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Saranchova I, Xia CW, Besoiu S, Finkel PL, Ellis SLS, Kari S, Munro L, Pfeifer CG, Fazli L, Gleave ME, Jefferies WA. A novel type-2 innate lymphoid cell-based immunotherapy for cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1317522. [PMID: 38524132 PMCID: PMC10958781 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1317522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-based cancer immunotherapy has achieved significant advancements, providing a source of hope for cancer patients. Notwithstanding the considerable progress in cell-based immunotherapy, the persistently low response rates and the exorbitant costs associated with their implementation still present a formidable challenge in clinical settings. In the landscape of cell-based cancer immunotherapies, an uncharted territory involves Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and interleukin-33 (IL-33) which promotes ILC2 functionality, recognized for their inherent ability to enhance immune responses. Recent discoveries regarding their role in actuating cytolytic T lymphocyte responses, including curbing tumor growth rates and hindering metastasis, have added a new dimension to our understanding of the IL-33/ILC2 axis. These recent insights may hold significant promise for ILC2 cell-based immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the prospect of adoptively transferring ILC2s to confer immune protection against tumors has yet to be investigated. The present study addresses this hypothesis, revealing that ILC2s isolated from the lungs of tumor-bearing mice, and tumor infiltrating ILC2s when adoptively transferred after tumor establishment at a ratio of one ILC2 per sixty tumor cells, leads to an influx of tumor infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes as well as tumor infiltrating eosinophils resulting in a remarkable reduction in tumor growth. Moreover, we find that post-adoptive transfer of ILC2s, the number of tumor infiltrating ILC2s is inversely proportional to tumor size. Finally, we find corollaries of the IL-33/ILC2 axis enhancing the infiltration of eosinophils in human prostate carcinomas patients' expressing high levels of IL-33 versus those expressing low levels of IL-33. Our results underscore the heightened efficacy of adoptively transferred ILC2s compared to alternative approaches, revealing an approximately one hundred fifty-fold superiority on a cell-per-cell basis over CAR T-cells in the specific targeting and elimination of tumors within the same experimental model. Overall, this study demonstrates the functional significance of ILC2s in cancer immunosurveillance and provides the proof of concept of the potential utility of ILC2 cell-based cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Saranchova
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Clara Wenjing Xia
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stephanie Besoiu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pablo L. Finkel
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Samantha L. S. Ellis
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Suresh Kari
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lonna Munro
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cheryl G. Pfeifer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ladan Fazli
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Martin E. Gleave
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wilfred A. Jefferies
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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2
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Kostecki KL, Iida M, Crossman BE, Salgia R, Harari PM, Bruce JY, Wheeler DL. Immune Escape Strategies in Head and Neck Cancer: Evade, Resist, Inhibit, Recruit. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:312. [PMID: 38254801 PMCID: PMC10814769 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancers (HNCs) arise from the mucosal lining of the aerodigestive tract and are often associated with alcohol use, tobacco use, and/or human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Over 600,000 new cases of HNC are diagnosed each year, making it the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Historically, treatments have included surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, and while these treatments are still the backbone of current therapy, several immunotherapies have recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in HNC. The role of the immune system in tumorigenesis and cancer progression has been explored since the early 20th century, eventually coalescing into the current three-phase model of cancer immunoediting. During each of the three phases-elimination, equilibrium, and escape-cancer cells develop and utilize multiple strategies to either reach or remain in the final phase, escape, at which point the tumor is able to grow and metastasize with little to no detrimental interference from the immune system. In this review, we summarize the many strategies used by HNC to escape the immune system, which include ways to evade immune detection, resist immune cell attacks, inhibit immune cell functions, and recruit pro-tumor immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kourtney L. Kostecki
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
| | - Mari Iida
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
| | - Bridget E. Crossman
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Paul M. Harari
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Justine Y. Bruce
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Deric L. Wheeler
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (K.L.K.); (M.I.); (B.E.C.)
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
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3
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Xia CW, Saranchova I, Finkel PL, Besoiu S, Munro L, Pfeifer CG, Haegert A, Lin YY, Le Bihan S, Collins C, Jefferies WA. A diversity of novel type-2 innate lymphoid cell subpopulations revealed during tumour expansion. Commun Biol 2024; 7:12. [PMID: 38172434 PMCID: PMC10764766 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05536-0] [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: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) perform vital functions in orchestrating humoral immune responses, facilitating tissue remodelling, and ensuring tissue homeostasis. Additionally, in a role that has garnered considerably less attention, ILC2s can also enhance Th1-related cytolytic T lymphocyte immune responses against tumours. Studies have thus far generally failed to address the mystery of how one ILC2 cell-type can participate in a multiplicity of functions. Here we utilized single cell RNA sequencing analysis to create the first comprehensive atlas of naïve and tumour-associated lung ILC2s and discover multiple unique subtypes of ILC2s equipped with developmental gene programs that become skewed during tumour expansion favouring inflammation, antigen processing, immunological memory and Th1-related anti-tumour CTL responses. The discovery of these new subtypes of ILC2s challenges current paradigms of ILC2 biology and provides an explanation for their diversity of function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Wenjing Xia
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Iryna Saranchova
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Pablo L Finkel
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Stephanie Besoiu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Lonna Munro
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Cheryl G Pfeifer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Anne Haegert
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Yen-Yi Lin
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Stéphane Le Bihan
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Colin Collins
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Wilfred A Jefferies
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- The Laboratory for Advanced Genome Analysis (LAGA), The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.
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4
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Kanwal M, Smahelova J, Ciharova B, Johari SD, Nunvar J, Olsen M, Smahel M. Aspartate β-hydroxylase Regulates Expression of Ly6 Genes. J Cancer 2024; 15:1138-1152. [PMID: 38356711 PMCID: PMC10861829 DOI: 10.7150/jca.90422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Overexpression of aspartate β-hydroxylase (ASPH) in human tumors contributes to their progression by stimulating cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Several signaling pathways affected by ASPH have been identified, but the high number of potential targets of ASPH hydroxylation suggests that additional mechanisms may be involved. This study was performed to reveal new targets of ASPH signaling. Methods: The effect of ASPH on the oncogenicity of three mouse tumor cell lines was tested using proliferation assays, transwell assays, and spheroid invasion assays after inhibition of ASPH with the small molecule inhibitor MO-I-1151. ASPH was also deactivated with the CRISPR/Cas9 system. A transcriptomic analysis was then performed with bulk RNA sequencing and differential gene expression was evaluated. Expression data were verified by quantitative PCR and immunoblotting. Results: Inhibition or abrogation of ASPH reduced proliferation of the cell lines and their migration and invasiveness. Among the genes with differential expression in more than one cell line, two members of the lymphocyte antigen 6 (Ly6) family, Ly6a and Ly6c1, were found. Their downregulation was confirmed at the protein level by immunoblotting, which also showed their reduction after ASPH inhibition in other mouse cell lines. Reduced production of the Ly6D and Ly6K proteins was shown after ASPH inhibition in human tumor cell lines. Conclusions: Since increased expression of Ly6 genes is associated with the development and progression of both mouse and human tumors, these results suggest a novel mechanism of ASPH oncogenicity and support the utility of ASPH as a target for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madiha Kanwal
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Smahelova
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Ciharova
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Shweta Dilip Johari
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Nunvar
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Mark Olsen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy - Glendale, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Michal Smahel
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
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5
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Ellis SLS, Dada S, Nohara LL, Saranchova I, Munro L, Pfeifer CG, Eyford BA, Morova T, Williams DE, Cheng P, Lack NA, Andersen RJ, Jefferies WA. Curcuphenol possesses an unusual histone deacetylase enhancing activity that counters immune escape in metastatic tumours. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1119620. [PMID: 37637416 PMCID: PMC10449465 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1119620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Curcuphenol, a common component of the culinary spices, naturally found in marine invertebrates and plants, has been identified as a novel candidate for reversing immune escape by restoring expression of the antigen presentation machinery (APM) in invasive cancers, thereby resurrecting the immune recognition of metastatic tumours. Two synthetic curcuphenol analogues, were prepared by informed design that demonstrated consistent induction of APM expression in metastatic prostate and lung carcinoma cells. Both analogues were subsequently found to possess a previously undescribed histone deacetylase (HDAC)-enhancing activity. Remarkably, the H3K27ac ChIPseq analysis of curcuphenol-treated cells reveals that the induced epigenomic marks closely resemble the changes in genome-wide pattern observed with interferon-γ, a cytokine instrumental for orchestrating innate and adaptive immunity. These observations link dietary components to modifying epigenetic programs that modulate gene expression guiding poised immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. S. Ellis
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sarah Dada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Departments of Medical Genetics, Zoology, and Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lilian L. Nohara
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Iryna Saranchova
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Departments of Medical Genetics, Zoology, and Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lonna Munro
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cheryl G. Pfeifer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brett A. Eyford
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tunc Morova
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David E. Williams
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ping Cheng
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nathan A. Lack
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Raymond J. Andersen
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wilfred A. Jefferies
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Departments of Medical Genetics, Zoology, and Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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6
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Nohara LL, Ellis SLS, Dreier C, Dada S, Saranchova I, Munro L, Pfeifer CG, Coyle KM, Morrice JR, Shim DJS, Ahn P, De Voogd N, Williams DE, Cheng P, Garrovillas E, Andersen RJ, Jefferies WA. A novel cell-based screen identifies chemical entities that reverse the immune-escape phenotype of metastatic tumours. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1119607. [PMID: 37256225 PMCID: PMC10225555 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1119607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic and epigenetic events have been implicated in the downregulation of the cellular antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM), which in turn, has been associated with cancer evasion of the immune system. When these essential components are lacking, cancers develop the ability to subvert host immune surveillance allowing cancer cells to become invisible to the immune system and, in turn, promote cancer metastasis. Here we describe and validate the first high-throughput cell-based screening assay to identify chemical extracts and unique chemical entities that reverse the downregulation of APM components in cell lines derived from metastatic tumours. Through the screening of a library of 480 marine invertebrate extracts followed by bioassay-guided fractionation, curcuphenol, a common sesquiterpene phenol derived from turmeric, was identified as the active compound of one of the extracts. We demonstrate that curcuphenol induces the expression of the APM components, TAP-1 and MHC-I molecules, in cell lines derived from both metastatic prostate and lung carcinomas. Turmeric and curcumins that contain curcuphenol have long been utilized not only as a spice in the preparation of food, but also in traditional medicines for treating cancers. The remarkable discovery that a common component of spices can increase the expression of APM components in metastatic tumour cells and, therefore reverse immune-escape mechanisms, provides a rationale for the development of foods and advanced nutraceuticals as therapeutic candidates for harnessing the power of the immune system to recognize and destroy metastatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian L. Nohara
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Samantha L. S. Ellis
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carola Dreier
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sarah Dada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Departments of Medical Genetics, Zoology, and Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Iryna Saranchova
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Departments of Medical Genetics, Zoology, and Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lonna Munro
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cheryl G. Pfeifer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Krysta M. Coyle
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Jessica R. Morrice
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daniel Joo Sung Shim
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Paul Ahn
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nicole De Voogd
- Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - David E. Williams
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ping Cheng
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Garrovillas
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Raymond J. Andersen
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wilfred A. Jefferies
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Departments of Medical Genetics, Zoology, and Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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7
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Nin DS, Deng LW. Biology of Cancer-Testis Antigens and Their Therapeutic Implications in Cancer. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060926. [PMID: 36980267 PMCID: PMC10047177 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumour-specific antigens have been an area of interest in cancer therapy since their discovery in the middle of the 20th century. In the era of immune-based cancer therapeutics, redirecting our immune cells to target these tumour-specific antigens has become even more relevant. Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are a class of antigens with an expression specific to the testis and cancer cells. CTAs have also been demonstrated to be expressed in a wide variety of cancers. Due to their frequency and specificity of expression in a multitude of cancers, CTAs have been particularly attractive as cancer-specific therapeutic targets. There is now a rapid expansion of CTAs being identified and many studies have been conducted to correlate CTA expression with cancer and therapy-resistant phenotypes. Furthermore, there is an increasing number of clinical trials involving using some of these CTAs as molecular targets in pharmacological and immune-targeted therapeutics for various cancers. This review will summarise the current knowledge of the biology of known CTAs in tumorigenesis and the regulation of CTA genes. CTAs as molecular targets and the therapeutic implications of these CTA-targeted anticancer strategies will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn Sijin Nin
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD 7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - Lih-Wen Deng
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD 7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore
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8
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TRUONG NC, HUYNH NT, PHAM KD, PHAM PV. Roles of cancer stem cells in cancer immune surveillance. MINERVA BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOMOLECULAR RESEARCH 2023. [DOI: 10.23736/s2724-542x.23.02944-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
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9
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Johnson AL, Laterra J, Lopez-Bertoni H. Exploring glioblastoma stem cell heterogeneity: Immune microenvironment modulation and therapeutic opportunities. Front Oncol 2022; 12:995498. [PMID: 36212415 PMCID: PMC9532940 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.995498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite its growing use in cancer treatment, immunotherapy has been virtually ineffective in clinical trials for gliomas. The inherently cold tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in gliomas, characterized by a high ratio of pro-tumor to anti-tumor immune cell infiltrates, acts as a seemingly insurmountable barrier to immunotherapy. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) within these tumors are key contributors to this cold TIME, often functioning indirectly through activation and recruitment of pro-tumor immune cell types. Furthermore, drivers of GSC plasticity and heterogeneity (e.g., reprogramming transcription factors, epigenetic modifications) are associated with induction of immunosuppressive cell states. Recent studies have identified GSC-intrinsic mechanisms, including functional mimicry of immune suppressive cell types, as key determinants of anti-tumor immune escape. In this review, we cover recent advancements in our understanding of GSC-intrinsic mechanisms that modulate GSC-TIME interactions and discuss cutting-edge techniques and bioinformatics platforms available to study immune modulation at high cellular resolution with exploration of both malignant (i.e., GSC) and non-malignant (i.e., immune) cell fractions. Finally, we provide insight into the therapeutic opportunities for targeting immunomodulatory GSC-intrinsic mechanisms to potentiate immunotherapy response in gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L. Johnson
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - John Laterra
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: John Laterra, ; Hernando Lopez-Bertoni,
| | - Hernando Lopez-Bertoni
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: John Laterra, ; Hernando Lopez-Bertoni,
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10
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Dada S, Ellis SLS, Wood C, Nohara LL, Dreier C, Garcia NH, Saranchova I, Munro L, Pfeifer CG, Eyford BA, Kari S, Garrovillas E, Caspani G, Al Haddad E, Gray PW, Morova T, Lack NA, Andersen RJ, Tjoelker L, Jefferies WA. Specific cannabinoids revive adaptive immunity by reversing immune evasion mechanisms in metastatic tumours. Front Immunol 2022; 13:982082. [PMID: 36923728 PMCID: PMC10010394 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.982082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging cancers are sculpted by neo-Darwinian selection for superior growth and survival but minimal immunogenicity; consequently, metastatic cancers often evolve common genetic and epigenetic signatures to elude immune surveillance. Immune subversion by metastatic tumours can be achieved through several mechanisms; one of the most frequently observed involves the loss of expression or mutation of genes composing the MHC-I antigen presentation machinery (APM) that yields tumours invisible to Cytotoxic T lymphocytes, the key component of the adaptive cellular immune response. Fascinating ethnographic and experimental findings indicate that cannabinoids inhibit the growth and progression of several categories of cancer; however, the mechanisms underlying these observations remain clouded in uncertainty. Here, we screened a library of cannabinoid compounds and found molecular selectivity amongst specific cannabinoids, where related molecules such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and cannabigerol can reverse the metastatic immune escape phenotype in vitro by inducing MHC-I cell surface expression in a wide variety of metastatic tumours that subsequently sensitizing tumours to T lymphocyte recognition. Remarkably, H3K27Ac ChIPseq analysis established that cannabigerol and gamma interferon induce overlapping epigenetic signatures and key gene pathways in metastatic tumours related to cellular senescence, as well as APM genes involved in revealing metastatic tumours to the adaptive immune response. Overall, the data suggest that specific cannabinoids may have utility in cancer immunotherapy regimens by overcoming immune escape and augmenting cancer immune surveillance in metastatic disease. Finally, the fundamental discovery of the ability of cannabinoids to alter epigenetic programs may help elucidate many of the pleiotropic medicinal effects of cannabinoids on human physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Dada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Samantha L S Ellis
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christi Wood
- Biotechnology - Biomedical Science and Technology (BST), University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lilian L Nohara
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carola Dreier
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Biotechnology - Biomedical Science and Technology (BST), University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Iryna Saranchova
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lonna Munro
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cheryl G Pfeifer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brett A Eyford
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Suresh Kari
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Garrovillas
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Giorgia Caspani
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eliana Al Haddad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Tunc Morova
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nathan A Lack
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Raymond J Andersen
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Wilfred A Jefferies
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Urological Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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11
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Taefehshokr S, Parhizkar A, Hayati S, Mousapour M, Mahmoudpour A, Eleid L, Rahmanpour D, Fattahi S, Shabani H, Taefehshokr N. Cancer immunotherapy: Challenges and limitations. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 229:153723. [PMID: 34952426 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Although cancer immunotherapy has taken center stage in mainstream oncology inducing complete and long-lasting tumor regression, only a subset of patients receiving treatment respond and others relapse after an initial response. Different tumor types respond differently, and even in cancer types that respond (hot tumors), we still observe tumors that are unresponsive (cold tumors), suggesting the presence of resistance. Hence, the development of intrinsic or acquired resistance is a big challenge for the cancer immunotherapy field. Resistance to immunotherapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, oncolytic viruses, and recombinant cytokines arises due to cancer cells employing several mechanisms to evade immunosurveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Taefehshokr
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Aram Parhizkar
- Faculty of Natural Science, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shima Hayati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
| | - Morteza Mousapour
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amin Mahmoudpour
- Department of Immunology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Liliane Eleid
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dara Rahmanpour
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sahand Fattahi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hadi Shabani
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Nima Taefehshokr
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Naik A, Thomas R, Al-Khadairi G, Bacha R, Hendrickx W, Decock J. Cancer testis antigen PRAME: An anti-cancer target with immunomodulatory potential. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:10376-10388. [PMID: 34612587 PMCID: PMC8581324 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16967] [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] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PReferentially expressed Antigen in Melanoma (PRAME) is a cancer testis antigen with restricted expression in somatic tissues and re‐expression in poor prognostic solid tumours. PRAME has been extensively investigated as a target for immunotherapy, however, its role in modulating the anti‐tumour immune response remains largely unknown. Here, we show that PRAME tumour expression is associated with worse survival in the TCGA breast cancer cohort, particularly in immune‐unfavourable tumours. Using direct and indirect co‐culture models, we found that PRAME overexpressing MDA‐MB‐468 breast cancer cells inhibit T cell activation and cytolytic potential, which could be partly restored by silencing of PRAME. Furthermore, silencing of PRAME reduced expression of several immune checkpoints and their ligands, including PD‐1, LAG3, PD‐L1, CD86, Gal‐9 and VISTA. Interestingly, silencing of PRAME induced cancer cell killing to levels similar to anti‐PD‐L1 atezolizumab treatment. Comprehensive analysis of soluble inflammatory mediators and cancer cell expression of immune‐related genes showed that PRAME tumour expression can suppress the expression and secretion of multiple pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and mediators of T cell activation, differentiation and cytolysis. Together, our data indicate that targeting of PRAME offers a potential, novel dual therapeutic approach to specifically target tumour cells and regulate immune activation in the tumour microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adviti Naik
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Remy Thomas
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Ghaneya Al-Khadairi
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar.,College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Rim Bacha
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar.,College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Wouter Hendrickx
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar.,Cancer Department, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Julie Decock
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar.,College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
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13
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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: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [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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14
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Wang F, Malnassy G, Qiu W. The Epigenetic Regulation of Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:653037. [PMID: 33791228 PMCID: PMC8005717 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.653037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal and complex malignancy strongly influenced by the surrounding tumor microenvironment. The HCC microenvironment comprises hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), stromal and endothelial cells, and the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM). Emerging evidence demonstrates that epigenetic regulation plays a crucial role in altering numerous components of the HCC tumor microenvironment. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of the microenvironment in HCC. We review recent studies demonstrating how specific epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone regulation, and non-coding RNAs mediated regulation) in HSCs, TAMs, and ECM, and how they contribute to HCC development, so as to gain new insights into the treatment of HCC via regulating epigenetic regulation in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, United States.,Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Greg Malnassy
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, United States.,Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Wei Qiu
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, United States.,Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, United States
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15
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Chen XR, Yuan HH, Guo JH, Zhang WY, Li QQ, Huang GD, Zhang YJ, Jiang B, Liu F. A signal peptide derived from Hsp60 induces protective cytotoxic T lymphocyte immunity against lymphoid malignancies independently of TAP and classical MHC-I. Cancer Lett 2020; 494:47-57. [PMID: 32829008 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Hsp60sp, a signal peptide derived from the leader sequence of heat shock protein 60 kDa (Hsp60), is a Qa-1/HLA-E-binding peptide. We previously showed that Hsp60sp-specific CD8+ T cells are involved in the immunoregulation of autoimmune diseases by controlling the response of self-reactive lymphocytes. Here, we report that Hsp60sp-specific CD8+ T cells killed malignant lymphocytes in vitro independently of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) and classical MHC-I expression. Induction of this cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response in vivo, either by adoptive transfer of in vitro-amplified CTLs or peptide-loaded dendritic cell immunization, resulted in effective control of lymphoid tumors, including TAP- or classical MHC-I-deficient cells. Hsp60sp-specific immune activation combined with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blocking synergistically restrained mouse lymphoma development. Importantly, Hsp60sp-specific CD8+ T cells did not negatively affect normal tissues and cells. Our data suggest that Hsp60sp-based immunotherapy is an inviting strategy to control lymphoid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun-Rui Chen
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China
| | - Hai-Hua Yuan
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China
| | - Jia-Hui Guo
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China
| | - Wen-Ying Zhang
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China
| | - Qian-Qian Li
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China
| | - Guo-Ding Huang
- Oncology Department, Hainan Western Central Hospital, Danzhou, 571700, Hainan Province, China
| | - Yan-Jie Zhang
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China.
| | - Bin Jiang
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China.
| | - Feng Liu
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Oncology Department, Hainan Western Central Hospital, Danzhou, 571700, Hainan Province, China.
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16
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Maryamchik E, Gallagher KME, Preffer FI, Kadauke S, Maus MV. New directions in chimeric antigen receptor T cell [CAR-T] therapy and related flow cytometry. CYTOMETRY PART B-CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2020; 98:299-327. [PMID: 32352629 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells provide a promising approach to the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Flow cytometry is a powerful analytical modality, which plays an expanding role in all stages of CAR T therapy, from lymphocyte collection, to CAR T cell manufacturing, to in vivo monitoring of the infused cells and evaluation of their function in the tumor environment. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the new directions is important for designing and implementing CAR T-related flow cytometry assays in the clinical and investigational settings. However, the speed of new discoveries and the multitude of clinical and preclinical trials make it challenging to keep up to date in this complex field. In this review, we summarize the current state of CAR T therapy, highlight the areas of emergent research, discuss applications of flow cytometry in modern cell therapy, and touch upon several considerations particular to CAR detection and assessing the effectiveness of CAR T therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Maryamchik
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Frederic I Preffer
- Clinical Cytometry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephan Kadauke
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marcela V Maus
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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Nesic M, El-Galaly TC, Bøgsted M, Pedersen IS, Dybkær K. Mutational landscape of immune surveillance genes in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Expert Rev Hematol 2020; 13:655-668. [PMID: 32293210 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2020.1755958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immune surveillance is the dynamic process whereby the immune system identifies and kills tumor cells based on their aberrant expression of stress-related surface molecules or presentation of tumor neoantigens. It plays a crucial role in controlling the initiation and progression of hematologic cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, and it has been reported that diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) fails to express specific cell-surface molecules that are necessary for the recognition and elimination of tumor cells. AREAS COVERED This review is based on a systematic search strategy to identify relevant literature in the PubMed and Embase databases. Ten candidate genes are identified based on mutational frequency, and functions with detailed mapping performed for hotspot alterations that may have a functional impact on malignant transformation and decreased immune surveillance efficacy. EXPERT OPINION Ongoing development of technology and bioinformatics tools combined with data from large clinical cohorts have the potential to define the mutational landscape associated with immune surveillance in DLBCL. Specific functional studies are required to make an unambiguous link between genetic aberrations and biological impact on impaired immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijana Nesic
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg, Denmark.,Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Tarec Christoffer El-Galaly
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg, Denmark.,Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University , Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Martin Bøgsted
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg, Denmark.,Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University , Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Inge Søkilde Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University , Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Karen Dybkær
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg, Denmark.,Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University , Aalborg, Denmark
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18
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Dzobo K. Epigenomics-Guided Drug Development: Recent Advances in Solving the Cancer Treatment "jigsaw puzzle". OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2020; 23:70-85. [PMID: 30767728 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2018.0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The human epigenome plays a key role in determining cellular identity and eventually function. Drug discovery undertakings have focused mainly on the role of genomics in carcinogenesis, with the focus turning to the epigenome recently. Drugs targeting DNA and histone modifications are under development with some such as 5-azacytidine, decitabine, vorinostat, and panobinostat already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This expert review offers a critical analysis of the epigenomics-guided drug discovery and development and the opportunities and challenges for the next decade. Importantly, the coupling of epigenetic editing techniques, such as clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein-9 (Cas9) and APOBEC-coupled epigenetic sequencing (ACE-seq) with epigenetic drug screens, will allow the identification of small-molecule inhibitors or drugs able to reverse epigenetic changes responsible for many diseases. In addition, concrete and sustainable innovation in cancer treatment ought to integrate epigenome targeting drugs with classic therapies such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dzobo
- 1 International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Cape Town, South Africa.,2 Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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19
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Gambacorta V, Gnani D, Vago L, Di Micco R. Epigenetic Therapies for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Their Immune-Related Effects. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:207. [PMID: 31681756 PMCID: PMC6797914 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, our molecular understanding of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) pathogenesis dramatically increased, thanks also to the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Many of these findings, however, have not yet translated into new prognostic markers or rationales for treatments. We now know that AML is a highly heterogeneous disease characterized by a very low mutational burden. Interestingly, the few mutations identified mainly reside in epigenetic regulators, which shape and define leukemic cell identity. In the light of these discoveries and given the increasing number of drugs targeting epigenetic regulators in clinical development and testing, great interest is emerging for the use of small molecules targeting leukemia epigenome. Together with their effects on leukemia cell-intrinsic properties, such as proliferation and survival, epigenetic drugs may affect the way leukemic cells communicate with the surrounding components of the tumor and immune microenvironment. Here, we review current knowledge on alterations in the AML epigenetic landscape and discuss the promises of epigenetic therapies for AML treatment. Finally, we summarize emerging molecular studies elucidating how epigenetic rewiring in cancer cells may as well exert immune-modulatory functions, boost the immune system, and potentially contribute to better patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Gambacorta
- Unit of Senescence in Stem Cell Aging, Differentiation and Cancer, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Milano-Bicocca University, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Gnani
- Unit of Senescence in Stem Cell Aging, Differentiation and Cancer, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Vago
- Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Di Micco
- Unit of Senescence in Stem Cell Aging, Differentiation and Cancer, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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20
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Yang W, Li Y, Gao R, Xiu Z, Sun T. MHC class I dysfunction of glioma stem cells escapes from CTL-mediated immune response via activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Oncogene 2019; 39:1098-1111. [PMID: 31591480 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-1045-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Glioma stem cells (GSCs) decrease T cells cognition and evade systemic immunosurveillance via downregulations or defects of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecule and antigen-processing machinery (APM) components. Improvement of tumor surface antigens of GSCs may be effective strategy to trigger an adaptive immune response and activate cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) to eliminate glioma. In this study, our data indicated that downregulations of MHC-I and APM components expressions were associated with Wnt pathway activation in GSCs. Histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibition improved MHC-I and APM components expressions, which could be partly reverted by Wnt pathway activation. Blocking CTLs-mediated killing decreased the anti-tumor effect of tumor lysate vaccine. The enhancement of T cells immune response resulting from HDAC inhibition was dependent on CTLs cognition on tumor antigens presented by upregulated MHC-I molecule in GSCs. These data suggest that suppression of stemness pathway may be effective for GSCs-based immunotherapy against immune-escaped tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yanyan Li
- Neurosurgery and Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruoling Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zenghe Xiu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting Sun
- Neurosurgery and Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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21
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Leclerc M, Mezquita L, Guillebot De Nerville G, Tihy I, Malenica I, Chouaib S, Mami-Chouaib F. Recent Advances in Lung Cancer Immunotherapy: Input of T-Cell Epitopes Associated With Impaired Peptide Processing. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1505. [PMID: 31333652 PMCID: PMC6616108 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in lung cancer treatment are emerging from new immunotherapies that target T-cell inhibitory receptors, such as programmed cell death-1 (PD-1). However, responses to anti-PD-1 antibodies as single agents are observed in fewer than 20% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and immune mechanisms involved in the response to these therapeutic interventions remain poorly elucidated. Accumulating evidence indicates that effective anti-tumor immunity is associated with the presence of T cells directed toward cancer neoepitopes, a class of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-bound peptides that arise from tumor-specific mutations. Nevertheless, tumors frequently use multiple pathways to escape T-cell recognition and destruction. In this regard, primary and acquired resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy was associated with alterations in genes relevant to antigen presentation by MHC-class I/beta-2-microglobulin (MHC-I/β2m) complexes to CD8 T lymphocytes. Among additional known mechanisms involved in tumor resistance to CD8 T-cell immunity, alterations in transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) play a major role by inducing a sharp decrease in surface expression of MHC-I/β2m-peptide complexes, enabling malignant cells to evade cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated killing. Therefore, development of novel immunotherapies based on tumor neoantigens, that are selectively presented by cancer cells carrying defects in antigen processing and presentation, and that are capable of inducing destruction of such transformed cells, is a major challenge in translational research for application in treatment of lung cancer. In this context, we previously identified a non-mutant tumor neoepitope, ppCT16−25, derived from the preprocalcitonin (ppCT) leader sequence and processed independently of proteasomes/TAP by a mechanism involving signal peptidase (SP) and signal peptide peptidase (SPP). We also provided in vitro and in vivo proof of the concept of active immunotherapy based on ppCT-derived peptides capable of controlling growth of immune-escaped tumors expressing low levels of MHC-I molecules. Thus, non-mutant and mutant neoepitopes are promising T-cell targets for therapeutic cancer vaccines in combination with ICB. In this review, we summarize current treatments for lung cancer and discuss the promises that conserved neoantigens offer for more effective immunotherapies targeting immune-escaped tumor variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Leclerc
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Faculté de Médecine - Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Laura Mezquita
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Institut d'Oncologie Thoracique, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Guillaume Guillebot De Nerville
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Faculté de Médecine - Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Isabelle Tihy
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Faculté de Médecine - Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Ines Malenica
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Faculté de Médecine - Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Salem Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Faculté de Médecine - Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Fathia Mami-Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Faculté de Médecine - Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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22
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Tumor mechanisms of resistance to immune attack. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2019; 164:61-100. [PMID: 31383409 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The immune system plays a key role in the interactions between host and tumor. Immune selection pressure is a driving force behind the sculpting and evolution of malignant cancer cells to escape this immune attack. Several common tumor cell-based mechanisms of resistance to immune attack have been identified and can be broadly categorized into three main classes: loss of antigenicity, loss of immunogenicity, and creation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. In this review, we will discuss in detail the relevant literature associated with each class of resistance and will describe the relevance of these mechanisms to human cancer patients. To conclude, we will outline the implications these mechanisms have for the treatment of cancer using currently available therapeutic approaches. Immunotherapy has been a successful addition to current treatment approaches, but many patients either do not respond or quickly become resistant. This reflects the ability of tumors to continue to adapt to immune selection pressure at all stages of development. Additional study of immune escape mechanisms and immunotherapy resistance mechanisms will be needed to inform future treatment approaches.
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23
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Criscuolo D, Morra F, Giannella R, Visconti R, Cerrato A, Celetti A. New combinatorial strategies to improve the PARP inhibitors efficacy in the urothelial bladder Cancer treatment. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:91. [PMID: 30791940 PMCID: PMC6385418 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1089-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for the treatment of metastatic Urothelial Bladder Cancer. DNA damaging repair (DDR) targeting has been introduced in cinical trials for bladder cancer patients that carry alterations in homologous DNA repair genes, letting to envisage susceptibility to the Poly (adenosine diphosphate [ADP]) ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. MAIN BODY PARP inhibition, by amplifying the DNA damage, augments the mutational burden and promotes the immune priming of the tumor by increasing the neoantigen exposure and determining upregulation of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Thus, the combination of PARP-inhibition and the PD/PD-L1 targeting may represent a compelling strategy to treat bladder cancer and has been introduced in recent clinical trials. The targeting of DDR has been also used in combination with epigenetic drugs able to modulate the expression of genes involved in DDR, and also able to act as immunomodulator agents suggesting their use in combination with immune-checkpoint inhibitors. CONCLUSION In conclusion, it may be envisaged the combination of three classes of drugs to treat bladder cancer, by targeting the DDR process in a tumor context of DDR defect, together with epigenetic agents and immune-checkpoint inhibitors, whose association may amplify the effects and reduce the doses and the toxicity of each single drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Criscuolo
- Institute for the Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, Research National Council, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Morra
- Institute for the Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, Research National Council, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Visconti
- Institute for the Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, Research National Council, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Aniello Cerrato
- Institute for the Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, Research National Council, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Celetti
- Institute for the Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, Research National Council, CNR, Naples, Italy
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24
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Vermaelen K. Vaccine Strategies to Improve Anti-cancer Cellular Immune Responses. Front Immunol 2019; 10:8. [PMID: 30723469 PMCID: PMC6349827 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
More than many other fields in medicine, cancer vaccine development has been plagued by a wide gap between the massive amounts of highly encouraging preclinical data on one hand, and the disappointing clinical results on the other. It is clear now that traditional approaches from the infectious diseases' vaccine field cannot be borrowed as such to treat cancer. This review highlights some of the strategies developed to improve vaccine formulations for oncology, including research into more powerful or “smarter” adjuvants to elicit anti-tumoral cellular immune responses. As an illustration of the difficulties in translating smart preclinical strategies into real benefit for the cancer patient, the difficult road of vaccine development in lung cancer is given as example. Finally, an outline is provided of the combinatorial strategies that leverage the increasing knowledge on tumor-associated immune suppressive networks. Indeed, combining with drugs that target the dominant immunosuppressive pathway in a given tumor promises to unlock the true power of cancer vaccines and potentially offer long-term protection from disease relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Vermaelen
- Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Immuno-Oncology Network Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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25
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Durgeau A, Virk Y, Gros G, Voilin E, Corgnac S, Djenidi F, Salmon J, Adam J, de Montpréville V, Validire P, Ferrone S, Chouaib S, Eggermont A, Soria JC, Lemonnier F, Tartour E, Chaput N, Besse B, Mami-Chouaib F. Human preprocalcitonin self-antigen generates TAP-dependent and -independent epitopes triggering optimised T-cell responses toward immune-escaped tumours. Nat Commun 2018; 9:5097. [PMID: 30504837 PMCID: PMC6269466 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07603-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumours often evade CD8 T-cell immunity by downregulating TAP. T-cell epitopes associated with impaired peptide processing are immunogenic non-mutated neoantigens that emerge during tumour immune evasion. The preprocalcitonin (ppCT)16-25 neoepitope belongs to this category of antigens. Here we show that most human lung tumours display altered expression of TAP and frequently express ppCT self-antigen. We also show that ppCT includes HLA-A2-restricted epitopes that are processed by TAP-independent and -dependent pathways. Processing occurs in either the endoplasmic reticulum, by signal peptidase and signal peptide peptidase, or in the cytosol after release of a signal peptide precursor or retrotranslocation of a procalcitonin substrate by endoplasmic-reticulum-associated degradation. Remarkably, ppCT peptide-based immunotherapy induces efficient T-cell responses toward antigen processing and presenting machinery-impaired tumours transplanted into HLA-A*0201-transgenic mice and in NOD-scid-Il2rγnull mice adoptively transferred with human PBMC. Thus, ppCT-specific T lymphocytes are promising effectors for treatment of tumours that have escaped immune recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Durgeau
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Fac. de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France.,ElyssaMed, Paris Biotech Santé, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Yasemin Virk
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Fac. de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Gwendoline Gros
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Fac. de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Elodie Voilin
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Fac. de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Stéphanie Corgnac
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Fac. de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Fayçal Djenidi
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Fac. de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Jérôme Salmon
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) UMR 8122, Gustave Roussy, Faculté de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Julien Adam
- INSERM U 981, Gustave Roussy, Faculté de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Vincent de Montpréville
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Fac. de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France.,Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Chirurgical Marie-Lannelongue, 92350, Le-Plessis-Robinson, France
| | - Pierre Validire
- Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Salem Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Fac. de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France.,Thumbay Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, 4184, UAE
| | - Alexander Eggermont
- Cancer Institute, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Grand Paris, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Jean-Charles Soria
- Department of Drug Development (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - François Lemonnier
- Département Endocrinologie, Métabolisme et Diabète, Equipe Immunologie des Diabètes, INSERM U1016, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Eric Tartour
- INSERM U970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Centre, Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service d'Immunologie Biologique, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Chaput
- Laboratory of Immunomonitoring in Oncology, and CNRS-UMS 3655 and INSERM-US23, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France.,Faculté de Pharmacie, University Paris-Sud, F-92296, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Benjamin Besse
- Département de Médecine, Gustave Roussy, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Fathia Mami-Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, PSL, Fac. de Médecine, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France.
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26
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Arenas-Ramirez N, Sahin D, Boyman O. Epigenetic mechanisms of tumor resistance to immunotherapy. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:4163-4176. [PMID: 30140960 PMCID: PMC11105392 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2908-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The recent impact of cancer immunotherapies has firmly established the ability and importance of the immune system to fight malignancies. However, the intimate interaction between the highly dynamic tumor and immune cells leads to a selection process driven by genetic and epigenetic processes. As the molecular pathways of cancer resistance mechanisms to immunotherapy become increasingly known, novel therapeutic targets are being tested in combination with immune-stimulating approaches. We here review recent insights into the molecular mechanisms of tumor resistance with particular emphasis on epigenetic processes and place these in the context of previous models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dilara Sahin
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Onur Boyman
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland.
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27
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Marijt KA, Blijleven L, Verdegaal EME, Kester MG, Kowalewski DJ, Rammensee HG, Stevanović S, Heemskerk MHM, van der Burg SH, van Hall T. Identification of non-mutated neoantigens presented by TAP-deficient tumors. J Exp Med 2018; 215:2325-2337. [PMID: 30115740 PMCID: PMC6122969 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20180577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A hybrid forward-reversed immunological screen is performed to identify 16 novel HLA-A2 presented cancer antigens. These peptides are selectively presented by immune-escaped cancer cells with defects in the peptide transporter TAP. In contrast to mutated neoantigens, these “self” neoantigens are universally presented across different cancer types. Most T cell–based immunotherapies of cancer depend on intact antigen presentation by HLA class I molecules (HLA-I). However, defects in the antigen-processing machinery can cause downregulation of HLA-I, rendering tumor cells resistant to CD8+ T cells. Previously, we demonstrated that a unique category of cancer antigens is selectively presented by tumor cells deficient for the peptide transporter TAP, enabling a specific attack of such tumors without causing immunopathology in mouse models. With a novel combinatorial screening approach, we now identify 16 antigens of this category in humans. These HLA-A*02:01 presented peptides do not derive from the mutanome of cancers, but are of “self” origin and therefore constitute universal neoantigens. Indeed, CD8+ T cells specific for the leader peptide of the ubiquitously expressed LRPAP1 protein recognized TAP-deficient, HLA-Ilow lymphomas, melanomas, and renal and colon carcinomas, but not healthy counterparts. In contrast to personalized mutanome-targeted therapies, these conserved neoantigens and their cognate receptors can be exploited for immune-escaped cancers across diverse histological origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen A Marijt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Laura Blijleven
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Els M E Verdegaal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Michel G Kester
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Daniel J Kowalewski
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, German Cancer Research Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Rammensee
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, German Cancer Research Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Stevanović
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, German Cancer Research Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Sjoerd H van der Burg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Thorbald van Hall
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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28
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Type 2 Innate Lymphocytes Actuate Immunity Against Tumours and Limit Cancer Metastasis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2924. [PMID: 29440650 PMCID: PMC5811448 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20608-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) potentiate immune responses, however, their role in mediating adaptive immunity in cancer has not been assessed. Here, we report that mice genetically lacking ILC2s have significantly increased tumour growth rates and conspicuously higher frequency of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and resulting metastasis to distal organs. Our data support the model that IL-33 dependent tumour-infiltrating ILC2s are mobilized from the lungs and other tissues through chemoattraction to enter tumours, and subsequently mediate tumour immune-surveillance by cooperating with dendritic cells to promote adaptive cytolytic T cell responses. We conclude that ILC2s play a fundamental, yet hitherto undescribed role in enhancing anti-cancer immunity and controlling tumour metastasis.
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29
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Florea ID, Karaoulani C. Epigenetic Changes of the Immune System with Role in Tumor Development. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1856:203-218. [PMID: 30178253 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8751-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tumor development is closely related to chronic inflammation and to evasion of immune defense mechanisms by neoplastic cells. The mediators of the inflammatory process as well as proteins involved in immune response or immune response evasion can be subject to various epigenetic changes such as methylation, acetylation, or phosphorylation. Some of these, such as cytokine suppressors, are undergoing repression through epigenetic changes, and others such as cytokines or chemokines are undergoing activation through epigenetic changes, both modifications having as a result tumor progression. The activating changes can affect the receptor molecules involved in immune response and these promote inflammation and subsequently tumor development while the inactivating changes seem to be related to the tumor regression process. The proteins involved in antigen presentation, and, therefore in immune response escape, such as classical HLA proteins and related APM (antigen presentation machinery) with their epigenetic changes contribute to the tumor development process, either to tumor progression or regression, depending on the immune effector cells that are in play.
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30
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Downregulation of TAP1 and TAP2 in early stage breast cancer. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187323. [PMID: 29091951 PMCID: PMC5706630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
TAP1-TAP2 heterodimeric complexes are recognized as the transporter associated with antigen processing of major histocompatibility complex class I peptides for recognition by tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In this study, we investigated the immunohistochemical expression of TAP1 and TAP2 in 160 patients with breast cancer and correlated their expression levels with clinicopathologic parameters. The median age of the patient cohort was 52.5 years (range, 30–86 years). Both TAP1 and TAP2 immunohistochemical expression levels correlated significantly with breast cancer characteristics (P < .001). TAP1 expression levels were low to negative in stage I breast tumors. TAP1 and TAP2 levels were significantly higher in grade 3 tumors than low-grade (grade 1 and 2) tumors. TAP1 and TAP2 expression levels were not significantly different among different levels of HER2-expressing tumors and did not vary by estrogen and progesterone receptor status or patient age. Both TAP1 and TAP2 overexpression in breast cancer might be an indicator of an aggressive breast tumor.
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Abstract
In the past few years, it has become clear that mutations in epigenetic regulatory genes are common in human cancers. Therapeutic strategies are now being developed to target cancers with mutations in these genes using specific chemical inhibitors. In addition, a complementary approach based on the concept of synthetic lethality, which allows exploitation of loss-of-function mutations in cancers that are not targetable by conventional methods, has gained traction. Both of these approaches are now being tested in several clinical trials. In this Review, we present recent advances in epigenetic drug discovery and development, and suggest possible future avenues of investigation to drive progress in this area.
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32
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Liu M, Zhou J, Chen Z, Cheng ASL. Understanding the epigenetic regulation of tumours and their microenvironments: opportunities and problems for epigenetic therapy. J Pathol 2016; 241:10-24. [PMID: 27770445 DOI: 10.1002/path.4832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment plays an instrumental role in cancer development, progression and treatment response/resistance. Accumulating evidence is underscoring the fundamental importance of epigenetic regulation in tumour immune evasion. Following many pioneering discoveries demonstrating malignant transformation through epigenetic anomalies ('epimutations'), there is also a growing emphasis on elucidating aberrant epigenetic mechanisms that reprogramme the milieu of tumour-associated immune and stromal cells towards an immunosuppressive state. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA methylation and histone modifications can augment the efficiency of immune checkpoint blockage, and unleash anti-tumour T-cell responses. However, these non-specific agents also represent a 'double-edged sword', as they can also reactivate gene transcription of checkpoint molecules, interrupting immune surveillance programmes. By understanding the impact of epigenetic control on the tumour microenvironment, rational combinatorial epigenetic and checkpoint blockage therapies have the potential to harness the immune system for the treatment of cancer. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, PR China
| | - Jingying Zhou
- School of Biomedical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, PR China
| | - Zhiwei Chen
- AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, PR China
| | - Alfred Sze-Lok Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, PR China
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33
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Saranchova I, Han J, Huang H, Fenninger F, Choi KB, Munro L, Pfeifer C, Welch I, Wyatt AW, Fazli L, Gleave ME, Jefferies WA. Discovery of a Metastatic Immune Escape Mechanism Initiated by the Loss of Expression of the Tumour Biomarker Interleukin-33. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30555. [PMID: 27619158 PMCID: PMC5020406 DOI: 10.1038/srep30555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A new paradigm for understanding immune-surveillance and immune escape in cancer is described here. Metastatic carcinomas express reduced levels of IL-33 and diminished levels of antigen processing machinery (APM), compared to syngeneic primary tumours. Complementation of IL-33 expression in metastatic tumours upregulates APM expression and functionality of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-molecules, resulting in reduced tumour growth rates and a lower frequency of circulating tumour cells. Parallel studies in humans demonstrate that low tumour expression of IL-33 is an immune biomarker associated with recurrent prostate and kidney renal clear cell carcinomas. Thus, IL-33 has a significant role in cancer immune-surveillance against primary tumours, which is lost during the metastatic transition that actuates immune escape in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Saranchova
- The Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4.,Department of Microbiology &Immunology, University of British Columbia, 1365 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Jeffrey Han
- The Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4.,Department of Microbiology &Immunology, University of British Columbia, 1365 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Hui Huang
- The Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4.,Department of Microbiology &Immunology, University of British Columbia, 1365 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Franz Fenninger
- The Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4.,Department of Microbiology &Immunology, University of British Columbia, 1365 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Kyung Bok Choi
- The Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Lonna Munro
- The Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Cheryl Pfeifer
- The Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Ian Welch
- Department of Animal Care Services, University of British Columbia, 4145 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC Canada V6T 1W5
| | - Alexander W Wyatt
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia Gordon &Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, Level 6, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 1M9.,The Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 3Z6
| | - Ladan Fazli
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia Gordon &Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, Level 6, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 1M9.,The Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 3Z6
| | - Martin E Gleave
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia Gordon &Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, Level 6, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 1M9.,The Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 3Z6
| | - Wilfred A Jefferies
- The Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4.,Department of Microbiology &Immunology, University of British Columbia, 1365 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia 1364 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3.,Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia 4200 - 6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4.,Centre for Blood Research at the University of British Columbia 4th Floor - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3.,Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at the University of British Columbia 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC Canada V6T 1Z3
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34
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Vlková V, Štěpánek I, Hrušková V, Šenigl F, Mayerová V, Šrámek M, Šímová J, Bieblová J, Indrová M, Hejhal T, Dérian N, Klatzmann D, Six A, Reiniš M. Epigenetic regulations in the IFNγ signalling pathway: IFNγ-mediated MHC class I upregulation on tumour cells is associated with DNA demethylation of antigen-presenting machinery genes. Oncotarget 2015; 5:6923-35. [PMID: 25071011 PMCID: PMC4196173 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Downregulation of MHC class I expression on tumour cells, a common mechanism by which tumour cells can escape from specific immune responses, can be associated with coordinated silencing of antigen-presenting machinery genes. The expression of these genes can be restored by IFNγ. In this study we documented association of DNA demethylation of selected antigen-presenting machinery genes located in the MHC genomic locus (TAP-1, TAP-2, LMP-2, LMP-7) upon IFNγ treatment with MHC class I upregulation on tumour cells in several MHC class I-deficient murine tumour cell lines (TC-1/A9, TRAMP-C2, MK16 and MC15). Our data also documented higher methylation levels in these genes in TC-1/A9 cells, as compared to their parental MHC class I-positive TC-1 cells. IFNγ-mediated DNA demethylation was relatively fast in comparison with demethylation induced by DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine, and associated with increased histone H3 acetylation in the promoter regions of APM genes. Comparative transcriptome analysis in distinct MHC class I-deficient cell lines upon their treatment with either IFNγ or epigenetic agents revealed that a set of genes, significantly enriched for the antigen presentation pathway, was regulated in the same manner. Our data demonstrate that IFNγ acts as an epigenetic modifier when upregulating the expression of antigen-presenting machinery genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Vlková
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Ivan Štěpánek
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Veronika Hrušková
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Filip Šenigl
- Department of Viral and Cellular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Veronika Mayerová
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Martin Šrámek
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Jana Šímová
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Jana Bieblová
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Marie Indrová
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Tomáš Hejhal
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Nicolas Dérian
- UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; CNRS, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; INSERM, UMR_S 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, CIC-BTi Biotherapy & Département Hospitalo-Universitaire (DHU) Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy (i2B), Paris, France
| | - David Klatzmann
- UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; CNRS, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; INSERM, UMR_S 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, CIC-BTi Biotherapy & Département Hospitalo-Universitaire (DHU) Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy (i2B), Paris, France
| | - Adrien Six
- UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; CNRS, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; INSERM, UMR_S 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, CIC-BTi Biotherapy & Département Hospitalo-Universitaire (DHU) Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy (i2B), Paris, France
| | - Milan Reiniš
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
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35
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Yu XD, Guo ZS. Epigenetic drugs for cancer treatment and prevention: mechanisms of action. Biomol Concepts 2015; 1:239-51. [PMID: 25962000 DOI: 10.1515/bmc.2010.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This review provides a brief overview of the basic principles of epigenetic gene regulation and then focuses on recent development of epigenetic drugs for cancer treatment and prevention with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms of action. The approved epigenetic drugs are either inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases or histone deacetylases (HDACs). Future epigenetic drugs could include inhibitors for histone methyltransferases and histone demethylases and other epigenetic enzymes. Epigenetic drugs often function in two separate yet interrelated ways. First, as epigenetic drugs per se, they modulate the epigenomes of premalignant and malignant cells to reverse deregulated epigenetic mechanisms, leading to an effective therapeutic strategy (epigenetic therapy). Second, HDACs and other epigenetic enzymes also target non-histone proteins that have regulatory roles in cell proliferation, migration and cell death. Through these processes, these drugs induce cancer cell growth arrest, cell differentiation, inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, or cell death via apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy or mitotic catastrophe (chemotherapy). As they modulate genes which lead to enhanced chemosensitivity, immunogenicity or dampened innate antiviral response of cancer cells, epigenetic drugs often show better efficacy when combined with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or oncolytic virotherapy. In chemoprevention, dietary phytochemicals such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate and sulforaphane act as epigenetic agents and show efficacy by targeting both cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. Further understanding of how epigenetic mechanisms function in carcinogenesis and cancer progression as well as in normal physiology will enable us to establish a new paradigm for intelligent drug design in the treatment and prevention of cancer.
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36
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Héninger E, Krueger TEG, Lang JM. Augmenting antitumor immune responses with epigenetic modifying agents. Front Immunol 2015; 6:29. [PMID: 25699047 PMCID: PMC4316783 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic silencing of immune-related genes is a striking feature of the cancer genome that occurs in the process of tumorigenesis. This phenomena impacts antigen processing and antigen presentation by tumor cells and facilitates evasion of immunosurveillance. Further modulation of the tumor microenvironment by altered expression of immunosuppressive cytokines impairs antigen-presenting cells and cytolytic T-cell function. The potential reversal of immunosuppression by epigenetic modulation is therefore a promising and versatile therapeutic approach to reinstate endogenous immune recognition and tumor lysis. Pre-clinical studies have identified multiple elements of the immune system that can be modulated by epigenetic mechanisms and result in improved antigen presentation, effector T-cell function, and breakdown of suppressor mechanisms. Recent clinical studies are utilizing epigenetic therapies prior to, or in combination with, immune therapies to improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Héninger
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center , Madison, WI , USA
| | | | - Joshua M Lang
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center , Madison, WI , USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin , Madison, WI , USA
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37
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Kosoff D, Krueger T, Lang JM. Targeting epigenetic mechanisms for clinical translation: enhancing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapies. Immunotherapy 2014; 5:1243-54. [PMID: 24188678 DOI: 10.2217/imt.13.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to evade host immune surveillance is critical for the survival of tumor cells and is correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Many tumor types have been found to downregulate expression of genes involved in antigen production, processing and presentation to evade immune detection. Recent findings suggest that the mechanisms underlying these immune evasion phenomena extend beyond alterations in DNA sequence to include epigenetic modifications of DNA and associated proteins, including hypermethylation of DNA and altered histone acetylation patterns. This review will summarize alterations in antigen presentation machinery identified in malignant cells, epigenetic mechanisms that can be employed in the downregulation of genes relevant for antigen presentation and translational strategies to target these processes to enhance the efficacy of antitumor immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kosoff
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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38
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Mikyšková R, Indrová M, Vlková V, Bieblová J, Šímová J, Paračková Z, Pajtasz-Piasecka E, Rossowska J, Reiniš M. DNA demethylating agent 5-azacytidine inhibits myeloid-derived suppressor cells induced by tumor growth and cyclophosphamide treatment. J Leukoc Biol 2014; 95:743-753. [DOI: 10.1189/jlb.0813435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Revised: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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39
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Sigalotti L, Fratta E, Coral S, Maio M. Epigenetic drugs as immunomodulators for combination therapies in solid tumors. Pharmacol Ther 2013; 142:339-50. [PMID: 24384533 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Continuously improving knowledge of the fine mechanisms regulating cross-talk between immune cells, and of their multi-faceted interactions with cancer cells, has prompted the development of several novel immunotherapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Among these, modulation of the host's immune system by targeting immunological synapses has shown notable clinical efficacy in different tumor types. Despite this, objective clinical responses and, more importantly, long-term survival are achieved only by a fraction of patients; therefore, identification of the mechanism(s) responsible for the differential effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade in specific patient populations is an area of intense investigation. Neoplastic cells can activate multiple mechanisms to escape from immune control; among these, epigenetic reprogramming is emerging as a key player. Selected tumor-associated antigens, Human Leukocyte Antigens, and accessory/co-stimulatory molecules required for efficient recognition of neoplastic cells by the immune system have been shown to be epigenetically silenced or down-regulated in cancer. Consistent with the inherent reversibility of epigenetic silencing, "epigenetic" drugs, such as inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases and of histone deacetylases, can restore the functional expression of these down-regulated molecules, thus improving the recognition of cancer cells by both the innate and adaptive immune responses. This review focuses on the immunomodulatory activity of epigenetic drugs and on their proposed clinical use in novel combined chemo-immunotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Sigalotti
- Cancer Bioimmunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Aviano, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Fratta
- Cancer Bioimmunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Aviano, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | - Sandra Coral
- Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy
| | - Michele Maio
- Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy.
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Forbes NE, Abdelbary H, Lupien M, Bell JC, Diallo JS. Exploiting tumor epigenetics to improve oncolytic virotherapy. Front Genet 2013; 4:184. [PMID: 24062768 PMCID: PMC3778850 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) comprise a versatile and multi-mechanistic therapeutic platform in the growing arsenal of anticancer biologics. These replicating therapeutics find favorable conditions in the tumor niche, characterized among others by increased metabolism, reduced anti-tumor/antiviral immunity, and disorganized vasculature. Through a self-amplification that is dependent on multiple cancer-specific defects, these agents exhibit remarkable tumor selectivity. With several OVs completing or entering Phase III clinical evaluation, their therapeutic potential as well as the challenges ahead are increasingly clear. One key hurdle is tumor heterogeneity, which results in variations in the ability of tumors to support productive infection by OVs and to induce adaptive anti-tumor immunity. To this end, mounting evidence suggests tumor epigenetics may play a key role. This review will focus on the epigenetic landscape of tumors and how it relates to OV infection. Therapeutic strategies aiming to exploit the epigenetic identity of tumors in order to improve OV therapy are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E. Forbes
- Center for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaOttawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hesham Abdelbary
- Center for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaOttawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mathieu Lupien
- Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Center/University Health NetworkToronto, ON, Canada
- Ontario Institute for Cancer ResearchToronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
| | - John C. Bell
- Center for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaOttawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jean-Simon Diallo
- Center for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteOttawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaOttawa, ON, Canada
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Das T, Chakraborty S. Perspective: Flicking with flow: Can microfluidics revolutionize the cancer research? BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2013; 7:11811. [PMID: 24403993 PMCID: PMC3574074 DOI: 10.1063/1.4789750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Cancer research, in its all facets, is truly interdisciplinary in nature, cutting across the fields of fundamental and applied sciences, as well as biomedical engineering. In recent years, microfluidics has been applied successfully in cancer research. There remain, however, many elusive features of this disease, where microfluidic systems could throw new lights. In addition, some inherent features of microfluidic systems remain unexploited in cancer research. In this article, we first briefly review the advancement of microfluidics in cancer biology. We then describe the biophysical aspects of cancer and outline how microfluidic system could be useful in developing a deeper understanding on the underlying mechanisms. We next illustrate the effects of the confined environment of microchannel on cellular dynamics and argue that the tissue microconfinement could be a crucial facet in tumor development. Lastly, we attempt to highlight some of the most important problems in cancer biology, to inspire next level of microfluidic applications in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamal Das
- Department of New Materials and Biosystems, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
| | - Suman Chakraborty
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute for Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
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Abstract
The adaptive immune system should prevent cancer cells passing from one individual to another, in much the same way that it protects against pathogens. However, in rare cases cancer cells do not die within a single individual, but successfully pass between individuals, escaping the adaptive immune response and becoming a contagious cancer. There are two naturally occurring contagious cancers, Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), found in Tasmanian devils, and Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumour (CTVT), found in dogs. Despite sharing an ability to pass as allografts, these cancers have a very different impact on their hosts. While DFTD causes 100% mortality among infected devils and has had a devastating impact on the devil population, CTVT co-exists with its host in a manner that does not usually cause death of the dog. Although immune evasion strategies for CTVT have been defined, why DFTD is not rejected as an allograft is not understood. We have made progress in revealing mechanisms of immune evasion for DFTD both in vitro and in vivo, and here we compare how DFTD and CTVT interact with their respective hosts and avoid rejection. Our findings highlight factors that may be important for the evolution of contagious cancers and cancer more generally. Perhaps most importantly, this work has opened up important areas for future research, including the effect of epigenetic factors on immune escape mechanisms and the basis of a vaccine strategy that may protect Tasmanian devils against DFTD.
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Qiu T, Wang L, Liu XH, Weng XD, Kuang YL, Chen ZY, Chen H, Zhu HC. Over-expressing transporters associated with antigen processing increases antitumor immunity response in prostate cancer. Cell Immunol 2012; 279:167-73. [PMID: 23246678 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2012.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Revised: 10/14/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
As we know, prostate cancer down-regulates expression of HLA-1 Antigen Processing Machinery (APM) and has defects in the antigen presentation pathway. In vitro, the prostate cancer cell (PC-3 cells) infected with Lentivirus TAP1 can efficiently over-express TAP1 and Tapasin, and HLA-1 was also up-regulated on the surface of the infected cells. The lentivirus TAP1 infection increased the apoptosis rate of PC-3 cells. In addition, with the co-cluture PC-3 cells and lymphocytes, TAP1 augmented the expression of CD3⁺CD8⁺CD38⁺ T cell. Importantly, administration of Lentivirus TAP1 to prostate cancer cells in a xenograft mouse model can prolong survival and increase the CD4⁺ T cells, and CD8⁺ T cells as well as decrease Foxp3⁺ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. In summary, a recombinant lentivirus expressing TAP1 can effectively increase prostate cancer tumor-specific immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Qiu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Romero I, Martinez M, Garrido C, Collado A, Algarra I, Garrido F, Garcia-Lora AM. The tumour suppressor Fhit positively regulates MHC class I expression on cancer cells. J Pathol 2012; 227:367-79. [PMID: 22451343 DOI: 10.1002/path.4029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2011] [Revised: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules are ubiquitously expressed on the cells of an organism. Study of the regulation of these molecules in normal and disease conditions is important. In tumour cells, the expression of MHC-I molecules is very frequently lost, allowing these cells to evade the immune response. Cancers of different histology have shown total loss of MHC-I molecule expression, due to a coordinated transcriptional down-regulation of various antigen-processing machinery (APM) components and/or MHC-I heavy chains. The mechanisms responsible for these alterations remain unclear. We determined the possible genes involved by comparing MHC-I-positive with MHC-I-negative murine metastases derived from the same fibrosarcoma tumour clone. MHC-I-negative metastases showed transcriptional down-regulation of APM and MHC-I heavy chains. The use of microarrays and subtraction cDNA libraries revealed four candidate genes responsible for this alteration, but two of them were ruled out by real-time RT-PCR analyses. The other two genes, AP-2α and Fhit tumour suppressors, were studied by using siRNA to silence their expression in a MHC-I-positive metastatic cell line. AP-2α inhibition did not modify transcriptional expression of APM components or MHC-I heavy chains or surface expression of MHC-I. In contrast, silencing of the Fhit gene produced the transcriptional down-regulation of APM components and MHC-I heavy chains and decreased MHC-I surface expression. Moreover, transfection of Fhit in MHC-I-negative tumour cell lines restored MHC-I cell surface expression. These data indicate that defects in Fhit expression may promote MHC-I down-regulation in cancer cells and allow escape from immunosurveillance(#).
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Romero
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos & Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
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Seliger B. Novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of HLA class I abnormalities. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2012; 61:249-254. [PMID: 22120755 PMCID: PMC11029063 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-011-1153-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in the MHC class I surface antigens represent one mechanism of tumor cells to escape from natural or immunotherapy-induced antitumor immune responses. In order to restore MHC class I expression, knowledge about the underlying molecular mechanisms of MHC class I defects in different tumor types is required. In most cases, abnormalities of MHC class I expression are reversible by cytokines suggesting a deregulation rather than structural abnormalities of members of the antigen-processing and presentation machinery (APM). The impaired expression of APM components could be controlled at the epigenetic, transcriptional and/or posttranscriptional level. Furthermore, a direct link between altered transcription factor binding, interferon signal transduction and MHC class I APM component expression has been shown, which might be further associated with cell cycle progression. This information will not only give novel insights into the (patho) physiology of the antigen-processing and presenting pathway, but will help in the future to design effective T cell-based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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Durgeau A, El Hage F, Vergnon I, Validire P, de Montpréville V, Besse B, Soria JC, van Hall T, Mami-Chouaib F. Different expression levels of the TAP peptide transporter lead to recognition of different antigenic peptides by tumor-specific CTL. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2011; 187:5532-9. [PMID: 22025554 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Decreased antigenicity of cancer cells is a major problem in tumor immunology. This is often acquired by an expression defect in the TAP. However, it has been reported that certain murine Ags appear on the target cell surface upon impairment of TAP expression. In this study, we identified a human CTL epitope belonging to this Ag category. This epitope is derived from preprocalcitonin (ppCT) signal peptide and is generated within the endoplasmic reticulum by signal peptidase and signal peptide peptidase. Lung cancer cells bearing this antigenic peptide displayed low levels of TAP, but restoration of their expression by IFN-γ treatment or TAP1 and TAP2 gene transfer abrogated ppCT Ag presentation. In contrast, TAP upregulation in the same tumor cells increased their recognition by proteasome/TAP-dependent peptide-specific CTLs. Thus, to our knowledge, ppCT(16-25) is the first human tumor epitope whose surface expression requires loss or downregulation of TAP. Lung tumors frequently display low levels of TAP molecules and might thus be ignored by the immune system. Our results suggest that emerging signal peptidase-generated peptides represent alternative T cell targets, which permit CTLs to destroy TAP-impaired tumors and thus overcome tumor escape from CD8(+) T cell immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Durgeau
- INSERM U753, Team 1, Tumor Antigens and CTL Reactivity, Integrated Research Cancer Institute in Villejuif, Gustave Roussy Institute, 94805 Villejuif Cedex, France
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Immunotherapy augments the effect of 5-azacytidine on HPV16-associated tumours with different MHC class I-expression status. Br J Cancer 2011; 105:1533-41. [PMID: 22015556 PMCID: PMC3242529 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2011.428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic mechanisms have important roles in the tumour escape from immune responses, such as in MHC class I downregulation or altered expression of other components involved in antigen presentation. Chemotherapy with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) can thus influence the tumour cell interactions with the immune system and their sensitivity to immunotherapy. METHODS We evaluated the therapeutic effects of the DNMTi 5-azacytidine (5AC) against experimental MHC class I-deficient and -positive tumours. The 5AC therapy was combined with immunotherapy, using a murine model for HPV16-associated tumours. RESULTS We have demonstrated 5AC additive effects against MHC class I-positive and -deficient tumours when combined with unmethylated CpG oligodeoxynucleotides or with IL-12-producing cellular vaccine. The efficacy of the combined chemoimmunotherapy against originally MHC class I-deficient tumours was partially dependent on the CD8(+)-mediated immune responses. Increased cell surface expression of MHC class I cell molecules, associated with upregulation of the antigen-presenting machinery-related genes, as well as of genes encoding selected components of the IFNγ-signalling pathway in tumours explanted from 5AC-treated animals, were observed. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that chemotherapy of MHC class I-deficient tumours with 5AC combined with immunotherapy is an attractive setting in the treatment of MHC class I-deficient tumours.
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Interactions of dendritic cells with cancer cells and modulation of surface molecules affect functional properties of CD8+ T cells. Mol Immunol 2011; 48:1744-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2011.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2011] [Revised: 03/29/2011] [Accepted: 04/15/2011] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Serrano A, Castro-Vega I, Redondo M. Role of gene methylation in antitumor immune response: implication for tumor progression. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:1672-90. [PMID: 24212778 PMCID: PMC3757384 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3021672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2010] [Revised: 03/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunosurveillance theory has emphasized the role of escape mechanisms in tumor growth. In this respect, a very important factor is the molecular characterization of the mechanisms by which tumor cells evade immune recognition and destruction. Among the many escape mechanisms identified, alterations in classical and non-classical HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigens) class I and class II expression by tumor cells are of particular interest. In addition to the importance of HLA molecules, tumor-associated antigens and accessory/co-stimulatory molecules are also involved in immune recognition. The loss of HLA class I antigen expression and of co-stimulatory molecules can occur at genetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Epigenetic defects are involved in at least some mechanisms that preclude mounting a successful host-antitumor response involving the HLA system, tumor-associated antigens, and accessory/co-stimulatory molecules. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of methylation in the regulation of molecules involved in the tumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Serrano
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Campus Universitario Teatinos S/N, 29010 Malaga, Spain.
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50
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Linley AJ, Ahmad M, Rees RC. Tumour-associated antigens: considerations for their use in tumour immunotherapy. Int J Hematol 2011; 93:263-273. [DOI: 10.1007/s12185-011-0783-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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