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Rosing F, Meier M, Schroeder L, Laban S, Hoffmann T, Kaufmann A, Siefer O, Wuerdemann N, Klußmann JP, Rieckmann T, Alt Y, Faden DL, Waterboer T, Höfler D. Quantification of human papillomavirus cell-free DNA from low-volume blood plasma samples by digital PCR. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0002424. [PMID: 38829114 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00024-24] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence rate of human papillomavirus-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) is increasing in countries with high human development index. HPV cell-free DNA (cfDNA) isolated from 3 to 4 mL blood plasma has been successfully used for therapy surveillance. A highly discussed application of HPV-cfDNA is early detection of HPV-OPC. This requires sensitive and specific cfDNA detection as cfDNA levels can be very low. To study the predictive power of pre-diagnostic HPV-cfDNA, archived samples from epidemiological cohorts with limited plasma volume are an important source. To establish a cfDNA detection workflow for low plasma volumes, we compared cfDNA purification methods [MagNA Pure 96 (MP96) and QIAamp ccfDNA/RNA] and digital PCR systems (Biorad QX200 and QIAGEN QIAcuity One). Final assay validation included 65 low-volume plasma samples from oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) patients with defined HPV status stored for 2-9 years. MP96 yielded a 28% higher cfDNA isolation efficiency in comparison to QIAamp. Both digital PCR systems showed comparable analytical sensitivity (6-17 copies for HPV16 and HPV33), but QIAcuity detected both types in the same assay. In the validation set, the assay had 80% sensitivity (n = 28/35) for HPV16 and HPV33 and a specificity of 97% (n = 29/30). In samples with ≥750 µL plasma, the sensitivity was 85% (n = 17/20), while in samples with <750 µL plasma, it was 73% (n = 11/15). Despite the expected drop in sensitivity with decreased plasma volume, the assay is sensitive and highly specific even in low-volume samples and thus suited for studies exploring HPV-cfDNA as an early HPV-OPC detection marker in low-volume archival material.IMPORTANCEHPV-OPC has a favorable prognosis compared to HPV-negative OPC. However, the majority of tumors is diagnosed after regional spread, thus making intensive treatment necessary. This can cause lasting morbidity with a large impact on quality of life. One potential method to decrease treatment-related morbidity is early detection of the cancer. HPV cfDNA has been successfully used for therapy surveillance and has also been detected in pre-diagnostic samples of HPV-OPC patients. These pre-diagnostic samples are only commonly available from biobanks, which usually only have small volumes of blood plasma available. Hence, we have developed a workflow optimized for small-volume archival samples. With this method, a high sensitivity can be achieved despite sample limitations, making it suitable to conduct further large-scale biobank studies of HPV-cfDNA as a prognostic biomarker for HPV-OPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Rosing
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Meier
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lea Schroeder
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon Laban
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Hoffmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andreas Kaufmann
- Department of Gynecology, HPV Research Laboratory, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Siefer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nora Wuerdemann
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jens Peter Klußmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thorsten Rieckmann
- Department of Radiobiology and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Alt
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel L Faden
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tim Waterboer
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Höfler
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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Duan M, Liu H, Xu S, Yang Z, Zhang F, Wang G, Wang Y, Zhao S, Jiang X. IGF2BPs as novel m 6A readers: Diverse roles in regulating cancer cell biological functions, hypoxia adaptation, metabolism, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Genes Dis 2024; 11:890-920. [PMID: 37692485 PMCID: PMC10491980 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.06.017] [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: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
m6A methylation is the most frequent modification of mRNA in eukaryotes and plays a crucial role in cancer progression by regulating biological functions. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BP) are newly identified m6A 'readers'. They belong to a family of RNA-binding proteins, which bind to the m6A sites on different RNA sequences and stabilize them to promote cancer progression. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which different upstream factors regulate IGF2BP in cancer. The current literature analyzed here reveals that the IGF2BP family proteins promote cancer cell proliferation, survival, and chemoresistance, inhibit apoptosis, and are also associated with cancer glycolysis, angiogenesis, and the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, with the discovery of their role as 'readers' of m6A and the characteristic re-expression of IGF2BPs in cancers, it is important to elucidate their mechanism of action in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We also describe in detail the regulatory and interaction network of the IGF2BP family in downstream target RNAs and discuss their potential clinical applications as diagnostic and prognostic markers, as well as recent advances in IGF2BP biology and associated therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiqi Duan
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110032, China
| | - Haiyang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110032, China
| | - Shasha Xu
- Department of Gastroendoscopy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110032, China
| | - Zhi Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110032, China
| | - Fusheng Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110032, China
| | - Guang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110032, China
| | - Yutian Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110032, China
| | - Shan Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, China
| | - Xiaofeng Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110032, China
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3
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Glaß M, Hüttelmaier S. IGF2BP1-An Oncofetal RNA-Binding Protein Fuels Tumor Virus Propagation. Viruses 2023; 15:1431. [PMID: 37515119 PMCID: PMC10385356 DOI: 10.3390/v15071431] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The oncofetal RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 has been reported to be a driver of tumor progression in a multitude of cancer entities. Its main function is the stabilization of target transcripts by shielding these from miRNA-mediated degradation. However, there is growing evidence that several virus species recruit IGF2BP1 to promote their propagation. In particular, tumor-promoting viruses, such as hepatitis B/C and human papillomaviruses, benefit from IGF2BP1. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that non-oncogenic viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, also take advantage of IGF2BP1. The only virus inhibited by IGF2BP1 reported to date is HIV-1. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the interactions between IGF2BP1 and different virus species. It further recapitulates several findings by presenting analyses from publicly available high-throughput datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Glaß
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3a, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Stefan Hüttelmaier
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3a, 06120 Halle, Germany
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4
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Mühlenbruch L, Abou-Kors T, Dubbelaar ML, Bichmann L, Kohlbacher O, Bens M, Thomas J, Ezić J, Kraus JM, Kestler HA, von Witzleben A, Mytilineos J, Fürst D, Engelhardt D, Doescher J, Greve J, Schuler PJ, Theodoraki MN, Brunner C, Hoffmann TK, Rammensee HG, Walz JS, Laban S. The HLA ligandome of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas reveals shared tumour-exclusive peptides for semi-personalised vaccination. Br J Cancer 2023; 128:1777-1787. [PMID: 36823366 PMCID: PMC9949688 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02197-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The immune peptidome of OPSCC has not previously been studied. Cancer-antigen specific vaccination may improve clinical outcome and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors such as PD1/PD-L1 antibodies. METHODS Mapping of the OPSCC HLA ligandome was performed by mass spectrometry (MS) based analysis of naturally presented HLA ligands isolated from tumour tissue samples (n = 40) using immunoaffinity purification. The cohort included 22 HPV-positive (primarily HPV-16) and 18 HPV-negative samples. A benign reference dataset comprised of the HLA ligandomes of benign haematological and tissue datasets was used to identify tumour-associated antigens. RESULTS MS analysis led to the identification of naturally HLA-presented peptides in OPSCC tumour tissue. In total, 22,769 peptides from 9485 source proteins were detected on HLA class I. For HLA class II, 15,203 peptides from 4634 source proteins were discovered. By comparative profiling against the benign HLA ligandomic datasets, 29 OPSCC-associated HLA class I ligands covering 11 different HLA allotypes and nine HLA class II ligands were selected to create a peptide warehouse. CONCLUSION Tumour-associated peptides are HLA-presented on the cell surfaces of OPSCCs. The established warehouse of OPSCC-associated peptides can be used for downstream immunogenicity testing and peptide-based immunotherapy in (semi)personalised strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Mühlenbruch
- grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Department of Peptide-based Immunotherapy, Eberhard Karls University and University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany
| | - Tsima Abou-Kors
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marissa L. Dubbelaar
- grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Department of Peptide-based Immunotherapy, Eberhard Karls University and University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany
| | - Leon Bichmann
- grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany
| | - Oliver Kohlbacher
- grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Cluster of Excellence Machine Learning in the Sciences (EXC2064), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.411544.10000 0001 0196 8249Institute for Translational Bioinformatics, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany
| | - Martin Bens
- grid.418245.e0000 0000 9999 5706Leibniz-Institute on Aging, Fritz-Lipmann-Institute, 07745 Jena, Thüringen Germany
| | - Jaya Thomas
- grid.5491.90000 0004 1936 9297CRUK and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Center & School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Jasmin Ezić
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johann M. Kraus
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Ulm University, Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm, Germany
| | - Hans A. Kestler
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Ulm University, Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm, Germany
| | - Adrian von Witzleben
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Joannis Mytilineos
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XInstitute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Baden–Württemberg–Hessen, and University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany ,grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany ,German Stem Cell Donor Registry, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel Fürst
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XInstitute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Baden–Württemberg–Hessen, and University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany ,grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daphne Engelhardt
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johannes Doescher
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jens Greve
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Patrick J. Schuler
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marie-Nicole Theodoraki
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Cornelia Brunner
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas K. Hoffmann
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Rammensee
- grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Department of Peptide-based Immunotherapy, Eberhard Karls University and University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany
| | - Juliane S. Walz
- grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Department of Peptide-based Immunotherapy, Eberhard Karls University and University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany ,grid.411544.10000 0001 0196 8249Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg 72076 Germany
| | - Simon Laban
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Head and Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
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Tawk B, Debus J, Abdollahi A. Evolution of a Paradigm Switch in Diagnosis and Treatment of HPV-Driven Head and Neck Cancer—Striking the Balance Between Toxicity and Cure. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:753387. [PMID: 35126105 PMCID: PMC8810823 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.753387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
More than a decade after the discovery of p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a surrogate for human papilloma virus (HPV)-driven head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), p16-IHC has become a routinely evaluated biomarker to stratify oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) into a molecularly distinct subtype with favorable clinical prognosis. Clinical trials of treatment de-escalation frequently use combinations of biomarkers (p16-IHC, HPV-RNA in situ hybridization, and amplification of HPV-DNA by PCR) to further improve molecular stratification. Implementation of these methods into clinical routine may be limited in the case of RNA by the low RNA quality of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks (FFPE) or in the case of DNA by cross contamination with HPV-DNA and false PCR amplification errors. Advanced technological developments such as investigation of tumor mutational landscape (NGS), liquid-biopsies (LBx and cell-free cfDNA), and other blood-based HPV immunity surrogates (antibodies in serum) may provide novel venues to further improve diagnostic uncertainties. Moreover, the value of HPV/p16-IHC outside the oropharynx in HNSCC patients needs to be clarified. With regards to therapy, postoperative (adjuvant) or definitive (primary) radiochemotherapy constitutes cornerstones for curative treatment of HNSCC. Side effects of chemotherapy such as bone-marrow suppression could lead to radiotherapy interruption and may compromise the therapy outcome. Therefore, reduction of chemotherapy or its replacement with targeted anticancer agents holds the promise to further optimize the toxicity profile of systemic treatment. Modern radiotherapy gradually adapts the dose. Higher doses are administered to the visible tumor bulk and positive lymph nodes, while a lower dose is prescribed to locoregional volumes empirically suspected to be invaded by tumor cells. Further attempts for radiotherapy de-escalation may improve acute toxicities, for example, the rates for dysphagia and feeding tube requirement, or ameliorate late toxicities like tissue scars (fibrosis) or dry mouth. The main objective of current de-intensification trials is therefore to reduce acute and/or late treatment-associated toxicity while preserving the favorable clinical outcomes. Deep molecular characterization of HPV-driven HNSCC and radiotherapy interactions with the tumor immune microenvironment may be instructive for the development of next-generation de-escalation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bouchra Tawk
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Core Center Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Units (CCU) Translational Radiation Oncology and Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (NCRO), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Bouchra Tawk,
| | - Jürgen Debus
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Core Center Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Units (CCU) Translational Radiation Oncology and Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (NCRO), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amir Abdollahi
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Core Center Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Units (CCU) Translational Radiation Oncology and Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (NCRO), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
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6
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Wu SC, Münger K. Role and Clinical Utility of Cancer/Testis Antigens in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13225690. [PMID: 34830845 PMCID: PMC8616139 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer/testis (CT) antigens exhibit selective expression predominantly in immunoprivileged tissues in non-pathological contexts but are aberrantly expressed in diverse cancers. Due to their expression pattern, they have historically been attractive targets for immunotherapies. A growing number of studies implicate CT antigens in almost all hallmarks of cancer, suggesting that they may act as cancer drivers. CT antigens are expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. However, their role in the pathogenesis of these cancers remains poorly studied. Given that CT antigens hold intriguing potential as therapeutic targets and as biomarkers for prognosis and that they can provide novel insights into oncogenic mechanisms, their further study in the context of head and squamous cell carcinoma is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Changshan Wu
- Molecular Microbiology Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA;
| | - Karl Münger
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Correspondence:
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7
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Gül D, Habtemichael N, Dietrich D, Dietrich J, Gößwein D, Khamis A, Deuss E, Künzel J, Schneider G, Strieth S, Stauber RH. Identification of cytokeratin24 as a tumor suppressor for the management of head and neck cancer. Biol Chem 2021; 403:869-890. [PMID: 34450690 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
To improve management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, we need to increase our understanding of carcinogenesis, to identify biomarkers, and drug targets. This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers by providing transcriptomics profiles of matched primary tumors, lymph node metastasis, and non-malignant tissue of 20 HNSCC patients as well as by bioinformatic analyses of a TCGA HNSCC cohort, comprising 554 patients. We provide cancer cell signaling networks differentially expressed in tumors versus metastases, such as mesenchymal-epithelial transition, and structural integrity networks. As a proof of principle study, we exploited the data sets and performed functional analyses of a novel cytokeratin, cytokeratin24 (cKRT24), which had not been described as biomarker for tumors before. Survival analysis revealed that low cKRT24 expression correlated with poor overall survival in HNSCC. Experimentally, downregulation of cKRT24 in primary tumors, metastases, and HNSCC cell lines was verified on mRNA and protein level. Cloning and ectopic overexpression of cKRT24 not only affected viability and growth of HNSSC cell lines, but also inhibited tumor growth in murine xenograft studies. We conclude that cKRT24 functions as a tumor suppressor in HNSCC, and may serve as an additional prognostic biomarker and novel target to support current HNSCC treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Désirée Gül
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University Medical Center, D-55131Mainz, Germany
| | - Negusse Habtemichael
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University Medical Center, D-55131Mainz, Germany
| | - Dimo Dietrich
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology,University Medical Center Bonn, D-53127Bonn, Germany
| | - Jörn Dietrich
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology,University Medical Center Bonn, D-53127Bonn, Germany
| | - Dorothee Gößwein
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University Medical Center, D-55131Mainz, Germany
| | - Aya Khamis
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University Medical Center, D-55131Mainz, Germany
| | - Eric Deuss
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University Medical Center, D-55131Mainz, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital, D-45147Essen, Germany
| | - Julian Künzel
- Ear, Nose and Throat Department, University Hospital, D-93053Regensburg, Germany
| | - Günter Schneider
- Ear, Nose and Throat Department, University Hospital, D-93053Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Strieth
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology,University Medical Center Bonn, D-53127Bonn, Germany
| | - Roland H Stauber
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University Medical Center, D-55131Mainz, Germany
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8
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Lehtinen T, Elfström KM, Mäkitie A, Nygård M, Vänskä S, Pawlita M, Dillner J, Waterboer T, Lehtinen M. Elimination of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers in Nordic countries. Prev Med 2021; 144:106445. [PMID: 33678237 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV, most notably HPV type 16) associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) among middle-aged (50-69 year-old) males has tripled in four high income Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) over the last 30 years. In Finland and Sweden, this increase was preceded by an HPV16 epidemic in fertile-aged populations in the 1980's. The recent implementation of school-based prophylactic HPV vaccination in early adolescent boys and girls will gradually decrease the incidence, and eventually eliminate the HPV-associated OPSCCs (especially tonsillar and base of tongue carcinomas) in the Nordic countries. However, beyond the adolescent and young adult birth cohorts vaccinated, there are approximately 50 birth cohorts (born in 1995 or before) that would benefit from screening for HPV-associated OPSCC. This article reviews the need, prerequisites, proof-of-concept trial and prospects of preventing HPV-associated OPSCC in the Nordic countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K Miriam Elfström
- Center for Cervical Cancer Prevention, Karolinska University Laboratory, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden; Regional Cancer Center of Stockholm-Gotland, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antti Mäkitie
- Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, and Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Simopekka Vänskä
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael Pawlita
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, Deutsches Krebsforschungzentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joakim Dillner
- Department of Lab Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Regional Cancer Center of Stockholm-Gotland, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tim Waterboer
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, Deutsches Krebsforschungzentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matti Lehtinen
- FICAN-MID, Tampere, Finland; Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, Deutsches Krebsforschungzentrum, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Lab Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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9
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Brenner N, Mentzer AJ, Hill M, Almond R, Allen N, Pawlita M, Waterboer T. Characterization of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6 seropositive individuals without HPV-associated malignancies after 10 years of follow-up in the UK Biobank. EBioMedicine 2020; 62:103123. [PMID: 33248371 PMCID: PMC7704422 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibodies against the HPV16 oncoprotein E6 are promising biomarkers for HPV16-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV16-OPC) due to their high sensitivity and specificity, and prospective manifestation. In previous studies, 0•7% of controls without HPV-associated malignancies were HPV16 E6 seropositive of which only a minority is expected to develop HPV16-driven cancer. We aimed to characterise HPV16 E6 antibodies in individuals without HPV-associated malignancies. METHODS We analysed serum antibodies against HPV16 E6, E7, L1 and HPV18 L1 in a random sample (n = 9,695) of the prospective UK Biobank cohort (UKB). Excluding individuals with potentially HPV-associated malignancies (n = 192), we assessed risk factors for seropositivity by logistic regression. FINDINGS In individuals without potentially HPV-associated malignancies (n = 9,503), the HPV16 E6 seroprevalence was 0•8%. Seropositivity against HPV16 E6 and all other HPV antigens was strongly associated with sexual behaviour. The seroprevalence of HPV16 E6, L1 and HPV18 L1 increased with the number of lifetime sex partners (ptrend<0•005), and all HPV antibodies were associated with same-sex intercourse (ORE6 3•1, 95%CI 1•4-6•9; reference category: no same-sex intercourse). HPV16 E6 and L1 seropositivity were associated with young age (≤17 years) at sexual debut (ORE6 2•0, 95%CI 1•1-3•7) compared with individuals reporting sexual debut at age ≥20 years. INTERPRETATION This is the first study characterising HPV16 E6 antibodies in the general UK population. Their strong association with sexual behaviour, and overlapping risk factor profiles with other HPV antibodies support their relevance for HPV16-OPC disease prediction. However, additional risk stratification will be required to identify individuals at highest risk to develop HPV16-OPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Brenner
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, Infection, Inflammation and Cancer Research Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Alexander J Mentzer
- The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael Hill
- MRC-Population Health Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Naomi Allen
- UK Biobank, Stockport, UK; Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael Pawlita
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, Infection, Inflammation and Cancer Research Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tim Waterboer
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, Infection, Inflammation and Cancer Research Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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10
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von Witzleben A, Wang C, Laban S, Savelyeva N, Ottensmeier CH. HNSCC: Tumour Antigens and Their Targeting by Immunotherapy. Cells 2020; 9:E2103. [PMID: 32942747 PMCID: PMC7564543 DOI: 10.3390/cells9092103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are a heterogeneous group of malignant tumours typically caused by alcohol and tobacco consumption, although an increasing number of HNSCC arise due to persistent infection with high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV). The treatment of HNSCC remains challenging, and the first-line setting is focused on surgery and chemoradiotherapy. A substantial proportion of HNSCC patients die from their disease, especially those with recurrent and metastatic disease. Among factors linked with good outcome, immune cell infiltration appears to have a major role. HPV-driven HNSCC are often T-cell rich, reflecting the presence of HPV antigens that are immunogenic. Tumour-associated antigens that are shared between patients or that are unique to an individual person may also induce varying degrees of immune response; studying these is important for the understanding of the interaction between the host immune system and the cancer. The resulting knowledge is critical for the design of better immunotherapies. Key questions are: Which antigens lead to an adaptive immune response in the tumour? Which of these are exploitable for immunotherapy? Here, we review the current thinking regarding tumour antigens in HNSCC and what has been learned from early phase clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian von Witzleben
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (A.v.W.); (N.S.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Chuan Wang
- Head and Neck Center, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK;
| | - Simon Laban
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Natalia Savelyeva
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (A.v.W.); (N.S.)
| | - Christian H. Ottensmeier
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (A.v.W.); (N.S.)
- Head and Neck Center, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK;
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11
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Layman H, Rickert KW, Wilson S, Aksyuk AA, Dunty JM, Natrakul D, Swaminathan N, DelNagro CJ. Development and validation of a multiplex immunoassay for the simultaneous quantification of type-specific IgG antibodies to E6/E7 oncoproteins of HPV16 and HPV18. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229672. [PMID: 32214362 PMCID: PMC7098588 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 170 types of human papilloma viruses (HPV) exist with many causing proliferative diseases linked to malignancy in indications such as cervical cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Characterization of antibody levels toward HPV serology is challenging due to complex biology of oncoproteins, pre-existing titers to multiple HPV types, cross-reactivity, and low affinity, polyclonal responses. Using multiplex technology from MSD, we have developed an assay that simultaneously characterizes antibodies against E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HPV16 and 18, the primary drivers of HPV-associated oncogenesis. We fusion tagged our E6 and E7 proteins with MBP via two-step purification, spot-printed an optimized concentration of protein into wells of MSD 96-well plates, and assayed various cynomolgus monkey, human and HPV+ cervical cancer patient serum to validate the assay. The dynamic range of the assay covered 4-orders of magnitude and antibodies were detected in serum at a dilution up to 100,000-fold. The assay was very precise (n = 5 assay runs) with median CV of human serum samples ~ 5.3% and inter-run variability of 11.4%. The multiplex serology method has strong cross-reactivity between E6 oncoproteins from human serum samples as HPV18 E6 antigens neutralized 5 of 6 serum samples as strongly as HPV16 E6. Moderate concordance (Spearman’s Rank = 0.775) was found between antibody responses against HPV16 E7 in the multiplex assay compared to standard ELISA serology methods. These results demonstrate the development of a high-throughput, multi-plex assay that requires lower sample quantity input with greater dynamic range to detect type-specific anti-HPV concentrations to E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HPV16 and 18.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Layman
- AstraZeneca plc, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Keith W. Rickert
- AstraZeneca plc, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Susan Wilson
- AstraZeneca plc, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Jill M. Dunty
- Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC., Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Dusit Natrakul
- Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC., Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nithya Swaminathan
- AstraZeneca plc, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
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12
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Moritz CP, Paul S, Stoevesandt O, Tholance Y, Camdessanché JP, Antoine JC. Autoantigenomics: Holistic characterization of autoantigen repertoires for a better understanding of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmun Rev 2020; 19:102450. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2019.102450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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