, D'Ambrosio L, Grignani G, Aglietta M, Sangiolo D. Next generation immune-checkpoints for cancer therapy. J Thorac Dis 2018; 10:S1581-S1601. [PMID: 29951308 DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2018.02.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The discovery and clinical application of immune-checkpoint inhibitors has dramatically improved the treatments, outcomes and therapeutic concepts in multiple tumor settings. This breakthrough was mainly based on monoclonal antibodies blocking the inhibitory molecule CTLA-4 and or the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, with the aim of counteracting major tumor immune evasion mechanisms. Even acknowledging these important successes, not all the patients benefit from these treatments. Translational and clinical research efforts are ongoing to explore the potentialities of a new generation of immune-modulatory molecules to extend current clinical applications and contrast the unsolved issues of resistance and disease relapse that still affects a considerable rate of patients. New immune-checkpoints, with either stimulatory or inhibitory functions are emerging with key roles in regulating T cell response but also affecting other crucial effectors belonging to the innate immune response (e.g., natural killer). Their therapeutic exploitation, either alone or in strategical combinations, is providing important preclinical results, holding promises currently explored in initial clinical trials. The first results point toward favorable safety profiles with selective hints of activity in challenging settings. Important issues regarding the dose, schedule and rational combinations remain open and data from the clinical studies are needed. Here we provide an overview of the main emerging stimulatory or inhibitory immune-checkpoints exploitable in cancer treatment, briefly reporting their biological function, preclinical activity and preliminary clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Donini
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Lorenzo D'Ambrosio
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Division of Medical Oncology, Sarcoma Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Giovanni Grignani
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Division of Medical Oncology, Sarcoma Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Massimo Aglietta
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Division of Medical Oncology, Sarcoma Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.,Division of Medical Oncology, Experimental Cell Therapy, Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Division of Medical Oncology, Experimental Cell Therapy, Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
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50
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Hughes E, Scurr M, Campbell E, Jones E, Godkin A, Gallimore A. T-cell modulation by cyclophosphamide for tumour therapy. Immunology 2018; 154:62-68. [PMID: 29460448 PMCID: PMC5904691 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The power of T cells for cancer treatment has been demonstrated by the success of co-inhibitory receptor blockade and adoptive T-cell immunotherapies. These treatments are highly successful for certain cancers, but are often personalized, expensive and associated with harmful side effects. Other T-cell-modulating drugs may provide additional means of improving immune responses to tumours without these disadvantages. Conventional chemotherapeutic drugs are traditionally used to target cancers directly; however, it is clear that some also have significant immune-modulating effects that can be harnessed to target tumours. Cyclophosphamide is one such drug; used at lower doses than in mainstream chemotherapy, it can perturb immune homeostasis, tipping the balance towards generation of anti-tumour T-cell responses and control of cancer growth. This review discusses its growing reputation as an immune-modulator whose multiple effects synergize with the microbiota to tip the balance towards tumour immunity offering widespread benefits as a safe, and relatively inexpensive component of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellyn Hughes
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Present address:
Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health SciencesSchool of Biomedical SciencesMonash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Martin Scurr
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Emma Campbell
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Emma Jones
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Andrew Godkin
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Awen Gallimore
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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