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Zhang H, Chen J, Bai J, Zhang J, Huang S, Zeng L, Zhou P, Shen Q, Yin T. Single dual-specific anti-PD-L1/TGF-β antibody synergizes with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a preclinical experimental study. Int J Surg 2024; 110:2679-2691. [PMID: 38489548 PMCID: PMC11093442 DOI: 10.1097/js9.0000000000001226] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Chemotherapy resistance is an important cause of neoadjuvant therapy failure in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). BiTP (anti-PD-L1/TGF-β bispecific antibody) is a single antibody that can simultaneously and dually target transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). We attempted in this study to investigate the efficacy of BiTP in combination with first-line chemotherapy in PDAC. METHODS Preclinical assessments of BiTP plus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel were completed through a resectable KPC mouse model (C57BL/6J). Spectral flow cytometry, tissue section staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, Counting Kit-8, transwell, and Western blot assays were used to investigate the synergistic effects. RESULTS BiTP combinatorial chemotherapy in neoadjuvant settings significantly downstaged PDAC tumors, enhanced survival, and had a higher resectability for mice with PDAC. BiTP was high affinity binding to targets and reverse chemotherapy resistance of PDAC cells. The combination overcame immune evasion through reprogramming tumor microenvironment via increasing penetration and function of T cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells and decreasing the function of immunosuppression-related cells as regulatory T cells, M2 macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the BiTP combinatorial chemotherapy is a promising neoadjuvant therapy for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoxiang Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou
- Sino-German Laboratory of Personalized Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
| | - Jiaoshun Chen
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
- Sino-German Laboratory of Personalized Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
| | - Jianwei Bai
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
- Sino-German Laboratory of Personalized Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
| | - Jing Zhang
- Wuhan YZY Biopharma Co., Ltd, Biolake, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaoyi Huang
- Wuhan YZY Biopharma Co., Ltd, Biolake, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liang Zeng
- Wuhan YZY Biopharma Co., Ltd, Biolake, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Zhou
- Wuhan YZY Biopharma Co., Ltd, Biolake, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiang Shen
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Tao Yin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
- Sino-German Laboratory of Personalized Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
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Mitra A, Kumar A, Amdare NP, Pathak R. Current Landscape of Cancer Immunotherapy: Harnessing the Immune Arsenal to Overcome Immune Evasion. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:307. [PMID: 38785789 PMCID: PMC11118874 DOI: 10.3390/biology13050307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immune evasion represents a leading hallmark of cancer, posing a significant obstacle to the development of successful anticancer therapies. However, the landscape of cancer treatment has significantly evolved, transitioning into the era of immunotherapy from conventional methods such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. Immunotherapy has emerged as a pivotal component in cancer treatment, harnessing the body's immune system to combat cancer and offering improved prognostic outcomes for numerous patients. The remarkable success of immunotherapy has spurred significant efforts to enhance the clinical efficacy of existing agents and strategies. Several immunotherapeutic approaches have received approval for targeted cancer treatments, while others are currently in preclinical and clinical trials. This review explores recent progress in unraveling the mechanisms of cancer immune evasion and evaluates the clinical effectiveness of diverse immunotherapy strategies, including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and antibody-based treatments. It encompasses both established treatments and those currently under investigation, providing a comprehensive overview of efforts to combat cancer through immunological approaches. Additionally, the article emphasizes the current developments, limitations, and challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, by integrating analyses of cancer immunotherapy resistance mechanisms and exploring combination strategies and personalized approaches, it offers valuable insights crucial for the development of novel anticancer immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Mitra
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Anoop Kumar
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, National Institute of Biologicals, Noida 201309, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nitin P. Amdare
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Rajiv Pathak
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
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3
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Rakké YS, Buschow SI, IJzermans JNM, Sprengers D. Engaging stimulatory immune checkpoint interactions in the tumour immune microenvironment of primary liver cancers - how to push the gas after having released the brake. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1357333. [PMID: 38440738 PMCID: PMC10910082 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1357333] [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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are the first and second most common primary liver cancer (PLC). For decades, systemic therapies consisting of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or chemotherapy have formed the cornerstone of treating advanced-stage HCC and CCA, respectively. More recently, immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has shown anti-tumour reactivity in some patients. The combination regimen of anti-PD-L1 and anti-VEGF antibodies has been approved as new first-line treatment of advanced-stage HCC. Furthermore, gemcibatine plus cisplatin (GEMCIS) with an anti-PD-L1 antibody is awaiting global approval for the treatment of advanced-stage CCA. As effective anti-tumour reactivity using ICI is achieved in a minor subset of both HCC and CCA patients only, alternative immune strategies to sensitise the tumour microenvironment of PLC are waited for. Here we discuss immune checkpoint stimulation (ICS) as additional tool to enhance anti-tumour reactivity. Up-to-date information on the clinical application of ICS in onco-immunology is provided. This review provides a rationale of the application of next-generation ICS either alone or in combination regimen to potentially enhance anti-tumour reactivity in PLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick S. Rakké
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-Transplant Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sonja I. Buschow
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-Cancer Institute-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan N. M. IJzermans
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-Transplant Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dave Sprengers
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-Cancer Institute-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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4
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Mestiri S, El-Ella DMA, Fernandes Q, Bedhiafi T, Almoghrabi S, Akbar S, Inchakalody V, Assami L, Anwar S, Uddin S, Gul ARZ, Al-Muftah M, Merhi M, Raza A, Dermime S. The dynamic role of immune checkpoint molecules in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of head and neck cancers. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 171:116095. [PMID: 38183744 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer type, accounting for approximately 277,597 deaths worldwide. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents targeting programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) as a treatment regimen for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Studies have reported the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors as targeted therapeutic regimens that unleash the immune response against HNSCC tumors. However, the overall response rates to immunotherapy vary between 14-32% in recurrent or metastatic HNSCC, with clinical response and treatment success being unpredictable. Keeping this perspective in mind, it is imperative to understand the role of T cells, natural killer cells, and antigen-presenting cells in modulating the immune response to immunotherapy. In lieu of this, these immune molecules could serve as prognostic and predictive biomarkers to facilitate longitudinal monitoring and understanding of treatment dynamics. These immune biomarkers could pave the path for personalized monitoring and management of HNSCC. In this review, we aim to provide updated immunological insight on the mechanism of action, expression, and the clinical application of immune cells' stimulatory and inhibitory molecules as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in HNC. The review is focused mainly on CD27 and CD137 (members of the TNF-receptor superfamily), natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 4 (TNFRSF4 or OX40), S100 proteins, PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3), indoleamine-pyrrole 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA). It also highlights the importance of T, natural killer, and antigen-presenting cells as robust biomarker tools for understanding immune checkpoint inhibitor-based treatment dynamics. Though a comprehensive review, all aspects of the immune molecules could not be covered as they were beyond the scope of the review; Further review articles can cover other aspects to bridge the knowledge gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarra Mestiri
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dina Moustafa Abo El-Ella
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Queenie Fernandes
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Takwa Bedhiafi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Salam Almoghrabi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shayista Akbar
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Varghese Inchakalody
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Laila Assami
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shaheena Anwar
- Department of Biosciences, Salim Habib University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdul Rehman Zar Gul
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mariam Al-Muftah
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Centre, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar; College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Maysaloun Merhi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Afsheen Raza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Science, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Said Dermime
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research/ Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
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5
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Bin-Alee F, Chunthagonesupawit N, Meesakul T, Diloktaweewattana A, Mahattanasakul P, Mutirangura A, Ruangritchankul K, Keelawat S, Kitkumthorn N. High 4-1BB Expression in PBMCs and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Eur J Dent 2024; 18:236-242. [PMID: 37130554 PMCID: PMC10959597 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1764419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE 4-1BB is a costimulatory immune-activating molecule. Increased amounts of this protein have previously been found in the plasma of patients with oropharyngeal and oral cancer. Here, we focused on this molecule that functions as part of the immune system. We investigated 4-1BB in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) of patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression level of 4-1BB in the PBMCs was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The TIMER (Tumor Immune Estimation Resource) web server was utilized to approximate the 4-1BB level in HNSCC TILs. Moreover, 4-1BB immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to validate TILs in four organs of HNSCC, including oral cancer (OC), oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), sinonasal cancer (SNC), and laryngeal cancer (LC), in both the tumor area and adjacent normal epithelium. The difference in 4-1BB expression levels in various groups was assessed using a Kruskal-Wallis test and an independent sample t-test. RESULTS The level of 4-1BB expression in PBMCs was highest in OPC, followed by OC and healthy controls (HC). Significant differences were discovered between HC and OPC and between OC and OPC. Bioinformatics revealed a substantial correlation between 4-1BB expression level and lymphocyte infiltration in HNSCC, including B cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD4+ T cells. IHC validation in HNSCC tissue revealed that the average number of 4-1BB positive TILs in all four HNSCC subtypes was considerably greater than the number of lymphocytes seen in adjacent normal tissue. Interestingly, the number of lymphocytes that were 4-1BB positive increased in relation to the TIL level. CONCLUSION A higher number of 4-1BB expression levels were found in the PBMCs and TILs of HNSCC patients, implying that 4-1BB may be a promising approach for HNSCC patients to improve their immune function. It is important to study and create a treatment that uses 4-1BB medicine as well as existing drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fardeela Bin-Alee
- Faculty of Medicine, Princess of Naradhiwas University, Narathiwat, Thailand
| | | | - Tamonwan Meesakul
- Master of Science Program in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Areeya Diloktaweewattana
- Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Patnarin Mahattanasakul
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Apiwat Mutirangura
- Center of Excellence in Molecular Genetics of Cancer and Human Diseases, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Somboon Keelawat
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nakarin Kitkumthorn
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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6
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Galvez-Cancino F, Simpson AP, Costoya C, Matos I, Qian D, Peggs KS, Litchfield K, Quezada SA. Fcγ receptors and immunomodulatory antibodies in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:51-71. [PMID: 38062252 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00637-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of both cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) as negative regulators of antitumour immunity led to the development of numerous immunomodulatory antibodies as cancer treatments. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the efficacy of immunoglobulin G (IgG)-based therapies depends not only on their ability to block or engage their targets but also on the antibody's constant region (Fc) and its interactions with Fcγ receptors (FcγRs). Fc-FcγR interactions are essential for the activity of tumour-targeting antibodies, such as rituximab, trastuzumab and cetuximab, where the killing of tumour cells occurs at least in part due to these mechanisms. However, our understanding of these interactions in the context of immunomodulatory antibodies designed to boost antitumour immunity remains less explored. In this Review, we discuss our current understanding of the contribution of FcγRs to the in vivo activity of immunomodulatory antibodies and the challenges of translating results from preclinical models into the clinic. In addition, we review the impact of genetic variability of human FcγRs on the activity of therapeutic antibodies and how antibody engineering is being utilized to develop the next generation of cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Galvez-Cancino
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Alexander P Simpson
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Cristobal Costoya
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Ignacio Matos
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Danwen Qian
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Karl S Peggs
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK.
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK.
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7
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Janes ME, Gottlieb AP, Park KS, Zhao Z, Mitragotri S. Cancer vaccines in the clinic. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10588. [PMID: 38193112 PMCID: PMC10771564 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are an important tool in the rapidly evolving repertoire of immunotherapies in oncology. Although cancer vaccines have been investigated for over 30 years, very few have achieved meaningful clinical success. However, recent advances in areas such antigen identification, formulation development and manufacturing, combination therapy regimens, and indication and patient selection hold promise to reinvigorate the field. Here, we provide a timely update on the clinical status of cancer vaccines. We identify and critically analyze 360 active trials of cancer vaccines according to delivery vehicle, antigen type, indication, and other metrics, as well as highlight eight globally approved products. Finally, we discuss current limitations and future applications for clinical translation of cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E. Janes
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Harvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired EngineeringBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Harvard‐MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Alexander P. Gottlieb
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Harvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired EngineeringBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Kyung Soo Park
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Harvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired EngineeringBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Zongmin Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of Pharmacy, University of Illinois ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- University of Illinois Cancer CenterChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Samir Mitragotri
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Harvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired EngineeringBostonMassachusettsUSA
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8
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Jang A, Lichterman JN, Zhong JY, Shoag JE, Garcia JA, Zhang T, Barata PC. Immune approaches beyond traditional immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced renal cell carcinoma. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2276629. [PMID: 37947202 PMCID: PMC10653627 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2276629] [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: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), especially clear cell RCC, is generally considered an immunotherapy-responsive cancer. Recently, the prognosis for patients with locally advanced and metastatic RCC has significantly improved with the regulatory approvals of anti-PD-1/PD-L1/CTLA-4 immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based regimens. Yet in most cases, RCC will remain initially unresponsive to treatment or will develop resistance over time. Hence, there remains an unmet need to understand what leads to ICI resistance and to develop novel immune and nonimmune treatments to enhance the response to ICIs. In this review, we highlight recently published studies and the latest clinical studies investigating the next generation of immune approaches to locally advanced and metastatic RCC beyond traditional ICIs. These trials include cytokines, gut microbiota-based therapies, novel immune checkpoint agents, vaccines, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells. These agents are being evaluated as monotherapy or in combination with traditional ICIs and will hopefully provide improved outcomes to patients with RCC soon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Jang
- Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jake N. Lichterman
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey Y. Zhong
- Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan E. Shoag
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jorge A. Garcia
- Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Tian Zhang
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Pedro C. Barata
- Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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9
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Yoon AR, Hong J, Jung BK, Ahn HM, Zhang S, Yun CO. Oncolytic adenovirus as pancreatic cancer-targeted therapy: Where do we go from here? Cancer Lett 2023; 579:216456. [PMID: 37940067 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers with extremely high mortality rate, and the number of cases is expected to steadily increase with time. Pancreatic cancer is refractory to conventional cancer treatment options, like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and commercialized immunotherapeutics, owing to its immunosuppressive and desmoplastic phenotype. Due to these reasons, development of an innovative treatment option that can overcome these challenges posed by the pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME) is in an urgent need. The present review aims to summarize the evolution of oncolytic adenovirus (oAd) engineering and usage as therapeutics (either monotherapy or combination therapy) over the last decade to overcome these hurdles to instigate a potent antitumor effect against desmoplastic and immunosuppressive pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- A-Rum Yoon
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - JinWoo Hong
- GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Kyeong Jung
- GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Min Ahn
- GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Songnam Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yanbian University Hospital, Jilin, China
| | - Chae-Ok Yun
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Negura I, Pavel-Tanasa M, Danciu M. Regulatory T cells in gastric cancer: Key controllers from pathogenesis to therapy. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 120:102629. [PMID: 37769435 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102629] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly aggressive malignancy that remains a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality worldwide, despite a decline in incidence in recent years. Early-stage GC poses a diagnostic challenge due to its asymptomatic nature, leading to poor prognoses for most patients. Conventional treatment approaches, including chemotherapy and surgery, have shown limited efficacy in improving outcomes for GC patients. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized cancer therapy, yielding durable responses across various malignancies. However, the clinical benefits of ICIs in GC have been modest, underscoring the need for a comprehensive understanding of immune cell functions within the GC tumor microenvironment (TME). Regulatory T cells (Tregs), a subset of T lymphocytes, play a pivotal role in GC development and progression and serve as prognostic biomarkers for GC patients. This review aims to elucidate the multifaceted roles of Tregs in the pathogenesis, progression, and prognosis of gastric cancer, and establish their actual and future potential as therapeutic targets. By providing insights into the intricate interplay between Tregs and the TME, this review strives to stimulate further investigation and facilitate the development of targeted Treg-based therapeutic strategies for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ion Negura
- Department of Pathology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Mariana Pavel-Tanasa
- Department of Immunology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania.
| | - Mihai Danciu
- Department of Pathology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
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Redmond WL. Challenges and opportunities in the development of combination immunotherapy with OX40 agonists. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2023; 23:901-912. [PMID: 37587644 PMCID: PMC10530613 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2023.2249396] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Costimulatory members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, such as OX40 (CD134), provide essential survival and differentiation signals that enhance T cell function. Specifically, OX40 (CD134) agonists stimulate potent anti-tumor immunity in a variety of preclinical models but their therapeutic impact in patients with advanced malignancies has been limited thus far. AREAS COVERED In this review, we discuss the current state of combination immunotherapy with OX40 agonists including preclinical studies and recent clinical trials. We also discuss the strengths and limitations of these approaches and provide insight into alternatives that may help enhance the efficacy of combination OX40 agonist immunotherapy. EXPERT OPINION OX40 agonist immunotherapy has not yet demonstrated significant clinical activity as a monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), likely due to several factors including the timing of administration, drug potency, and selection of agents for combination therapy clinical trials. We believe that careful consideration of the biological mechanisms regulating OX40 expression and function may help inform new approaches, particularly in combination with novel agents, capable of increasing the therapeutic efficacy of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- William L Redmond
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, 4805 NE Glisan St., 2N35, Portland, OR, 97213
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12
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Li Y, Gao X, Huang Y, Zhu X, Chen Y, Xue L, Zhu Q, Wang B, Wu M. Tumor microenvironment promotes lymphatic metastasis of cervical cancer: its mechanisms and clinical implications. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1114042. [PMID: 37234990 PMCID: PMC10206119 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1114042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Although previous studies have shed light on the etiology of cervical cancer, metastasis of advanced cervical cancer remains the main reason for the poor outcome and high cancer-related mortality rate. Cervical cancer cells closely communicate with immune cells recruited to the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as lymphocytes, tumor-associated macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. The crosstalk between tumors and immune cells has been clearly shown to foster metastatic dissemination. Therefore, unraveling the mechanisms of tumor metastasis is crucial to develop more effective therapies. In this review, we interpret several characteristics of the TME that promote the lymphatic metastasis of cervical cancer, such as immune suppression and premetastatic niche formation. Furthermore, we summarize the complex interactions between tumor cells and immune cells within the TME, as well as potential therapeutic strategies to target the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaofan Gao
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yibao Huang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoran Zhu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yingying Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Liru Xue
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qingqing Zhu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bo Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mingfu Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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13
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Hirschhorn D, Budhu S, Kraehenbuehl L, Gigoux M, Schröder D, Chow A, Ricca JM, Gasmi B, De Henau O, Mangarin LMB, Li Y, Hamadene L, Flamar AL, Choi H, Cortez CA, Liu C, Holland A, Schad S, Schulze I, Betof Warner A, Hollmann TJ, Arora A, Panageas KS, Rizzuto GA, Duhen R, Weinberg AD, Spencer CN, Ng D, He XY, Albrengues J, Redmond D, Egeblad M, Wolchok JD, Merghoub T. T cell immunotherapies engage neutrophils to eliminate tumor antigen escape variants. Cell 2023; 186:1432-1447.e17. [PMID: 37001503 PMCID: PMC10994488 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies, including adoptive T cell transfer, can be ineffective because tumors evolve to display antigen-loss-variant clones. Therapies that activate multiple branches of the immune system may eliminate escape variants. Here, we show that melanoma-specific CD4+ T cell therapy in combination with OX40 co-stimulation or CTLA-4 blockade can eradicate melanomas containing antigen escape variants. As expected, early on-target recognition of melanoma antigens by tumor-specific CD4+ T cells was required. Surprisingly, complete tumor eradication was dependent on neutrophils and partly dependent on inducible nitric oxide synthase. In support of these findings, extensive neutrophil activation was observed in mouse tumors and in biopsies of melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade. Transcriptomic and flow cytometry analyses revealed a distinct anti-tumorigenic neutrophil subset present in treated mice. Our findings uncover an interplay between T cells mediating the initial anti-tumor immune response and neutrophils mediating the destruction of tumor antigen loss variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hirschhorn
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sadna Budhu
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lukas Kraehenbuehl
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Gigoux
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Schröder
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew Chow
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacob M Ricca
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Billel Gasmi
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Olivier De Henau
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Levi Mark B Mangarin
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yanyun Li
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Linda Hamadene
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anne-Laure Flamar
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hyejin Choi
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Czrina A Cortez
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cailian Liu
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aliya Holland
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sara Schad
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Isabell Schulze
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Allison Betof Warner
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Travis J Hollmann
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arshi Arora
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine S Panageas
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabrielle A Rizzuto
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebekka Duhen
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Andrew D Weinberg
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Christine N Spencer
- Department of Informatics, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David Ng
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Xue-Yan He
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | | | - David Redmond
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration, Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mikala Egeblad
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Jedd D Wolchok
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine and Graduate Schools, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Taha Merghoub
- Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine and Graduate Schools, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Starska-Kowarska K. The Role of Different Immunocompetent Cell Populations in the Pathogenesis of Head and Neck Cancer-Regulatory Mechanisms of Pro- and Anti-Cancer Activity and Their Impact on Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1642. [PMID: 36980527 PMCID: PMC10046400 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061642] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous groups of human neoplasms. HNSCC is characterized by high morbidity, accounting for 3% of all cancers, and high mortality with ~1.5% of all cancer deaths. It was the most common cancer worldwide in 2020, according to the latest GLOBOCAN data, representing the seventh most prevalent human malignancy. Despite great advances in surgical techniques and the application of modern combinations and cytotoxic therapies, HNSCC remains a leading cause of death worldwide with a low overall survival rate not exceeding 40-60% of the patient population. The most common causes of death in patients are its frequent nodal metastases and local neoplastic recurrences, as well as the relatively low response to treatment and severe drug resistance. Much evidence suggests that the tumour microenvironment (TME), tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and circulating various subpopulations of immunocompetent cells, such regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Tregs), cytotoxic CD3+CD8+ T cells (CTLs) and CD3+CD4+ T helper type 1/2/9/17 (Th1/Th2/Th9/Th17) lymphocytes, T follicular helper cells (Tfh) and CD56dim/CD16bright activated natural killer cells (NK), carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumour-associated neutrophils (N1/N2 TANs), as well as tumour-associated macrophages (M1/M2 phenotype TAMs) can affect initiation, progression and spread of HNSCC and determine the response to immunotherapy. Rapid advances in the field of immuno-oncology and the constantly growing knowledge of the immunosuppressive mechanisms and effects of tumour cancer have allowed for the use of effective and personalized immunotherapy as a first-line therapeutic procedure or an essential component of a combination therapy for primary, relapsed and metastatic HNSCC. This review presents the latest reports and molecular studies regarding the anti-tumour role of selected subpopulations of immunocompetent cells in the pathogenesis of HNSCC, including HPV+ve (HPV+) and HPV-ve (HPV-) tumours. The article focuses on the crucial regulatory mechanisms of pro- and anti-tumour activity, key genetic or epigenetic changes that favour tumour immune escape, and the strategies that the tumour employs to avoid recognition by immunocompetent cells, as well as resistance mechanisms to T and NK cell-based immunotherapy in HNSCC. The present review also provides an overview of the pre- and clinical early trials (I/II phase) and phase-III clinical trials published in this arena, which highlight the unprecedented effectiveness and limitations of immunotherapy in HNSCC, and the emerging issues facing the field of HNSCC immuno-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Starska-Kowarska
- Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical Physiology, Medical University of Lodz, Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Lodz, Poland; ; Tel.: +48-604-541-412
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, EnelMed Center Expert, Drewnowska 58, 91-001 Lodz, Poland
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15
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Postel-Vinay S, Lam VK, Ros W, Bauer TM, Hansen AR, Cho DC, Stephen Hodi F, Schellens JHM, Litton JK, Aspeslagh S, Autio KA, Opdam FL, McKean M, Somaiah N, Champiat S, Altan M, Spreafico A, Rahma O, Paul EM, Ahlers CM, Zhou H, Struemper H, Gorman SA, Watmuff M, Yablonski KM, Yanamandra N, Chisamore MJ, Schmidt EV, Hoos A, Marabelle A, Weber JS, Heymach JV. First-in-human phase I study of the OX40 agonist GSK3174998 with or without pembrolizumab in patients with selected advanced solid tumors (ENGAGE-1). J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-005301. [PMID: 36927527 PMCID: PMC10030671 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005301] [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] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phase I first-in-human study ENGAGE-1 evaluated the humanized IgG1 OX40 agonistic monoclonal antibody GSK3174998 alone (Part 1 (P1)) or in combination with pembrolizumab (Part 2 (P2)) in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS GSK3174998 (0.003-10 mg/kg) ± pembrolizumab (200 mg) was administered intravenously every 3 weeks using a continuous reassessment method for dose escalation. Primary objectives were safety and tolerability; secondary objectives included pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity. RESULTS 138 patients were enrolled (45 (P1) and 96 (P2, including 3 crossovers)). Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 51% (P1) and 64% (P2) of patients, fatigue being the most common (11% and 24%, respectively). No dose-toxicity relationship was observed, and maximum-tolerated dose was not reached. Dose-limiting toxicities (P2) included Grade 3 (G3) pleural effusion and G1 myocarditis with G3 increased troponin. GSK3174998 ≥0.3 mg/kg demonstrated pharmacokinetic linearity and >80% receptor occupancy on circulating T cells; 0.3 mg/kg was selected for further evaluation. Limited clinical activity was observed for GSK3174998 (P1: disease control rate (DCR) ≥24 weeks 9%) and was not greater than that expected for pembrolizumab alone (P2: overall response rate 8%, DCR ≥24 weeks 28%). Multiplexed immunofluorescence data from paired biopsies suggested that increased infiltration of natural killer (NK)/natural killer T (NKT) cells and decreased regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenvironment may contribute to clinical responses: CD16+CD56-CD134+ NK /NKT cells and CD3+CD4+FOXP3+CD134+ Tregs exhibited the largest magnitude of change on treatment, whereas CD3+CD8+granzyme B+PD-1+CD134+ cytotoxic T cells were the least variable. Tumor gene expression profiling revealed an upregulation of inflammatory responses, T-cell proliferation, and NK cell function on treatment with some inflammatory cytokines upregulated in peripheral blood. However, target engagement, evidenced by pharmacologic activity in peripheral blood and tumor tissue, did not correlate with clinical efficacy. The low number of responses precluded identifying a robust biomarker signature predictive of response. CONCLUSIONS GSK3174998±pembrolizumab was well tolerated over the dose range tested and demonstrated target engagement. Limited clinical activity does not support further development of GSK3174998±pembrolizumab in advanced cancers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02528357.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Postel-Vinay
- Département d'Innovation Thérapeutique et d'Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Vincent K Lam
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Willeke Ros
- Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Todd M Bauer
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Aaron R Hansen
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel C Cho
- New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA
| | - F Stephen Hodi
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jan H M Schellens
- Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jennifer K Litton
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sandrine Aspeslagh
- Département d'Innovation Thérapeutique et d'Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Karen A Autio
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Frans L Opdam
- Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Neeta Somaiah
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Stephane Champiat
- Département d'Innovation Thérapeutique et d'Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Mehmet Altan
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anna Spreafico
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Osama Rahma
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elaine M Paul
- GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Helen Zhou
- GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Axel Hoos
- GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Aurelien Marabelle
- Département d'Innovation Thérapeutique et d'Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Jeffrey S Weber
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - John V Heymach
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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At the crossroads of immunotherapy for oncogene-addicted subsets of NSCLC. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:143-159. [PMID: 36639452 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-022-00718-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has become a paradigm of precision medicine, with the discovery of numerous disease subtypes defined by specific oncogenic driver mutations leading to the development of a range of molecularly targeted therapies. Over the past decade, rapid progress has also been made in the development of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), especially antagonistic antibodies targeting the PD-L1-PD-1 axis, for the treatment of NSCLC. Although many of the major oncogenic drivers of NSCLC are associated with intrinsic resistance to ICIs, patients with certain oncogene-driven subtypes of the disease that are highly responsive to specific targeted therapies might also derive benefit from immunotherapy. However, the development of effective immunotherapy approaches for oncogene-addicted NSCLC has been challenged by a lack of predictive biomarkers for patient selection and limited knowledge of how ICIs and oncogene-directed targeted therapies should be combined. Therefore, whether ICIs alone or with chemotherapy or even in combination with molecularly targeted agents would offer comparable benefit in the context of selected oncogenic driver alterations to that observed in the general unselected NSCLC population remains an open question. In this Review, we discuss the effects of oncogenic driver mutations on the efficacy of ICIs and the immune tumour microenvironment as well as the potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited to overcome the challenges of immunotherapy for oncogene-addicted NSCLC.
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