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Richard G, Ruggiero N, Steinberg GD, Martin WD, De Groot AS. Neoadjuvant personalized cancer vaccines: the final frontier? Expert Rev Vaccines 2024; 23:205-212. [PMID: 38189107 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2024.2303015] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clinical trials of personalized cancer vaccines have shown that on-demand therapies that are manufactured for each patient, result in activated T cell responses against individual tumor neoantigens. However, their use has been traditionally restricted to adjuvant settings and late-stage cancer therapy. There is growing support for the implementation of PCV earlier in the cancer therapy timeline, for reasons that will be discussed in this review. AREAS COVERED The efficacy of cancer vaccines may be to some extent dependent on treatment(s) given prior to vaccine administration. Tumors can undergo radical immunoediting following treatment with immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, which may affect the presence of the very mutations targeted by cancer vaccines. This review will cover the topics of neoantigen cancer vaccines, tumor immunoediting, and therapy timing. EXPERT OPINION Therapy timing remains a critical topic to address in optimizing the efficacy of personalized cancer vaccines. Most personalized cancer vaccines are being evaluated in late-stage cancer patients and after treatment with checkpoint inhibitors, but they may offer a greater benefit to the patient if administered in earlier clinical settings, such as the neoadjuvant setting, where patients are not facing T cell exhaustion and/or a further compromised immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gary D Steinberg
- EpiVax Therapeutics, Inc., Providence, RI, USA
- RUSH University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Anne S De Groot
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, USA
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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2
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van den Bulk J, Verdegaal EM, van der Ploeg M, Visser M, Nunes JB, de Ru AH, Tjokrodirijo RT, Ijsselsteijn ME, Janssen NI, van der Breggen R, de Bruin L, de Kok P, Janssen GM, Ruano D, Kapiteijn EH, van Veelen PA, de Miranda NF, van der Burg SH. Neoantigen Targetability in Progressive Advanced Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:4278-4288. [PMID: 37540567 PMCID: PMC10570682 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-1106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The availability of (neo)antigens and the infiltration of tumors by (neo)antigen-specific T cells are crucial factors in cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the targetability of (neo)antigens in advanced progessive melanoma and explore the potential for continued T-cell-based immunotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We examined a cohort of eight patients with melanoma who had sequential metastases resected at early and later time points. Antigen-presenting capacity was assessed using IHC and flow cytometry. T-cell infiltration was quantified through multiplex immunofluorescence. Whole-exome and RNA sequencing were conducted to identify neoantigens and assess the expression of neoantigens and tumor-associated antigens. Mass spectrometry was used to evaluate antigen presentation. Tumor recognition by autologous T cells was assessed by coculture assays with cell lines derived from the metastatic lesions. RESULTS We observed similar T-cell infiltration in paired early and later metastatic (LM) lesions. Although elements of the antigen-presenting machinery were affected in some LM lesions, both the early and later metastasis-derived cell lines were recognized by autologous T cells. At the genomic level, the (neo)antigen landscape was dynamic, but the (neo)antigen load was stable between paired lesions. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that subsequently isolated tumors from patients with late-stage melanoma retain sufficient antigen-presenting capacity, T-cell infiltration, and a stable (neo)antigen load, allowing recognition of tumor cells by T cells. This indicates a continuous availability of T-cell targets in metastases occurring at different time points and supports further exploration of (neo)antigen-specific T-cell-based therapeutic approaches for advanced melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitske van den Bulk
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Els M.E. Verdegaal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Manon van der Ploeg
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marten Visser
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Joana B. Nunes
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Arnoud H. de Ru
- Center of Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Rayman T.N. Tjokrodirijo
- Center of Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Natasja I. Janssen
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ruud van der Breggen
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Linda de Bruin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Pita de Kok
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - George M.C. Janssen
- Center of Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Dina Ruano
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen H.W. Kapiteijn
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Peter A. van Veelen
- Center of Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Sjoerd H. van der Burg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Ghorani E, Swanton C, Quezada SA. Cancer cell-intrinsic mechanisms driving acquired immune tolerance. Immunity 2023; 56:2270-2295. [PMID: 37820584 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Immune evasion is a hallmark of cancer, enabling tumors to survive contact with the host immune system and evade the cycle of immune recognition and destruction. Here, we review the current understanding of the cancer cell-intrinsic factors driving immune evasion. We focus on T cells as key effectors of anti-cancer immunity and argue that cancer cells evade immune destruction by gaining control over pathways that usually serve to maintain physiological tolerance to self. Using this framework, we place recent mechanistic advances in the understanding of cancer immune evasion into broad categories of control over T cell localization, antigen recognition, and acquisition of optimal effector function. We discuss the redundancy in the pathways involved and identify knowledge gaps that must be overcome to better target immune evasion, including the need for better, routinely available tools that incorporate the growing understanding of evasion mechanisms to stratify patients for therapy and trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Ghorani
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK; Department of Medical Oncology, Imperial College London Hospitals, London, UK.
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK.
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Wang Y, Jasinski-Bergner S, Wickenhauser C, Seliger B. Cancer Immunology: Immune Escape of Tumors-Expression and Regulation of HLA Class I Molecules and Its Role in Immunotherapies. Adv Anat Pathol 2023; 30:148-159. [PMID: 36517481 DOI: 10.1097/pap.0000000000000389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The addition of "avoiding immune destruction" to the hallmarks of cancer demonstrated the importance of cancer immunology and in particular the role of immune surveillance and escape from malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms contributing to immune impairment and immune responses are diverse. Loss or reduced expression of the HLA class I molecules are major characteristics of human cancers resulting in an impaired recognition of tumor cells by CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This is of clinical relevance and associated with worse patients outcome and limited efficacy of T-cell-based immunotherapies. Here, we summarize the role of HLA class I antigens in cancers by focusing on the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for HLA class I defects, which are caused by either structural alterations or deregulation at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational levels. In addition, the influence of HLA class I abnormalities to adaptive and acquired immunotherapy resistances will be described. The in-depth knowledge of the different strategies of malignancies leading to HLA class I defects can be applied to design more effective cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Jasinski-Bergner
- Institute of Medical Immunology
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Medical School "Theodor Fontane", Brandenburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Wickenhauser
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale)
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology
- Department of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Development & Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) Design, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, GermanyLeipzig, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Medical School "Theodor Fontane", Brandenburg, Germany
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5
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Santharam MA, Shukla A, Levesque D, Kufer TA, Boisvert FM, Ramanathan S, Ilangumaran S. NLRC5-CIITA Fusion Protein as an Effective Inducer of MHC-I Expression and Antitumor Immunity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087206. [PMID: 37108368 PMCID: PMC10138588 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggressive tumors evade cytotoxic T lymphocytes by suppressing MHC class-I (MHC-I) expression that also compromises tumor responsiveness to immunotherapy. MHC-I defects strongly correlate to defective expression of NLRC5, the transcriptional activator of MHC-I and antigen processing genes. In poorly immunogenic B16 melanoma cells, restoring NLRC5 expression induces MHC-I and elicits antitumor immunity, raising the possibility of using NLRC5 for tumor immunotherapy. As the clinical application of NLRC5 is constrained by its large size, we examined whether a smaller NLRC5-CIITA fusion protein, dubbed NLRC5-superactivator (NLRC5-SA) as it retains the ability to induce MHC-I, could be used for tumor growth control. We show that stable NLRC5-SA expression in mouse and human cancer cells upregulates MHC-I expression. B16 melanoma and EL4 lymphoma tumors expressing NLRC5-SA are controlled as efficiently as those expressing full-length NLRC5 (NLRC5-FL). Comparison of MHC-I-associated peptides (MAPs) eluted from EL4 cells expressing NLRC5-FL or NLRC5-SA and analyzed by mass spectrometry revealed that both NLRC5 constructs expanded the MAP repertoire, which showed considerable overlap but also included a substantial proportion of distinct peptides. Thus, we propose that NLRC5-SA, with its ability to increase tumor immunogenicity and promote tumor growth control, could overcome the limitations of NLRC5-FL for translational immunotherapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madanraj Appiya Santharam
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Akhil Shukla
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Dominique Levesque
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Thomas A Kufer
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Nutritional Medicine, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - François-Michel Boisvert
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
- CRCHUS, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Sheela Ramanathan
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
- CRCHUS, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Subburaj Ilangumaran
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
- CRCHUS, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
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Wang C, Wang Z, Yao T, Zhou J, Wang Z. The immune-related role of beta-2-microglobulin in melanoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:944722. [PMID: 36046045 PMCID: PMC9421255 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.944722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the remarkable success of immunotherapy in the treatment of melanoma, resistance to these agents still affects patient prognosis and response to therapies. Beta-2-microglobulin (β2M), an important subunit of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, has important biological functions and roles in tumor immunity. In recent years, increasing studies have shown that B2M gene deficiency can inhibit MHC class I antigen presentation and lead to cancer immune evasion by affecting β2M expression. Based on this, B2M gene defect and T cell-based immunotherapy can interact to affect the efficacy of melanoma treatment. Taking into account the many recent advances in B2M-related melanoma immunity, here we discuss the immune function of the B2M gene in tumors, its common genetic alteration in melanoma, and its impact on and related improvements in melanoma immunotherapy. Our comprehensive review of β2M biology and its role in tumor immunotherapy contributes to understanding the potential of B2M gene as a promising melanoma therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuqiao Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ophthalmic Tumor, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zeqi Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ophthalmic Tumor, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tengteng Yao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jibo Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ophthalmic Tumor, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jibo Zhou, ; Zhaoyang Wang,
| | - Zhaoyang Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jibo Zhou, ; Zhaoyang Wang,
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7
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Ladányi A, Hegyi B, Balatoni T, Liszkay G, Rohregger R, Waldnig C, Dudás J, Ferrone S. HLA Class I Downregulation in Progressing Metastases of Melanoma Patients Treated With Ipilimumab. Pathol Oncol Res 2022; 28:1610297. [PMID: 35531074 PMCID: PMC9073691 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2022.1610297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying antitumor immune responses and immune escape mechanisms has resulted in the development of more effective immunotherapeutic strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. ICIs can induce durable responses in patients with advanced cancer in a wide range of cancer types, however, the majority of the patients fail to respond to this therapy or develop resistance in the course of the treatment. Information about the molecular mechanisms underlying primary and acquired resistance is limited. Although HLA class I molecules are crucial in the recognition of tumor antigens by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, only a few studies have investigated the role of their expression level on malignant cells in ICI resistance. To address this topic, utilizing immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) we analyzed HLA class I expression level in pre-treatment and post-treatment tumor samples from melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab. Twenty-nine metastases removed from six patients were available for the study, including 18 pre-treatment and 11 post-treatment lesions. Compared to metastases excised before ipilimumab therapy, post-treatment lesions displayed a significantly lower HLA class I expression level on melanoma cells; HLA class I downregulation was most marked in progressing metastases from nonresponding patients. We also evaluated the level of infiltration by CD8+ T cells and NK cells but did not find consistent changes between pre- and post-treatment samples. Our results indicate the potential role of HLA class I downregulation as a mechanism of ICI resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ladányi
- Department of Surgical and Molecular Pathology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Barbara Hegyi
- Department of Thoracic and Abdominal Tumors and Clinical Pharmacology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Pathological Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tímea Balatoni
- Department of Oncodermatology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Liszkay
- Department of Oncodermatology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Raphael Rohregger
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Waldnig
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - József Dudás
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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8
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Regulation of the antigen presentation machinery in cancer and its implication for immune surveillance. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:825-837. [PMID: 35343573 PMCID: PMC9162455 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Evading immune destruction is one of the hallmarks of cancer. A key mechanism of immune evasion deployed by tumour cells is to reduce neoantigen presentation through down-regulation of the antigen presentation machinery. MHC-I and MHC-II proteins are key components of the antigen presentation machinery responsible for neoantigen presentation to CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes, respectively. Their expression in tumour cells is modulated by a complex interplay of genomic, transcriptomic and post translational factors involving multiple intracellular antigen processing pathways. Ongoing research investigates mechanisms invoked by cancer cells to abrogate MHC-I expression and attenuate anti-tumour CD8+ cytotoxic T cell response. The discovery of MHC-II on tumour cells has been less characterized. However, this finding has triggered further interest in utilising tumour-specific MHC-II to harness sustained anti-tumour immunity through the activation of CD4+ T helper cells. Tumour-specific expression of MHC-I and MHC-II has been associated with improved patient survival in most clinical studies. Thus, their reactivation represents an attractive way to unleash anti-tumour immunity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of physiologically conserved or novel mechanisms utilised by tumour cells to reduce MHC-I or MHC-II expression. It outlines current approaches employed at the preclinical and clinical trial interface towards reversing these processes in order to improve response to immunotherapy and survival outcomes for patients with cancer.
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9
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Jasinski-Bergner S, Mandelboim O, Seliger B. Molecular mechanisms of human herpes viruses inferring with host immune surveillance. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-000841. [PMID: 32616556 PMCID: PMC7333871 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Several human herpes viruses (HHVs) exert oncogenic potential leading to malignant transformation of infected cells and/or tissues. The molecular processes induced by viral-encoded molecules including microRNAs, peptides, and proteins contributing to immune evasion of the infected host cells are equal to the molecular processes of immune evasion mediated by tumor cells independently of viral infections. Such major immune evasion strategies include (1) the downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines as well as the induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, (2) the downregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ia directly as well as indirectly by downregulation of the components involved in the antigen processing, and (3) the downregulation of stress-induced ligands for activating receptors on immune effector cells with NKG2D leading the way. Furthermore, (4) immune modulatory molecules like MHC class Ib molecules and programmed cell death1 ligand 1 can be upregulated on infections with certain herpes viruses. This review article focuses on the known molecular mechanisms of HHVs modulating the above-mentioned possibilities for immune surveillance and even postulates a temporal order linking regular tumor immunology with basic virology and offering putatively novel insights for targeting HHVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Jasinski-Bergner
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ofer Mandelboim
- Immunology & Cancer Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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10
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Ladányi A, Papp E, Mohos A, Balatoni T, Liszkay G, Oláh J, Varga A, Lengyel Z, Emri G, Ferrone S. Role of the anatomic site in the association of HLA class I antigen expression level in metastases with clinical response to ipilimumab therapy in patients with melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2019-000209. [PMID: 32554608 PMCID: PMC7304850 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in only part of the treated patients, in conjunction with the potentially serious side effects associated with this type of therapy, has emphasized the need to identify biomarkers to select patients who may benefit from ICI treatment. The aim of our study was to test human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II expression in melanoma metastases as potential biomarkers of response to ipilimumab and survival in patients with metastatic melanoma, since these molecules play a crucial role in the interactions of malignant cells with host’s immune system. Materials and methods HLA class I and II antigen expression level in pretreatment surgical tissue samples (50 lymph node and 35 cutaneous or subcutaneous metastases) from 30 patients was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies. Expression levels were correlated to intratumoral density of lymphocytes expressing cluster of differentiation (CD)8, CD45RO, CD4, forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and/or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), to clinical response to treatment, and to patients’ survival. Results HLA class I antigen expression level in lymph node metastases, but not in cutaneous or subcutaneous metastases was significantly correlated to density of CD8+ and CD45RO+ T cells and of lymphocytes expressing PD-1, as well as to clinical response and to patients’ survival. Conclusions Our results corroborate the role of HLA class I expression level (alone or in combination with T-cell density values) as a predictive biomarker of response to ipilimumab in patients with melanoma. In addition, our results show that this association is influenced by the anatomic site of the metastasis used to measure the HLA class I antigen expression level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ladányi
- Department of Surgical and Molecular Pathology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Papp
- Department of Surgical and Molecular Pathology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anita Mohos
- 1st Institute of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tímea Balatoni
- Department of Oncodermatology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Liszkay
- Department of Oncodermatology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Oláh
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anita Varga
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Lengyel
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Oncodermatology, University of Pécs Clinical Center, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Emri
- Department of Dermatology, University of Debrecen Medical School and Health Science Center, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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11
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Beta2-microglobulin(B2M) in cancer immunotherapies: Biological function, resistance and remedy. Cancer Lett 2021; 517:96-104. [PMID: 34129878 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies have made much headway during the past decades. Techniques including the immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) and adoptive cell therapy (ACT) have harvested impressive efficacy and provided far-reaching tools for treating cancer patients. However, due to inadequate priming of the immune system, a certain subgroup of patients remains resistant to cancer immunotherapies during or after the treatment. β2-microglobulin (B2M) is an important subunit of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I which exerts substantive biological functions in tumorigenesis and immune control. Accumulating evidence has shown that alterations of B2M gene and B2M proteins contribute to poor reaction to cancer immunotherapies by dampening antigen presentation. Here, we discuss the basic biological functions of B2M, its distribution in a spectrum of cancers, and current understanding of its role in ICI, cancer vaccines and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapies. Furthermore, we summarize some promising therapeutic strategies to improve the efficacy inhibited by B2M defects.
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12
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Jongsma MLM, Neefjes J, Spaapen RM. Playing hide and seek: Tumor cells in control of MHC class I antigen presentation. Mol Immunol 2021; 136:36-44. [PMID: 34082257 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules present a blueprint of the intracellular proteome to T cells allowing them to control infection or malignant transformation. As a response, pathogens and tumor cells often downmodulate MHC-I mediated antigen presentation to escape from immune surveillance. Although the fundamental rules of antigen presentation are known in detail, the players in this system are not saturated and new modules of regulation have recently been uncovered. Here, we update the understanding of antigen presentation by MHC-I molecules and how this can be exploited by tumors to prevent exposure of the intracellular proteome. This knowledge can provide new ways to improve immune responses against tumors and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L M Jongsma
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - J Neefjes
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - R M Spaapen
- Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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13
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Effects of Chemotherapy Agents on Circulating Leukocyte Populations: Potential Implications for the Success of CAR-T Cell Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092225. [PMID: 34066414 PMCID: PMC8124952 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary CAR-T cell therapy is a new approach to cancer treatment that is based on manipulating a patient’s own T cells such that they become able to seek and destroy cancer cells in a highly specific manner. This approach is showing remarkable efficacy in treating some types of blood cancers but so far has been much less effective against solid cancers. Here, we review the diverse effects of chemotherapy agents on circulating leukocyte populations and find that, despite some negative effects over the short term, chemotherapy can favourably modulate the immune systems of cancer patients over the longer term. Since blood is the starting material for CAR-T cell production, we propose that these effects could significantly influence the success of manufacturing, and anti-cancer activity, of CAR-T cells. Thus, if timed correctly, chemotherapy-induced changes to circulating immune cells could allow CAR-T cells to unleash more effective anti-tumour responses. Abstract Adoptive T-cell therapy using autologous T cells genetically modified to express cancer-specific chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) has emerged as a novel approach for cancer treatment. CAR-T cell therapy has been approved in several major jurisdictions for treating refractory or relapsed cases of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, in solid cancer patients, several clinical studies of CAR-T cell therapy have demonstrated minimal therapeutic effects, thus encouraging interest in better integrating CAR-T cells with other treatments such as conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Increasing evidence shows that not only do chemotherapy drugs have tumoricidal effects, but also significantly modulate the immune system. Here, we discuss immunomodulatory effects of chemotherapy drugs on circulating leukocyte populations, including their ability to enhance cytotoxic effects and preserve the frequency of CD8+ T cells and to deplete immunosuppressive populations including regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. By modulating the abundance and phenotype of leukocytes in the blood (the ‘raw material’ for CAR-T cell manufacturing), we propose that prior chemotherapy could facilitate production of the most effective CAR-T cell products. Further research is required to directly test this concept and identify strategies for the optimal integration of CAR-T cell therapies with cytotoxic chemotherapy for solid cancers.
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14
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Algarra I, Garrido F, Garcia-Lora AM. MHC heterogeneity and response of metastases to immunotherapy. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:501-517. [PMID: 33860434 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-09964-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, immunotherapy has proven to be an effective treatment against cancer. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes perform an important role in this anti-tumor immune response, recognizing cancer cells as foreign, through the presentation of tumor antigens by MHC class I molecules. However, tumors and metastases develop escape mechanisms for evading this immunosurveillance and may lose the expression of these polymorphic molecules to become invisible to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In other situations, they may maintain MHC class I expression and promote immunosuppression of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Therefore, the analysis of the expression of MHC class I molecules in tumors and metastases is important to elucidate these escape mechanisms. Moreover, it is necessary to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in these alterations to reverse them and recover the expression of MHC class I molecules on tumor cells. This review discusses the role and regulation of MHC class I expression in tumor progression. We focus on altered MHC class I phenotypes present in tumors and metastases, as well as the molecular mechanisms responsible for MHC-I alterations, emphasizing the mechanisms of recovery of the MHC class I molecules expression on cancer cells. The individualized study of the HLA class I phenotype of the tumor and the metastases of each patient will allow choosing the most appropriate immunotherapy treatment based on a personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Algarra
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Angel M Garcia-Lora
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014, Granada, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain. .,Unidad de Biobanco, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.
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15
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Dhatchinamoorthy K, Colbert JD, Rock KL. Cancer Immune Evasion Through Loss of MHC Class I Antigen Presentation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:636568. [PMID: 33767702 PMCID: PMC7986854 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.636568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 371] [Impact Index Per Article: 123.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Major histocompatibility class I (MHC I) molecules bind peptides derived from a cell's expressed genes and then transport and display this antigenic information on the cell surface. This allows CD8 T cells to identify pathological cells that are synthesizing abnormal proteins, such as cancers that are expressing mutated proteins. In order for many cancers to arise and progress, they need to evolve mechanisms to avoid elimination by CD8 T cells. MHC I molecules are not essential for cell survival and therefore one mechanism by which cancers can evade immune control is by losing MHC I antigen presentation machinery (APM). Not only will this impair the ability of natural immune responses to control cancers, but also frustrate immunotherapies that work by re-invigorating anti-tumor CD8 T cells, such as checkpoint blockade. Here we review the evidence that loss of MHC I antigen presentation is a frequent occurrence in many cancers. We discuss new insights into some common underlying mechanisms through which some cancers inactivate the MHC I pathway and consider some possible strategies to overcome this limitation in ways that could restore immune control of tumors and improve immunotherapy.
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16
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HLA class I loss in colorectal cancer: implications for immune escape and immunotherapy. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:556-565. [PMID: 33473191 PMCID: PMC8027055 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00634-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell-mediated immune therapies have emerged as a promising treatment modality in different malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, only a fraction of patients currently respond to treatment. Understanding the lack of responses and finding biomarkers with predictive value is of great importance. There is evidence that CRC is a heterogeneous disease and several classification systems have been proposed that are based on genomic instability, immune cell infiltration, stromal content and molecular subtypes of gene expression. Human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) plays a pivotal role in presenting processed antigens to T lymphocytes, including tumour antigens. These molecules are frequently lost in different types of cancers, including CRC, resulting in tumour immune escape from cytotoxic T lymphocytes during the natural history of cancer development. The aim of this review is to (i) summarize the prevalence and molecular mechanisms behind HLA-I loss in CRC, (ii) discuss HLA-I expression/loss in the context of the newly identified CRC molecular subtypes, (iii) analyze the HLA-I phenotypes of CRC metastases disseminated via blood or the lymphatic system, (iv) discuss strategies to recover/circumvent HLA-I expression/loss and finally (v) review the role of HLA class II (HLA-II) in CRC prognosis.
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17
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Shukla A, Cloutier M, Appiya Santharam M, Ramanathan S, Ilangumaran S. The MHC Class-I Transactivator NLRC5: Implications to Cancer Immunology and Potential Applications to Cancer Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041964. [PMID: 33671123 PMCID: PMC7922096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system constantly monitors the emergence of cancerous cells and eliminates them. CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which kill tumor cells and provide antitumor immunity, select their targets by recognizing tumor antigenic peptides presented by MHC class-I (MHC-I) molecules. Cancer cells circumvent immune surveillance using diverse strategies. A key mechanism of cancer immune evasion is downregulation of MHC-I and key proteins of the antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM). Even though impaired MHC-I expression in cancers is well-known, reversing the MHC-I defects remains the least advanced area of tumor immunology. The discoveries that NLRC5 is the key transcriptional activator of MHC-I and APM genes, and genetic lesions and epigenetic modifications of NLRC5 are the most common cause of MHC-I defects in cancers, have raised the hopes for restoring MHC-I expression. Here, we provide an overview of cancer immunity mediated by CD8+ T cells and the functions of NLRC5 in MHC-I antigen presentation pathways. We describe the impressive advances made in understanding the regulation of NLRC5 expression, the data supporting the antitumor functions of NLRC5 and a few reports that argue for a pro-tumorigenic role. Finally, we explore the possible avenues of exploiting NLRC5 for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhil Shukla
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Maryse Cloutier
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Madanraj Appiya Santharam
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Sheela Ramanathan
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
- CRCHUS, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H5N4, Canada
| | - Subburaj Ilangumaran
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada; (A.S.); (M.C.); (M.A.S.); (S.R.)
- CRCHUS, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H5N4, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-819-346-1110 (ext. 14834)
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18
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Sabbatino F, Liguori L, Polcaro G, Salvato I, Caramori G, Salzano FA, Casolaro V, Stellato C, Dal Col J, Pepe S. Role of Human Leukocyte Antigen System as A Predictive Biomarker for Checkpoint-Based Immunotherapy in Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197295. [PMID: 33023239 PMCID: PMC7582904 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have clearly shown that checkpoint-based immunotherapy is effective in a small subgroup of cancer patients. However, no effective predictive biomarker has been identified so far. The major histocompatibility complex, better known in humans as human leukocyte antigen (HLA), is a very polymorphic gene complex consisting of more than 200 genes. It has a crucial role in activating an appropriate host immune response against pathogens and tumor cells by discriminating self and non-self peptides. Several lines of evidence have shown that down-regulation of expression of HLA class I antigen derived peptide complexes by cancer cells is a mechanism of tumor immune escape and is often associated to poor prognosis in cancer patients. In addition, it has also been shown that HLA class I and II antigen expression, as well as defects in the antigen processing machinery complex, may predict tumor responses in cancer immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the role of HLA in predicting tumor responses to checkpoint-based immunotherapy is still debated. In this review, firstly, we will describe the structure and function of the HLA system. Secondly, we will summarize the HLA defects and their clinical significance in cancer patients. Thirdly, we will review the potential role of the HLA as a predictive biomarker for checkpoint-based immunotherapy in cancer patients. Lastly, we will discuss the potential strategies that may restore HLA function to implement novel therapeutic strategies in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Sabbatino
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ’Scuola Medica Salernitana’, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.); (I.S.); (F.A.S.); (V.C.); (C.S.); (S.P.)
- Oncology Unit, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Luigi Liguori
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Polcaro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ’Scuola Medica Salernitana’, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.); (I.S.); (F.A.S.); (V.C.); (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Ilaria Salvato
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ’Scuola Medica Salernitana’, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.); (I.S.); (F.A.S.); (V.C.); (C.S.); (S.P.)
- Pulmonary Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dentistry, Morphological and Functional Imaging (BIOMORF), University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Gaetano Caramori
- Pulmonary Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dentistry, Morphological and Functional Imaging (BIOMORF), University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Francesco A. Salzano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ’Scuola Medica Salernitana’, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.); (I.S.); (F.A.S.); (V.C.); (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Vincenzo Casolaro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ’Scuola Medica Salernitana’, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.); (I.S.); (F.A.S.); (V.C.); (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Cristiana Stellato
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ’Scuola Medica Salernitana’, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.); (I.S.); (F.A.S.); (V.C.); (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Jessica Dal Col
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ’Scuola Medica Salernitana’, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.); (I.S.); (F.A.S.); (V.C.); (C.S.); (S.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-08996-5210
| | - Stefano Pepe
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry ’Scuola Medica Salernitana’, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.); (I.S.); (F.A.S.); (V.C.); (C.S.); (S.P.)
- Oncology Unit, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona, 84131 Salerno, Italy
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19
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Cho SX, Vijayan S, Yoo JS, Watanabe T, Ouda R, An N, Kobayashi KS. MHC class I transactivator NLRC5 in host immunity, cancer and beyond. Immunology 2020; 162:252-261. [PMID: 32633419 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The presentation of antigenic peptides by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules is crucial for activation of the adaptive immune system. The nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat receptor family members CIITA and NLRC5 function as the major transcriptional activators of MHC class II and class I gene expression, respectively. Since the identification of NLRC5 as the master regulator of MHC class I and class-I-related genes, there have been major advances in understanding the function of NLRC5 in infectious diseases and cancer. Here, we discuss the biological significance and mechanism of NLRC5-dependent MHC class I expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven X Cho
- Department of Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Saptha Vijayan
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Ji-Seung Yoo
- Department of Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Watanabe
- Department of Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ryota Ouda
- Department of Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ning An
- Department of Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Koichi S Kobayashi
- Department of Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.,Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, USA
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20
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Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy with engineered T cells is at the forefront of cancer treatment. T cells can be engineered to express T-cell receptors (TCRs) specific for tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) derived from intracellular or cell surface proteins. T cells engineered with TCRs (TCR-T) allow for targeting diverse types of TAAs, including proteins overexpressed in malignant cells, those with lineage-restricted expression, cancer-testis antigens, and neoantigens created from abnormal, malignancy-restricted proteins. Minor histocompatibility antigens can also serve as TAAs for TCR-T to treat relapsed hematologic malignancies after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Moreover, TCR constructs can be modified to improve safety and enhance function and persistence of TCR-T. Transgenic T-cell receptor therapies targeting 3 different TAAs are in early-phase clinical trials for treatment of hematologic malignancies. Preclinical studies of TCR-T specific for many other TAAs are underway and offer great promise as safe and effective therapies for a wide range of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda A Biernacki
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Michelle Brault
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Marie Bleakley
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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21
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MHC Class I Downregulation in Cancer: Underlying Mechanisms and Potential Targets for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071760. [PMID: 32630675 PMCID: PMC7409324 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, major advances have been made in cancer immunotherapy. This has led to significant improvement in prognosis of cancer patients, especially in the hematological setting. Nonetheless, translation of these successes to solid tumors was found difficult. One major mechanism through which solid tumors can avoid anti-tumor immunity is the downregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), which causes reduced recognition by- and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T-cells. Downregulation of MHC-I has been described in 40-90% of human tumors, often correlating with worse prognosis. Epigenetic and (post-)transcriptional dysregulations relevant in the stabilization of NFkB, IRFs, and NLRC5 are often responsible for MHC-I downregulation in cancer. The intrinsic reversible nature of these dysregulations provides an opportunity to restore MHC-I expression and facilitate adaptive anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying reversible MHC-I downregulation and describe potential strategies to counteract this reduction in MHC-I antigen presentation in cancer.
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22
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Biernacki MA, Bleakley M. Neoantigens in Hematologic Malignancies. Front Immunol 2020; 11:121. [PMID: 32117272 PMCID: PMC7033457 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell cancer neoantigens are created from peptides derived from cancer-specific aberrant proteins, such as mutated and fusion proteins, presented in complex with human leukocyte antigens on the cancer cell surface. Because expression of the aberrant target protein is exclusive to malignant cells, immunotherapy directed against neoantigens should avoid “on-target, off-tumor” toxicity. The efficacy of neoantigen vaccines in melanoma and glioblastoma and of adoptive transfer of neoantigen-specific T cells in epithelial tumors indicates that neoantigens are valid therapeutic targets. Improvements in sequencing technology and innovations in antigen discovery approaches have facilitated the identification of neoantigens. In comparison to many solid tumors, hematologic malignancies have few mutations and thus fewer potential neoantigens. Despite this, neoantigens have been identified in a wide variety of hematologic malignancies. These include mutated nucleophosmin1 and PML-RARA in acute myeloid leukemia, ETV6-RUNX1 fusions and other mutated proteins in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, BCR-ABL1 fusions in chronic myeloid leukemia, driver mutations in myeloproliferative neoplasms, immunoglobulins in lymphomas, and proteins derived from patient-specific mutations in chronic lymphoid leukemias. We will review advances in the field of neoantigen discovery, describe the spectrum of identified neoantigens in hematologic malignancies, and discuss the potential of these neoantigens for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda A Biernacki
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Marie Bleakley
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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23
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Promotion on NLRC5 upregulating MHC-I expression by IFN-γ in MHC-I–deficient breast cancer cells. Immunol Res 2020; 67:497-504. [DOI: 10.1007/s12026-019-09111-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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24
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Garrido F, Aptsiauri N. Cancer immune escape: MHC expression in primary tumours versus metastases. Immunology 2019; 158:255-266. [PMID: 31509607 PMCID: PMC6856929 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumours can escape T-cell responses by losing major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/ human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules. In the early stages of cancer development, primary tumours are composed of homogeneous HLA class I-positive cancer cells. Subsequently, infiltration of the tumour by T cells generates a vast diversity of tumour clones with different MHC class I expressions. A Darwinian type of T-cell-mediated immune selection results in a tumour composed solely of MHC class I-negative cells. Metastatic colonization is a highly complex phenomenon in which T lymphocytes and natural killer cells play a major role. We have obtained evidence that the MHC class I phenotype of metastatic colonies can be highly diverse and is not necessarily the same as that of the primary tumour. The molecular mechanisms responsible for MHC/HLA class I alterations are an important determinant of the clinical response to cancer immunotherapy. Hence, immunotherapy can successfully up-regulate MHC/HLA class I expression if the alteration is reversible ('soft'), leading to T-cell-mediated tumour regression. In contrast, it cannot recover this expression if the alteration is irreversible ('hard'), when tumour cells escape T-cell-mediated destruction with subsequent cancer progression. This review summarizes clinical and experimental data on the complexity of immune escape mechanisms used by tumour cells to avoid T and natural killer cell responses. We also provide in-depth analysis of the nature of MHC/HLA class I changes during metastatic colonization and contribute evidence of the enormous diversity of MHC/HLA class I phenotypes that can be produced by tumour cells during this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Analisis Clínicos e InmunologíaUGC Laboratorio ClínicoHospital Universitario Virgen de las NievesGranadaSpain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs (A‐08)GranadaSpain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología IIIFacultad de MedicinaUniversidad de GranadaGranadaSpain
| | - Natalia Aptsiauri
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs (A‐08)GranadaSpain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología IIIFacultad de MedicinaUniversidad de GranadaGranadaSpain
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25
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Abstract
Checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapies that target cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) or the programmed cell death 1 (PD1) pathway have achieved impressive success in the treatment of different cancer types. Yet, only a subset of patients derive clinical benefit. It is thus critical to understand the determinants driving response, resistance and adverse effects. In this Review, we discuss recent work demonstrating that immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy is affected by a combination of factors involving tumour genomics, host germline genetics, PD1 ligand 1 (PDL1) levels and other features of the tumour microenvironment, as well as the gut microbiome. We focus on recently identified molecular and cellular determinants of response. A better understanding of how these variables cooperate to affect tumour-host interactions is needed to optimize the implementation of precision immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Havel
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Immunogenomics and Precision Oncology Platform, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Diego Chowell
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Immunogenomics and Precision Oncology Platform, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy A Chan
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Immunogenomics and Precision Oncology Platform, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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26
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Abstract
In this chapter I describe Tumour Immune Escape mechanisms associated with MHC/HLA class I loss in human and experimental tumours. Different altered HLA class-I phenotypes can be observed that are produced by different molecular mechanisms. Experimental and histological evidences are summarized indicating that at the early stages of tumour development there is an enormous variety of tumour clones with different MHC class I expression patterns. This phase is followed by a strong T cell mediated immune-selection of MHC/HLA class-I negative tumour cells in the primary tumour lesion. This transition period results in a formation of a tumour composed only of HLA-class I negative cells. An updated description of this process observed in a large variety of human tumors is included. In the second section I focus on MHC/HLA class I alterations observed in mouse and human metastases, and describe the generation of different tumor cell clones with altered MHC class I phenotypes, which could be similar or different from the original tumor clone. The biological and immunological relevance of these observations is discussed. Finally, the interesting phenomenon of metastatic dormancy is analyzed in association with a particular MHC class I negative tumor phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Garrido
- Departamento de Analisis Clinicos e Inmunologia, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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27
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Garrido F. HLA Class-I Expression and Cancer Immunotherapy. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1151:79-90. [PMID: 31140107 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-17864-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The impact of HLA class I loss in cancer immunotherapy is carefully analyzed. Why some metastatic lesions regress and other progress after immunotherapy? Are T lymphocytes responsible for tumour rejection and how these responses can be boosted? These questions are discussed in the context of the molecular mechanisms responsible for MHC/HLA class I alterations. If the metastatic tumour cells harbor "irreversible/hard" HLA lesions, they will escape and kill the host. In contrast, if the molecular lesion is "reversible/soft", tumor cells can potentially recover HLA-class I expression and can finally be destroyed. These important new concepts are integrated together and gain a great importance in the new era of "immune checkpoint antibodies". Finally, the ability to recover HLA-I expression in tumours harboring "structural-irreversible-hard" genetic lesions is seen as a challenge for the future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Garrido
- Departamento de Analisis Clinicos e Inmunologia, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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28
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Ozcan M, Janikovits J, von Knebel Doeberitz M, Kloor M. Complex pattern of immune evasion in MSI colorectal cancer. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1445453. [PMID: 29900056 PMCID: PMC5993484 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1445453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient cancers accumulate multiple insertion/deletion mutations at coding microsatellites (cMS), which give rise to frameshift peptide neoantigens. The high mutational neoantigen load of MMR-deficient cancers is reflected by pronounced anti-tumoral immune responses of the host and high responsiveness towards immune checkpoint blockade. However, immune evasion mechanisms can interfere with the immune response against MMR-deficient tumors. We here performed a comprehensive analysis of immune evasion in MMR-deficient colorectal cancers, focusing on HLA class I-mediated antigen presentation. 72% of MMR-deficient colorectal cancers of the DFCI database harbored alterations affecting genes involved in HLA class I-mediated antigen presentation, and 54% of these mutations were predicted to abrogate function. Mutations affecting the HLA class I transactivator NLRC5 were observed as a potential new immune evasion mechanism in 26% (6% abrogating) of the analyzed tumors. NLRC5 mutations in MMR-deficient cancers were associated with decreased levels of HLA class I antigen expression. In summary, the majority of MMR-deficient cancers display mutations interfering with HLA class I antigen presentation that reflect active immune surveillance and immunoselection during tumor development. Clinical studies focusing on immune checkpoint blockade in MSI cancer should account for the broad variety of immune evasion mechanisms as potential biomarkers of therapy success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mine Ozcan
- Department of Applied Tumour Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Janikovits
- Department of Applied Tumour Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz
- Department of Applied Tumour Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Kloor
- Department of Applied Tumour Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
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29
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Perea F, Sánchez-Palencia A, Gómez-Morales M, Bernal M, Concha Á, García MM, González-Ramírez AR, Kerick M, Martin J, Garrido F, Ruiz-Cabello F, Aptsiauri N. HLA class I loss and PD-L1 expression in lung cancer: impact on T-cell infiltration and immune escape. Oncotarget 2018; 9:4120-4133. [PMID: 29423109 PMCID: PMC5790526 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors show encouraging results in cancer treatment, but the clinical benefit is limited exclusively to a subset of patients. We analyzed the density and composition of tumor T-cell infiltration in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in relation to PD-L1 and HLA class I (HLA-I) expression. We found that positive HLA-I expression, independently on PD-L1 status, is the key factor determining the increased density of the immune infiltrate. When both markers were analyzed simultaneously, we identified four phenotypes of HLA-I and PD-L1 co-expression. They demonstrated different patterns of tumor infiltration and clinicopathologic characteristics, including the tumor size and lymphatic spread. All HLA-I+/PD-L1+ tumors had a high degree of intratumoral infiltration with CD8+T-lymphocytes, whereas HLA-I loss was associated with a significantly reduced number of tumor infiltrating T-lymphocytes mostly restrained in the stroma surrounding the tumor nest. HLA-I-negative/PD-L1-positive tumors had bigger size (T) and lower grade of infiltration with CD8+T-cells. It represents a cancer immune escape phenotype that combines two independent mechanisms of immune evasion: loss of HLA-I and upregulation of PD-L1. Using GCH-array analysis of human lung cancer cell lines we found that the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) with complete or partial deletion of HLA-I genes is the principal mechanism of HLA-I alterations. This irreversible defect, which could potentially decrease the clinical efficacy of lung cancer immunotherapy, appears to be underestimated. In conclusion, our results suggest that the analysis of HLA-I is very important for the selection of potential responders to cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Perea
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Abel Sánchez-Palencia
- Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Mónica Bernal
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Ángel Concha
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica y Biobanco, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, La Coruña, Spain
| | - Míguela Méndez García
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Amanda Rocío González-Ramírez
- Fundación de Investigación Biosanitaria Alejandro Otero, FIBAO, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Martin Kerick
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - Javier Martin
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Natalia Aptsiauri
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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30
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Ascierto PA, Agarwala SS, Ciliberto G, Demaria S, Dummer R, Duong CPM, Ferrone S, Formenti SC, Garbe C, Halaban R, Khleif S, Luke JJ, Mir LM, Overwijk WW, Postow M, Puzanov I, Sondel P, Taube JM, Thor Straten P, Stroncek DF, Wargo JA, Zarour H, Thurin M. Future perspectives in melanoma research "Melanoma Bridge", Napoli, November 30th-3rd December 2016. J Transl Med 2017; 15:236. [PMID: 29145885 PMCID: PMC5691855 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-017-1341-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Major advances have been made in the treatment of cancer with targeted therapy and immunotherapy; several FDA-approved agents with associated improvement of 1-year survival rates became available for stage IV melanoma patients. Before 2010, the 1-year survival were quite low, at 30%; in 2011, the rise to nearly 50% in the setting of treatment with Ipilimumab, and rise to 70% with BRAF inhibitor monotherapy in 2013 was observed. Even more impressive are 1-year survival rates considering combination strategies with both targeted therapy and immunotherapy, now exceeding 80%. Can we improve response rates even further, and bring these therapies to more patients? In fact, despite these advances, responses are heterogeneous and are not always durable. There is a critical need to better understand who will benefit from therapy, as well as proper timing, sequence and combination of different therapeutic agents. How can we better understand responses to therapy and optimize treatment regimens? The key to better understanding therapy and to optimizing responses is with insights gained from responses to targeted therapy and immunotherapy through translational research in human samples. Combination therapies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, electrochemotherapy with immunotherapy agents such as Immune Checkpoint Blockers are under investigation but there is much room for improvement. Adoptive T cell therapy including tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and chimeric antigen receptor modified T cells therapy is also efficacious in metastatic melanoma and outcome enhancement seem likely by improved homing capacity of chemokine receptor transduced T cells. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes therapy is also efficacious in metastatic melanoma and outcome enhancement seem likely by improved homing capacity of chemokine receptor transduced T cells. Understanding the mechanisms behind the development of acquired resistance and tests for biomarkers for treatment decisions are also under study and will offer new opportunities for more efficient combination therapies. Knowledge of immunologic features of the tumor microenvironment associated with response and resistance will improve the identification of patients who will derive the most benefit from monotherapy and might reveal additional immunologic determinants that could be targeted in combination with checkpoint blockade. The future of advanced melanoma needs to involve education and trials, biobanks with a focus on primary tumors, bioinformatics and empowerment of patients and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo A. Ascierto
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli Fondazione “G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Sanjiv S. Agarwala
- Oncology & Hematology, St. Luke’s University Hospital and Temple University, Bethlehem, PA USA
| | | | - Sandra Demaria
- Radiation Oncology and Pathology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, NY USA
| | - Reinhard Dummer
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Connie P. M. Duong
- INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Silvia C. Formenti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, NY USA
| | - Claus Garbe
- Division of Dermatologic Oncology, Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ruth Halaban
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Samir Khleif
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA USA
| | - Jason J. Luke
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Lluis M. Mir
- CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research, France), University Paris-Saclay, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Willem W. Overwijk
- Division of Cancer Medicine, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology-Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Michael Postow
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY USA
| | - Igor Puzanov
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY USA
| | - Paul Sondel
- Pediatrics, Human Oncology and Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA
- UW Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI USA
| | - Janis M. Taube
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Per Thor Straten
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT), Department of Hematology, University Hospital Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | - Jennifer A. Wargo
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Hassane Zarour
- Medicine, Immunology and Dermatology Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Magdalena Thurin
- Cancer Diagnosis Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, NIH, Rockville, MD USA
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31
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Impaired HLA Class I Antigen Processing and Presentation as a Mechanism of Acquired Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung Cancer. Cancer Discov 2017. [PMID: 29025772 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-17-0593.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mechanisms of acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are poorly understood. We leveraged a collection of 14 ICI-resistant lung cancer samples to investigate whether alterations in genes encoding HLA Class I antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM) components or interferon signaling play a role in acquired resistance to PD-1 or PD-L1 antagonistic antibodies. Recurrent mutations or copy-number changes were not detected in our cohort. In one case, we found acquired homozygous loss of B2M that caused lack of cell-surface HLA Class I expression in the tumor and a matched patient-derived xenograft (PDX). Downregulation of B2M was also found in two additional PDXs established from ICI-resistant tumors. CRISPR-mediated knockout of B2m in an immunocompetent lung cancer mouse model conferred resistance to PD-1 blockade in vivo, proving its role in resistance to ICIs. These results indicate that HLA Class I APM disruption can mediate escape from ICIs in lung cancer.Significance: As programmed death 1 axis inhibitors are becoming more established in standard treatment algorithms for diverse malignancies, acquired resistance to these therapies is increasingly being encountered. Here, we found that defective antigen processing and presentation can serve as a mechanism of such resistance in lung cancer. Cancer Discov; 7(12); 1420-35. ©2017 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1355.
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32
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Gettinger S, Choi J, Hastings K, Truini A, Datar I, Sowell R, Wurtz A, Dong W, Cai G, Melnick MA, Du VY, Schlessinger J, Goldberg SB, Chiang A, Sanmamed MF, Melero I, Agorreta J, Montuenga LM, Lifton R, Ferrone S, Kavathas P, Rimm DL, Kaech SM, Schalper K, Herbst RS, Politi K. Impaired HLA Class I Antigen Processing and Presentation as a Mechanism of Acquired Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung Cancer. Cancer Discov 2017; 7:1420-1435. [PMID: 29025772 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-17-0593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 465] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mechanisms of acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are poorly understood. We leveraged a collection of 14 ICI-resistant lung cancer samples to investigate whether alterations in genes encoding HLA Class I antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM) components or interferon signaling play a role in acquired resistance to PD-1 or PD-L1 antagonistic antibodies. Recurrent mutations or copy-number changes were not detected in our cohort. In one case, we found acquired homozygous loss of B2M that caused lack of cell-surface HLA Class I expression in the tumor and a matched patient-derived xenograft (PDX). Downregulation of B2M was also found in two additional PDXs established from ICI-resistant tumors. CRISPR-mediated knockout of B2m in an immunocompetent lung cancer mouse model conferred resistance to PD-1 blockade in vivo, proving its role in resistance to ICIs. These results indicate that HLA Class I APM disruption can mediate escape from ICIs in lung cancer.Significance: As programmed death 1 axis inhibitors are becoming more established in standard treatment algorithms for diverse malignancies, acquired resistance to these therapies is increasingly being encountered. Here, we found that defective antigen processing and presentation can serve as a mechanism of such resistance in lung cancer. Cancer Discov; 7(12); 1420-35. ©2017 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1355.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Gettinger
- Department of Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. .,Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Jungmin Choi
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Katherine Hastings
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Anna Truini
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ila Datar
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ryan Sowell
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Anna Wurtz
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Weilai Dong
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Guoping Cai
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Mary Ann Melnick
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Victor Y Du
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Joseph Schlessinger
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Sarah B Goldberg
- Department of Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Anne Chiang
- Department of Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Miguel F Sanmamed
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ignacio Melero
- CIMA and Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red de Oncología CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jackeline Agorreta
- CIMA and Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red de Oncología CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis M Montuenga
- CIMA and Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red de Oncología CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Richard Lifton
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Paula Kavathas
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - David L Rimm
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Susan M Kaech
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kurt Schalper
- Department of Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Roy S Herbst
- Department of Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Katerina Politi
- Department of Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. .,Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Di Nicola M, Apetoh L, Bellone M, Colombo MP, Dotti G, Ferrone S, Muscolini M, Hiscott J, Anichini A, Pupa SM, Braud FD, Del Vecchio M. Innovative Therapy, Monoclonal Antibodies and Beyond. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2017; 38:1-9. [PMID: 29029813 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The seventh Edition of "Innovative Therapy, Monoclonal Antibodies and Beyond" Meeting took place in Milan, Italy, on January 27, 2017. The two sessions of the meeting were focused on: 1) Preclinical assays and novel biotargets; and 2) monoclonal antibodies, cell therapies and targeted molecules. Between these two sessions, a lecture entitled "HLA-antigens modulation and response to immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy" was also presented. Despite the impressive successes in cancer immunotherapy in recent years, the response to immune based interventions occurs only in a minority of patients (∼20%). Several basic and translational mechanisms of resistance to immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) were discussed during the meeting: 1. the impact of tumor microenvironment on the activity of immune system; 2. strategies to inhibit the cross-talk between extracellular matrix and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in the preclinical setting; 3. microRNA expression as a biomarker and as a target of therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); 4. the significance of complement activation pathways in response to immune checkpoint inhibitors; 5. the immunosuppressive activity of the microbiota by inducing IL-17 producing cells; and 6. modulation of HLA antigens as possible markers of response to ICB therapy. In order to overcome the deficiency in active anti-tumor T cells, several clinically applicable combination strategies were also discussed: 1. strategies to enhance the anticancer effects of immunogenic cell death inducing-chemotherapy; 2. the use of CAR T-cells in solid tumors; 3. the use of combination strategies involving oncolytic viruses and ICBs; 4. combinations of new ICBs with anti-PD-1/CTLA-4 therapy; and 4. combinations of targeted therapies and ICBs in melanoma. Overall, this conference emphasized the many novel strategies that are being investigated to improve the overall patient response to cancer immunotherapy. Optimization of biomarkers to accurately select patients who will respond to immunotherapy, coupled with combination strategies to improve long term patient survival remain critical challenges in the immuno-oncology field.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Di Nicola
- Unit of Immunotherapy and Anticancer Innovative Therapeutics, Milan, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, Dept of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
| | - L Apetoh
- INSERM, U1231, Dijon, France; 4Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bourgogne Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - M Bellone
- Cellular Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCSS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - M P Colombo
- Centre Georges François Leclerc, Dijon, France
| | - G Dotti
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - S Ferrone
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - M Muscolini
- Laboratorio Pasteur, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - J Hiscott
- Laboratorio Pasteur, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - A Anichini
- Human Tumor Immunobiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - S M Pupa
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - F de Braud
- Medical Oncology Unit, Dept of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M Del Vecchio
- Medical Oncology Unit, Dept of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy; Unit of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
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34
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Czernek L, Düchler M. Functions of Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Immunosuppression. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2017; 65:311-323. [PMID: 28101591 PMCID: PMC5511306 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-016-0453-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, constitute an important element of intercellular communication by carrying a variety of molecules from producer to target cells. The transport of mRNA and miRNA can directly modulate gene expression in the target cells. The miRNA content in exosomes is characteristic for the cell from which the vesicles were derived enabling the usage of exosomes as biomarkers for the diagnosis various diseases, including cancer. Cancer-derived exosomes support the survival and progression of tumors in many ways and also contribute to the neutralization of the anti-cancer immune response. Exosomes participate in all known mechanisms by which cancer evades the immune system. They influence the differentiation and activation of immune suppressor cells, they modulate antigen presentation, and are able to induce T-cell apoptosis. Although cancer-derived exosomes mainly suppress the immune system and facilitate tumor progression, they are also important sources of tumor antigens with potential clinical application in stimulating immune responses. This review summarizes how exosomes assist cancer to escape immune recognition and to acquire control over the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Czernek
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363, Lodz, Poland
| | - Markus Düchler
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363, Lodz, Poland.
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35
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NLRC5/CITA: A Key Player in Cancer Immune Surveillance. Trends Cancer 2017; 3:28-38. [PMID: 28718425 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2016.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells need to escape immune surveillance for successful tumor growth. Loss of MHC class I has been described as a major immune evasion strategy in many cancers. MHC class I transactivator (CITA), NLRC5 [nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeats containing (NLR) family, caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD) domain containing 5], is a key transcription coactivator of MHC class I genes. Recent genetic studies have revealed that NLRC5 is a major target for cancer immune evasion mechanisms. The reduced expression or activity of NLRC5 caused by promoter methylation, copy number loss, or somatic mutations is associated with defective MHC class I expression, impaired cytotoxic T cell activation, and poor patient prognosis. Here, we review the role of NLRC5 in cancer immune evasion and the future prospects for cancer research.
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The Pathophysiological Impact of HLA Class Ia and HLA-G Expression and Regulatory T Cells in Malignant Melanoma: A Review. J Immunol Res 2016; 2016:6829283. [PMID: 27999823 PMCID: PMC5141560 DOI: 10.1155/2016/6829283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Revised: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma, a very common type of cancer, is a rapidly growing cancer of the skin with an increase in incidence among the Caucasian population. The disease is seen through all age groups and is very common in the younger age groups. Several studies have examined the risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms of malignant melanoma, which have enlightened our understanding of the development of the disease, but we have still to fully understand the complex immunological interactions. The examination of the interaction between the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) system and prognostic outcome has shown interesting results, and a correlation between the down- or upregulation of these antigens and prognosis has been seen through many different types of cancer. In malignant melanoma, HLA class Ia has been seen to influence the effects of pharmaceutical drug treatment as well as the overall prognosis, and the HLA class Ib and regulatory T cells have been correlated with tumor progression. Although there is still no standardized immunological treatment worldwide, the interaction between the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) system and tumor progression seems to be a promising focus in the way of optimizing the treatment of malignant melanoma.
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Dalgleish AG. Vaccines versus immunotherapy: overview of approaches in deciding between options. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 10:3369-74. [PMID: 25625932 DOI: 10.4161/21645515.2014.980707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This review compares the optimal use of vaccines vs. other forms of immunotherapy, which includes cytokines, such as IL-2, monoclonal antibodies, such as the 'checkpoint inhibitors', against CTLA-4 and PD-1. The review includes both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines using a variety of technologies. It is already established that vaccines can be enhanced by other immunotherapies, such as cytokines (IL-2) and there is scope for combining both of these with the 'checkpoint' antibodies. Moreover, both can be enhanced with other modalities, such as radiotherapy, ablative therapy and both high and low dose chemotherapies.
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Key Words
- BCG, Bacillus Colmette Guerin
- CpG, cytosine-phosphate-guanosine
- GM-CSF, Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor
- HBV, Human hepatitis virus
- HPV, Human papilloma virus
- IL-2, Interleukin-2
- PFS, progression free survival
- PSA, Prostate-specific antigen
- TGFβ, Tumour growth factor beta
- TLR, Toll-like receptor
- antibodies
- checkpoint inhibitors
- cytokines
- immune modulators
- immunotherapy
- therapeutic vaccines
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Affiliation(s)
- Angus G Dalgleish
- a Institute of Infection and Immunity ; St George's University of London ; Tooting , London, UK
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38
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Mechanisms of tumor-induced T cell immune suppression and therapeutics to counter those effects. Arch Pharm Res 2015; 38:1415-33. [PMID: 25634101 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-015-0566-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The theory of tumor immune surveillance states that the host immune system has means to recognize transformed cells and kills them to prevent growth and spreading of those cells. Nevertheless, cancer cells often survive and outgrow to form a tumor mass and metastasize to other tissues or organs. During the stage of immune evasion of tumor, various changes takes place both in the tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment to divert the anti-tumor immune responses by T cells and natural killer cells. Advances in the basic science in tumor immunology have led to development of many creative strategies to overcome the immune suppression imposed during tumor progression, a few of which have been approved for the treatment of cancer patients in the clinic. In the first part of this review, mechanisms of tumor-induced T cell immune suppression resulting in immune evasion of tumors will be discussed. In the second part, emerging methods to harness the immune responses against tumors will be introduced.
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Sucker A, Zhao F, Real B, Heeke C, Bielefeld N, Maβen S, Horn S, Moll I, Maltaner R, Horn PA, Schilling B, Sabbatino F, Lennerz V, Kloor M, Ferrone S, Schadendorf D, Falk CS, Griewank K, Paschen A. Genetic evolution of T-cell resistance in the course of melanoma progression. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 20:6593-604. [PMID: 25294904 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-0567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE CD8(+) T lymphocytes can kill autologous melanoma cells, but their activity is impaired when poorly immunogenic tumor phenotypes evolve in the course of disease progression. Here, we analyzed three consecutive melanoma lesions obtained within one year of developing stage IV disease for their recognition by autologous T cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN One skin (Ma-Mel-48a) and two lymph node (Ma-Mel-48b, Ma-Mel-48c) metastases were analyzed for T-cell infiltration. Melanoma cell lines established from the respective lesions were characterized, determining the T-cell-stimulatory capacity, expression of surface molecules involved in T-cell activation, and specific genetic alterations affecting the tumor-T-cell interaction. RESULTS Metastases Ma-Mel-48a and Ma-Mel-48b, in contrast with Ma-Mel-48c, were infiltrated by T cells. The T-cell-stimulatory capacity was found to be strong for Ma-Mel-48a, lower for Ma-Mel-48b, and completely abrogated for Ma-Mel-48c cells. The latter proved to be HLA class I-negative due to an inactivating mutation in one allele of the beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) gene and concomitant loss of the other allele by a deletion on chromosome 15q. The same deletion was already present in Ma-Mel-48a and Ma-Mel-48b cells, pointing to an early acquired genetic event predisposing to development of β2m deficiency. Notably, the same chronology of genetic alterations was also observed in a second β2m-deficient melanoma model. CONCLUSION Our study reveals a progressive loss in melanoma immunogenicity during the course of metastatic disease. The genetic evolvement of T-cell resistance suggests screening tumors for genetic alterations affecting immunogenicity could be clinically relevant in terms of predicting patient responses to T-cell-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Sucker
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Fang Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Birgit Real
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Christina Heeke
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Nicola Bielefeld
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Stefan Maβen
- Institute of Transplant Immunology, IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Susanne Horn
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Iris Moll
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Raffaela Maltaner
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Peter A Horn
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany. Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bastian Schilling
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Francesco Sabbatino
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Volker Lennerz
- Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Kloor
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Christine S Falk
- Institute of Transplant Immunology, IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Klaus Griewank
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany
| | - Annette Paschen
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany.
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40
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Garrido F, Romero I, Aptsiauri N, Garcia-Lora AM. Generation of MHC class I diversity in primary tumors and selection of the malignant phenotype. Int J Cancer 2014; 138:271-80. [PMID: 25471439 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Intratumor heterogeneity among cancer cells is promoted by reversible or irreversible genetic alterations and by different microenvironmental factors. There is considerable experimental evidence of the presence of a variety of malignant cell clones with a wide diversity of major histocompatibility class I (MHC-I) expression during early stages of tumor development. This variety of MHC-I phenotypes may define the evolution of a particular tumor. Loss of MHC-I molecules frequently results in immune escape of MHC-negative or -deficient tumor cells from the host T cell-mediated immune response. We review here the results obtained by our group and other researchers in animal models and humans, showing how MHC-I intratumor heterogeneity may affect local oncogenicity and metastatic progression. In particular, we summarize the data obtained in an experimental mouse cancer model of a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (GR9), in which isolated clones with different MHC-I expression patterns demonstrated distinct local tumor growth rates and metastatic capacities. The observed "explosion of diversity" of MHC-I phenotypes in primary tumor clones and the molecular mechanism ("hard"/irreversible or "soft"/reversible) responsible for a given MHC-I alteration might determine not only the metastatic capacity of the cells but also their response to immunotherapy. We also illustrate the generation of further MHC heterogeneity during metastatic colonization and discuss different strategies to favor tumor rejection by counteracting MHC-I loss. Finally, we highlight the role of MHC-I genes in tumor dormancy and cell cycle control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico; Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Irene Romero
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico; Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Natalia Aptsiauri
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico; Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Angel M Garcia-Lora
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico; Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain
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41
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del Campo AB, Kyte JA, Carretero J, Zinchencko S, Méndez R, González-Aseguinolaza G, Ruiz-Cabello F, Aamdal S, Gaudernack G, Garrido F, Aptsiauri N. Immune escape of cancer cells with beta2-microglobulin loss over the course of metastatic melanoma. Int J Cancer 2013; 134:102-13. [PMID: 23784959 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells escape T-cell-mediated destruction by losing human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression via various mechanisms, including loss of beta2-microglobulin (β2m). Our study illustrates the immune escape of HLA class I-negative tumor cells and chronological sequence of appearance of tumor β2m gene mutation in successive lesions obtained from a patient with metastatic melanoma. We observed a gradual decrease in HLA expression in consecutive lesions with few HLA-negative nodules in the primary tumor and the emergence of a totally negative lesion at later stages of the disease. We detected loss of β2m in β2m-negative nests of the primary tumor caused by a combination of two alterations: (i) a mutation (G to T substitution) in codon 67 in exon 2 of β2m gene, producing a stop codon and (ii) loss of the second gene copy by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in chromosome 15. The same β2m mutation was found in a homogeneously β2m-negative metastasis 10 months later and in a cell line established from a biopsy of a postvaccination lymph node. Microsatellite analysis revealed the presence of LOH in chromosomes 6 and 15 in tumor samples, showing an accumulation of chromosomal loss at specific short tandem repeats in successive metastases during disease progression. HLA loss correlated with decreased tumor CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Early incidence of β2m defects can cause an immune selection and expansion of highly aggressive melanoma clones with irreversible genetic defects causing total loss of HLA class I expression and should be taken into consideration as a therapeutic target in the development of cancer immunotherapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B del Campo
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Immunology, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain; Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology III and Immunology, University of Granada Medical School, Granada, Spain
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Leone P, Shin EC, Perosa F, Vacca A, Dammacco F, Racanelli V. MHC class I antigen processing and presenting machinery: organization, function, and defects in tumor cells. J Natl Cancer Inst 2013; 105:1172-87. [PMID: 23852952 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djt184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 357] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The surface presentation of peptides by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules is critical to all CD8(+) T-cell adaptive immune responses, including those against tumors. The generation of peptides and their loading on MHC class I molecules is a multistep process involving multiple molecular species that constitute the so-called antigen processing and presenting machinery (APM). The majority of class I peptides begin as proteasome degradation products of cytosolic proteins. Once transported into the endoplasmic reticulum by TAP (transporter associated with antigen processing), peptides are not bound randomly by class I molecules but are chosen by length and sequence, with peptidases editing the raw peptide pool. Aberrations in APM genes and proteins have frequently been observed in human tumors and found to correlate with relevant clinical variables, including tumor grade, tumor stage, disease recurrence, and survival. These findings support the idea that APM defects are immune escape mechanisms that disrupt the tumor cells' ability to be recognized and killed by tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells. Detailed knowledge of APM is crucial for the optimization of T cell-based immunotherapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Leone
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
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43
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Bernal M, Ruiz-Cabello F, Concha A, Paschen A, Garrido F. Implication of the β2-microglobulin gene in the generation of tumor escape phenotypes. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2012; 61:1359-71. [PMID: 22833104 PMCID: PMC11029609 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-012-1321-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Accepted: 07/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Classical MHC molecules present processed peptides from endogenous protein antigens on the cell surface, which allows CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to recognize and respond to the abnormal antigen repertoire of hazardous cells, including tumor cells. The light chain, β2-microglobulin (β2m), is an essential constant component of all trimeric MHC class I molecules. There is convincing evidence that β2m deficiency generates immune escape phenotypes in different tumor entities, with an exceptionally high frequency in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and melanoma. Damage of a single β2m gene by LOH on chromosome 15 may be sufficient to generate a tumor cell precommitted to escape. In addition, this genetic lesion is followed in some tumors by a mutation of the second gene (point mutation or insertion/deletion), which produces a tumor cell unable to express any HLA class I molecule. The pattern of mutations found in microsatellite unstable colorectal carcinoma (MSI-H CRC) and melanoma showed a striking similarity, namely the predominance of frameshift mutations in repetitive CT elements. This review emphasizes common but also distinct molecular mechanisms of β2m loss in both tumor types. It also summarizes recent studies that point to an acquired β2m deficiency in response to cancer immunotherapy, a barrier to successful vaccination or adoptive cellular therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Bernal
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Granada, Spain
| | - Angel Concha
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Annette Paschen
- Department of Dermatologie, University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Granada, Spain
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del Campo AB, Carretero J, Aptsiauri N, Garrido F. Targeting HLA class I expression to increase tumor immunogenicity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 79:147-54. [PMID: 22309256 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2011.01831.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic interaction between the host immune system and growing cancer has been of central interest to the field of tumor immunology over the past years. Recognition of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) by self-HLA (human leukocyte antigen) class I-restricted CD8+ T cells is a main feature in the detection and destruction of malignant cells. The discovery and molecular characterization of TAA has changed the field of cancer treatment and introduced a new era of cancer immunotherapy aimed at increasing tumor immunogenicity and T-cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Unfortunately, while these new protocols of cancer immunotherapy are mediating induction of tumor-specific T lymphocytes in patients with certain malignancies, they have not yet delivered substantial clinical benefits, such as induction of tumor regression or increased disease-free survival. It has become apparent that lack of tumor rejection is the result of immune selection and escape by tumor cells that develop low immunogenic phenotypes. Substantial experimental data support the existence of a variety of different mechanisms involved in the tumor escape phase, including loss or downregulation of HLA class I antigens. These alterations could be caused by regulatory ('soft') or by structural/irreversible ('hard') defects. On the basis of the evidence obtained from experimental mouse cancer models and metastatic human tumors, the structural defects underlying HLA class I loss may have profound implications on T-cell-mediated tumor rejection and ultimately on the outcome of cancer immunotherapy. Strategies to overcome this obstacle, including gene therapy to recover normal expression of HLA class I genes, require consideration. In this review, we outline the importance of monitoring and correction of HLA class I alterations during cancer development and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B del Campo
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
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45
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Garrido C, Romero I, Berruguilla E, Cancela B, Algarra I, Collado A, García-Lora A, Garrido F. Immunotherapy eradicates metastases with reversible defects in MHC class I expression. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2011; 60:1257-68. [PMID: 21553283 PMCID: PMC11028956 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-011-1027-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2010] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Tumor or metastatic cells lose MHC class I (MHC-I) expression during cancer progression as an escape mechanism from immune surveillance. These defects in MHC-I may be reversible by cytokines or different agents (soft lesions) or irreversible due to structural defects (hard lesions). The nature of these MHC-I alterations might determine the success or failure of immunotherapy treatments. In this study, we have used an MHC-I-positive murine fibrosarcoma tumor clone, GR9-A7, which generates multiple lung and lymph node metastases with reversible MHC-I alterations after treatment with IFN-γ. Four different antitumor treatments were carried out after primary tumor excision to determine their capacity to inhibit spontaneous metastatic colonization of the GR9-A7 tumor clone. We found that 2 different immunotherapy protocols (CpG plus autologous irradiated-GR9-A7 cells and protein-bound polysaccharide K (PSK) and 1 chemoimmunotherapy (docetaxel plus PSK) induced eradication of metastases. In contrast, chemotherapy with docetaxel alone produced only partial reduction in the number of metastases. Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte populations showed an immunosuppression in GR9-A7 tumor-bearing host, which could be reverted by immunotherapy treatments. Our results suggest that irreversible or reversible MHC-I alterations in tumor target cells may determine its progression or regression independently of the type of immunotherapy used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Garrido
- Departamento De Bioquímica y Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos and Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Irene Romero
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos and Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Enrique Berruguilla
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos and Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Bárbara Cancela
- Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Ignacio Algarra
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Antonia Collado
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Angel García-Lora
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos and Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Departamento De Bioquímica y Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos and Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
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Bernal M, Concha A, Sáenz-López P, Rodríguez AI, Cabrera T, Garrido F, Ruiz-Cabello F. Leukocyte infiltrate in gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas is strongly associated with tumor microsatellite instability but not with tumor immunogenicity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2011; 60:869-82. [PMID: 21400022 PMCID: PMC11029771 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-011-0999-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2010] [Accepted: 02/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze the correlation of genomic instability with leukocyte infiltrate in gastrointestinal carcinomas (GIACs) and with tumor immunogenicity, e.g., HLA class I cell surface expression defects and galectin-3 and PDL-1 expression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Lymphocyte and macrophage infiltrations were immunohistochemically studied in HLA class I negative GIACs with sporadic high-level microsatellite instability (MSI-H) or microsatellite stability (MSS). RESULTS Tumors with MSI-H were associated with the following: dense infiltration (CD45, P < 0.001); cytotoxic CD8-positive lymphocytes (P < 0.001); and a complete absence of HLA class I cell surface expression, due to inactivating β2-microglobulin (β2-m) mutation in 50% of cases. In contrast, HLA class I negative tumors with MSS were significantly associated with fewer CD8-positive lymphocytes. There was no association between microsatellite instability and other molecular features of the tumor cells, including expression of galectin-3. Finally, macrophage infiltrate in the tumors was not correlated with microsatellite instability or HLA class I cell surface expression (CD64, P = 0.63; CD163, P = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS Microsatellite instability appears to be the most important factor determining the composition, density, and localization of leukocyte infiltrate, which is independent of other molecular features such expression of HLA class I cells, galectin-3, or programmed death ligand-1. Accordingly, the strong intratumoral CD8+ T infiltration of MSI-H tumors may be produced by elevated levels of specific inflammatory chemokines in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Bernal
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Angel Concha
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Pablo Sáenz-López
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Isabel Rodríguez
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Teresa Cabrera
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Granada, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Granada, Spain
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Maleno I, Aptsiauri N, Cabrera T, Gallego A, Paschen A, López-Nevot MA, Garrido F. Frequent loss of heterozygosity in the β2-microglobulin region of chromosome 15 in primary human tumors. Immunogenetics 2010; 63:65-71. [PMID: 21086121 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-010-0494-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2010] [Accepted: 11/03/2010] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Downregulation or total loss of HLA class I expression on tumor cells is known as a mechanism of cancer immune escape. Alterations of the HLA phenotype are frequently due to mutations affecting genes encoding the HLA class I heavy chains located on chromosome 6p21 or the β2-microglobulin (β2m) gene encoding the light chain of the HLA complex located on chromosome 15q21. Frequently irreversible total loss of HLA class I molecules is due to the coincidence of two molecular events, the mutation of one β2m gene and the loss of the second copy. The latter is detectable as loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of microsatellite markers in the β2m region on chromosome 15q21 (LOH-15q21). Thus, LOH-15q21 might be an important event in the processes of HLA class I downregulation and total loss. Here we studied the frequency of LOH-15q21 in tumor tissues of different entities. By determining the status of heterozygosity of two microsatellite markers we detected LOH-15q21 in 44% of bladder carcinomas (n = 69), in 35% of colon carcinomas (n = 95), in 16% of melanomas (n = 70) but only in 7% of renal cancers (n = 45). Moreover, we observed a frequent coincidence of LOH-15q21 and LOH-6p21 in colorectal carcinoma, bladder carcinoma and melanoma, but not for renal carcinoma. We believe that the high incidence of LOH-15q21 in some malignancies and especially the coincidence of LOH-15q21 and LOH-6p21 might have a strong impact on tumor immunogenicity and on the efficiency of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Maleno
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
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Garrido F, Cabrera T, Aptsiauri N. "Hard" and "soft" lesions underlying the HLA class I alterations in cancer cells: implications for immunotherapy. Int J Cancer 2010; 127:249-56. [PMID: 20178101 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The ability of cancer cells to escape from the natural or immunotherapy-induced antitumor immune response is often associated with alterations in the tumor cell surface expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I antigens. Considerable knowledge has been gained on the prevalence of various patterns of MHC Class I defects and the underlying molecular mechanisms in different types of cancer. In contrast, few data are available on the changes in MHC Class I expression happening during the course of cancer immunotherapy. We have recently proposed that the progression or regression of a tumor lesion in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy could be predetermined by the molecular mechanism responsible for the MHC Class I alteration and not by the type of immunotherapy used, i.e., interleukin-2 (IL-2), Bacillus Calmette-Guèrin (BCG), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), peptides alone, dendritic cells loaded with peptides, protein-bound polysaccharide etc. If the molecular alteration responsible for the changes in MHC Class I expression is reversible by cytokines ("soft" lesion), the MHC Class I expression will be upregulated, the specific T cell-mediated response will increase and the lesion will regress. However, if the molecular defect is structural ("hard" lesion), the MHC Class I expression will remain low, the escape mechanism will prevail and the primary tumor or the metastatic lesion will progress. According to this idea, the nature of the preexisting MHC Class I lesion in the cancer cell has a crucial impact determining the final outcome of cancer immunotherapy. In this article, we discuss the importance of these two types of molecular mechanisms of MHC Class I-altered expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Garrido
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Sáenz-López P, Gouttefangeas C, Hennenlotter J, Concha A, Maleno I, Ruiz-Cabello F, Cózar JM, Tallada M, Stenzl A, Rammensee HG, Garrido F, Cabrera T. Higher HLA class I expression in renal cell carcinoma than in autologous normal tissue. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 75:110-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2009.01409.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Mendez R, Aptsiauri N, Del Campo A, Maleno I, Cabrera T, Ruiz-Cabello F, Garrido F, Garcia-Lora A. HLA and melanoma: multiple alterations in HLA class I and II expression in human melanoma cell lines from ESTDAB cell bank. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2009; 58:1507-15. [PMID: 19340423 PMCID: PMC11030131 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-009-0701-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2008] [Accepted: 03/14/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Altered HLA class I and class II cell surface expression has been reported in many types of malignancy and represents one of the major mechanism by which tumour cells escape from T lymphocytes. In this report, we review the results obtained from the study of constitutive and IFN-gamma-induced expression of HLA class I and II molecules in 91 human melanoma cell lines from the European Searchable Tumour Cell Line Database, and compare them with published data on HLA expression in other types of cancer. Various types of alterations in HLA class I cell surface expression were found in a high percentage (67%) of the studied cell lines. These alterations range from total to selective HLA class I loss and are associated with beta2-microglobulin gene mutations, transcriptional downregulation of HLA class I genes and antigen processing machinery components, or with the loss of heterozygosity in chromosome 6. The most frequently observed phenotype is selective downregulation of HLA-B locus, reversible after treatment with IFN-gamma. The expression of constitutive- or IFN-gamma induced-surface expression of at least one HLA class II locus is positive in 71.5% of the analysed cell lines. Four different HLA class II expression phenotypes were defined, and a positive correlation between the expression of class I and II molecules is discussed. More detailed information on the HLA expression patterns and others immunological characteristics of these melanoma cell lines can be found on the following website http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ipd/estdab .
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Mendez
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Natalia Aptsiauri
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Del Campo
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Isabel Maleno
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Teresa Cabrera
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biologia Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biologia Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biologia Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Angel Garcia-Lora
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
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