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Kyr M, Mudry P, Polaskova K, Dubska LZ, Demlova R, Kubatova J, Hlavackova E, Pilatova KC, Mazanek P, Vejmelkova K, Dusek V, Tinka P, Balaz M, Merta T, Kuttnerova Z, Turekova T, Pavelka Z, Pokorna P, Palova H, Mlnarikova M, Jezova M, Kellnerova R, Kozakova S, Slaby O, Valik D, Sterba J. Personalized dendritic cell vaccine in multimodal individualized combination therapy improves survival in high-risk pediatric cancer patients. Int J Cancer 2024; 155:1443-1454. [PMID: 38958237 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.35062] [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: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
A lot of hope for high-risk cancers is being pinned on immunotherapy but the evidence in children is lacking due to the rarity and limited efficacy of single-agent approaches. Here, we aim to assess the effectiveness of multimodal therapy comprising a personalized dendritic cell (DC) vaccine in children with relapsed and/or high-risk solid tumors using the N-of-1 approach in real-world scenario. A total of 160 evaluable events occurred in 48 patients during the 4-year follow-up. Overall survival of the cohort was 7.03 years. Disease control after vaccination was achieved in 53.8% patients. Comparative survival analysis showed the beneficial effect of DC vaccine beyond 2 years from initial diagnosis (HR = 0.53, P = .048) or in patients with disease control (HR = 0.16, P = .00053). A trend for synergistic effect with metronomic cyclophosphamide and/or vinblastine was indicated (HR = 0.60 P = .225). A strong synergistic effect was found for immune check-point inhibitors (ICIs) after priming with the DC vaccine (HR = 0.40, P = .0047). In conclusion, the personalized DC vaccine was an effective component in the multimodal individualized treatment. Personalized DC vaccine was effective in less burdened or more indolent diseases with a favorable safety profile and synergized with metronomic and/or immunomodulating agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Kyr
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Mudry
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristyna Polaskova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Zdrazilova Dubska
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Laboratory Methods, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre (CREATIC), Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Regina Demlova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre (CREATIC), Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Kubatova
- Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre (CREATIC), Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Hlavackova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre (CREATIC), Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Cerna Pilatova
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre (CREATIC), Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Mazanek
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Biochemistry, Children's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Klara Vejmelkova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vitezslav Dusek
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Tinka
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Balaz
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Merta
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Kuttnerova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Terezia Turekova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Pavelka
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Pokorna
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Palova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Mlnarikova
- Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre (CREATIC), Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Jezova
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Renata Kellnerova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sarka Kozakova
- Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Slaby
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dalibor Valik
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Laboratory Methods, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre (CREATIC), Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Sterba
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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2
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Rumler S. Non-cellular immunotherapies in pediatric central nervous system tumors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1242911. [PMID: 37885882 PMCID: PMC10598668 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1242911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the second most common type of cancer and the most common cause of cancer death in pediatric patients. New therapies are desperately needed for some of the most malignant of all cancers. Immunotherapy has emerged in the past two decades as an additional avenue to augment/replace traditional therapies (such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy). This article first discusses the unique nature of the pediatric CNS immune system and how it interacts with the systemic immune system. It then goes on to review three important and widely studied types of immune therapies: checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, and radiation therapy, and touches on early studies of antibody-mediated immunogenic therapies, Finally, the article discusses the importance of combination immunotherapy for pediatric CNS tumors, and addresses the neurologic toxicities associated with immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Rumler
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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Fernández-García P, Malet-Engra G, Torres M, Hanson D, Rosselló CA, Román R, Lladó V, Escribá PV. Evolving Diagnostic and Treatment Strategies for Pediatric CNS Tumors: The Impact of Lipid Metabolism. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051365. [PMID: 37239036 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051365] [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: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric neurological tumors are a heterogeneous group of cancers, many of which carry a poor prognosis and lack a "standard of care" therapy. While they have similar anatomic locations, pediatric neurological tumors harbor specific molecular signatures that distinguish them from adult brain and other neurological cancers. Recent advances through the application of genetics and imaging tools have reshaped the molecular classification and treatment of pediatric neurological tumors, specifically considering the molecular alterations involved. A multidisciplinary effort is ongoing to develop new therapeutic strategies for these tumors, employing innovative and established approaches. Strikingly, there is increasing evidence that lipid metabolism is altered during the development of these types of tumors. Thus, in addition to targeted therapies focusing on classical oncogenes, new treatments are being developed based on a broad spectrum of strategies, ranging from vaccines to viral vectors, and melitherapy. This work reviews the current therapeutic landscape for pediatric brain tumors, considering new emerging treatments and ongoing clinical trials. In addition, the role of lipid metabolism in these neoplasms and its relevance for the development of novel therapies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Fernández-García
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biomedicine, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Laminar Pharmaceuticals, Isaac Newton, 07121 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Gema Malet-Engra
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biomedicine, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Laminar Pharmaceuticals, Isaac Newton, 07121 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Manuel Torres
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biomedicine, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Derek Hanson
- Hackensack Meridian Health, 343 Thornall Street, Edison, NJ 08837, USA
| | - Catalina A Rosselló
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biomedicine, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Laminar Pharmaceuticals, Isaac Newton, 07121 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Ramón Román
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biomedicine, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Laminar Pharmaceuticals, Isaac Newton, 07121 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Victoria Lladó
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biomedicine, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Laminar Pharmaceuticals, Isaac Newton, 07121 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Pablo V Escribá
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biomedicine, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Laminar Pharmaceuticals, Isaac Newton, 07121 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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4
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CAR T-Cell Therapy in Children with Solid Tumors. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12062326. [PMID: 36983330 PMCID: PMC10051963 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The limited efficacy of traditional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, emphasize the significance of employing innovative methods. CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) T-cell therapy remains the most revolutionizing treatment of pediatric hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Patient’s own lymphocytes are modified ex-vivo using gene transfer techniques and programmed to recognize and destroy specific tumor cells regardless of MHC receptor, which probably makes CAR-T the most personalized therapy for the patient. With continued refinement and optimization, CAR-T cell therapy has the potential to significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for children with limited treatment options. It has shown remarkable success in treating hematological malignancies, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, its effectiveness in treating solid tumors is still being investigated and remains an area of active research. In this review we focus on solid tumors and explain the concept of CAR modified T cells, and discuss some novel CAR designs that are being considered to enhance the safety of CAR T-cell therapy in under-mentioned cancers. Furthermore, we summarize the most crucial recent reports concerning the solid tumors treatment in children. In the end we provide a short summary of many challenges that limit the therapeutic efficacy of CAR-T in solid tumors, such as antigen escape, immunosuppressive microenvironment, poor trafficking, and tumor infiltration, on-target off-tumor effects and general toxicity.
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Advances in the Treatment of Pediatric Brain Tumors. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 10:children10010062. [PMID: 36670613 PMCID: PMC9856380 DOI: 10.3390/children10010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric brain tumors are the most common solid malignancies in children. Advances in the treatment of pediatric brain tumors have come in the form of imaging, biopsy, surgical techniques, and molecular profiling. This has led the way for targeted therapies and immunotherapy to be assessed in clinical trials for the most common types of pediatric brain tumors. Here we review the latest efforts and challenges in targeted molecular therapy, immunotherapy, and newer modalities such as laser interstitial thermal therapy.
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Bernstock JD, Hoffman SE, Kappel AD, Valdes PA, Essayed WI, Klinger NV, Kang KD, Totsch SK, Olsen HE, Schlappi CW, Filipski K, Gessler FA, Baird L, Filbin MG, Hashizume R, Becher OJ, Friedman GK. Immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of diffuse midline gliomas. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2124058. [PMID: 36185807 PMCID: PMC9519005 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2124058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) are a highly aggressive and universally fatal subgroup of pediatric tumors responsible for the majority of childhood brain tumor deaths. Median overall survival is less than 12 months with a 90% mortality rate at 2 years from diagnosis. Research into the underlying tumor biology and numerous clinical trials have done little to change the invariably poor prognosis. Continued development of novel, efficacious therapeutic options for DMGs remains a critically important area of active investigation. Given that DMGs are not amenable to surgical resection, have only limited response to radiation, and are refractory to traditional chemotherapy, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising alternative treatment modality. This review summarizes the various immunotherapy-based treatments for DMG as well as their specific limitations. We explore the use of cell-based therapies, oncolytic virotherapy or immunovirotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibition, and immunomodulatory vaccination strategies, and highlight the recent clinical success of anti-GD2 CAR-T therapy in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) patients. Finally, we address the challenges faced in translating preclinical and early phase clinical trial data into effective standardized treatment for DMG patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Bernstock
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA,CONTACT Joshua D. Bernstock Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Hale Building, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA02115, USA
| | - Samantha E. Hoffman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ari D. Kappel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pablo A. Valdes
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Walid Ibn Essayed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Neil V. Klinger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kyung-Don Kang
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Stacie K. Totsch
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hannah E. Olsen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles W. Schlappi
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katharina Filipski
- Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute), University Hospital, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany and German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ), Heidelberg, Germany,Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Frankfurt, Germany,University Cancer Center (UCT), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Florian A. Gessler
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medicine Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Lissa Baird
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mariella G. Filbin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rintaro Hashizume
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Oren J. Becher
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, the Mount Sinai Hospital, NY, NY, USA
| | - Gregory K. Friedman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA,Gregory K. Friedman Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1600 7th Avenue South, Lowder 512, Birmingham, AL35233, USA
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Recent advances in the therapeutic strategies of glioblastoma multiforme. Neuroscience 2022; 491:240-270. [PMID: 35395355 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common, most formidable, and deadliest malignant types of primary astrocytoma with a poor prognosis. At present, the standard of care includes surgical tumor resection, followed by radiation therapy concomitant with chemotherapy and temozolomide. New developments and significant advances in the treatment of GBM have been achieved in recent decades. However, despite the advances, recurrence is often inevitable, and the survival of patients remains low. Various factors contribute to the difficulty in identifying an effective therapeutic option, among which are tumor complexity, the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and the presence of GBM cancer stem cells, prompting the need for improving existing treatment approaches and investigating new treatment alternatives for ameliorating the treatment strategies of GBM. In this review, we outline some of the most recent literature on the various available treatment options such as surgery, radiotherapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, phototherapy, nanotherapy, and tumor treating fields in the treatment of GBM, and we list some of the potential future directions of GBM. The reviewed studies confirm that GBM is a sophisticated disease with several challenges for scientists to address. Hence, more studies and a multimodal therapeutic approach are crucial to yield an effective cure and prolong the survival of GBM patients.
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The Current Landscape of Targeted Clinical Trials in Non-WNT/Non-SHH Medulloblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030679. [PMID: 35158947 PMCID: PMC8833659 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Medulloblastoma is a form of malignant brain tumor that arises predominantly in infants and young children and can be divided into different groups based on molecular markers. The group of non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma includes a spectrum of heterogeneous subgroups that differ in their biological characteristics, genetic underpinnings, and clinical course of disease. Non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma is currently treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy; however, new drugs are needed to treat patients who are not yet curable and to reduce treatment-related toxicity and side effects. We here review which new treatment options for non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma are currently clinically tested. Furthermore, we illustrate the challenges that have to be overcome to reach a new therapeutic standard for non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma, for instance the current lack of good preclinical models, and the necessity to conduct trials in a comparably small patient collective. Abstract Medulloblastoma is an embryonal pediatric brain tumor and can be divided into at least four molecularly defined groups. The category non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma summarizes medulloblastoma groups 3 and 4 and is characterized by considerable genetic and clinical heterogeneity. New therapeutic strategies are needed to increase survival rates and to reduce treatment-related toxicity. We performed a noncomprehensive targeted review of the current clinical trial landscape and literature to summarize innovative treatment options for non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma. A multitude of new drugs is currently evaluated in trials for which non-WNT/non-SHH patients are eligible, for instance immunotherapy, kinase inhibitors, and drugs targeting the epigenome. However, the majority of these trials is not restricted to medulloblastoma and lacks molecular classification. Whereas many new molecular targets have been identified in the last decade, which are currently tested in clinical trials, several challenges remain on the way to reach a new therapeutic strategy for non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma. These include the severe lack of faithful preclinical models and predictive biomarkers, the question on how to stratify patients for clinical trials, and the relative lack of studies that recruit large, homogeneous patient collectives. Innovative trial designs and international collaboration will be a key to eventually overcome these obstacles.
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Abstract
There are encouraging signs in our collective progress to leverage the immune system to treat pediatric cancers. Here, we summarize interim successes in cancer immunotherapy and opportunities to translate from the adult world to pediatrics, and highlight challenges that could benefit from additional development, focusing on solid tumors. Just a decade ago, other than antibodies targeting disialoganglioside (GD2) in neuroblastoma, pediatric cancer immunotherapy was mostly relegated to obscure preclinical studies in a few academic labs. Today there are numerous clinical trials of a variety of antibody, cellular, gene, and viral therapies and vaccines designed to either promote antitumor immunity or specifically attack validated immunotherapy targets. Understanding those targets and their pediatric relevance is paramount. While much work is underway to evaluate the utility of numerous immunologic targets, the lack of regulatory approvals is emblematic of the challenges that remain. Herein we focus our review on the most promising targeted immunotherapies in clinical trials for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Gupta
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, USA.
| | - Timothy P Cripe
- Division of Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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