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Huang Q, Tian R, Yu J, Du W. Identification of PSMD11 as a novel cuproptosis- and immune-related prognostic biomarker promoting lung adenocarcinoma progression. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7379. [PMID: 38859698 PMCID: PMC11165170 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the unfavorable prognosis associated with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies is essential. Cuproptosis, an emerging form of regulated cell death, is implicated in mitochondrial metabolism and is induced by copper ions. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of cuproptosis- and immune-related genes (CIRGs) in LUAD. METHODS We used The Cancer Genome Atlas database to develop a prognostic prediction model for LUAD patients based on eight CIRGs. Using Cox regression analysis, we determined that the CIRG signature is a reliable, independent prognostic factor. We further identified PSMD11 as a critical CIRG and performed immunohistochemistry to study the protein expression levels of PSMD11 in LUAD tissues. We also investigated the impact of PSMD11 on the biological behavior of lung cancer cell lines. RESULTS We found that patients with low PSMD11 expression levels displayed an improved prognosis compared with those with high PSMD11 expression levels. Overexpression of PSMD11 enhanced proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth of lung carcinoma cell line A549, while PSMD11 knockdown diminished proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth of lung carcinoma cell line PC9. Additionally, we discovered that PSMD11 expression was positively correlated with the infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and the increased expression of immunosuppressive molecules. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that PSMD11 may serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiumin Huang
- Department of Immunology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Ministry of EducationTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
- Department of Laboratory and DiagnosisChanghai Hospital, Navy Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ran Tian
- Public LaboratoryTianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for CancerTianjinChina
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for CancerTianjinChina
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and TherapyTianjin Medical University, Ministry of EducationTianjinChina
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and BiotherapyTianjinChina
| | - Jinxi Yu
- Department of Immunology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Ministry of EducationTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Wei Du
- Department of Immunology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Ministry of EducationTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
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2
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Teer L, Yaddanapudi K, Chen J. Biophysical Control of the Glioblastoma Immunosuppressive Microenvironment: Opportunities for Immunotherapy. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:93. [PMID: 38247970 PMCID: PMC10813491 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11010093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
GBM is the most aggressive and common form of primary brain cancer with a dismal prognosis. Current GBM treatments have not improved patient survival, due to the propensity for tumor cell adaptation and immune evasion, leading to a persistent progression of the disease. In recent years, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been identified as a critical regulator of these pro-tumorigenic changes, providing a complex array of biomolecular and biophysical signals that facilitate evasion strategies by modulating tumor cells, stromal cells, and immune populations. Efforts to unravel these complex TME interactions are necessary to improve GBM therapy. Immunotherapy is a promising treatment strategy that utilizes a patient's own immune system for tumor eradication and has exhibited exciting results in many cancer types; however, the highly immunosuppressive interactions between the immune cell populations and the GBM TME continue to present challenges. In order to elucidate these interactions, novel bioengineering models are being employed to decipher the mechanisms of immunologically "cold" GBMs. Additionally, these data are being leveraged to develop cell engineering strategies to bolster immunotherapy efficacy. This review presents an in-depth analysis of the biophysical interactions of the GBM TME and immune cell populations as well as the systems used to elucidate the underlying immunosuppressive mechanisms for improving current therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Landon Teer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
| | - Kavitha Yaddanapudi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Immuno-Oncology Program, Brown Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Division of Immunotherapy, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Joseph Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
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3
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Huang Y, He J, Duan X, Hou R, Shi J. Prognostic gene HLA-DMA associated with cell cycle and immune infiltrates in LUAD. THE CLINICAL RESPIRATORY JOURNAL 2023; 17:1286-1300. [PMID: 37972401 PMCID: PMC10730455 DOI: 10.1111/crj.13716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The dominant subclass of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a crucial feature of carcinogenesis and progression in LUAD. Furthermore, immune and stromal components of TME are crucial factors to investigating and curing LUAD. Thus, the study assessed the value of TME-related genes for LUAD prognosis and immune infiltration. METHODS All data were downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases. The immune and stromal scores were downloaded from ESTIMATE, and the association between the scores and prognosis was explored by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and univariate Cox regression were used to find TME-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and HLA-DMA was regarded as a prognostic hub gene. Western blot analyses, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence were applied to verify HLA-DMA expression in clinical samples. NSCLC cell lines were used to verify the effect of HLA-DMA on cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution. At last, the alteration of immunotherapy response and TME transition caused by HLA-DMA different expression were further studied. RESULTS The immune score was positively correlated with survival. The functional analyses suggested that TME-related DEGs may be involved in the immune response. The expression level of HLA-DMA was decreased in LUAD. In addition, HLA-DMA expression was associated with several clinical features and was positively associated with survival. Furthermore, HLA-DMA may suspend cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle. HLA-DMA expression was closely associated with immune infiltration and positively correlated with TMB, indicating that patients with high HLA-DMA level were more suitable for immunotherapy. CONCLUSION These results reveal that HLA-DMA might act as a biomarker for immune infiltration and immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya‐jie Huang
- Department of Medical OncologyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangHebeiChina
| | - Jian‐kun He
- Department of PathologyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangHebeiChina
| | - Xiaoyang Duan
- Department of Medical OncologyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangHebeiChina
| | - Ran Hou
- Department of Medical OncologyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangHebeiChina
| | - Jian Shi
- Department of Medical OncologyThe Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangHebeiChina
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4
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Trujillo-Cirilo L, Weiss-Steider B, Vargas-Angeles CA, Corona-Ortega MT, Rangel-Corona R. Immune microenvironment of cervical cancer and the role of IL-2 in tumor promotion. Cytokine 2023; 170:156334. [PMID: 37598478 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156334] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a heterogeneous mixture of resident and tumor cells that maintain close communication through their secretion products. The composition of the TME is dynamic and complex among the different types of cancer, where the immune cells play a relevant role in the elimination of tumor cells, however, under certain circumstances they contribute to tumor development. In cervical cancer (CC) the human papilloma virus (HPV) shapes the microenvironment in order to mediate persistent infections that favors transformation and tumor development. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important TME cytokine that induces CD8+ effector T cells and NKs to eliminate tumor cells, however, IL-2 can also suppress the immune response through Treg cells. Recent studies have shown that CC cells express the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R), that are induced to proliferate at low concentrations of exogenous IL-2 through alterations in the JAK/STAT pathway. This review provides an overview of the main immune cells that make up the TME in CC, as well as the participation of IL-2 in the tumor promotion. Finally, it is proposed that the low density of IL-2 produced by immunocompetent cells is used by tumor cells through its IL-2R as a mechanism to proliferate simultaneously depleting this molecule in order to evade immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Trujillo-Cirilo
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Benny Weiss-Steider
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos Adrian Vargas-Angeles
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Maria Teresa Corona-Ortega
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosalva Rangel-Corona
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Research Unit Cell Differentiation and Cancer, L-4 P.B. FES Zaragoza, National University of Mexico, Av., Guelatao No. 66 Col. Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09230 Mexico City, Mexico
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5
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Goodman RS, Jung S, Balko JM, Johnson DB. Biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitor response and toxicity: Challenges and opportunities. Immunol Rev 2023; 318:157-166. [PMID: 37470280 PMCID: PMC10528475 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed cancer therapy, but their optimal use is still constrained by lack of response and toxicity. Biomarkers of response may facilitate drug development by allowing appropriate therapy selection and focusing clinical trial enrollment. However, aside from PD-L1 staining in a subset of tumors and rarely mismatch repair deficiency, no biomarkers are routinely used in the clinic. In addition, severe toxicities may cause severe morbidity, therapy discontinuation, and even death. Here, we review the state of the field with a focus on our research in therapeutic biomarkers and toxicities from immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seungyeon Jung
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Justin M. Balko
- Department of Medicine, Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Douglas B. Johnson
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
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6
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Macy AM, Herrmann LM, Adams AC, Hastings KT. Major histocompatibility complex class II in the tumor microenvironment: functions of nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells. Curr Opin Immunol 2023; 83:102330. [PMID: 37130456 PMCID: PMC10524529 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2023.102330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex class-II-restricted presentation by nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells in the tumor microenvironment can regulate antitumor T-cell responses. In murine models, tumor cell-specific MHC class II expression decreases in vivo tumor growth, dependent on T cells. Tumor cell-specific MHC class II expression is associated with improved survival and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in human cancers. Antigen-presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts (apCAF) present MHC class-II-restricted antigens and activate CD4 T cells. The role of MHC class II on apCAFs depends on the cell of origin. MHC class II on tumoral lymphatic endothelial cells leads to expansion of regulatory T cells and increased in vivo tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Macy
- University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, 425 N. 5th St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 650 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, USA
| | - Lauren M Herrmann
- University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, 425 N. 5th St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 650 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, USA
| | - Anngela C Adams
- University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, 425 N. 5th St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 650 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, USA
| | - K Taraszka Hastings
- University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, 425 N. 5th St., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 650 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, USA; University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, 1515 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
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7
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Wen M, Li Y, Qin X, Qin B, Wang Q. Insight into Cancer Immunity: MHCs, Immune Cells and Commensal Microbiota. Cells 2023; 12:1882. [PMID: 37508545 PMCID: PMC10378520 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells circumvent immune surveillance via diverse strategies. In accordance, a large number of complex studies of the immune system focusing on tumor cell recognition have revealed new insights and strategies developed, largely through major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs). As one of them, tumor-specific MHC-II expression (tsMHC-II) can facilitate immune surveillance to detect tumor antigens, and thereby has been used in immunotherapy, including superior cancer prognosis, clinical sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) therapy and tumor-bearing rejection in mice. NK cells play a unique role in enhancing innate immune responses, accounting for part of the response including immunosurveillance and immunoregulation. NK cells are also capable of initiating the response of the adaptive immune system to cancer immunotherapy independent of cytotoxic T cells, clearly demonstrating a link between NK cell function and the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. Eosinophils were shown to feature pleiotropic activities against a variety of solid tumor types, including direct interactions with tumor cells, and accessorily affect immunotherapeutic response through intricating cross-talk with lymphocytes. Additionally, microbial sequencing and reconstitution revealed that commensal microbiota might be involved in the modulation of cancer progression, including positive and negative regulatory bacteria. They may play functional roles in not only mucosal modulation, but also systemic immune responses. Here, we present a panorama of the cancer immune network mediated by MHCI/II molecules, immune cells and commensal microbiota and a discussion of prospective relevant intervening mechanisms involved in cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minting Wen
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingjing Li
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaonan Qin
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bing Qin
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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8
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Jiao Z, Pan Y, Chen F. The Metabolic Landscape of Breast Cancer and Its Therapeutic Implications. Mol Diagn Ther 2023; 27:349-369. [PMID: 36991275 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00645-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor globally as of 2020 and remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death among female individuals worldwide. Metabolic reprogramming is well recognized as a hallmark of malignancy owing to the rewiring of multiple biological processes, notably, glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, pentose phosphate pathway, as well as lipid metabolism, which support the demands for the relentless growth of tumor cells and allows distant metastasis of cancer cells. Breast cancer cells are well documented to reprogram their metabolism via mutations or inactivation of intrinsic factors such as c-Myc, TP53, hypoxia-inducible factor, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway or crosstalk with the surrounding tumor microenvironments, including hypoxia, extracellular acidification and interaction with immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and adipocytes. Furthermore, altered metabolism contributes to acquired or inherent therapeutic resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the metabolic plasticity underlying breast cancer progression as well as to dictate metabolic reprogramming that accounts for the resistance to standard of care. This review aims to illustrate the altered metabolism in breast cancer and its underlying mechanisms, as well as metabolic interventions in breast cancer treatment, with the intention to provide strategies for developing novel therapeutic treatments for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoya Jiao
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, No. 350, Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Yunxia Pan
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, No. 350, Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Fengyuan Chen
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, No. 350, Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei, 230012, China.
- Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, China.
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Lin W, Singh V, Springer R, Choonoo G, Gupta N, Patel A, Frleta D, Zhong J, Owczarek T, Decker C, Macdonald L, Murphy A, Thurston G, Mohrs M, Ioffe E, Lu YF. Human CD4 cytotoxic T lymphocytes mediate potent tumor control in humanized immune system mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:447. [PMID: 37185301 PMCID: PMC10130128 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04812-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancers can be limited by CD8 T cell dysfunction or HLA-I down-regulation. Tumor control mechanisms independent of CD8/HLA-I axis would overcome these limitations. Here, we report potent CD4 T cell-mediated tumor regression and memory responses in humanized immune system (HIS) mice implanted with HT-29 colorectal tumors. The regressing tumors showed increased CD4 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) infiltration and enhanced tumor HLA-II expression compared to progressing tumors. The intratumoral CD4 T cell subset associated with tumor regression expressed multiple cytotoxic markers and exhibited clonal expansion. Notably, tumor control was abrogated by depletion of CD4 but not CD8 T cells. CD4 T cells derived from tumor-regressing mice exhibited HLA-II-dependent and tumor-specific killing ex vivo. Taken together, our study demonstrates a critical role of human CD4 CTLs in mediating tumor clearance independent of CD8 T cells and provides a platform to study human anti-tumor immunity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Lin
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Varan Singh
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Raynel Springer
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Gabrielle Choonoo
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Namita Gupta
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Aditi Patel
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Davor Frleta
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Jun Zhong
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Tomasz Owczarek
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Corinne Decker
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Lynn Macdonald
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Andrew Murphy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Gavin Thurston
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Markus Mohrs
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Ella Ioffe
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Yi-Fen Lu
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA.
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Polten R, Kutle I, Hachenberg J, Klapdor R, Morgan M, Schambach A. Towards Novel Gene and Cell Therapy Approaches for Cervical Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010263. [PMID: 36612258 PMCID: PMC9818159 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women, and the majority of cases are caused by infection with high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) subtypes. Despite effective preventative measures, such as vaccinations against HPV, over 300,000 women die world-wide from cervical cancer each year. Once cervical cancer is diagnosed, treatment may consist of radial hysterectomy, or chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or a combination of therapies dependent upon the disease stage. Unfortunately, overall prognosis for patients with metastatic or recurrent disease remains poor. In these cases, immunotherapies may be useful based on promising preclinical work, some of which has been successfully translated to the clinic. For example, approaches using monoclonal antibodies directed against surface proteins important for control of immune checkpoints (i.e., immune checkpoint inhibitors) were shown to improve outcome in many cancer settings, including cervical cancer. Additionally, initial clinical studies showed that application of cytotoxic immune cells modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) or T cell receptors (TCR) for better recognition and elimination of tumor cells may be useful to control cervical cancer. This review explores these important topics, including strengths and limitations of standard and developing approaches, and how some novel treatment strategies may be optimally used to offer the best possible treatment for cervical cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Polten
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ivana Kutle
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jens Hachenberg
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Klapdor
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Morgan
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (A.S.); Tel.: +49-511-532-6067 (A.S.)
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (A.S.); Tel.: +49-511-532-6067 (A.S.)
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Reduced MHC Class I and II Expression in HPV-Negative vs. HPV-Positive Cervical Cancers. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233911. [PMID: 36497170 PMCID: PMC9741043 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated death in women. Although human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with nearly all CC, it has recently become clear that HPV-negative (HPV-) CC represents a distinct disease phenotype with increased mortality. HPV-positive (HPV+) and HPV- CC demonstrate different molecular pathology, prognosis, and response to treatment. Furthermore, CC caused by HPV α9 types (HPV16-like) often have better outcomes than those caused by HPV α7 types (HPV18-like). This study systematically and comprehensively compared the expression of genes involved in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II presentation within CC caused by HPV α9 types, HPV α7 types, and HPV- CC. We observed increased expression of MHC class I and II classical and non-classical genes in HPV+ CC and overall higher expression of genes involved in their antigen loading and presentation apparatus as well as transcriptional regulation. Increased expression of MHC I-related genes differs from previous studies using cell culture models. These findings identify crucial differences between antigen presentation within the tumor immune microenvironments of HPV+ and HPV- CC, as well as modest differences between HPV α9 and α7 CC. These differences may contribute to the altered patient outcomes and responses to immunotherapy observed between these distinct cancers.
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12
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Lamberti MJ, Montico B, Ravo M, Nigro A, Giurato G, Iorio R, Tarallo R, Weisz A, Stellato C, Steffan A, Dolcetti R, Casolaro V, Faè DA, Dal Col J. Integration of miRNA:mRNA Co-Expression Revealed Crucial Mechanisms Modulated in Immunogenic Cancer Cell Death. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081896. [PMID: 36009442 PMCID: PMC9405340 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunogenic cell death (ICD) in cancer represents a functionally unique therapeutic response that can induce tumor-targeting immune responses. ICD is characterized by the exposure and release of numerous damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which confer adjuvanticity to dying cancer cells. The spatiotemporally defined emission of DAMPs during ICD has been well described, whereas the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate ICD hallmarks have not yet been deeply elucidated. Here, we aimed to examine the involvement of miRNAs and their putative targets using well-established in vitro models of ICD. To this end, B cell lymphoma (Mino) and breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines were exposed to two different ICD inducers, the combination of retinoic acid (RA) and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and doxorubicin, and to non ICD inducers such as gamma irradiation. Then, miRNA and mRNA profiles were studied by next generation sequencing. Co-expression analysis identified 16 miRNAs differentially modulated in cells undergoing ICD. Integrated miRNA-mRNA functional analysis revealed candidate miRNAs, mRNAs, and modulated pathways associated with Immune System Process (GO Term). Specifically, ICD induced a distinctive transcriptional signature hallmarked by regulation of antigen presentation, a crucial step for proper activation of immune system antitumor response. Interestingly, the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) pathway was upregulated whereas class II (MHC-II) was downregulated. Analysis of MHC-II associated transcripts and HLA-DR surface expression confirmed inhibition of this pathway by ICD on lymphoma cells. miR-4284 and miR-212-3p were the strongest miRNAs upregulated by ICD associated with this event and miR-212-3p overexpression was able to downregulate surface expression of HLA-DR. It is well known that MHC-II expression on tumor cells facilitates the recruitment of CD4+ T cells. However, the interaction between tumor MHC-II and inhibitory coreceptors on tumor-associated lymphocytes could provide an immunosuppressive signal that directly represses effector cytotoxic activity. In this context, MHC-II downregulation by ICD could enhance antitumor immunity. Overall, we found that the miRNA profile was significantly altered during ICD. Several miRNAs are predicted to be involved in the regulation of MHC-I and II pathways, whose implication in ICD is demonstrated herein for the first time, which could eventually modulate tumor recognition and attack by the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Julia Lamberti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
- INBIAS, CONICET-UNRC, Río Cuarto, Córdoba 5800, Argentina
- Correspondence: (M.J.L.); (J.D.C.); Tel.: +54-358-4676437 (M.J.L.); +39-089-965210 (J.D.C.)
| | - Barbara Montico
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, PN, Italy
| | - Maria Ravo
- Genomix Life Srl, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Annunziata Nigro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Giorgio Giurato
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Tarallo
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Alessandro Weisz
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Cristiana Stellato
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Agostino Steffan
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, PN, Italy
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Vincenzo Casolaro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Damiana Antonia Faè
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, PN, Italy
| | - Jessica Dal Col
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.J.L.); (J.D.C.); Tel.: +54-358-4676437 (M.J.L.); +39-089-965210 (J.D.C.)
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Liu D, Hofman P. Expression of NOTCH1, NOTCH4, HLA-DMA and HLA-DRA is synergistically associated with T cell exclusion, immune checkpoint blockade efficacy and recurrence risk in ER-negative breast cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:463-477. [PMID: 35543859 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00677-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Reliable biomarkers to predict the outcome and treatment response of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer (BC) are urgently needed. Since immune-related signaling plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of ER-negative BC, we asked whether Notch genes, alone or in combination with other immune genes, can be used to predict the clinical outcome and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) for this type of cancer. METHODS We analyzed transcriptome data of 6918 BC samples from five independent cohorts, 81 xenograft triple-negative BC tumors that respond differently to ICB treatment and 754 samples of different cancer types from patients treated with ICB agents. RESULTS We found that among four Notch genes, the expression levels of NOTCH1 and NOTCH4 were positively associated with recurrence of ER-negative BC, and that combined expression of these two genes (named Notch14) further enhanced this association, which was comparable with that of the Notch pathway signature. Analysis of 1182 immune-related genes revealed that the expression levels of most HLA genes, particularly HLA-DMA and -DRA, were reversely associated with recurrence in ER-negative BC with low, but not high Notch14 expression. A combined expression signature of NOTCH1, NOTCH4, HLA-DMA and HLA-DRA was more prognostic for ER-negative and triple-negative BCs than previously reported immune-related signatures. Furthermore, we found that the expression levels of these four genes were also synergistically associated with T cell exclusion score, infiltration of specific T cells and ICB efficacy in ER-negative BC, thereby providing a potential molecular mechanism for the synergistic effect of these genes on BC. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that a gene signature composed of NOTCH1, NOTCH4, HLA-DMA and HLA-DRA may serve as a potential promising biomarker for predicting ICB therapy efficacy and recurrence in ER-negative/triple-negative BCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingxie Liu
- Bluewater Biotech LLC, PO Box 1010, New Providence, NJ, 07974, USA.
| | - Paul Hofman
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, CHU Nice, FHU OncoAge, University Côte d'Azur, 06100, Nice, France.
- Team 4, IRCAN, UMR 7284 U10181, FHU OncoAge, Centre Antoine Lacassagne University Côte d'Azur, 06107, Nice, France.
- Hospital-Integrated Biobank (BB-0033-00025), CHU Nice, FHU OncoAge, University Côte d'Azur, 06100, Nice, France.
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Obermair FJ, Renoux F, Heer S, Lee CH, Cereghetti N, Loi M, Maestri G, Haldner Y, Wuigk R, Iosefson O, Patel P, Triebel K, Kopf M, Swain J, Kisielow J. High-resolution profiling of MHC II peptide presentation capacity reveals SARS-CoV-2 CD4 T cell targets and mechanisms of immune escape. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl5394. [PMID: 35486722 PMCID: PMC9054008 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl5394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding peptide presentation by specific MHC alleles is fundamental for controlling physiological functions of T cells and harnessing them for therapeutic use. However, commonly used in silico predictions and mass spectroscopy have their limitations in precision, sensitivity, and throughput, particularly for MHC class II. Here, we present MEDi, a novel mammalian epitope display that allows an unbiased, affordable, high-resolution mapping of MHC peptide presentation capacity. Our platform provides a detailed picture by testing every antigen-derived peptide and is scalable to all the MHC II alleles. Given the urgent need to understand immune evasion for formulating effective responses to threats such as SARS-CoV-2, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the presentability of all SARS-CoV-2 peptides in the context of several HLA class II alleles. We show that several mutations arising in viral strains expanding globally resulted in reduced peptide presentability by multiple HLA class II alleles, while some increased it, suggesting alteration of MHC II presentation landscapes as a possible immune escape mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz-Josef Obermair
- Repertoire Immune Medicines, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Repertoire Immune Medicines, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Chloe H. Lee
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Marisa Loi
- Repertoire Immune Medicines, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Robin Wuigk
- Repertoire Immune Medicines, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | - Pooja Patel
- Repertoire Immune Medicines, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Manfred Kopf
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Jan Kisielow
- Repertoire Immune Medicines, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Repertoire Immune Medicines, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Corresponding author.
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Yin X, Wu Q, Hao Z, Chen L. Identification of novel prognostic targets in glioblastoma using bioinformatics analysis. Biomed Eng Online 2022; 21:26. [PMID: 35436915 PMCID: PMC9014588 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-022-00995-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant grade of glioma. Highly aggressive characteristics of GBM and poor prognosis cause GBM-related deaths. The potential prognostic biomarkers remain to be demonstrated. This research builds up predictive gene targets of expression alterations in GBM utilizing bioinformatics analysis. Methods and results The microarray datasets (GSE15824 and GSE16011) associated with GBM were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between GBM and non-tumor tissues. In total, 719 DEGs were obtained and subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) for function enrichment analysis. Furthermore, we constructed protein–protein Interaction (PPI) network among DEGs utilizing Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) online tool and Cytoscape software. The DEGs of degree > 10 was selected as hub genes, including 73 upregulated genes and 21 downregulated genes. Moreover, MCODE application in Cytoscape software was employed to identify three key modules involved in GBM development and prognosis. Additionally, we used the Gene expression profiling and interactive analyses (GEPIA) online tool to further confirm four genes involving in poor prognosis of GBM patients, including interferon-gamma-inducible protein 30 (IFI30), major histocompatibility complex class II-DM alpha (HLA-DMA), Prolyl 4-hydroxylase beta polypeptide (P4HB) and reticulocalbin-1 (RCN1). Furthermore, the correlation analysis indicated that the expression of IFI30, an acknowledged biomarker in glioma, was positively correlated with HLA-DMA, P4HB and RCN1. RCN1 expression was positively correlated with P4HB and HLA-DMA. Moreover, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis further validated the upregulation of four prognostic markers in GBM tissues. Conclusions Analysis of multiple datasets combined with global network information and experimental verification presents a successful approach to uncover the risk hub genes and prognostic markers of GBM. Our study identified four risk- and prognostic-related gene signatures, including IFI30, HLA-DMA, P4HB and RCN1. This gene sets contribute a new perspective to improve the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic outcomes of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Yin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, No.382 Wuyi Road, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China
| | - Quansheng Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, No.382 Wuyi Road, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China
| | - Zheng Hao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, No.382 Wuyi Road, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China
| | - Laizhao Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, No.382 Wuyi Road, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China.
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16
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Gene signatures in patients with early breast cancer and relapse despite pathologic complete response. NPJ Breast Cancer 2022; 8:42. [PMID: 35351903 PMCID: PMC8964729 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-022-00403-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A substantial minority of early breast cancer (EBC) patients relapse despite their tumors achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant therapy. We compared gene expression (BC360; nCounter® platform; NanoString) between primary tumors of patients with post-pCR relapse (N = 14) with: (i) matched recurrent tumors from same patient (intraindividual analysis); and (ii) primary tumors from matched controls with pCR and no relapse (N = 41; interindividual analysis). Intraindividual analysis showed lower estrogen receptor signaling signature expression in recurrent tumors versus primaries (logFC = −0.595; P = 0.022). Recurrent tumors in patients with distant metastases also exhibited reduced expression of immune-related expression parameters. In interindividual analyses, primary tumor major histocompatibility complex class II expression was lower versus controls in patients with any relapse (logFC = −0.819; P = 0.030) or distant relapse (logFC = −1.151; P = 0.013). Primaries with later distant relapse also had greater homologous recombination deficiency than controls (logFC = 0.649; P = 0.026). Although no associations remained statistically significant following adjustment for false discovery rate, our results show that transcriptomic analyses have potential for prognostic value and may help in selecting optimal treatment regimens for EBC at risk of relapse and warrant further investigation.
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17
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Darragh LB, Karam SD. Amateur antigen-presenting cells in the tumor microenvironment. Mol Carcinog 2022; 61:153-164. [PMID: 34570920 PMCID: PMC9899420 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Presentation of tumor antigens is a critical step in producing a robust antitumor immune response. Classically tumor antigens are thought to be presented to both CD8 and CD4 T cells by professional antigen-presenting cells (pAPCs) like dendritic cells using major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) I and II. But recent evidence suggests that in the tumor microenvironment (TME) cells other than pAPCs are capable of presenting tumor antigens on both MHC I and II. The evidence currently available on tumor antigen presentation by epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells (VECs), fibroblasts, and cancer cells is reviewed herein. We refer to these cell types in the TME as "amateur" APCs (aAPCs). These aAPCs greatly outnumber pAPCs in the TME and could, potentially, play a significant role in priming an antitumor immune response. This new evidence supports a different perspective on antigen presentation and suggests new approaches that can be taken in designing immunotherapies to increase T cell priming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel B. Darragh
- Department of Immunology, University of Colorado Denver–Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sana D. Karam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver–Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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18
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Corchado-Cobos R, García-Sancha N, Mendiburu-Eliçabe M, Gómez-Vecino A, Jiménez-Navas A, Pérez-Baena MJ, Holgado-Madruga M, Mao JH, Cañueto J, Castillo-Lluva S, Pérez-Losada J. Pathophysiological Integration of Metabolic Reprogramming in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020322. [PMID: 35053485 PMCID: PMC8773662 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumors exhibit metabolic changes that differentiate them from the normal tissues from which they derive. These metabolic changes favor tumor growth, are primarily induced by cancer cells, and produce metabolic and functional changes in the surrounding stromal cells. There is a close functional connection between the metabolic changes in tumor cells and those that appear in the surrounding stroma. A better understanding of intratumoral metabolic interactions may help identify new vulnerabilities that will facilitate new, more individualized treatment strategies against cancer. We review the metabolic changes described in tumor and stromal cells and their functional changes and then consider, in depth, the metabolic interactions between the cells of the two compartments. Although these changes are generic, we illustrate them mainly with reference to examples in breast cancer. Abstract Metabolic changes that facilitate tumor growth are one of the hallmarks of cancer. The triggers of these metabolic changes are located in the tumor parenchymal cells, where oncogenic mutations induce an imperative need to proliferate and cause tumor initiation and progression. Cancer cells undergo significant metabolic reorganization during disease progression that is tailored to their energy demands and fluctuating environmental conditions. Oxidative stress plays an essential role as a trigger under such conditions. These metabolic changes are the consequence of the interaction between tumor cells and stromal myofibroblasts. The metabolic changes in tumor cells include protein anabolism and the synthesis of cell membranes and nucleic acids, which all facilitate cell proliferation. They are linked to catabolism and autophagy in stromal myofibroblasts, causing the release of nutrients for the cells of the tumor parenchyma. Metabolic changes lead to an interstitium deficient in nutrients, such as glucose and amino acids, and acidification by lactic acid. Together with hypoxia, they produce functional changes in other cells of the tumor stroma, such as many immune subpopulations and endothelial cells, which lead to tumor growth. Thus, immune cells favor tissue growth through changes in immunosuppression. This review considers some of the metabolic changes described in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Corchado-Cobos
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (R.C.-C.); (N.G.-S.); (M.M.-E.); (A.G.-V.); (A.J.-N.); (M.J.P.-B.); (J.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Natalia García-Sancha
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (R.C.-C.); (N.G.-S.); (M.M.-E.); (A.G.-V.); (A.J.-N.); (M.J.P.-B.); (J.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Marina Mendiburu-Eliçabe
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (R.C.-C.); (N.G.-S.); (M.M.-E.); (A.G.-V.); (A.J.-N.); (M.J.P.-B.); (J.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Aurora Gómez-Vecino
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (R.C.-C.); (N.G.-S.); (M.M.-E.); (A.G.-V.); (A.J.-N.); (M.J.P.-B.); (J.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Alejandro Jiménez-Navas
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (R.C.-C.); (N.G.-S.); (M.M.-E.); (A.G.-V.); (A.J.-N.); (M.J.P.-B.); (J.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Manuel Jesús Pérez-Baena
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (R.C.-C.); (N.G.-S.); (M.M.-E.); (A.G.-V.); (A.J.-N.); (M.J.P.-B.); (J.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Marina Holgado-Madruga
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCyL), Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jian-Hua Mao
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
- Berkeley Biomedical Data Science Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Javier Cañueto
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (R.C.-C.); (N.G.-S.); (M.M.-E.); (A.G.-V.); (A.J.-N.); (M.J.P.-B.); (J.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sonia Castillo-Lluva
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (S.C.-L.); (J.P-L.)
| | - Jesús Pérez-Losada
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (R.C.-C.); (N.G.-S.); (M.M.-E.); (A.G.-V.); (A.J.-N.); (M.J.P.-B.); (J.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Correspondence: (S.C.-L.); (J.P-L.)
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Harnessing Antitumor CD4 + T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14010260. [PMID: 35008422 PMCID: PMC8750687 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Diverse evidence revealed that CD4+ T cells play an important role in antitumor immunity by promoting or suppressing cytotoxic T cell responses. This review outlines the role of CD4+ T subsets within the tumor microenvironment and summarizes the latest progress regarding their potentials in cancer immunotherapy and methods for improving outcomes in cancer strategies by modulating CD4+ T responses. Abstract Over the past decades, CD4+ T cells have been considered as a supporting actor in the fields of cancer immunotherapy. Until recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated the critical role of CD4+ T cells during antitumor immunity. CD4+ T cells can either suppress or promote the antitumor cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses, either in secondary lymphoid organs or in the tumor. In this review, we provide an overview of the multifaceted role of different CD4+ T cell subsets in cancer immune response and their contribution during cancer therapies. Specifically, we focus on the latest progress regarding the impact of CD4+ T cell modulation on immunotherapies and other cancer therapies and discuss the prospect for harnessing CD4+ T cells to control tumor progression and prevent recurrence in patients.
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HLA Class II Histocompatibility Antigen γ Chain (CD74) Expression Is Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration and Favorable Outcome in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246179. [PMID: 34944801 PMCID: PMC8699420 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary CD74 is a transmembrane protein normally expressed in immune cells, and aberrantly expressed in cancer cells. Although CD74 overexpression is mostly associated with hematologic malignancies, some studies have also reported CD74 expression in breast cancer especially associated to the triple negative subtype and metastatic breast cancer. The triple-negative breast cancer is generally more aggressive and with a poorer prognosis than the other subtypes. Immunotherapy holds great promise in clinical management of breast cancer, and CD74 may play a regulatory role in immune system responses. Our results showed that CD74 is associated with expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), which in turn is involved in preventing anticancer immune responses. Overall, our results indicate that CD74 may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer patients, in particular in triple negative breast cancer and metastatic breast cancers, where CD74 is commonly overexpressed. Abstract The triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype, defined as negative for ER, PgR, and HER2, is biologically more aggressive and with a poorer prognosis than the other subtypes, in part due to the lack of suitable targeted therapies. Consequently, identification of any potential novel therapeutic option, predictive and/or prognostic biomarker, or any other relevant information that may impact the clinical management of this group of patients is valuable. The HLA class II histocompatibility antigen γ chain, or cluster of differentiation 74 (CD74), has been associated with TNBCs, and poorer survival. However, discordant results have been reported for immunohistochemical studies of CD74 expression in breast cancer. Here we report validation studies for use of a novel CD74 antibody, UMAb231. We used this antibody to stain a TMA including 640 human breast cancer samples, and found no association with the TNBC subtype, but did find a positive correlation with outcome. We also found associations between CD74 expression and immune cell infiltration, and expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Given that CD74 may play a role in innate immune system responses and the potential of immunotherapy as a viable treatment strategy for TNBCs, CD74 expression may have predictive value for immune checkpoint therapies.
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de Lange MJ, Nell RJ, van der Velden PA. Scientific and clinical implications of genetic and cellular heterogeneity in uveal melanoma. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2021; 2:25. [PMID: 35006486 PMCID: PMC8607395 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-021-00048-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we discuss the presence and roles of heterogeneity in the development of uveal melanoma. Both genetic and cellular heterogeneity are considered, as their presence became undeniable due to single cell approaches that have recently been used in uveal melanoma analysis. However, the presence of precursor clones and immune infiltrate in uveal melanoma have been described as being part of the tumour already decades ago. Since uveal melanoma grow in the corpus vitreous, they present a unique tumour model because every cell present in the tumour tissue is actually part of the tumour and possibly plays a role. For an effective treatment of uveal melanoma metastasis, it should be clear whether precursor clones and normal cells play an active role in progression and metastasis. We propagate analysis of bulk tissue that allows analysis of tumour heterogeneity in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J de Lange
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rogier J Nell
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter A van der Velden
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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22
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Liu Y, Fu W, Chen W, Lin Y, Zhang J, Song C. Correlation of immune infiltration with clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients: The 25-gene prognostic signatures model. Cancer Med 2021; 10:2112-2124. [PMID: 33626234 PMCID: PMC7957182 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The aim of this study was to build a prognostic signatures model based on the immune score of the ESTIMATE algorithm to predict survival of breast cancer patients. METHODS The RNA-seq expression data and clinical characteristics of patients were derived from TCGA and GSE88770 of GEO. The ESTIMATE algorithm was used to calculate the patients' immune scores and to obtain DEGs. The LASSO Cox regression model was applied to select prognostic genes. Survival analysis and the ROC curve were used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of the prognostic signatures model. Independent prognostic factors of breast cancer were assessed using the Cox regression analyses, and a nomogram was constructed to enhance the clinical value. RESULTS Based on the immune score, we found that the high-score group showed better clinical outcomes than the low-score group. Twenty-five (25) genes of 616 DEGs were confirmed as prognostic signatures through the LASSO Cox regression. The risk score for each patient was calculated according to the prognostic signatures. Survival analysis showed that the low-risk group had longer overall survival than the high-risk group. We also found that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor. To improve the clinical application value, a nomogram combing the risk score according to the 25-gene prognostic signatures and several clinicopathological prognostic factors was constructed. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the significance of immune infiltration and constructed a 25-gene prognostic signatures model, that has a strong prognostic value for patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yushan Liu
- Department of Breast SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
- Department of General SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
| | - Wenfen Fu
- Department of Breast SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
- Department of General SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Breast SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
- Department of General SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
| | - Yuxiang Lin
- Department of Breast SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
- Department of General SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Breast SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
- Department of General SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
| | - Chuangui Song
- Department of Breast SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
- Department of General SurgeryFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouFujian ProvinceChina
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23
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Thibodeau J, Bourgeois-Daigneault MC, Lapointe R. Targeting the MHC Class II antigen presentation pathway in cancer immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:908-916. [PMID: 23162758 PMCID: PMC3489746 DOI: 10.4161/onci.21205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of immunotherapy relies on the participation of all arms of the immune system and the role of CD4+ T lymphocytes in preventing tumor growth is now well established. Understanding how tumors evade immune responses holds the key to the development of cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss how MHC Class II expression varies in cancer cells and how this influences antitumor immune responses. We also discuss the means that are currently available for harnessing the MHC Class II antigen presentation pathway for the development of efficient vaccines to activate the immune system against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Thibodeau
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie Moléculaire; Département de Microbiologie et Immunologie; Université de Montréal; Montréal, QC Canada
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24
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Senovilla L, Vacchelli E, Galon J, Adjemian S, Eggermont A, Fridman WH, Sautès-Fridman C, Ma Y, Tartour E, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial watch: Prognostic and predictive value of the immune infiltrate in cancer. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:1323-1343. [PMID: 23243596 PMCID: PMC3518505 DOI: 10.4161/onci.22009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid tumors are constituted of a variety of cellular components, including bona fide malignant cells as well as endothelial, structural and immune cells. On one hand, the tumor stroma exerts major pro-tumorigenic and immunosuppressive functions, reflecting the capacity of cancer cells to shape the microenvironment to satisfy their own metabolic and immunological needs. On the other hand, there is a component of tumor-infiltrating leucocytes (TILs) that has been specifically recruited in the attempt to control tumor growth. Along with the recognition of the critical role played by the immune system in oncogenesis, tumor progression and response to therapy, increasing attention has been attracted by the potential prognostic and/or predictive role of the immune infiltrate in this setting. Data from large clinical studies demonstrate indeed that a robust infiltration of neoplastic lesions by specific immune cell populations, including (but not limited to) CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, Th1 and Th17 CD4+ T cells, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, and M1 macrophages constitutes an independent prognostic indicator in several types of cancer. Conversely, high levels of intratumoral CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells, Th2 CD4+ T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, M2 macrophages and neutrophils have frequently been associated with dismal prognosis. So far, only a few studies have addressed the true predictive potential of TILs in cancer patients, generally comforting the notion that—at least in some clinical settings—the immune infiltrate can reliably predict if a specific patient will respond to therapy or not. In this Trial Watch, we will summarize the results of clinical trials that have evaluated/are evaluating the prognostic and predictive value of the immune infiltrate in the context of solid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Senovilla
- Institut Gustave Roussy; Villejuif, France ; Université Paris-Sud/Paris XI; Orsay, France ; INSERM, U848; Villejuif, France
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25
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Zhang H, Li X, Li Y, Chen B, Zong Z, Shen L. An Immune-Related Signature for Predicting the Prognosis of Lower-Grade Gliomas. Front Immunol 2020; 11:603341. [PMID: 33363544 PMCID: PMC7753319 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.603341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) have more favorable outcomes than glioblastomas; however, LGGs often progress to process glioblastomas within a few years. Numerous studies have proven that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is correlated with the prognosis of glioma. Methods LGG RNA-Sequencing (RNA-seq) data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) were extracted and then divided into training and testing cohorts, respectively. Immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened to establish a prognostic signature by a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. The immune-related risk score and clinical information, such as age, sex, World Health Organization (WHO) grade, and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation, were used to independently validate and develop a prognostic nomogram. GO and KEGG pathway analyses to DEGs between immune-related high-risk and low-risk groups were performed. Results Sixteen immune-related genes were screened for establishing a prognostic signature. The risk score had a negative correlation with prognosis, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.941. The risk score, age, grade, and IDH1 mutation were identified as independent prognostic factors in patients with LGGs. The hazard ratios (HRs) of the high-risk score were 5.247 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.060–8.996] in the multivariate analysis. A prognostic nomogram of 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival was established and validated internally and externally. Go and KEGG pathway analyses implied that immune-related biological function and pathways were involved in the TME. Conclusion The immune-related prognostic signature and the prognostic nomogram could accurately predict survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuesong Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huizhou Third People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Huizhou, China
| | - Yuntao Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baodong Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhitao Zong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jiujiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiujiang, China
| | - Liang Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
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26
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Morand S, Stanbery L, Walter A, Rocconi RP, Nemunaitis J. BRCA1/2 Mutation Status Impact on Autophagy and Immune Response: Unheralded Target. JNCI Cancer Spectr 2020; 4:pkaa077. [PMID: 33409454 PMCID: PMC7771003 DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkaa077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BRCA1 and possibly BRCA2 proteins may relate to the regulation of autophagy. Autophagy plays a key role in immune response from both a tumor and immune effector cell standpoint. In cells with BRCA mutations, increased autophagy leads to elevated expression of major histocompatibility complex class II but may cause subclonal neoantigen presentation, which may impair the immune response related to clonal neoantigen visibility. We review evidence of BRCA1/2 regulation of autophagy, immune response, and antigen presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Morand
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Rodney P Rocconi
- University of South Alabama - Mitchell Cancer Institute, Mobile, AL, USA
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27
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Jiao F, Li Z, He C, Xu W, Yang G, Liu T, Shen H, Cai J, Anastas JN, Mao Y, Yu Y, Lan F, Shi YG, Jones C, Xu Y, Baker SJ, Shi Y, Guo R. RACK7 recognizes H3.3G34R mutation to suppress expression of MHC class II complex components and their delivery pathway in pediatric glioblastoma. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaba2113. [PMID: 32832624 PMCID: PMC7439511 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba2113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Histone H3 point mutations have been identified in incurable pediatric brain cancers, but the mechanisms through which these mutations drive tumorigenesis are incompletely understood. Here, we provide evidence that RACK7 (ZMYND8) recognizes the histone H3.3 patient mutation (H3.3G34R) in vitro and in vivo. We show that RACK7 binding to H3.3G34R suppresses transcription of CIITA, which is the master regulator of MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class II molecules and genes involved in vesicular transport of MHC class II molecules to the cell surface, resulting in suppression of MHC class II molecule expression and transport. CRISPR-based knock-in correction of the H3.3G34R mutation in human pediatric glioblastoma (pGBM) cells significantly reduces overall RACK7 chromatin binding and derepresses the same set of genes as does knocking out RACK7 in the H3.3G34R pGBM cells. By demonstrating that H3.3G34R and RACK7 work together, our findings suggest a potential molecular mechanism by which H3.3G34R promotes cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Jiao
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ze Li
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Human Phenome Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chen He
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Wenqi Xu
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Gensheng Yang
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hongjie Shen
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiajun Cai
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jamie N. Anastas
- Newborn Medicine Division, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ying Mao
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yongchun Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Fei Lan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yujiang Geno Shi
- Division of Endocrinology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Chris Jones
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Yanhui Xu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Human Phenome Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Suzanne J. Baker
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yang Shi
- Newborn Medicine Division, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rui Guo
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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28
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Characterization of HLA-G Regulation and HLA Expression in Breast Cancer and Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines upon IFN-γ Stimulation and Inhibition of DNA Methylation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124307. [PMID: 32560316 PMCID: PMC7352735 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G as a target for new cancer immunotherapy drugs has increased the interest in the analysis of mechanisms by which HLA-G expression is regulated, and how the expression can be manipulated. We characterized HLA expression in breast cancer and malignant melanoma cell lines and investigated the induction of HLA-G expression by two distinct mechanisms: stimulation with interferon (IFN)-γ or inhibition of methylation by treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC). The effect of IFN-γ and 5-aza-dC on HLA expression was dependent on the cancer cell lines studied. However, in general, surface expression of HLA class Ia was induced on all cell lines. Surface expression of HLA-G was inconclusive but induction of HLA-G mRNA was prevalent upon treatment with 5-aza-dC and a combination of IFN-γ and 5-aza-dC. IFN-γ alone failed to induce HLA-G expression in the HLA-G-negative cell lines. The results support that HLA-G expression is regulated partly by DNA methylation. Furthermore, IFN-γ may play a role in the maintenance of HLA-G expression rather than inducing expression. The study demonstrates the feasibility of manipulating HLA expression and contributes to the exploration of mechanisms that can be potential targets for immunotherapy in breast cancer and malignant melanoma.
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29
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Stewart RL, Matynia AP, Factor RE, Varley KE. Spatially-resolved quantification of proteins in triple negative breast cancers reveals differences in the immune microenvironment associated with prognosis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6598. [PMID: 32313087 PMCID: PMC7170957 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63539-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype. Recent studies have shown that MHC class II (MHCII) expression and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes are important prognostic factors in patients with TNBC, although the relative importance of lymphocyte subsets and associated protein expression is incompletely understood. NanoString Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) allows for spatially resolved, highly multiplexed quantification of proteins in clinical samples. In this study, we sought to determine if DSP could be used to characterize expression of MHCII and other immune related proteins in tumor epithelial versus stromal compartments of patient-derived TNBCs (N = 10) using a panel of 39 markers. We confirmed that a subset of TNBCs have elevated expression of HLA-DR in tumor epithelial cells; HLA-DR expression was also significantly higher in the tumors of patients with long-term disease-free survival when compared to patients that relapsed. HLA-DR expression in the epithelial compartment was correlated with high expression of CD4 and ICOS in the stromal compartment of the same tumors. We also identified candidate protein biomarkers with significant differential expression between patients that relapsed versus those that did not. In conclusion, DSP is a powerful method that allows for quantification of proteins in the immune microenvironment of TNBCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Stewart
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Anna P Matynia
- Department of Pathology, ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah Medical Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Rachel E Factor
- Department of Pathology, ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah Medical Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Katherine E Varley
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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30
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Dias AS, Almeida CR, Helguero LA, Duarte IF. Metabolic crosstalk in the breast cancer microenvironment. Eur J Cancer 2019; 121:154-171. [PMID: 31581056 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
During tumorigenesis, breast tumour cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, which generally includes enhanced glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle activity, glutaminolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis. However, the extension and functional importance of these metabolic alterations may diverge not only according to breast cancer subtypes, but also depending on the interaction of cancer cells with the complex surrounding microenvironment. This microenvironment comprises a variety of non-cancerous cells, such as immune cells (e.g. macrophages, lymphocytes, natural killer cells), fibroblasts, adipocytes and endothelial cells, together with extracellular matrix components and soluble factors, which influence cancer progression and are predictive of clinical outcome. The continuous interaction between cancer and stromal cells results in metabolic competition and symbiosis, with oncogenic-driven metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells shaping the metabolism of neighbouring cells and vice versa. This review addresses current knowledge on this metabolic crosstalk within the breast tumour microenvironment (TME). Improved understanding of how metabolism in the TME modulates cancer development and evasion of tumour-suppressive mechanisms may provide clues for novel anticancer therapeutics directed to metabolic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Dias
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal; iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Catarina R Almeida
- iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Luisa A Helguero
- iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Iola F Duarte
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal.
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31
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Perelmuter VM, Tashireva LA, Savelieva OE, Denisov EV, Kaigorodova EV, Zavyalova MV, Cherdyntseva NV. Mechanisms behind prometastatic changes induced by neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the breast cancer microenvironment. BREAST CANCER-TARGETS AND THERAPY 2019; 11:209-219. [PMID: 31308736 PMCID: PMC6616300 DOI: 10.2147/bctt.s175161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy, along with surgery and radiotherapy, is a key treatment option for malignant tumors. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) reduces the tumor size and enables total tumor resection. In addition, NACT is believed to be more effective in destroying micrometastases than the same chemotherapy performed after surgery. To date, various NACT regimens have been tested and implemented, which provide a favorable outcome in primary tumors and reduce the risk of progression. However, there is increasing evidence of the NACT ability to increase the risk of cancer progression. This review discusses potential mechanisms by which NACT promotes distant metastasis of breast cancer through changes in the microenvironment of tumor cells. We describe prometastatic NACT-mediated changes in angiogenesis, immuno-inflammatory reactions in the stroma, intravasation, and amount of circulating tumor cells. The role of NACT-related cellular stress in cancer metastasis is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir M Perelmuter
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Liubov A Tashireva
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Olga E Savelieva
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Evgeny V Denisov
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk 634050, Russia.,Laboratory for Translational Cellular and Molecular Biomedicine, Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Evgeniya V Kaigorodova
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk 634050, Russia.,Department of Biochemistry, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk 634055, Russia
| | - Marina V Zavyalova
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk 634050, Russia.,Department of Pathological Anatomy, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk 634055, Russia
| | - Nadezhda V Cherdyntseva
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk 634050, Russia.,Laboratory for Translational Cellular and Molecular Biomedicine, Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
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32
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Faucheux L, Grandclaudon M, Perrot-Dockès M, Sirven P, Berger F, Hamy AS, Fourchotte V, Vincent-Salomon A, Mechta-Grigoriou F, Reyal F, Scholer-Dahirel A, Guillot-Delost M, Soumelis V. A multivariate Th17 metagene for prognostic stratification in T cell non-inflamed triple negative breast cancer. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1624130. [PMID: 31428522 PMCID: PMC6685521 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1624130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A diversity of T helper (Th) subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17) has been identified in the human tumor microenvironment. In breast cancer, the role of Th subsets remains controversial, and a systematic study integrating Th subset diversity, T cell inflammation, breast cancer molecular subtypes, and patient prognosis, is lacking. In primary untreated breast cancer samples, we analyzed 19 Th cytokines at the protein level. Eight were T cell-specific, and subsequently measured in 106 prospectively-collected untreated samples. The dominant Th cytokines across all breast cancer samples were IFN-γ and IL-2. Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) were expressed at low levels and not associated with any breast cancer subtype. Th17 cytokines (IL-17A and IL-17F) were up-regulated in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), specifically in T cell non-inflamed tumors. In order to get insight into prognosis, we exploited the METABRIC transcriptomic dataset. We derived Th1, Th2, and Th17 metagenes based on manually curated Th signatures, and found that a high Th17 metagene was of good prognosis in T cell non-inflamed TNBC. Multivariate Cox modeling selected the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI), Th2 and Th17 metagenes as additive predictors of breast cancer-specific survival, which defined novel and highly distinct prognostic groups within TNBC. Our results reveal that Th17 is a novel prognostic composite biomarker in T cell non-inflamed TNBC. Integrating immune cell and tumor molecular diversity is an efficient strategy for prognostic stratification of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Faucheux
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Immunity and Cancer, Integrative Biology of Human Dendritic Cells and T Cells Laboratory, UMR 932 Immunity and Cancer, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - M Grandclaudon
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Immunity and Cancer, Integrative Biology of Human Dendritic Cells and T Cells Laboratory, UMR 932 Immunity and Cancer, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - M Perrot-Dockès
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Immunity and Cancer, Integrative Biology of Human Dendritic Cells and T Cells Laboratory, UMR 932 Immunity and Cancer, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - P Sirven
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Stress and cancer laboratory, U830 Genetics and Biology of cancers, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - F Berger
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,U900, Unit of biometry, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - A S Hamy
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Departement of translational research, Residual tumor and response to treatment laboratory (RT2Lab), UMR 932 Immunity and Cancer, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - V Fourchotte
- Departement of Surgical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - A Vincent-Salomon
- Diagnostic and Theranostic medicine division, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Department of Biopathology, U934, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - F Mechta-Grigoriou
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Stress and cancer laboratory, U830 Genetics and Biology of cancers, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - F Reyal
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Departement of translational research, Residual tumor and response to treatment laboratory (RT2Lab), UMR 932 Immunity and Cancer, INSERM, Paris, France.,Departement of Surgical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - A Scholer-Dahirel
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Stress and cancer laboratory, U830 Genetics and Biology of cancers, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - M Guillot-Delost
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Immunity and Cancer, Integrative Biology of Human Dendritic Cells and T Cells Laboratory, UMR 932 Immunity and Cancer, INSERM, Paris, France.,Center of Clinical Investigation, CIC IGR-Curie 1428, Paris, France
| | - V Soumelis
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Immunity and Cancer, Integrative Biology of Human Dendritic Cells and T Cells Laboratory, UMR 932 Immunity and Cancer, INSERM, Paris, France.,Center of Clinical Investigation, CIC IGR-Curie 1428, Paris, France
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Expressions of HLA Class II Genes in Cutaneous Melanoma Were Associated with Clinical Outcome: Bioinformatics Approaches and Systematic Analysis of Public Microarray and RNA-Seq Datasets. Diagnostics (Basel) 2019; 9:diagnostics9020059. [PMID: 31212865 PMCID: PMC6628136 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics9020059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules, encoded by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes, play important roles in antigen presentation and initiation of immune responses. However, the correlation between HLA class II gene expression level and patient survival and disease progression in cutaneous melanoma is still under investigation. In the present study, we analyzed microarray and RNA-Seq data of cutaneous melanoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) using different bioinformatics tools. Survival analysis revealed higher expression level of HLA class II genes in cutaneous melanoma, especially HLA-DP and -DR, was significantly associated with better overall survival. Furthermore, the expressions of HLA class II genes were most closely associated with survival in cutaneous melanoma as compared with other cancer types. The expression of HLA class II co-expressed genes, which were found to associate with antigen processing, immune response, and inflammatory response, was also positively associated with overall survival in cutaneous melanoma. Therefore, the results indicated that increased HLA class II expression may contribute to enhanced anti-tumor immunity and related inflammatory response via presenting tumor antigens to the immune system. The expression pattern of HLA class II genes may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic targets in cutaneous melanoma.
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Axelrod ML, Cook RS, Johnson DB, Balko JM. Biological Consequences of MHC-II Expression by Tumor Cells in Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:2392-2402. [PMID: 30463850 PMCID: PMC6467754 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-3200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 265] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has emerged as a key pillar of cancer treatment. To build upon the recent successes of immunotherapy, intense research efforts are aimed at a molecular understanding of antitumor immune responses, identification of biomarkers of immunotherapy response and resistance, and novel strategies to circumvent resistance. These studies are revealing new insight into the intricacies of tumor cell recognition by the immune system, in large part through MHCs. Although tumor cells widely express MHC-I, a subset of tumors originating from a variety of tissues also express MHC-II, an antigen-presenting complex traditionally associated with professional antigen-presenting cells. MHC-II is critical for antigen presentation to CD4+ T lymphocytes, whose role in antitumor immunity is becoming increasingly appreciated. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that tumor-specific MHC-II associates with favorable outcomes in patients with cancer, including those treated with immunotherapies, and with tumor rejection in murine models. Herein, we will review current research regarding tumor-enriched MHC-II expression and regulation in a range of human tumors and murine models, and the possible therapeutic applications of tumor-specific MHC-II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Axelrod
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Rebecca S Cook
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Douglas B Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Justin M Balko
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee
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35
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Gonzalez H, Hagerling C, Werb Z. Roles of the immune system in cancer: from tumor initiation to metastatic progression. Genes Dev 2018; 32:1267-1284. [PMID: 30275043 PMCID: PMC6169832 DOI: 10.1101/gad.314617.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1157] [Impact Index Per Article: 192.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In this review, Gonzelez et al. provide an update of recent accomplishments, unifying concepts, and futures challenges to study tumor-associated immune cells, with an emphasis on metastatic carcinomas. The presence of inflammatory immune cells in human tumors raises a fundamental question in oncology: How do cancer cells avoid the destruction by immune attack? In principle, tumor development can be controlled by cytotoxic innate and adaptive immune cells; however, as the tumor develops from neoplastic tissue to clinically detectable tumors, cancer cells evolve different mechanisms that mimic peripheral immune tolerance in order to avoid tumoricidal attack. Here, we provide an update of recent accomplishments, unifying concepts, and future challenges to study tumor-associated immune cells, with an emphasis on metastatic carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Gonzalez
- Department of Anatomy, the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Catharina Hagerling
- Department of Anatomy, the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Zena Werb
- Department of Anatomy, the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
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36
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The expression of MHC class II molecules on murine breast tumors delays T-cell exhaustion, expands the T-cell repertoire, and slows tumor growth. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2018; 68:175-188. [PMID: 30334128 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-018-2262-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The expression of MHC class II molecules (MHCII) on tumor cells correlates with survival and responsiveness to immunotherapy. However, the mechanisms underlying these observations are poorly defined. Using a murine breast tumor line, we showed that MHCII-expressing tumors grew more slowly than controls and recruited more functional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In addition, MHCII-expressing tumors contained more TCR clonotypes expanded to a larger degree than control tumors. Functional CD8+ T cells in tumors depended on CD4+ T cells. However, both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells eventually became exhausted, even in MHCII-expressing tumors. Treatment with anti-CTLA4, but not anti-PD-1 or anti-TIM-3, promoted complete eradication of MHCII-expressing tumors. These results suggest tumor cell expression of MHCII facilitates the local activation of CD4+ T cells, indirectly helps the activation and expansion of CD8+ T cells, and, in combination with the appropriate checkpoint inhibitor, promotes tumor regression.
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37
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Álvaro-Benito M, Morrison E, Abualrous ET, Kuropka B, Freund C. Quantification of HLA-DM-Dependent Major Histocompatibility Complex of Class II Immunopeptidomes by the Peptide Landscape Antigenic Epitope Alignment Utility. Front Immunol 2018; 9:872. [PMID: 29774024 PMCID: PMC5943503 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex of class II (MHCII) immunopeptidome represents the repertoire of antigenic peptides with the potential to activate CD4+ T cells. An understanding of how the relative abundance of specific antigenic epitopes affects the outcome of T cell responses is an important aspect of adaptive immunity and offers a venue to more rationally tailor T cell activation in the context of disease. Recent advances in mass spectrometric instrumentation, computational power, labeling strategies, and software analysis have enabled an increasing number of stratified studies on HLA ligandomes, in the context of both basic and translational research. A key challenge in the case of MHCII immunopeptidomes, often determined for different samples at distinct conditions, is to derive quantitative information on consensus epitopes from antigenic peptides of variable lengths. Here, we present the design and benchmarking of a new algorithm [peptide landscape antigenic epitope alignment utility (PLAtEAU)] allowing the identification and label-free quantification (LFQ) of shared consensus epitopes arising from series of nested peptides. The algorithm simplifies the complexity of the dataset while allowing the identification of nested peptides within relatively short segments of protein sequences. Moreover, we apply this algorithm to the comparison of the ligandomes of cell lines with two different expression levels of the peptide-exchange catalyst HLA-DM. Direct comparison of LFQ intensities determined at the peptide level is inconclusive, as most of the peptides are not significantly enriched due to poor sampling. Applying the PLAtEAU algorithm for grouping of the peptides into consensus epitopes shows that more than half of the total number of epitopes is preferentially and significantly enriched for each condition. This simplification and deconvolution of the complex and ambiguous peptide-level dataset highlights the value of the PLAtEAU algorithm in facilitating robust and accessible quantitative analysis of immunopeptidomes across cellular contexts. In silico analysis of the peptides enriched for each HLA-DM expression conditions suggests a higher affinity of the pool of peptides isolated from the high DM expression samples. Interestingly, our analysis reveals that while for certain autoimmune-relevant epitopes their presentation increases upon DM expression others are clearly edited out from the peptidome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Álvaro-Benito
- Protein Biochemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eliot Morrison
- Protein Biochemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Esam T Abualrous
- Computational Molecular Biology Group, Institute for Mathematics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benno Kuropka
- Protein Biochemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Freund
- Protein Biochemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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38
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Nakasone ES, Hurvitz SA, McCann KE. Harnessing the immune system in the battle against breast cancer. Drugs Context 2018; 7:212520. [PMID: 29456568 PMCID: PMC5810622 DOI: 10.7573/dic.212520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite major innovations in early detection and advanced therapeutics, up to 30% of women with node-negative breast cancer and 70% of women with node-positive breast cancer will develop recurrence. The recognition that breast tumors are infiltrated by a complex array of immune cells that influence their development, progression, and metastasis, as well as their responsiveness to systemic therapies has sparked major interest in the development of immunotherapies. In fact, not only the native host immune system can be altered to promote potent antitumor response, but also its components can be manipulated to generate effective therapeutic strategies. We present here a review of the major approaches to immunotherapy in breast cancers, both successes and failures, as well as new therapies on the horizon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S Nakasone
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sara A Hurvitz
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kelly E McCann
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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39
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McCaw TR, Randall TD, Forero A, Buchsbaum DJ. Modulation of antitumor immunity with histone deacetylase inhibitors. Immunotherapy 2017; 9:1359-1372. [PMID: 29185390 PMCID: PMC6077764 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2017-0134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylase inhibitors possess a broad array of antitumor activities; however, their net impact on the evolving antitumor immune response is highly dependent on the inhibitors used and the histone deacetylases they target. Herein, we sequentially focus on each stage of the antitumor immune response - from dendritic cell activation and migration, antigen uptake and presentation, T-cell activation and differentiation and the enactment of antitumor effector functions within the tumor microenvironment. In particular, we will discuss how various inhibitors have different effects depending on cellular activation, experimental design and specific histone deacetylases being targeted - and how these changes impact the outcome of an antitumor immune response. At last, we consider the impact these inhibitors may have on T-cell exhaustion and implications for combination with other immunomodulating therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler R McCaw
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA, 35233
| | - Troy D Randall
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA, 35233
| | - Andres Forero
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA, 35233
| | - Donald J Buchsbaum
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA, 35233
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40
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CD74 and intratumoral immune response in breast cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:12664-12674. [PMID: 27058619 PMCID: PMC5355043 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
CD74 (invariant chain) plays a role in MHC class II antigen presentation. We assessed CD74 and MHCII expression in tumor cells, as well as CD8, CD4, and CD68 tumor infiltrating leucocyte (TIL) density by immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 492 breast cancer patients. CD74 expression was associated with poor prognostic markers including patient age, tumor grade, ER status, non-Luminal A subtypes, and with MHCII expression and higher TIL densities, particularly in the Basal-like subgroup. Univariate analysis showed a favorable prognostic effect of CD74 (Hazard ratio = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.26–0.89, p = 0.022) and for combined CD74/MHCII (Hazard ratio = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.17–0.81, p = 0.014) positive status for overall survival that was only manifested in the Basal-like subgroup. CD74 and MHCII expression is associated with patient survival in Basal-like breast cancer, and the association with TIL may reflect an effective intratumoral immune response.
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41
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Ssadh HA, Spencer PS, Alabdulmenaim W, Alghamdi R, Madar IH, Miranda-Sayago JM, Fernández N. Measurements of heterotypic associations between cluster of differentiation CD74 and CD44 in human breast cancer-derived cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:92143-92156. [PMID: 29190904 PMCID: PMC5696170 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Interactions between pairs of membrane-bound receptors can enhance tumour development with implications for targeted therapies for cancer. Here we demonstrate clear heterotypic interaction between CD74 and CD44, which might act in synergy and hence contribute to breast cancer progression. CD74, a type II transmembrane glycoprotein, is a chaperone for MHC class II biosynthesis and a receptor for the MIF. CD44 is the receptor for hyaluronic acid and is a Type I transmembrane protein. Interactions between CD74, MIF and the intra-cytoplasmic domain of CD44 result in activation of ERK1/2 pathway, leading to increased cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis. The level of CD44 in the breast tumor cell lines CAMA-1, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435 and the immortalized normal luminal cell line 226LDM was higher than that of CD74. It was also observed that CD74 and CD44 exhibit significant variation in expression levels across the cells. CD74 and CD44 were observed to accumulate in cytoplasmic compartments, suggesting they associate with each other to facilitate tumour growth and metastasis. Use of a novel and validated colocalisation and image processing approach, coupled with co-immunoprecipitation, confirmed that CD74 and CD44 physically interact, suggesting a possible role in breast tumour growth. This is the first time that CD74 and CD44 colocalization has been quantified in breast cancer cells using a non-invasive and validated bioimaging procedure. Measuring the co-expression levels of CD74 and CD44 could potentially be used as a ‘biomarker signature’ to monitor different stages of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussain Al Ssadh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick S Spencer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Waleed Alabdulmenaim
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom.,Pathology Department, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rana Alghamdi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom.,King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh Campus, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Inamul Hasan Madar
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 620024, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jose M Miranda-Sayago
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Nelson Fernández
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
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42
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Park IA, Hwang SH, Song IH, Heo SH, Kim YA, Bang WS, Park HS, Lee M, Gong G, Lee HJ. Expression of the MHC class II in triple-negative breast cancer is associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and interferon signaling. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182786. [PMID: 28817603 PMCID: PMC5560630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been known for their strong prognostic and predictive significance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Several mechanisms for TIL influx in TNBC have been elucidated. Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) is an essential component of the adaptive immune system and is generally restricted to the surface of antigen-presenting cells. However, it has been reported that interferon-gamma signaling may induce MHC-II in almost all cell types, including those derived from cancer. We aimed to examine the relationship between MHC-II expression in tumor cells and the amount of TILs in 681 patients with TNBC. Further, the prognostic significance of MHC-II and the association of MHC-II with a couple of molecules involved in the interferon signaling pathway were investigated using immunohistochemical staining. Higher MHC-II expression in tumor cells was associated with the absence of lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.042); larger amounts of TILs (p < 0.001); frequent formations of tertiary lymphoid structures (p < 0.001); higher expression of myxovirus resistance gene A, one of the main mediators of the interferon signaling pathway (p < 0.001); and higher expression of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase, which can be induced by interferons (p = 0.008). Moreover, tumors that showed high MHC class I expression and any positivity for MHC-II had larger amounts of CD4- and CD8-positive T lymphocytes (p < 0.001). Positive MHC-II expression in tumor cells was associated with better disease-free survival in patients who had lymph node metastasis (p = 0.009). In conclusion, MHC-II expression in tumor cells was closely associated with an increase in TIL number and interferon signaling in TNBC. Further studies are warranted to improve our understanding regarding TIL influx, as well as patients’ responses to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- In Ah Park
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seong-Hye Hwang
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Asan Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - In Hye Song
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sun-Hee Heo
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Asan Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young-Ae Kim
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Asan Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Won Seon Bang
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Asan Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Seon Park
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Asan Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Miseon Lee
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Gyungyub Gong
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Jin Lee
- Departments of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail:
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43
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Reeves E, James E. Antigen processing and immune regulation in the response to tumours. Immunology 2016; 150:16-24. [PMID: 27658710 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The MHC class I and II antigen processing and presentation pathways display peptides to circulating CD8+ cytotoxic and CD4+ helper T cells respectively to enable pathogens and transformed cells to be identified. Once detected, T cells become activated and either directly kill the infected / transformed cells (CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes) or orchestrate the activation of the adaptive immune response (CD4+ T cells). The immune surveillance of transformed/tumour cells drives alteration of the antigen processing and presentation pathways to evade detection and hence the immune response. Evasion of the immune response is a significant event tumour development and considered one of the hallmarks of cancer. To avoid immune recognition, tumours employ a multitude of strategies with most resulting in a down-regulation of the MHC class I expression at the cell surface, significantly impairing the ability of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes to recognize the tumour. Alteration of the expression of key players in antigen processing not only affects MHC class I expression but also significantly alters the repertoire of peptides being presented. These modified peptide repertoires may serve to further reduce the presentation of tumour-specific/associated antigenic epitopes to aid immune evasion and tumour progression. Here we review the modifications to the antigen processing and presentation pathway in tumours and how it affects the anti-tumour immune response, considering the role of tumour-infiltrating cell populations and highlighting possible future therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Reeves
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Edward James
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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44
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Crucial Contributions by T Lymphocytes (Effector, Regulatory, and Checkpoint Inhibitor) and Cytokines (TH1, TH2, and TH17) to a Pathological Complete Response Induced by Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Women with Breast Cancer. J Immunol Res 2016; 2016:4757405. [PMID: 27777963 PMCID: PMC5061970 DOI: 10.1155/2016/4757405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment consists of malignant cells, stroma, and immune cells. Prominent tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer are associated with a good prognosis and are predictors of a pathological complete response (pCR) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The contribution of different T effector/regulatory cells and cytokines to tumour cell death with NAC requires further characterisation and was investigated in this study. Breast tumours from 33 women with large and locally advanced breast cancers undergoing NAC were immunohistochemically (intratumoural, stromal) assessed for T cell subsets and cytokine expression using labelled antibodies, employing established semiquantitative methods. Prominent levels of TILs and CD4+, CD8+, and CTLA-4+ (stromal) T cells and CD8+ : FOXP3+ ratios were associated with a significant pCR; no association was seen with FOXP3+, CTLA-4+ (intratumoural), and PD-1+ T cells. NAC significantly reduced CD4+, FOXP3+, CTLA-4+ (stromal) (concurrently blood FOXP3+, CTLA-4+ Tregs), and PD-1+ T cells; no reduction was seen with CD8+ and CTLA-4+ (intratumoural) T cells. High post-NAC tumour levels of FOXP3+ T cells, IL-10, and IL-17 were associated with a failed pCR. Our study has characterised further the contribution of T effector/regulatory cells and cytokines to tumour cell death with NAC.
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45
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Forero A, Li Y, Chen D, Grizzle WE, Updike KL, Merz ND, Downs-Kelly E, Burwell TC, Vaklavas C, Buchsbaum DJ, Myers RM, LoBuglio AF, Varley KE. Expression of the MHC Class II Pathway in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Tumor Cells Is Associated with a Good Prognosis and Infiltrating Lymphocytes. Cancer Immunol Res 2016; 4:390-9. [PMID: 26980599 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-15-0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype with heterogeneous patient outcomes. Approximately 40% of patients experience rapid relapse, while the remaining patients have long-term disease-free survival. To determine if there are molecular differences between primary tumors that predict prognosis, we performed RNA-seq on 47 macrodissected tumors from newly diagnosed patients with TNBC (n = 47; 22 relapse, 25 no relapse; follow-up median, 8 years; range, 2-11 years). We discovered that expression of the MHC class II (MHC II) antigen presentation pathway in tumor tissue was the most significant pathway associated with progression-free survival (HR, 0.36; log-rank P = 0.0098). The association between MHC II pathway expression and good prognosis was confirmed in a public gene expression database of 199 TNBC cases (HR, 0.28; log-rank P = 4.5 × 10(-8)). Further analysis of immunohistochemistry, laser-capture microdissected tumors, and TNBC cell lines demonstrated that tumor cells, in addition to immune cells, aberrantly express the MHC II pathway. MHC II pathway expression was also associated with B-cell and T-cell infiltration in the tumor. Together, these data support the model that aberrant expression of the MHC II pathway in TNBC tumor cells may trigger an antitumor immune response that reduces the rate of relapse and enhances progression-free survival. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(5); 390-9. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Forero
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Yufeng Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Dongquan Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - William E Grizzle
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Katherine L Updike
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Natalie D Merz
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Erinn Downs-Kelly
- Department of Pathology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Todd C Burwell
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama
| | - Christos Vaklavas
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Donald J Buchsbaum
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Richard M Myers
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama. Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Albert F LoBuglio
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Katherine E Varley
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah
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46
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Johnson DB, Estrada MV, Salgado R, Sanchez V, Doxie DB, Opalenik SR, Vilgelm AE, Feld E, Johnson AS, Greenplate AR, Sanders ME, Lovly CM, Frederick DT, Kelley MC, Richmond A, Irish JM, Shyr Y, Sullivan RJ, Puzanov I, Sosman JA, Balko JM. Melanoma-specific MHC-II expression represents a tumour-autonomous phenotype and predicts response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10582. [PMID: 26822383 PMCID: PMC4740184 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 376] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-PD-1 therapy yields objective clinical responses in 30-40% of advanced melanoma patients. Since most patients do not respond, predictive biomarkers to guide treatment selection are needed. We hypothesize that MHC-I/II expression is required for tumour antigen presentation and may predict anti-PD-1 therapy response. In this study, across 60 melanoma cell lines, we find bimodal expression patterns of MHC-II, while MHC-I expression was ubiquitous. A unique subset of melanomas are capable of expressing MHC-II under basal or IFNγ-stimulated conditions. Using pathway analysis, we show that MHC-II(+) cell lines demonstrate signatures of 'PD-1 signalling', 'allograft rejection' and 'T-cell receptor signalling', among others. In two independent cohorts of anti-PD-1-treated melanoma patients, MHC-II positivity on tumour cells is associated with therapeutic response, progression-free and overall survival, as well as CD4(+) and CD8(+) tumour infiltrate. MHC-II(+) tumours can be identified by melanoma-specific immunohistochemistry using commercially available antibodies for HLA-DR to improve anti-PD-1 patient selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B. Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA,
| | - Monica V. Estrada
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Roberto Salgado
- Department of Pathology, Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Institut Jules Bordet, Boulevard de Waterloo 121, Brussels 1000, Belgium
| | - Violeta Sanchez
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Deon B. Doxie
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Susan R. Opalenik
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Anna E. Vilgelm
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA,Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Emily Feld
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Adam S. Johnson
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Allison R. Greenplate
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA,Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Melinda E. Sanders
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Christine M. Lovly
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA,Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Dennie T. Frederick
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, 02114 Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark C. Kelley
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Ann Richmond
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA,Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Irish
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA,Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Yu Shyr
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Ryan J. Sullivan
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Igor Puzanov
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Jeffrey A. Sosman
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA
| | - Justin M. Balko
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA,Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37232 Tennessee, USA,
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47
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Ling A, Lundberg IV, Eklöf V, Wikberg ML, Öberg Å, Edin S, Palmqvist R. The infiltration, and prognostic importance, of Th1 lymphocytes vary in molecular subgroups of colorectal cancer. JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH 2015; 2:21-31. [PMID: 27499912 PMCID: PMC4858126 DOI: 10.1002/cjp2.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Giving strong prognostic information, T‐cell infiltration is on the verge of becoming an additional component in the routine clinical setting for classification of colorectal cancer (CRC). With a view to further improving the tools for prognostic evaluation, we have studied how Th1 lymphocyte infiltration correlates with prognosis not only by quantity, but also by subsite, within CRCs with different molecular characteristics (microsatellite instability, CpG island methylator phenotype status, and BRAF and KRAS mutational status). We evaluated the Th1 marker T‐bet by immunohistochemistry in 418 archival tumour tissue samples from patients who underwent surgical resection for CRC. We found that a high number of infiltrating Th1 lymphocytes is strongly associated with an improved prognosis in patients with CRC, irrespective of intratumoural subsite, and that both extent of infiltration and patient outcome differ according to molecular subgroup. In brief, microsatellite instability, CpG island methylator phenotype‐high and BRAF mutated tumours showed increased infiltration of Th1 lymphocytes, and the most pronounced prognostic effect of Th1 infiltration was found in these tumours. Interestingly, BRAF mutated tumours were found to be more highly infiltrated by Th1 lymphocytes than BRAF wild‐type tumours whereas the opposite was seen for KRAS mutated tumours. These differences could be explained at least partly by our finding that BRAF mutated, in contrast to KRAS mutated, CRC cell lines and tumour specimens expressed higher levels of the Th1‐attracting chemokine CXCL10, and reduced levels of CCL22 and TGFB1, stimulating Th2/Treg recruitment and polarisation. In conclusion, the strong prognostic importance of Th1 lymphocyte infiltration in CRC was found at all subsites evaluated, and it remained significant in multivariable analyses, indicating that T‐bet may be a valuable marker in the clinical setting. Our results also indicate that T‐bet is of value when analysed in molecular subgroups of CRC, allowing identification of patients with especially poor prognosis who are in need of extended treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Ling
- Department of Medical Biosciences Pathology, Umeå University Umeå Sweden
| | - Ida V Lundberg
- Department of Medical Biosciences Pathology, Umeå University Umeå Sweden
| | - Vincy Eklöf
- Department of Medical Biosciences Pathology, Umeå University Umeå Sweden
| | - Maria L Wikberg
- Department of Medical Biosciences Pathology, Umeå University Umeå Sweden
| | - Åke Öberg
- Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences Surgery, Umeå University Umeå Sweden
| | - Sofia Edin
- Department of Medical Biosciences Pathology, Umeå University Umeå Sweden
| | - Richard Palmqvist
- Department of Medical Biosciences Pathology, Umeå University Umeå Sweden
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48
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Surana R, Wang S, Xu W, Jablonski SA, Weiner LM. IL4 limits the efficacy of tumor-targeted antibody therapy in a murine model. Cancer Immunol Res 2014; 2:1103-12. [PMID: 25204776 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-targeted antibody therapy has had a major impact on reducing morbidity and mortality in a wide range of cancers. Antibodies mediate their antitumor activity in part by activating immune effector cells; however, the tumor microenvironment (TME) is enriched with cellular and soluble mediators that actively suppress generation of antitumor immunity. Here, we investigate the potential of prospectively identifying and neutralizing an immunomodulatory soluble mediator within the TME to enhance therapeutic efficacy of the HER2-directed antibody trastuzumab. Using the D5-HER2 cell line and an immunocompetent human HER2 transgenic animal (hmHER2Tg) in which human HER2 is a self-antigen, we determined that IL4 was present in the TME and produced by both tumor and stromal cells. A siRNA-based screening approach identified STAT5A as a novel negative regulator of IL4 production by D5-HER2 tumor cells. Furthermore, IL4 neutralization using the anti-IL4 antibody 11B11 enhanced the efficacy of trastuzumab and modulated the TME. For example, IL4 neutralization resulted in reduced levels of myeloid chemoattractants CCL2, CCL11, and CXCL5 in the TME. Combination therapy with 11B11 and trastuzumab resulted in a reduction of tumor-infiltrating CD11b(+)CD206(+) myeloid cells compared with monotherapy. These data suggest that IL4 neutralization enhances the efficacy of trastuzumab by influencing the phenotype of myeloid cells within the TME and provide further rationale for combining tumor-targeted antibody therapy with agents that neutralize factors in the TME that suppress generation of productive antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishi Surana
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Shangzi Wang
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Pathology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Sandra A Jablonski
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Louis M Weiner
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia.
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49
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Spurrell EL, Lockley M. Adaptive immunity in cancer immunology and therapeutics. Ecancermedicalscience 2014; 8:441. [PMID: 25075215 PMCID: PMC4096025 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2014.441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The vast genetic alterations characteristic of tumours produce a number of tumour antigens that enable the immune system to differentiate tumour cells from normal cells. Counter to this, tumour cells have developed mechanisms by which to evade host immunity in their constant quest for growth and survival. Tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) are one of the fundamental triggers of the immune response. They are important because they activate, via major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the T cell response, an important line of defense against tumourigenesis. However, the persistence of tumours despite host immunity implies that tumour cells develop immune avoidance. An example of this is the up-regulation of inhibitory immune checkpoint proteins, by tumours, which induces a form of self-tolerance. The majority of monoclonal antibodies in clinical practice have been developed to target tumour-specific antigens. More recently there has been research in the down-regulation of immune checkpoint proteins as a way of increasing anti-tumour immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Spurrell
- Whittington Health NHS Trust, Magdala Avenue, London N19 5NF, UK
| | - Michelle Lockley
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
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50
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Activation of ERα signaling differentially modulates IFN-γ induced HLA-class II expression in breast cancer cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87377. [PMID: 24475282 PMCID: PMC3903652 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The coordinate regulation of HLA class II (HLA-II) is controlled by the class II transactivator, CIITA, and is crucial for the development of anti-tumor immunity. HLA-II in breast carcinoma is associated with increased IFN-γ levels, reduced expression of the estrogen receptor (ER) and reduced age at diagnosis. Here, we tested the hypothesis that estradiol (E2) and ERα signaling contribute to the regulation of IFN-γ inducible HLA-II in breast cancer cells. Using a panel of established ER− and ER+ breast cancer cell lines, we showed that E2 attenuated HLA-DR in two ER+ lines (MCF-7 and BT-474), but not in T47D, while it augmented expression in ER− lines, SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-231. To further study the mechanism(s), we used paired transfectants: ERα+ MC2 (MDA-MB-231 c10A transfected with the wild type ERα gene) and ERα− VC5 (MDA-MB-231 c10A transfected with the empty vector), treated or not with E2 and IFN-γ. HLA-II and CIITA were severely reduced in MC2 compared to VC5 and were further exacerbated by E2 treatment. Reduced expression occurred at the level of the IFN-γ inducible CIITA promoter IV. The anti-estrogen ICI 182,780 and gene silencing with ESR1 siRNA reversed the E2 inhibitory effects, signifying an antagonistic role for activated ERα on CIITA pIV activity. Moreover, STAT1 signaling, necessary for CIITA pIV activation, and selected STAT1 regulated genes were variably downregulated by E2 in transfected and endogenous ERα positive breast cancer cells, whereas STAT1 signaling was noticeably augmented in ERα− breast cancer cells. Collectively, these results imply immune escape mechanisms in ERα+ breast cancer may be facilitated through an ERα suppressive mechanism on IFN-γ signaling.
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