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Timmerman LM, Hensen LCM, van Eijs MJM, Verheijden RJ, Suijkerbuijk KPM, Meyaard L, van der Vlist M. In vitro T cell responses to PD-1 blockade are reduced by IFN-α but do not predict therapy response in melanoma patients. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:181. [PMID: 38967829 PMCID: PMC11226572 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03760-z] [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: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
PD-1 blockade therapy has revolutionized melanoma treatment, but still not all patients benefit and pre-treatment identification of those patients is difficult. Increased expression of inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL)-6 in blood of patients correlates with poor treatment response. We set out to study the effect of inflammatory cytokines on PD-1 blockade in vitro. For this, we studied the effect of IL-6 and type I interferon (IFN) in vitro on human T cells in a mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) in the absence or presence of PD-1 blockade. While IL-6 reduced IFN-γ secretion by T cells in both the presence and absence of PD-1 blockade, IFN-α specifically reduced the IFN-γ secretion only in the presence of PD-1 blockade. IFN-α reduced T cell proliferation independent of PD-1 blockade and reduced the percentage of cells producing IFN-γ only in the presence of PD-1 blockade. Next we determined the type I IFN score in a cohort of 22 melanoma patients treated with nivolumab. In this cohort, we did not find a correlation between clinical response and type I IFN score, nor between clinical response and IFN-γ secretion in vitro in a MLR in the presence of PD-1 blockade. We conclude that IFN-α reduces the effectiveness of PD-1 blockade in vitro, but that in this cohort, type I IFN score in vivo, nor IFN-γ secretion in vitro in a MLR in the presence of PD-1 blockade correlated to decreased therapy responses in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Timmerman
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lobke C M Hensen
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mick J M van Eijs
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rik J Verheijden
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Karijn P M Suijkerbuijk
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Linde Meyaard
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel van der Vlist
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Anguera G, Mulet M, Zamora C, Osuna-Gómez R, Barba A, Sullivan I, Serra-López J, Cantó E, Vidal S, Majem M. Potential Role of Circulating PD-L1 + Leukocytes as a Predictor of Response to Anti-PD-(L)1 Therapy in NSCLC Patients. Biomedicines 2024; 12:958. [PMID: 38790920 PMCID: PMC11117542 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12050958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
PD-(L)1 inhibitors are part of the treatment strategy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) although its efficacy is limited to certain patients. Our study aimed to identify patients who might benefit from anti-PD-(L)1 inhibitors by analyzing the PD-L1 expression on circulating leukocytes and its evolution during treatment. One hundred thirteen NSCLC patients, according to their radiological response after 10-12 weeks of treatment, were classified into responders, stable, and progressive disease. Percentages of circulating PD-L1+ leukocytes, PD-L1+ platelets (PLTs), and leukocyte-PLT complexes were assessed using flow cytometry, and plasma concentrations of soluble immunomodulatory factors were quantified by ELISA. Responders exhibited significantly higher pre-treatment percentages of PD-L1+ neutrophils, PD-L1+ CD14+ cells, and PD-L1+ PLTs than progressors. The percentages of these populations decreased in responders post-treatment, contrasting with stables and progressors. PLTs notably contributed to PD-L1 expression in CD14+ cells and neutrophils. Plasma cytokine analysis revealed baseline differences only in IL-17 concentration among groups, whereas network analyses highlighted distinct association patterns between plasma molecules and PD-L1+ leukocytes after 10-12 weeks of treatment. Our findings suggest that pre-treatment assessment of circulating PD-L1+ neutrophils, PD-L1+ CD14+ cells, and PD-L1+ PLTs may be helpful in identifying NSCLC patients who are potential candidates for anti-PD-(L)1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Anguera
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (G.A.); (A.B.); (I.S.); (J.S.-L.); (M.M.)
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Maria Mulet
- Group of Inflammatory Diseases, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (C.Z.); (R.O.-G.); (E.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Carlos Zamora
- Group of Inflammatory Diseases, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (C.Z.); (R.O.-G.); (E.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Rubén Osuna-Gómez
- Group of Inflammatory Diseases, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (C.Z.); (R.O.-G.); (E.C.); (S.V.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Andrés Barba
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (G.A.); (A.B.); (I.S.); (J.S.-L.); (M.M.)
| | - Ivana Sullivan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (G.A.); (A.B.); (I.S.); (J.S.-L.); (M.M.)
| | - Jorgina Serra-López
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (G.A.); (A.B.); (I.S.); (J.S.-L.); (M.M.)
| | - Elisabet Cantó
- Group of Inflammatory Diseases, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (C.Z.); (R.O.-G.); (E.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Silvia Vidal
- Group of Inflammatory Diseases, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (C.Z.); (R.O.-G.); (E.C.); (S.V.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Margarita Majem
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (G.A.); (A.B.); (I.S.); (J.S.-L.); (M.M.)
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Vuletić A, Mirjačić Martinović K, Spasić J. Role of Histone Deacetylase 6 and Histone Deacetylase 6 Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2023; 16:54. [PMID: 38258065 PMCID: PMC10818982 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010054] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), by deacetylation of multiple substrates and association with interacting proteins, regulates many physiological processes that are involved in cancer development and invasiveness such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis. Due to its ability to remove misfolded proteins, induce autophagy, and regulate unfolded protein response, HDAC6 plays a protective role in responses to stress and enables tumor cell survival. The scope of this review is to discuss the roles of HDCA6 and its implications for the therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC). As HDAC6 is overexpressed in CRC, correlates with poor disease prognosis, and is not essential for normal mammalian development, it represents a good therapeutic target. Selective inhibition of HDAC6 impairs growth and progression without inducing major adverse events in experimental animals. In CRC, HDAC6 inhibitors have shown the potential to reduce tumor progression and enhance the therapeutic effect of other drugs. As HDAC6 is involved in the regulation of immune responses, HDAC6 inhibitors have shown the potential to improve antitumor immunity by increasing the immunogenicity of tumor cells, augmenting immune cell activity, and alleviating immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, HDAC6 inhibitors may represent promising candidates to improve the effect of and overcome resistance to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Vuletić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Katarina Mirjačić Martinović
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Jelena Spasić
- Clinic for Medical Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
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Mirjačić Martinović K, Vuletić A, Tišma Miletić N, Besu Žižak I, Milovanović J, Matković S, Jurišić V. Circulating cytokine dynamics as potential biomarker of response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in BRAFwt MM patients. Transl Oncol 2023; 38:101799. [PMID: 37806113 PMCID: PMC10579527 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) efficacy and safety are still urgently needed. As cytokines are easily detected and monitored in circulation, they could be used as potential predictors of response and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) for ICIs therapy. METHODS The levels of TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 were measured in sera and plasma by ELISA method of 30 healthy controls (HC) and 32 BRAF wild type (wt) MM patients before and after every 12 weeks of Pembrolizumab, PD-1 inhibitor, until one year or disease progression (DP). RESULTS Higher pretherapy levels of circulating TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-10 were shown in MM patients compared to HC. In patients with disease control, TGF-β and IL-6 first decreased during the therapy, while then they started to successively increase reaching the initial values by the end of the follow up. Furthermore, in this group of patients IFN-γ increased, while IL-8 and IL-10 decreased at final points of the follow up. In patients with DP IL-6 increased at the time of progression, while IL-8 decreased when the best response was achieved. In patients with pseudoprogression IL-6 and IL-10 significantly increased compared to the pretreatment values. Melanoma patients with irAEs had increased baseline values of TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-10 compared to HC. However, no significant changes in cytokines levels were found in these patients during therapy. CONCLUSIONS Inflammatory cytokines monitoring in circulation of BRAFwt MM patients could help in the selection of patients who will have the benefit from Pembrolizumab therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Mirjačić Martinović
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, Belgrade 11000, Serbia.
| | - Ana Vuletić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Nevena Tišma Miletić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Irina Besu Žižak
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Jelena Milovanović
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Suzana Matković
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Jurišić
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, P.BOX 124, Kragujevac 34 000, Serbia
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