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Kaur S, Saini AK, Tuli HS, Garg N, Joshi H, Varol M, Kaur J, Chhillar AK, Saini RV. Polymer-mediated nanoformulations: a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:1311-1326. [PMID: 37695334 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02699-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Engineering polymer-based nano-systems have attracted many researchers owing to their unique qualities like shape, size, porosity, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Both natural and synthetic polymers can be tuned to get desired surface chemistry and functionalization to improve the efficacy of cancer therapy by promoting targeted delivery to the tumor site. Recent advancements in cancer immunoediting have been able to manage both primary tumor and metastatic lesions via activation of the immune system. The combinations of nano-biotechnology and immunotherapeutic agents have provided positive outcomes by enhancing the host immune response in cancer therapy. The nanoparticles have been functionalized using antibodies, targeted antigens, small molecule ligands, and other novel agents that can interact with biological systems at nanoscale levels. Several polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and chitosan, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical use in biomedicine. The polymeric nanoformulations such as polymers-antibody/antigen conjugates and polymeric drug conjugates are currently being explored as nanomedicines that can target cancer cells directly or target immune cells to promote anti-cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we focus on scientific developments and advancements on engineered polymeric nano-systems in conjugation with immunotherapeutic agents targeting the tumor microenvironment to improve their efficacy and the safety for better clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simranjit Kaur
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
| | - Adesh K Saini
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
- Central Research Cell, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
| | - Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
| | - Nancy Garg
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India
| | - Hemant Joshi
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Mehmet Varol
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey
| | - Jagjit Kaur
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Anil K Chhillar
- Centre for Biotechnology, M.D. University, Rohtak, Haryana, 124 001, India
| | - Reena V Saini
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India.
- Central Research Cell, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India.
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Yu S, Gu J, Wang R, Lee S, Shan Y, Wang J, Sun Y, Ma X. TIGIT reverses IFN-α-promoted Th1-like Tregs via in-sequence effects dependent on STAT4. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:221. [PMID: 37978415 PMCID: PMC10655484 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03202-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The induction direction of interferon (IFN)-α in T-cell phenotype and function varies depending on the activation state of the cell and the time of stimulation. To assess the effects of elevated IFN-α on regulatory T cells (Tregs) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, we investigated the differentiation of Th1-like Tregs under in-sequence and out-of-sequence conditions and the reversal effect of activating TIGIT on immune suppression. METHODS Phenotypes and activation levels of Tregs from SLE patients and healthy controls were analyzed using flow cytometry. In vitro culture conditions based on the sequence of TCR activation and IFN-α stimulation simulated in-sequence or out-of-sequence effects. CD4+T cells and Tregs were cultured under the above conditions with or without TIGIT agonist. Expression of related characteristic markers and phosphorylation levels of AKT, mTOR, and STATs were detected using flow cytometry and ELISA. RESULTS The frequency of Th1-like Tregs and activation levels of Tregs increased, but TIGIT expression in Tregs decreased in SLE patients. IFN-α promoted the conversation of Tregs to Th1-like Tregs while reducing immunosuppressive function under in-sequence conditions. The STAT4 pathway, but not the STAT1 pathway, was crucial for the IFN-α-mediated in-sequence effects. Reactivation of TIGIT reversed Th1 polarization of Tregs by suppressing AKT/mTOR and STAT4 signaling. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that IFN-α mediated in-sequence effects on Tregs may be responsible for the expansion of Th1-like Tregs in SLE. TIGIT can restore immune suppression damage in Tregs and represents a potential therapeutic target for SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihan Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No.155, Nanjingbei Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China
- Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Gu
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No.155, Nanjingbei Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China
- Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No.155, Nanjingbei Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Seunghyun Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Shan
- Department of Pediatrics, Shenyang Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenyang, China
- First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Jiakai Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yini Sun
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoxue Ma
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No.155, Nanjingbei Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China.
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Pescia C, Pini G, Olmeda E, Ferrero S, Lopez G. TIGIT in Lung Cancer: Potential Theranostic Implications. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13041050. [PMID: 37109579 PMCID: PMC10145071 DOI: 10.3390/life13041050] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains) is a co-inhibitory receptor expressed on various immune cells, including T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells. TIGIT interacts with different ligands, such as CD155 and CD112, which are highly expressed on cancer cells, leading to the suppression of immune responses. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of TIGIT in regulating immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment and its role as a potential therapeutic target, especially in the field of lung cancer. However, the role of TIGIT in cancer development and progression remains controversial, particularly regarding the relevance of its expression both in the tumor microenvironment and on tumor cells, with prognostic and predictive implications that remain to date essentially undisclosed. Here, we provide a review of the recent advances in TIGIT-blockade in lung cancer, and also insights on TIGIT relevance as an immunohistochemical biomarker and its possible theranostic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Pescia
- Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuditta Pini
- Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Olmeda
- Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Ferrero
- Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Lopez
- Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy
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Li T, Wang X, Qin S, Chen B, Yi M, Zhou J. Targeting PARP for the optimal immunotherapy efficiency in gynecologic malignancies. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114712. [PMID: 37075667 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114712] [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: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Gynecologic cancer, which includes ovarian, cervical, endometrial, vulvar, and vaginal cancer, is a major health concern for women all over the world. Despite the availability of various treatment options, many patients eventually progress to advanced stages and face high mortality rates. PARPi (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) have both shown significant efficacy in the treatment of advanced and metastatic gynecologic cancer. However, both treatments have limitations, including inevitable resistance and a narrow therapeutic window, making PARPi and ICI combination therapy a promising approach to treating gynecologic malignancies. Preclinical and clinical trials have looked into the combination therapy of PARPi and ICI. PARPi improves ICI efficacy by inducing DNA damage and increasing tumor immunogenicity, resulting in a stronger immune response against cancer cells. ICI, conversly, can increase PARPi sensitivity by priming and activating immune cells, consequently prompting immune cytotoxic effect. Several clinical trials in gynecologic cancer patients have investigated the combination therapy of PARPi and ICI. When compared to monotherapy, the combination of PARPi and ICI increased progression-free survival and overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. The combination therapy has also been studied in other types of gynecologic cancer, including endometrial and cervical cancer, with promising results. Finally, the combination therapeutic strategy of PARPi and ICI is a promising approach in the treatment of gynecologic cancer, particularly advanced and metastatic stages. Preclinical studies and clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of this combination therapy in improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianye Li
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinrun Wang
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Qin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingxin Chen
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ming Yi
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jianwei Zhou
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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Ghazvinian Z, Abdolahi S, Tokhanbigli S, Tarzemani S, Piccin A, Reza Zali M, Verdi J, Baghaei K. Contribution of natural killer cells in innate immunity against colorectal cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1077053. [PMID: 36686835 PMCID: PMC9846259 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1077053] [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: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer cells are members of the innate immune system and promote cytotoxic activity against tumor or infected cells independently from MHC recognition. NK cells are modulated by the expression of activator/inhibitory receptors. The ratio of this activator/inhibitory receptors is responsible for the cytotoxic activity of NK cells toward the target cells. Owing to the potent anti-tumor properties of NK cells, they are considered as interesting approach in tumor treatment. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of death in the world and the incidence is about 2 million new cases per year. Metastatic CRC is accompanied by a poor prognosis with less than three years of overall survival. Chemotherapy and surgery are the most adopted treatments. Besides, targeted therapy and immune checkpoint blockade are novel approach to CRC treatment. In these patients, circulating NK cells are a prognostic marker. The main target of CRC immune cell therapy is to improve the tumor cell's recognition and elimination by immune cells. Adaptive NK cell therapy is the milestone to achieve the purpose. Allogeneic NK cell therapy has been widely investigated within clinical trials. In this review, we focus on the NK related approaches including CAR NK cells, cell-based vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and immunomodulatory drugs against CRC tumoral cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Ghazvinian
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrokh Abdolahi
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Tokhanbigli
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shadi Tarzemani
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Andrea Piccin
- Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, Belfast, United Kingdom
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Verdi
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Baghaei
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Saadi W, Fatmi A, Pallardó FV, García-Giménez JL, Mena-Molla S. Long Non-Coding RNAs as Epigenetic Regulators of Immune Checkpoints in Cancer Immunity. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010184. [PMID: 36612180 PMCID: PMC9819025 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, cancer treatment has undergone significant changes, predominantly in the shift towards immunotherapeutic strategies using immune checkpoint inhibitors. Despite the clinical efficacy of many of these inhibitors, the overall response rate remains modest, and immunotherapies for many cancers have proved ineffective, highlighting the importance of knowing the tumor microenvironment and heterogeneity of each malignancy in patients. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted increasing attention for their ability to control various biological processes by targeting different molecular pathways. Some lncRNAs have a regulatory role in immune checkpoints, suggesting they might be utilized as a target for immune checkpoint treatment. The focus of this review is to describe relevant lncRNAs and their targets and functions to understand key regulatory mechanisms that may contribute in regulating immune checkpoints. We also provide the state of the art on super-enhancers lncRNAs (selncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), which have recently been reported as modulators of immune checkpoint molecules within the framework of human cancer. Other feasible mechanisms of interaction between lncRNAs and immune checkpoints are also reported, along with the use of miRNAs and circRNAs, in generating new tumor immune microenvironments, which can further help avoid tumor evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiam Saadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Nature, Life and Earth Sciences, University of Djillali Bounaama, Khemis Miliana 44225, Algeria
- Correspondence: (W.S.); (S.M.-M.)
| | - Ahlam Fatmi
- INCLIVA Health Research Institute, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Federico V. Pallardó
- INCLIVA Health Research Institute, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Institute of Health Carlos III, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Luis García-Giménez
- INCLIVA Health Research Institute, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Institute of Health Carlos III, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Salvador Mena-Molla
- INCLIVA Health Research Institute, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: (W.S.); (S.M.-M.)
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Casagrande N, Borghese C, Aldinucci D. Current and Emerging Approaches to Study Microenvironmental Interactions and Drug Activity in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102427. [PMID: 35626032 PMCID: PMC9139207 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL), the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in tumor progression and treatment response, making its evaluation critical for determining prognosis, treatment strategies and predicting an increase in drug toxicity. Therefore, there is a need to utilize more complex systems to study the cHL-TME and its interplay with tumor cells. To evaluate new anticancer drugs and to find the mechanisms of drug resistance, this review summarizes emerging approaches for the analysis of the TME composition and to identify the state of the disease; the in vitro techniques used to determine the mechanisms involved in the building of an immunosuppressive and protective TME; new 3-dimensional (3D) models, the heterospheroids (HS), developed to mimic TME interactions. Here, we describe the present and likely future clinical applications indicated by the results of these studies and propose a classification for the in vitro culture methods used to study TME interactions in cHL. Abstract Classic Hodgkin lymphoma is characterized by a few tumor cells surrounded by a protective and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) composed by a wide variety of noncancerous cells that are an active part of the disease. Therefore, new techniques to study the cHL-TME and new therapeutic strategies targeting specifically tumor cells, reactivating the antitumor immunity, counteracting the protective effects of the TME, were developed. Here, we describe new methods used to study the cell composition, the phenotype, and the spatial distribution of Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells and of noncancerous cells in tumor tissues. Moreover, we propose a classification, with increasing complexity, of the in vitro functional studies used to clarify the interactions leading not only to HRS cell survival, growth and drug resistance, but also to the immunosuppressive tumor education of monocytes, T lymphocytes and fibroblasts. This classification also includes new 3-dimensional (3D) models, obtained by cultivating HRS cells in extracellular matrix scaffolds or in sponge scaffolds, under non-adherent conditions with noncancerous cells to form heterospheroids (HS), implanted in developing chick eggs (ovo model). We report results obtained with these approaches and their applications in clinical setting.
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