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Vogiatzi I, Lama LM, Lehmann A, Rossignoli F, Gettemans J, Shah K. Allogeneic stem cells engineered to release interferon β and scFv-PD1 target glioblastoma and alter the tumor microenvironment. Cytotherapy 2024:S1465-3249(24)00719-9. [PMID: 38852095 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.05.012] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Highly malignant brain tumors, glioblastomas (GBM), are immunosuppressive, thereby limiting current promising immunotherapeutic approaches. In this study, we created interferon receptor 1 knockout allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to secrete dual-function pro-apoptotic and immunomodulatory interferon (IFN) β (MSCKO-IFNβ) using a single lentiviral vector CRISPR/Cas9 system. We show that MSCKO-IFNβ induces apoptosis in GBM cells and upregulates the cell surface expression of programmed death ligand-1 in tumor cells. Next, we engineered MSCKO to release a secretable single-chain variable fragment (scFv) to block programmed death (PD)-1 and show the ability of MSCKO-scFv-PD1 to enhance T-cell activation and T-cell-mediated tumor cell killing. To simultaneously express both immune modulators, we engineered MSCKO-IFNβ to co-express scFv-PD1 (MSCKO-IFNβ-scFv-PD1) and show the expression of both IFNβ and scFv-PD1 in vitro leads to T-cell activation and lowers the viability of tumor cells. Furthermore, to mimic the clinical scenario of GBM tumor resection and subsequent treatment, we show that synthetic extracellular matrix (sECM) encapsulated MSCKO-IFNβ-scFv-PD1 treatment of resected tumors results in the increase of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, mature conventional dendritic cells type II and activation of microglia as compared to the control treatment group. Overall, these results reveal the ability of MSCKO-IFNβ-scFv-PD1 to shape the tumor microenvironment and enhance therapeutic outcomes in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioulia Vogiatzi
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lucia Moreno Lama
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amelia Lehmann
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Filippo Rossignoli
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jan Gettemans
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Khalid Shah
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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2
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Wang R, Zhang T, Lu Y, Lin Y, Kou S, Li X, Wang Y, Xie L. Antitumor activity of pegylated human interferon β as monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors via tumor growth inhibition and dendritic cell activation. Cell Immunol 2023; 393-394:104782. [PMID: 37931572 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2023.104782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Type I interferons (IFN), especially human IFN alpha (IFNα), have been utilized for antitumor therapy for decades. Human interferon beta (IFNβ) is rarely used for cancer treatment, despite advantages over IFNα in biological activities such as tumor growth inhibition and dendritic cell (DC) activation. The utilization of pegylated human IFNβ (PEG-IFNβ), as monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was evaluated in this study through in vivo efficacy studies in syngeneic mouse melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) models resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In vitro comparative study of PEG-IFNβ and pegylated IFNα-2b was performed in terms of tumor growth inhibition against human melanoma, NSCLC and COAD cell lines and activation of human monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs). Our data demonstrate that the in vivo antitumor effects of PEG-IFNβ are partially attributable to tumor growth-inhibitory effects and DC-activating activities, superior to pegylated IFNα-2b. Our findings suggest that utilizing PEG-IFNβ as an antitumor therapy can enhance the therapeutic effect of ICIs in ICI-resistant tumors by directly inhibiting tumor growth and induction of DC maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Yalong Lin
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Shuyuan Kou
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Liangzhi Xie
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Antibody, Sinocelltech Ltd., Beijing 100176, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Monoclonal Antibody Research and Development, Sino Biological Inc., Beijing 100176, China; Cell Culture Engineering Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China.
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Brzoska J, von Eick H, Hündgen M. Interferons in the Therapy of Severe Coronavirus Infections: A Critical Analysis and Recollection of a Forgotten Therapeutic Regimen with Interferon Beta. Drug Res (Stuttg) 2020; 70:291-297. [PMID: 32443163 PMCID: PMC7366041 DOI: 10.1055/a-1170-4395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The pharmacological and immunological properties of interferons, especially those of interferon beta, and the corresponding treatment strategies are described, and the results of studies with different interferons in coronavirus infections are analysed. Furthermore, the data obtained with high-dosed native interferon beta in life-threatening acute viral diseases as well as the results of clinical pilot studies with high-dosed recombinant interferon beta-1a are provided because they serve as the rationale for the proposed therapeutic regimen to be applied in acute viral infections. This regimen differs from those approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis and consists of interferon beta-1a administered as a 24 hour intravenous infusion at a daily dose of up to 90 µg for 3-5 consecutive days. Since under this regimen transient severe side effects can occur, it is analysed which patients are suitable for this kind of treatment in general and if patients with severe coronavirus infections could also be treated accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Brzoska
- Linical Europe GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany
- Last affiliations prior to retirement
| | - Harald von Eick
- CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services Europe GmbH, Ulm,
Germany
- Last affiliations prior to retirement
| | - Manfred Hündgen
- Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH, Laupheim, Germany
- Last affiliations prior to retirement
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4
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Kavari SL, Shah K. Engineered stem cells targeting multiple cell surface receptors in tumors. Stem Cells 2019; 38:34-44. [PMID: 31381835 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3069] [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: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Multiple stem cell types exhibit inherent tropism for cancer, and engineered stem cells have been used as therapeutic agents to specifically target cancer cells. Recently, stem cells have been engineered to target multiple surface receptors on tumor cells, as well as endothelial and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we discuss the rationales and strategies for developing multiple receptor-targeted stem cells, their mechanisms of action, and the promises and challenges they hold as cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanam L Kavari
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging (CSTI), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Khalid Shah
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging (CSTI), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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5
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Choi SH, Stuckey DW, Pignatta S, Reinshagen C, Khalsa JK, Roozendaal N, Martinez-Quintanilla J, Tamura K, Keles E, Shah K. Tumor Resection Recruits Effector T Cells and Boosts Therapeutic Efficacy of Encapsulated Stem Cells Expressing IFNβ in Glioblastomas. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:7047-7058. [PMID: 28912136 PMCID: PMC6818096 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Despite tumor resection being the first-line clinical care for glioblastoma (GBM) patients, nearly all preclinical immune therapy models intend to treat established GBM. Characterizing cytoreductive surgery-induced immune response combined with the administration of immune cytokines has the potential of offering a new treatment paradigm of immune therapy for GBMs.Experimental Design: We developed syngeneic orthotopic mouse GBM models of tumor resection and characterized the immune response of intact and resected tumors. We also created a highly secretable variant of immune cytokine IFNβ to enhance its release from engineered mouse mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-IFNβ) and assessed whether surgical resection of intracranial GBM tumor significantly enhanced the antitumor efficacy of targeted on-site delivery of encapsulated MSC-IFNβ.Results: We show that tumor debulking results in substantial reduction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and simultaneous recruitment of CD4/CD8 T cells. This immune response significantly enhanced the antitumor efficacy of locally delivered encapsulated MSC-IFNβ via enhanced selective postsurgical infiltration of CD8 T cells and directly induced cell-cycle arrest in tumor cells, resulting in increased survival of mice. Utilizing encapsulated human MSC-IFNβ in resected orthotopic tumor xenografts of patient-derived GBM, we further show that IFNβ induces cell-cycle arrest followed by apoptosis, resulting in increased survival in immunocompromised mice despite their absence of an intact immune system.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of syngeneic tumor resection models in developing cancer immunotherapies and emphasizes the translational potential of local delivery of immunotherapeutic agents in treating cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 23(22); 7047-58. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Hugh Choi
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel W Stuckey
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sara Pignatta
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Clemens Reinshagen
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jasneet Kaur Khalsa
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nicolaas Roozendaal
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jordi Martinez-Quintanilla
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kaoru Tamura
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Erhan Keles
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Khalid Shah
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Imaging, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Suppression of proliferation, tumorigenicity and metastasis of lung cancer cells after their transduction by interferon-beta gene in baculovirus vector. Cytokine 2015; 71:318-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Revised: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Weinstock-Guttman B, Ramanathan M, Zivadinov R. Interferon-beta treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2008; 8:1435-47. [PMID: 18694361 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.8.9.1435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recombinant forms of IFN-beta were the first therapeutic intervention found to be effective at interfering with the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic and debilitating disease affecting the CNS in young adults. OBJECTIVE/METHODS To examine the application of IFN-beta to MS treatment by a review of relevant literature. RESULTS The different IFN-beta products available are similar in their clinical effects. However, the response to IFN-beta therapy is only partial and the most efficient individual-specific dose, route and frequency of administration are not elucidated fully. The mechanism of action of IFN-beta in MS is also not understood fully but its immunomodulatory effects are probably more important than its anti-proliferative and antiviral activities. CONCLUSIONS Although new therapeutic approaches are being sought to better treat MS, IFN-beta remains one of the most recognized and approved worldwide therapeutic options for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Weinstock-Guttman
- The Jacobs Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
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8
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Ogasawara S, Yano H, Momosaki S, Akiba J, Nishida N, Kojiro S, Moriya F, Ishizaki H, Kuratomi K, Kojiro M. Growth inhibitory effects of IFN-beta on human liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2007; 27:507-16. [PMID: 17572015 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2007.0183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effects of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) on the growth of human liver cancer cells. The effects of IFN-beta with or without 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the proliferation of 13 liver cancer cell lines were investigated in vitro. Chronologic change in IFN-alpha receptor 2 (IFNAR-2) expression was monitored in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells (HAK-1B) cultured with IFN-beta. After HAK-1B cells were transplanted into nude mice, various doses of IFN-beta were administered, and the tumor volume, weight, histology, tumor blood vessel, and angiogenesis factor expression were examined. IFN-beta inhibited the growth of 11 cell lines with apoptosis in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. With IFN-beta, IFNAR-2 expression in HAK-1B cells was significantly downregulated from 6 to 12 h. IFN-beta induced a dose-dependent decrease in tumor volume and weight and a significant increase of apoptosis in the tumor. Both basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and blood vessel number in the tumor decreased only in mice receiving the lowest dose (1000 IU) of IFN-beta. IFN-beta with 10 muM of 5-FU frequently induced synergistic antiproliferative effects. IFN-beta with or without 5-FU induces strong antitumor effects in HCC cells, and we conclude that IFN-beta is useful for the prevention and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachiko Ogasawara
- Department of Pathology, Kurume University School of Medicine, and Research Center of Innovative Cancer Therapy of the 21st Century COE Program for Medical Science, Kurume University, Kurume 830-0011, Japan
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Voelter-Mahlknecht S, Mahlknecht U, Letzel S, Fierlbeck G. Phase 2 trial of the continuous IV administration of interferon-beta in patients with disseminated malignant melanoma. Skinmed 2007; 5:271-6. [PMID: 17085993 DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-9740.2006.05678.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interferons have been reported to significantly contribute to tumor suppression via both induction of p53 gene expression and inhibition of angiogenesis. OBJECTIVE The assessment of treatment toxicity and antitumoral effectiveness of continuous IV administration of interferon-beta based on an overall evaluation of laboratory, radiographic, and clinical parameters observed during the trial. METHODS The authors treated patients with advanced malignant melanoma with continuous IV infusions of 1 x 10(6) IU interferon-beta daily ( approximately 0.6 x 10(6) IU interferon-beta/m2 daily). RESULTS Continuous IV administration of interferon-beta had no significant effect on overall patient outcome. Interferon side effects were not a reason for treatment discontinuation in any of the patients observed during this trial. CONCLUSIONS Continuous IV interferon-beta had no significant effect on overall patient outcome in a group of patients with advanced malignant melanoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the continuous IV administration of interferon-beta in patients with advanced malignant melanoma.
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Santos R, Weinstock-Guttman B, Tamaño-Blanco M, Badgett D, Zivadinov R, Justinger T, Munschauer F, Ramanathan M. Dynamics of interferon-beta modulated mRNA biomarkers in multiple sclerosis patients with anti-interferon-beta neutralizing antibodies. J Neuroimmunol 2006; 176:125-33. [PMID: 16698090 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2006.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2006] [Revised: 02/20/2006] [Accepted: 03/27/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate multiple interferon (IFN) specific mRNA biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with anti-IFN-beta neutralizing antibodies (NAB) using a pharmacodynamic study design. Thirty patients were enrolled. Blood samples were drawn at pre-treatment, 4-, 8-h time points following the intramuscular dose of IFN-beta-1a. Total RNA was obtained from peripheral blood cells, processed to cDNA and analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Pre-treatment serum samples were analyzed for anti-IFN-beta binding and neutralizing antibodies: 22 patients were NAB negative; equal numbers of the eight remaining patients were either NAB positive or had borderline NAB status. The results showed that early assessment (at 4 h after IFN-beta injection) of mRNAs for Stat-1, MxA, MxB and TRAIL was more sensitive than the later measurements. Furthermore, the NAB positive patients had strongly attenuated gene expression responses on all the mRNAs. Patients with borderline NAB had average responses that appear to be lower than NAB negative patients on several genes, notably Stat-1, TRAIL and beta2 microglobulin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roseane Santos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, and Jacobs Neurological Institute, Buffalo General Hospital, NY 14260-1200, United States
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Choi EA, Lei H, Maron DJ, Mick R, Barsoum J, Yu QC, Fraker DL, Wilson JM, Spitz FR. Combined 5-fluorouracil/systemic interferon-beta gene therapy results in long-term survival in mice with established colorectal liver metastases. Clin Cancer Res 2004; 10:1535-44. [PMID: 14977858 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-0040-03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated synergistic interactions between 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and type I and II IFNs against human colorectal cancer cells. Despite these activities, randomized human trials have failed to identify a clinical benefit for this combination treatment. These limited clinical results may be secondary to the short half-life of recombinant IFN protein and the increased systemic toxicities of 5-FU/IFN combinations. We have previously reported an adenoviral-mediated IFN-beta gene therapy strategy, which may circumvent the pitfalls of recombinant IFN therapy. However, a dose-dependent toxicity and acute inflammatory response to systemically administered adenovirus vectors may limit the clinical application of this therapy. The combination of adenoviral-mediated IFN-beta gene therapy and 5-FU resulted in tumor regression, apoptosis, and improved survival in an established liver metastases model. These therapeutic effects were observed at a significantly lower vector dose than we had previously reported and with limited toxicity. This approach may allow for an effective clinical application of this therapy and warrants additional investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene A Choi
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Human Gene Therapy, The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19404, USA
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12
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Fainardi E, Rizzo R, Melchiorri L, Castellazzi M, Govoni V, Caniatti L, Paolino E, Tola MR, Granieri E, Baricordi OR. Beneficial effect of interferon-β 1b treatment in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis is associated with an increase in serum levels of soluble HLA-I molecules during the first 3 months of therapy. J Neuroimmunol 2004; 148:206-11. [PMID: 14975603 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2003.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2003] [Revised: 12/01/2003] [Accepted: 12/01/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
It has recently become clear that interferon-beta (IFN-beta) treatment is effective in ameliorating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) through an as yet unidentified mechanism. As there is no recognisable biological indicator to predict responsiveness to IFN-beta treatment, we have investigated fluctuations in serum sHLA-I levels in MS patients undergoing IFN-beta 1b therapy. Serum sHLA-I concentrations measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were assessed at baseline and, longitudinally, over a period of 18 months after the start of treatment in 29 RRMS patients grouped as responders and nonresponders according to their clinical response to IFN-beta 1b therapy. Thirty-nine healthy volunteers served as controls. Serum sHLA-I concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.001) in pretreated RRMS patients than in healthy donors. In MS patients, changes in mean serum levels of sHLA-I from baseline showed a temporal pattern characterized by a strong increase in the first trimester of treatment, a return toward basal values in the following 6 months, a slight decline at 12th and 15th months and a further moderate increase at the 18th month. Mean serum sHLA-I levels were significantly more elevated in responders than in nonresponders at the first (p<0.02), second (p<0.01), and at third (p<0.02) months after the beginning of treatment and significantly lower (p<0.01) at the time of relapses in comparison to baseline values. Overall, these results seem to indicate that IFN-beta 1b can modulate fluctuations in serum sHLA-I levels and argue in favour of a potential role for serum levels of sHLA-I as a sensitive marker to monitor response to IFN-beta treatment in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Fainardi
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, University of Ferrara, Arcispedale S. Anna, Corso della Giovecca 203, Ferrara I-44100, Italy.
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13
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Heim A, Weiss S. Interferons in enteroviral heart disease: modulation of cytokine expression and antiviral activity. Med Microbiol Immunol 2003; 193:149-54. [PMID: 13680216 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-003-0200-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2003] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Interferon (IFN)-beta has a more than 120-fold higher antiviral activity than the closely related IFN-alpha in human myocardial fibroblasts infected with the cardiotropic enterovirus coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). CVB3 replication induces interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 expression in myocardial fibroblasts, and suppresses the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). We investigated whether the higher antiviral activity of IFN-beta compared to IFN-alpha was a result of a suppression of IL-8 expression by IFN-beta since previous studies had indicated that IL-8 stimulates enterovirus replication. Human myocardial fibroblasts were treated with either IFN-alpha, IFN-beta or IFN-gamma (0, 10, 100, or 1,000 IU/ml) and the concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 were measured in culture supernatants by immunoassays. Both IFN-beta and IFN-gamma reduced IL-6 and IL-8 expression significantly. In addition, neutralization of IL-8 in culture supernatants of myocardial fibroblasts using a monoclonal antibody demonstrated a significant reduction of CVB3 titers. Antiproliferative effects of all three IFNs were very low (<30% with 1,000 IU/ml), indicating that the suppression IL-6 and IL-8 was not related to cytotoxicity. MCP-1 expression was increased only by high concentrations of IFN-gamma (1,000 IU/ml). By contrast, IFN-alpha had no significant effect on IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 expression. In conclusion, suppression of IL-8 expression is an "immuno-modulating" feature of IFN-beta in human myocardial fibroblasts, which is similar to the activity of IFN-gamma. This feature of IFN-beta contributes to its high antiviral activity against CVB3 and may be useful in the treatment of enteroviral heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Heim
- Institut für Virologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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14
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Weinstock-Guttman B, Badgett D, Patrick K, Hartrich L, Santos R, Hall D, Baier M, Feichter J, Ramanathan M. Genomic effects of IFN-beta in multiple sclerosis patients. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2003; 171:2694-702. [PMID: 12928423 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.171.5.2694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this report was to characterize the dynamics of the gene expression cascades induced by an IFN-beta-1a treatment regimen in multiple sclerosis patients and to examine the molecular mechanisms potentially capable of causing heterogeneity in response to therapy. In this open-label pharmacodynamic study design, peripheral blood was obtained from eight relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients just before and at 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, 120, and 168 h after i.m. injection of 30 micro g of IFN-beta-1a. The total RNA was isolated from monocyte-depleted PBL and analyzed using cDNA microarrays containing probes for >4000 known genes. IFN-beta-1a treatment resulted in selective, time-dependent effects on multiple genes. The mRNAs for genes implicated in the anti-viral response, e.g., double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase, myxovirus resistance proteins 1 and 2, and guanylate binding proteins 1 and 2 were rapidly induced within 1-4 h of IFN-beta treatment. The mRNAs for several genes involved in IFN-beta signaling, such as IFN-alpha/beta receptor-2 and Stat1, were also increased. The mRNAs for lymphocyte activation markers, such as IFN-induced transmembrane protein 1 (9-27), IFN-induced transmembrane protein 2 (1-8D), beta(2)-microglobulin, and CD69, were also increased in a time-dependent manner. The findings demonstrate that IFN-beta treatment induces specific and time-dependent changes in multiple mRNAs in lymphocytes of multiple sclerosis patients that could provide a framework for rapid monitoring of the response to therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Antigens, CD/biosynthesis
- Antigens, CD/genetics
- Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Antiviral Agents/biosynthesis
- Antiviral Agents/genetics
- Bayes Theorem
- Biomarkers/analysis
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling/methods
- Gene Expression Profiling/statistics & numerical data
- Genetic Variation/immunology
- Humans
- Injections, Intramuscular
- Interferon-beta/administration & dosage
- Interferon-beta/pharmacology
- Interferon-beta/therapeutic use
- Janus Kinase 1
- Lectins, C-Type
- Lymphocyte Activation/genetics
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/genetics
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/immunology
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/metabolism
- Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
- Polymerase Chain Reaction/statistics & numerical data
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational/immunology
- Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/biosynthesis
- Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- Signal Transduction/immunology
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15
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Bagnato F, Pozzilli C. Pharmacological methods to overcome IFN-beta antibody formation in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2003; 12:1153-63. [PMID: 12831350 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.12.7.1153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Diminished efficacy in terms of clinical relapses and lesion load on magnetic resonance images for patients developing neutralising antibodies (NAbs) to recombinant IFN-beta may be found in multiple sclerosis. NAbs become detectable over the first few years of therapy, disappearing during the treatment course in some patients and persisting longer in some others. Therefore, the administration of concomitant therapies to recombinant IFNbeta to prevent the formation of NAbs could be indicated mainly in the latter group of patients at the early stage of the treatment. Among those therapies, steroids meet the best criteria in terms of either safety or impact on the development of NAbs, at the present time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Bagnato
- Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institutes of Neurological Disease and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1400 USA.
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16
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Mager DE, Neuteboom B, Efthymiopoulos C, Munafo A, Jusko WJ. Receptor-mediated pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of interferon-beta1a in monkeys. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2003; 306:262-70. [PMID: 12660309 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.103.049502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was developed to simultaneously characterize interferon after i.v. and s.c. dosing at various dose levels. A sequential study in monkeys (n = 18) was conducted, where single doses of 1, 3, and 10 MIU/kg of recombinant-human interferon-beta (IFN-beta) 1a were given i.v. and then s.c. Plasma concentrations of IFN-beta were determined and biphasic neopterin concentrations were used as the pharmacodynamic (PD) endpoint. Multiple dosing also was evaluated by giving 1 MIU/kg s.c. doses once daily for 7 days (n = 3). The integrated model uses target-mediated drug disposition to describe drug elimination by receptor binding and internalization, and well characterizes the observed nonlinear pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles. The s.c. doses exhibited an absorption phase (Tmax = 3 h) and incomplete bioavailability (F = 0.3-0.7). An indirect response model for stimulation of neopterin triphosphate production by activated receptor complex followed by conversion to neopterin was used to jointly model the formation and loss of neopterin with a capacity factor Smax = 23.8. Greater relative neopterin response after s.c. dosing was accounted for by prolonged receptor activation relative to the SC50 value. Repeated daily s.c. dosing produced modestly elevated IFN-beta1a concentrations and neopterin concentrations that were lower than simulated from single-dose modeling. Although several mechanisms could be involved, these phenomena were simply remodeled as down-regulation of Smax and receptors. The PK/PD model for IFN-beta1a depicts receptor binding as a key feature controlling nonlinear elimination, nonstationary kinetics, and neopterin induction in a manner consistent with known processes controlling its disposition and pharmacological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald E Mager
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 565 Hochstetter Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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17
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Sung C, Nardelli B, LaFleur DW, Blatter E, Corcoran M, Olsen HS, Birse CE, Pickeral OK, Zhang J, Shah D, Moody G, Gentz S, Beebe L, Moore PA. An IFN-beta-albumin fusion protein that displays improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties in nonhuman primates. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2003; 23:25-36. [PMID: 12639296 DOI: 10.1089/10799900360520423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The long half-life and stability of human serum albumin (HSA) make it an attractive candidate for fusion to short-lived therapeutic proteins. Albuferon (Human Genome Sciences [HGS], Inc., Rockville, MD) beta is a novel recombinant protein derived from a gene fusion of interferon-beta (IFN-beta ) and HSA. In vitro, Albuferon beta displays antiviral and antiproliferative activities and triggers the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) signal transduction pathway. Array analysis of 5694 independent genes in Daudi-treated cells revealed that Albuferon beta and IFN-beta induce the expression of an identical set of 30 genes, including 9 previously not identified. In rhesus monkeys administered a dose of 50 microg/kg intravenously (i.v.) or subcutaneously (s.c.) or 300 microg/kg s.c., Albuferon beta demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Subcutaneous bioavailability was 87%, plasma clearance at 4.7-5.7 ml/h/kg was approximately 140-fold lower than that of IFN-beta, and the terminal half-life was 36-40 h compared with 8 h for IFN-beta. Importantly, Albuferon beta induced sustained increases in serum neopterin levels and 2',5' mRNA expression. At a molar dose equivalent to one-half the dose of IFN-beta, Albuferon beta elicited comparable neopterin responses and significantly higher 2',5'-OAS mRNA levels in rhesus monkeys. The enhanced in vivo pharmacologic properties of IFN-beta when fused to serum albumin suggest a clinical opportunity for improved IFN-beta therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Sung
- Human Genome Sciences, Inc, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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18
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Mager DE, Jusko WJ. Receptor-mediated pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model of interferon-beta 1a in humans. Pharm Res 2002; 19:1537-43. [PMID: 12425473 DOI: 10.1023/a:1020468902694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE An integrated receptor-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model of interferon-beta la (IFN-beta la) previously developed for monkeys was used to capture the time-course of drug and induced neopterin concentrations after intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) dosing in humans. METHODS Data were extracted from the literature by digitalization. Single-dose (3 IV doses and I SC dose) PK/PD profiles were simultaneously fitted using the basic model and the ADAPT II computer program. Additional submodels incorporating neutralizing antibody formation and negative feedback inhibition were applied to account for drug accumulation and lower than expected neopterin concentrations encountered after multiple-dosing (1 SC dose every 48 hs). RESULTS The basic model jointly-captured the nonlinear PK behavior of the drug and induced neopterin concentrations after all single doses. Slow and incomplete absorption (F = 0.33) of the SC dose resulted in prolonged drug concentrations reflective of flip-flop kinetics. Despite lower drug concentrations, SC dosing produced a similar neopterin profile as compared with the IV doses; however, with a longer time to peak effect and slightly higher neopterin concentrations at later time points. The PD component of the model represents a modified precursor-dependent indirect response model driven by the amount of internalized drug-receptor complex. The latter stimulated a 6-fold increase in the production of the neopterin precursor (Smax = 5.89). Drug accumulation and lower than expected neopterin concentrations after multiple dosing were also captured after the inclusion of the submodels. CONCLUSIONS The present integrated PK/PD model for IFN-beta 1a is mechanistic in nature with receptor-mediated disposition and dynamics and was successfully applied to human clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald E Mager
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 14260, USA
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19
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Ulmer A, Metzger S, Fierlbeck G. Successful palliation of stenosing anorectal melanoma by intratumoral injections with natural interferon-beta. Melanoma Res 2002; 12:395-8. [PMID: 12170190 DOI: 10.1097/00008390-200208000-00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Anorectal malignant melanoma is an uncommon tumour. Unlike for cutaneous melanoma, there are few guidelines for its optimal management. In particular, very few palliative treatment strategies have been described for patients with advanced disease. We report on an 80 year old patient with locally advanced anorectal melanoma nearly completely blocking the anal orifice and disseminated metastases. Complete regression of the primary tumour and partial remission of the metastases was achieved with intratumoral injections of natural interferon-beta and systemic administration of dacarbazine. The quality of life in this patient was improved markedly by providing relief from severe rectal pain and bleeding. We propose that conservative treatment strategies such as intratumoral injections with interferon-beta should be considered as a palliative treatment option for stenosing anorectal melanoma before an abdominoperineal resection is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ulmer
- Universitäts-Hautklinik, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Liebermeisterstr. 25, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
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20
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Brickelmaier M, Carmillo A, Goelz S, Barsoum J, Qin XQ. Cytotoxicity of combinations of IFN-beta and chemotherapeutic drugs. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2002; 22:873-80. [PMID: 12396726 DOI: 10.1089/107999002760274881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) induces various antiproliferative activities. In solid tumor cells, IFN-beta inhibits cell cycle progression, which mainly occurs as S phase accumulation. The IFN-beta-induced cell cycle effect has been implicated in the antitumor effect of combinations of IFN-beta and chemotherapeutic drugs. In this report, we characterized the viability of various human tumor cells in vitro after combination treatment with IFN-beta protein and the chemotherapeutic drugs, cis-platinum (II) diamine dichloride (cisplatin), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), paclitaxel (Taxol) and gemcitabine. IFN-beta could significantly potentiate the cytotoxicity of these chemotherapeutic drugs. The potentiating effect was observed after pretreatment of tumor cells with IFN-beta but did not require the constant presence of IFN-beta. The potentiating effect correlated with the sensitivity of the tumor cells to the IFN-beta-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, chemotherapeutic drugs also potentiated the cytotoxicity of IFN-beta. We conclude that the cell cycle effect per se did not determine the ability of IFN-beta to potentiate the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs. We suggest that the combination of local IFN-beta gene therapy with chemotherapy could be an effective cancer treatment.
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21
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Brown JL, Barsoum J, Qin XQ. CD4+ T helper cell-independent antitumor response mediated by murine IFN-beta gene delivery in immunocompetent mice. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2002; 22:719-28. [PMID: 12162884 DOI: 10.1089/10799900260100222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we provided evidence that adenovirus-mediated interferon-beta (IFN-beta) gene therapy inhibits tumor formation and causes dramatic regression of established tumors in immunodeficient mice. We suggested that local IFN-beta gene therapy with adenoviral vectors could be an effective treatment for cancer. In this report, the actions of murine IFN-beta (MuIFN-beta) gene delivery on both subcutaneous and metastatic tumors were evaluated in syngeneic immunocompetent mice. We found that the antitumor response mediated by MuIFN-beta gene delivery relied on CD8(+) T cells but was completely independent of CD4(+) T cells. In fact, depletion of CD4(+) T cells appeared to enhance the effect on tumor inhibition and animal survival induced by adenovirus-MuIFN-beta gene delivery. Therefore, adenovirus-MuIFN-beta gene therapy can bypass CD4(+) T helper (Th) cells and activate an effective CD8(+) T cell-dependent antitumor immunity in immunocompetent mice. Furthermore, we found that depletion of macrophages but not natural killer (NK) cells suppressed the antitumor response induced by MuIFN-beta gene therapy. These data, together with our previous results, suggest that in the clinical setting, local adenovirus-mediated IFN-beta gene therapy may lead to an efficient and long-lasting eradication of tumors by a direct antitumor effect and via activation of the innate and the adoptive immune systems.
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22
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Kubo H, Miyawaki I, Kawagoe M, Kuriwaki K, Hatanaka S, Tanaka K, Nakagawa M. Primary malignant melanoma of the male urethra. Int J Urol 2002; 9:268-71. [PMID: 12060440 DOI: 10.1046/j.1442-2042.2002.00458.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We report a case of primary malignant melanoma of the male urethra in a patient whose penile shaft was successfully preserved, but who proceeded to acute renal failure (ARF) after interferon (IFN)-beta adjuvant immunotherapy. Primary malignant melanoma of the male urethra is rare and usually shows highly malignant potential. Therefore, urologists must often perform phallectomy, which impacts on the patient both sexually and mentally. A 64-year-old man presented at Saiseikai Sendai Hospital with asymptomatic gross hematuria and was diagnosed as distal urethral tumor. We predicted the highly malignant potential of this tumor from the urethroscopic finding and from urinary cytological examination. We did not select trans-urethral resection (TUR), but selected partial urethrectomy. This patient proceeded to ARF 1 month after natural IFN-beta treatment as an adjuvant immunotherapy. As IFN-beta rarely induces the delayed renal failure, urologists should be aware of renal dysfunction after IFN-beta therapy for the treatment of malignant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Kubo
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Japan
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23
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Qin XQ, Beckham C, Brown JL, Lukashev M, Barsoum J. Human and mouse IFN-beta gene therapy exhibits different anti-tumor mechanisms in mouse models. Mol Ther 2001; 4:356-64. [PMID: 11592839 DOI: 10.1006/mthe.2001.0464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we suggested that local human interferon-beta (IFN-beta) gene therapy with replication-defective adenoviral vectors can be an effective cancer treatment. Clinical trials to treat cancers with adenovirus expressing the human IFN-beta gene (IFNB1) has been planned. As a continued effort to explore the mechanisms of action of human IFN-beta gene therapy that can occur in the clinical setting, we tested mouse IFN-beta gene therapy in human xenograft tumors in both ex vivo and in vivo models. Delivery of the mouse IFN-beta gene (Ifnb) caused tumor inhibition; this effect was dependent on the indirect anti-tumor activities of IFN-beta, notably a stimulation of natural killer cells. IFN-beta does not show cross-species activity in its anti-proliferative effect and mouse IFN-beta does not cause as significant an anti-proliferative effect on mouse tumor cells as human IFN-beta causes on human tumor cells. Therefore, we believe that mouse models using either human IFN-beta or mouse IFN-beta gene transfer do not capture all aspects of the action of adenovirus-mediated human IFN-beta gene therapy that may be present in the clinical setting. Due to its multiple mechanisms of action, human IFN-beta gene therapy may be effective in treating human cancers that are either sensitive or resistant to the direct anti-proliferative effect of IFN-beta.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Q Qin
- Biogen, Inc., 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
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24
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Tada H, Maron DJ, Choi EA, Barsoum J, Lei H, Xie Q, Liu W, Ellis L, Moscioni AD, Tazelaar J, Fawell S, Qin X, Propert KJ, Davis A, Fraker DL, Wilson JM, Spitz FR. Systemic IFN-beta gene therapy results in long-term survival in mice with established colorectal liver metastases. J Clin Invest 2001; 108:83-95. [PMID: 11435460 PMCID: PMC209332 DOI: 10.1172/jci9841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Most patients succumbing to colorectal cancer fail with liver-predominant metastases. To make a clinical impact in this disease, a systemic or whole-liver therapy may be required, whereas most cancer gene therapy approaches are limited in their ability to treat beyond local disease. As a preclinical model for cancer gene therapy, recombinant adenovirus containing the human IFN-beta (hIFN-beta) cDNA was delivered systemically in nude mouse xenograft models of human colorectal cancer liver metastases. The vector targeted hepatocytes that produced high levels of hIFN-beta in the liver, resulting in a profound apoptotic response in the tumors and significant tumor regression. hIFN-beta gene therapy not only resulted in improved survival and long-term cure in a micrometastatic model, but provided similar benefits in a clinically relevant gross disease model. A similar recombinant adenovirus containing the murine IFN-beta (mIFN-beta) cDNA also resulted in a therapeutic response and improved survival in syngeneic mouse models of colorectal cancer liver metastases. Depletion studies demonstrate a contribution of natural killer cells to this therapeutic response. The toxicity of an adenoviral vector expressing murine IFN-beta in a syngeneic model is also presented. These encouraging results warrant further investigation of the use of cancer gene therapy for targeting metastatic disease.
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MESH Headings
- Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy
- Adenocarcinoma/secondary
- Adenocarcinoma/therapy
- Adenoviridae/genetics
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology
- Cytomegalovirus/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/administration & dosage
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/therapeutic use
- DNA, Complementary/toxicity
- Female
- Genes, Synthetic
- Genetic Therapy
- Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Genetic Vectors/therapeutic use
- Genetic Vectors/toxicity
- Hepatocytes/metabolism
- Humans
- Injections, Intraperitoneal
- Injections, Intravenous
- Interferon-beta/administration & dosage
- Interferon-beta/genetics
- Interferon-beta/therapeutic use
- Interferon-beta/toxicity
- Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/secondary
- Liver Neoplasms/therapy
- Macrophages/drug effects
- Macrophages/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, SCID
- Neoplasm Transplantation
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/therapy
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/administration & dosage
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/physiology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/therapeutic use
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/toxicity
- Tumor Cells, Cultured/transplantation
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- H Tada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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25
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Buchwalder PA, Buclin T, Trinchard I, Munafo A, Biollaz J. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of IFN-beta 1a in healthy volunteers. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2000; 20:857-66. [PMID: 11054273 DOI: 10.1089/10799900050163226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pharmacokinetics of recombinant human interferon-beta1a (IFN-beta1a) (Rebif, Ares-Serono, Geneva, Switzerland) were investigated in healthy volunteers following intravenous (i.v.) administration of increasing single doses of the drug (22 microg/6 million international units [MIU], 44 microg/12 MIU, and 66 microg/18 MIU); i.v., intramuscular (i.m.), and subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of a 66-microg dose; and repeated s.c. administration of four 66-microg doses at 48-h intervals. The disposition of IFN-beta1a followed triexponential decay after i.v. administration (half-lives 3 min, 42 min, and 22 h, respectively). After s.c. and i. m. administration, absorption was the rate-limiting factor in the terminal phase. The median absolute bioavailabilities were 30% and 27%, respectively. The accumulation ratio after repeated s.c. injections was 2.4, and a terminal half-life of 66 h was observed. Intracellular 2-5A synthetase activity and serum neopterin and beta2-microglobulin concentrations increased after all IFN-beta1a injections and remained elevated following every-other-day administration. The local tolerance was good, and the systemic tolerance was satisfactory.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Buchwalder
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland
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26
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Perini P, Wadhwa M, Buttarello M, Meager A, Facchinetti A, Thorpe R, Biasi G, Gallo P. Effect of IFNbeta and anti-IFNbeta antibodies on NK cells in multiple sclerosis patients. J Neuroimmunol 2000; 105:91-5. [PMID: 10713368 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(00)00196-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
We analysed longitudinally the numbers of CD3-CD16+ (natural killer cells, NK) and CD3-CD57+ cells (a subset of NK) in 15 IFNbeta1b- and 12 IFNbeta1a-treated relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. IFNbeta1b (Betaferon)-treated RRMS patients showed a rapid and marked reduction in the number of both NK subsets which started 1 month after therapy initiation, and reached highest significance after 3 months (P=0.000); however, figures reverted to pre-treatment values following the appearance of anti-IFNbeta antibodies. In IFNbeta1a (Avonex)-treated RRMS patients, the decrease in both CD3-CD16+ and CD3-CD57+ cell number was slower but more persistent; anti-IFNbeta antibodies were only rarely detected in these patients, and at lower titers than in IFNbeta1b-treated ones. Our findings suggest that NK cells might be one of the major immunological targets of IFNbeta-based treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Perini
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatrical Sciences, Second Neurological Clinic, University of Padova, via E. Vendramini 7, 35137, Padova, Italy
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27
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Hsieh JT, Dinney CP, Chung LW. The potential role of gene therapy in the treatment of bladder cancer. Urol Clin North Am 2000; 27:103-13, ix. [PMID: 10696249 DOI: 10.1016/s0094-0143(05)70238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Based on understanding the molecular mechanism of bladder carcinogenesis, cancer gene therapy may well become a novel therapy in the near future. Currently, a viral vector system appears to be a better vehicle to deliver genes into target cells. Exploring different therapeutic strategies has generated promising results from preclinical bladder cancer models. Phase I clinical trials are underway to study the feasibility of this treatment for human bladder cancer patients. However, several potential problems associated with effective gene delivery need to be further refined.
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Affiliation(s)
- J T Hsieh
- Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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28
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Stürzebecher S, Maibauer R, Heuner A, Beckmann K, Aufdembrinke B. Pharmacodynamic comparison of single doses of IFN-beta1a and IFN-beta1b in healthy volunteers. J Interferon Cytokine Res 1999; 19:1257-64. [PMID: 10574618 DOI: 10.1089/107999099312920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In a study in 75 volunteers, preparations of interferon-beta1b (IFN-beta1b) and IFN-beta1a were compared in terms of the resulting serum concentrations of three biologic markers, neopterin, human Mx protein, and 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase. Each preparation was tested at five dose levels, the middle dose being that recommended for use in patients with multiple sclerosis on the basis of large clinical trials. Five randomly chosen volunteers each received a single subcutaneous dose of one of the IFN or of IFN-beta1a given intramuscularly. The amounts of each marker induced were dose related. There were no major differences between the results with the two IFN or in the duration of the changes in the markers after the two routes of injection. The data indicated that 8 million international units (MIU) of IFN-beta1b and 6 MIU of IFN-beta1a had very similar effects. Even after the highest single dose tested, the increase in the biologic markers were not sustained for a full week.
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29
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Rothuizen LE, Buclin T, Spertini F, Trinchard I, Munafo A, Buchwalder PA, Ythier A, Biollaz J. Influence of interferon beta-1a dose frequency on PBMC cytokine secretion and biological effect markers. J Neuroimmunol 1999; 99:131-41. [PMID: 10496186 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(99)00029-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Interferon-beta regimens for immune-mediated diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), have not been compared regarding their biological effects. In this randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study, cytokine secretion by mitogen-stimulated PBMCs and serum response markers were assessed in volunteers receiving subcutaneous recombinant IFN beta-1a (Rebif, Ares-Serono) 22 microg once a week (QW), 22 microg three times a week, 66 microg QW, or placebo. The production of IL-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and TNF-beta markedly decreased during 24-48 h after each injection, with limited dose-dependency and no evidence of tolerance or effect augmentation over 1 month. IL-10 secretion remained unchanged. The increase in serum beta2-microglobulin, neopterin and 2-5A-synthetase was more sustained. Thus, IFN-beta-induced immunomodulation in vivo strongly depends on the administration schedule, the time-integrated effect being 2-3 times greater when a same weekly dose is divided in three injections.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Rothuizen
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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30
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Qin XQ, Tao N, Dergay A, Moy P, Fawell S, Davis A, Wilson JM, Barsoum J. Interferon-beta gene therapy inhibits tumor formation and causes regression of established tumors in immune-deficient mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:14411-6. [PMID: 9826714 PMCID: PMC24387 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.24.14411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the potential of type 1 interferons (IFNs) for the treatment of cancer, clinical experience with IFN protein therapy of solid tumors has been disappointing. IFN-beta has potent antiproliferative activity against most human tumor cells in vitro in addition to its known immunomodulatory activities. The antiproliferative effect, however, relies on IFN-beta concentrations that cannot be achieved by parenteral protein administration because of rapid protein clearance and systemic toxicities. We demonstrate here that ex vivo IFN-beta gene transduction by a replication-defective adenovirus in as few as 1% of implanted cells blocked tumor formation. Direct in vivo IFN-beta gene delivery into established tumors generated high local concentrations of IFN-beta, inhibited tumor growth, and in many cases caused complete tumor regression. Because the mice were immune-deficient, it is likely that the anti-tumor effect was primarily through direct inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and survival. Based on these studies, we argue that local IFN-beta gene therapy with replication-defective adenoviral vectors might be an effective treatment for some solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Q Qin
- Biogen, Inc., 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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