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Yang JK, Kwon H, Kim S. Recent advances in light-triggered cancer immunotherapy. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:2650-2669. [PMID: 38353138 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02842a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Light-triggered phototherapies, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), have shown strong therapeutic efficacy with minimal invasiveness and systemic toxicity, offering opportunities for tumor-specific therapies. Phototherapies not only induce direct tumor cell killing, but also trigger anti-tumor immune responses by releasing various immune-stimulating factors. In recent years, conventional phototherapies have been combined with cancer immunotherapy as synergistic therapeutic modalities to eradicate cancer by exploiting the innate and adaptive immunity. These combined photoimmunotherapies have demonstrated excellent therapeutic efficacy in preventing tumor recurrence and metastasis compared to phototherapy alone. This review covers recent advancements in combined photoimmunotherapy, including photoimmunotherapy (PIT), PDT-combined immunotherapy, and PTT-combined immunotherapy, along with their underlying anti-tumor immune response mechanisms. In addition, the challenges and future research directions for light-triggered cancer immunotherapy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Kyoung Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Dong-eui University, Busan, 47340, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hayoon Kwon
- Chemical & Biological integrative Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehoon Kim
- Chemical & Biological integrative Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
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2
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Improved Targeting of Therapeutics by Nanocarrier-Based Delivery in Cancer Immunotherapy and Their Future Perspectives. BIONANOSCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s12668-023-01065-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Tiwari A, Trivedi R, Lin SY. Tumor microenvironment: barrier or opportunity towards effective cancer therapy. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:83. [PMID: 36253762 PMCID: PMC9575280 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00866-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a specialized ecosystem of host components, designed by tumor cells for successful development and metastasis of tumor. With the advent of 3D culture and advanced bioinformatic methodologies, it is now possible to study TME’s individual components and their interplay at higher resolution. Deeper understanding of the immune cell’s diversity, stromal constituents, repertoire profiling, neoantigen prediction of TMEs has provided the opportunity to explore the spatial and temporal regulation of immune therapeutic interventions. The variation of TME composition among patients plays an important role in determining responders and non-responders towards cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, there could be a possibility of reprogramming of TME components to overcome the widely prevailing issue of immunotherapeutic resistance. The focus of the present review is to understand the complexity of TME and comprehending future perspective of its components as potential therapeutic targets. The later part of the review describes the sophisticated 3D models emerging as valuable means to study TME components and an extensive account of advanced bioinformatic tools to profile TME components and predict neoantigens. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive account of the current knowledge available to target TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aadhya Tiwari
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Rakesh Trivedi
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shiaw-Yih Lin
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Ray SK, Meshram Y, Mukherjee S. Cancer Immunology and CAR-T Cells: A Turning Point Therapeutic Approach in Colorectal Carcinoma with Clinical Insight. Curr Mol Med 2021; 21:221-236. [PMID: 32838717 DOI: 10.2174/1566524020666200824103749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy endeavours in harnessing the delicate strength and specificity of the immune system for therapy of different malignancies, including colorectal carcinoma. The recent challenge for cancer immunotherapy is to practice and develop molecular immunology tools to create tactics that efficiently and securely boost antitumor reactions. After several attempts of deceptive outcomes, the wave has lastly altered and immunotherapy has become a clinically confirmed treatment for several cancers. Immunotherapeutic methods include the administration of antibodies or modified proteins that either block cellular activity or co-stimulate cells through immune control pathways, cancer vaccines, oncolytic bacteria, ex vivo activated adoptive transfer of T cells and natural killer cells. Engineered T cells are used to produce a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to treat different malignancies, including colorectal carcinoma in a recent decade. Despite the considerable early clinical success, CAR-T therapies are associated with some side effects and sometimes display minimal efficacy. It gives special emphasis on the latest clinical evidence with CAR-T technology and also other related immunotherapeutic methods with promising performance, and highlighted how this therapy can affect the therapeutic outcome and next upsurge as a key clinical aspect of colorectal carcinoma. In this review, we recapitulate the current developments produced to improve the efficacy and specificity of CAR-T therapies in colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman K Ray
- Independent Researcher, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462020, India
| | - Yamini Meshram
- Independent Researcher, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462020, India
| | - Sukhes Mukherjee
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462020, India
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Pu YD, Wang J, Deng Q, Zhu HB, Jiang YY, Meng JX, Li YM. [PD-1 expression, mRNA level and cytotoxicity changes in CD19CAR-T cells]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2019; 40:759-763. [PMID: 31648479 PMCID: PMC7342444 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2019.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
目的 探讨CD19 CAR-T细胞培养过程中其PD-1蛋白、mRNA水平及细胞杀伤活性变化。 方法 收集6例外周血PD-1高表达恶性淋巴瘤患者、6例健康志愿者的外周血T细胞,作为CAR-T培养的T细胞来源。流式细胞术检测PD-1蛋白表达、PCR法检测PD-1 mRNA水平,CCK-8法检测细胞增殖,LDH法检测细胞杀伤活性。 结果 ①PD-1高表达患者T细胞来源CD19 CAR-T细胞,与志愿者T细胞来源者相比,转染率无差异(P>0.05);②PD-1高表达T细胞来源CAR-T细胞与PD-1抑制剂联合与否,以及健康志愿者CAR-T之间,细胞增殖差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);③PD-1高表达T细胞与CAR-T细胞对淋巴瘤细胞株杀伤活性,低于二者联合PD-1抑制剂及志愿者CAR-T细胞(P<0.001),而PD-1高表达T细胞来源CAR-T细胞联合PD-1抑制剂与健康志愿者CAR-T细胞间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);④各组细胞培养过程中PD-1表达均下降,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但各组细胞培养过程中,PD-1 mRNA的变化差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);⑤PD-1高表达T细胞来源CAR-T收获后,与PD-1抑制剂共培养与否,其PD-1表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但CAR-T与淋巴瘤细胞株接触后,其PD-1表达随培养时间延长而增高,加入PD-1抑制剂可拮抗该作用;各组间PD-1 mRNA的变化差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。 结论 PD-1高表达T细胞来源CAR-T细胞与肿瘤细胞接触后,其PD-1表达随培养时间延长而增高;而包括PD-1抑制剂在内,不能改变其PD-1 mRNA的表达。
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Affiliation(s)
- Y D Pu
- Department of Hematology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China
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Egri N, Ortiz de Landazuri I, San Bartolomé C, Ortega JR, Español-Rego M, Juan M. CART manufacturing process and reasons for academy-pharma collaboration. Immunol Lett 2019; 217:39-48. [PMID: 31669547 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The success of genetically engineered T-cells modified with a chimeric antigen receptor as an adoptive cell immunotherapy and the subsequent last regulatory approvals of products based on this therapy are leading to a crescent number of both academic and pharmaceutical industry clinical trials testing new approaches of this "living drugs". The aim of this review is to outline the latest developments and regulatory considerations in this field, with a particular emphasis to differences and similarities between academic and industry approaches and the role they should play to coexist and move forward together. To do that, the main considerations for the manufacturing process are firstly discussed, from the chimeric antigen receptor design to final production steps, passing through ex vivo T-cell handling, gene delivery methods, patient´s final product infusion observations or possible associated side effects of this treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Egri
- Servei d'Immunologia, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB), University of Barcelona (UB), Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) - HCB Immunotherapy Platform Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iñaki Ortiz de Landazuri
- Servei d'Immunologia, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB), University of Barcelona (UB), Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) - HCB Immunotherapy Platform Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara San Bartolomé
- Servei d'Immunologia, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB), University of Barcelona (UB), Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) - HCB Immunotherapy Platform Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Ramón Ortega
- Servei d'Immunologia, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB), University of Barcelona (UB), Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) - HCB Immunotherapy Platform Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Español-Rego
- Servei d'Immunologia, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB), University of Barcelona (UB), Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) - HCB Immunotherapy Platform Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Juan
- Servei d'Immunologia, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB), University of Barcelona (UB), Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) - HCB Immunotherapy Platform Barcelona, Spain; IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona (UB), Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) - HCB Immunotherapy Platform Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona (UB), Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) - HCB Immunotherapy Platform Barcelona, Spain; Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona (UB), Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) - HCB Immunotherapy Platform Barcelona, Spain.
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Magalhaes I, Carvalho-Queiroz C, Hartana CA, Kaiser A, Lukic A, Mints M, Nilsson O, Grönlund H, Mattsson J, Berglund S. Facing the future: challenges and opportunities in adoptive T cell therapy in cancer. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 19:811-827. [PMID: 30986360 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2019.1608179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years, immunotherapy for the treatment of solid cancer has emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), especially T cell-based, has been found to cause tumor regression and even cure in a percentage of treated patients. Checkpoint inhibitors further underscore the potential of the T cell compartment in the treatment of cancer. Not all patients respond to these treatments; however, many challenges remain. AREAS COVERED This review covers the challenges and progress in tumor antigen target identification and selection, and cell product manufacturing for T cell ACT. Tumor immune escape mechanisms and strategies to overcome those in the context of T cell ACT are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION The immunotherapy toolbox is rapidly expanding and improving, and the future promises further breakthroughs in the T cell ACT field. The heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment and the multiplicity of tumor immune escape mechanisms pose formidable challenges to successful T cell immunotherapy in solid tumors, however. Individualized approaches and strategies combining treatments targeting different immunotherapeutic aspects will be needed in order to expand the applicability and improve the response rates in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Magalhaes
- a Department of Oncology-Pathology , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Claudia Carvalho-Queiroz
- b Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ciputra Adijaya Hartana
- c Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital , Cambridge , MA , USA
| | - Andreas Kaiser
- b Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ana Lukic
- b Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Michael Mints
- a Department of Oncology-Pathology , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,d Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences , Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,e Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Medical Oncology and Hematology , Princess Margaret Cancer Center , Toronto , Canada.,f Department of Medicine , University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada
| | - Ola Nilsson
- b Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Hans Grönlund
- b Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Jonas Mattsson
- a Department of Oncology-Pathology , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,f Department of Medicine , University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada
| | - Sofia Berglund
- a Department of Oncology-Pathology , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,b Therapeutic Immune Design, Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
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Looi CK, Chung FFL, Leong CO, Wong SF, Rosli R, Mai CW. Therapeutic challenges and current immunomodulatory strategies in targeting the immunosuppressive pancreatic tumor microenvironment. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:162. [PMID: 30987642 PMCID: PMC6463646 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1153-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal type of cancers, with an overall five-year survival rate of less than 5%. It is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage with limited therapeutic options. To date, no effective treatment options have demonstrated long-term benefits in advanced pancreatic cancer patients. Compared with other cancers, pancreatic cancer exhibits remarkable resistance to conventional therapy and possesses a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). MAIN BODY In this review, we summarized the evidence and unique properties of TME in pancreatic cancer that may contribute to its resistance towards immunotherapies as well as strategies to overcome those barriers. We reviewed the current strategies and future perspectives of combination therapies that (1) promote T cell priming through tumor associated antigen presentation; (2) inhibit tumor immunosuppressive environment; and (3) break-down the desmoplastic barrier which improves tumor infiltrating lymphocytes entry into the TME. CONCLUSIONS It is imperative for clinicians and scientists to understand tumor immunology, identify novel biomarkers, and optimize the position of immunotherapy in therapeutic sequence, in order to improve pancreatic cancer clinical trial outcomes. Our collaborative efforts in targeting pancreatic TME will be the mainstay of achieving better clinical prognosis among pancreatic cancer patients. Ultimately, pancreatic cancer will be a treatable medical condition instead of a death sentence for a patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-King Looi
- 0000 0000 8946 5787grid.411729.8School of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Felicia Fei-Lei Chung
- Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis Section (MCA), Epigenetics Group (EGE) International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, Lyon, France
| | - Chee-Onn Leong
- 0000 0000 8946 5787grid.411729.8School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- 0000 0000 8946 5787grid.411729.8Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shew-Fung Wong
- 0000 0000 8946 5787grid.411729.8School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rozita Rosli
- 0000 0001 2231 800Xgrid.11142.37UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Sri Kembangan, Selangor Malaysia
| | - Chun-Wai Mai
- 0000 0000 8946 5787grid.411729.8School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- 0000 0000 8946 5787grid.411729.8Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Tendeiro Rego R, Morris EC, Lowdell MW. T-cell receptor gene-modified cells: past promises, present methodologies and future challenges. Cytotherapy 2019; 21:341-357. [PMID: 30655164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy constitutes an exciting and rapidly evolving field, and the demonstration that genetically modified T-cell receptors (TCRs) can be used to produce T-lymphocyte populations of desired specificity offers new opportunities for antigen-specific T-cell therapy. Overall, TCR-modified T cells have the ability to target a wide variety of self and non-self targets through the normal biology of a T cell. Although major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted and dependent on co-receptors, genetically engineered TCRs still present a number of characteristics that ensure they are an important alternative strategy to chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), and high-affinity TCRs can now be successfully engineered with the potential to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse events. This review will focus on the main characteristics of TCR gene-modified cells, their potential clinical application and promise to the field of adoptive cell transfer (ACT), basic manufacturing procedures and characterization protocols and overall challenges that need to be overcome so that redirection of TCR specificity may be successfully translated into clinical practice, beyond early-phase clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Tendeiro Rego
- UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, London, UK; Centre for Cell, Gene & Tissue Therapeutics, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Emma C Morris
- UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, London, UK
| | - Mark W Lowdell
- UCL Cancer Institute, Department of Haematology, London, UK
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Aragon-Sanabria V, Kim GB, Dong C. From Cancer Immunoediting to New Strategies in Cancer Immunotherapy: The Roles of Immune Cells and Mechanics in Oncology. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1092:113-138. [PMID: 30368751 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-95294-9_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
For the last three decades, the concept of immunoediting has evolved to characterize our increasing understanding of the interactions between cells from the immune system and cancer development. Elucidating the role of immune cells in the progression of cancer has been very challenging due to their dual role; the immune system can either suppress tumor formation by killing cancer cells, or it can also promote tumor growth. Revealing how immune cells are hampered by the tumor microenvironment and how they aid tumor progression has signaled strategies to reverse these effects and control cancer cell growth; this has been the advent of immunotherapy design. More recently, the role of physical forces in the process of immunoediting has been highlighted by multiple studies focusing on understanding how force changes in the stiffness of the extracellular matrix and fluid flow shear stress contribute to tumor development. Using models in vitro that incorporate biomechanical components, it has been shown that these physical aspects are not only important during the formation and growth of primary tumors, but in the metastatic process as well. In this way, we have also gained insight into the interactions occurring within the vascular system, which are highly affected by the dynamics of physical collisions between cells and by shear forces. Here, we review the concept of cancer immunoediting with an emphasis on biomechanics and conclude with a summary on current immunotherapies and potential new strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Aragon-Sanabria
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, USA
| | - Gloria B Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, USA
| | - Cheng Dong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, USA.
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11
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Optimizing T-cell receptor gene therapy for hematologic malignancies. Blood 2016; 127:3305-11. [PMID: 27207802 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-11-629071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in genetic engineering have enabled the delivery of clinical trials using patient T cells redirected to recognize tumor-associated antigens. The most dramatic results have been seen with T cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific for CD19, a differentiation antigen expressed in B cells and B lineage malignancies. We propose that antigen expression in nonmalignant cells may contribute to the efficacy of T-cell therapy by maintaining effector function and promoting memory. Although CAR recognition is limited to cell surface structures, T-cell receptors (TCRs) can recognize intracellular proteins. This not only expands the range of tumor-associated self-antigens that are amenable for T-cell therapy, but also allows TCR targeting of the cancer mutagenome. We will highlight biological bottlenecks that potentially limit mutation-specific T-cell therapy and may require high-avidity TCRs that are capable of activating effector function when the concentrations of mutant peptides are low. Unexpectedly, modified TCRs with artificially high affinities function poorly in response to low concentration of cognate peptide but pose an increased safety risk as they may respond optimally to cross-reactive peptides. Recent gene-editing tools, such as transcription activator-like effector nucleases and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, provide a platform to delete endogenous TCR and HLA genes, which removes alloreactivity and decreases immunogenicity of third-party T cells. This represents an important step toward generic off-the-shelf T-cell products that may be used in the future for the treatment of large numbers of patients.
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12
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Farkona S, Diamandis EP, Blasutig IM. Cancer immunotherapy: the beginning of the end of cancer? BMC Med 2016; 14:73. [PMID: 27151159 PMCID: PMC4858828 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-016-0623-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 753] [Impact Index Per Article: 94.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
These are exciting times for cancer immunotherapy. After many years of disappointing results, the tide has finally changed and immunotherapy has become a clinically validated treatment for many cancers. Immunotherapeutic strategies include cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, adoptive transfer of ex vivo activated T and natural killer cells, and administration of antibodies or recombinant proteins that either costimulate cells or block the so-called immune checkpoint pathways. The recent success of several immunotherapeutic regimes, such as monoclonal antibody blocking of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), has boosted the development of this treatment modality, with the consequence that new therapeutic targets and schemes which combine various immunological agents are now being described at a breathtaking pace. In this review, we outline some of the main strategies in cancer immunotherapy (cancer vaccines, adoptive cellular immunotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade, and oncolytic viruses) and discuss the progress in the synergistic design of immune-targeting combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Farkona
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eleftherios P Diamandis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ivan M Blasutig
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Clinical Biochemistry, Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabet St. Rm 3EB-365, Toronto, ON, M5G2C4, Canada.
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