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Muralidharan A, Boukany PE. Electrotransfer for nucleic acid and protein delivery. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:780-798. [PMID: 38102019 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.11.009] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Electrotransfer of nucleic acids and proteins has become crucial in biotechnology for gene augmentation and genome editing. This review explores the applications of electrotransfer in both ex vivo and in vivo scenarios, emphasizing biomedical uses. We provide insights into completed clinical trials and successful instances of nucleic acid and protein electrotransfer into therapeutically relevant cells such as immune cells and stem and progenitor cells. In addition, we delve into emerging areas of electrotransfer where nanotechnology and deep learning techniques overcome the limitations of traditional electroporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswin Muralidharan
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands; Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Pouyan E Boukany
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.
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Sussman C, Liberatore RA, Drozdz MM. Delivery of DNA-Based Therapeutics for Treatment of Chronic Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:535. [PMID: 38675196 PMCID: PMC11053842 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy and its role in the medical field have evolved drastically in recent decades. Studies aim to define DNA-based medicine as well as encourage innovation and the further development of novel approaches. Gene therapy has been established as an alternative approach to treat a variety of diseases. Its range of mechanistic applicability is wide; gene therapy has the capacity to address the symptoms of disease, the body's ability to fight disease, and in some cases has the ability to cure disease, making it a more attractive intervention than some traditional approaches to treatment (i.e., medicine and surgery). Such versatility also suggests gene therapy has the potential to address a greater number of indications than conventional treatments. Many DNA-based therapies have shown promise in clinical trials, and several have been approved for use in humans. Whereas current treatment regimens for chronic disease often require frequent dosing, DNA-based therapies can produce robust and durable expression of therapeutic genes with fewer treatments. This benefit encourages the application of DNA-based gene therapy to manage chronic diseases, an area where improving efficiency of current treatments is urgent. Here, we provide an overview of two DNA-based gene therapies as well as their delivery methods: adeno associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy and plasmid DNA (pDNA)-based gene therapy. We will focus on how these therapies have already been utilized to improve treatment of chronic disease, as well as how current literature supports the expansion of these therapies to treat additional chronic indications in the future.
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Guan X, Pei Y, Song J. DNA-Based Nonviral Gene Therapy─Challenging but Promising. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:427-453. [PMID: 38198640 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00907] [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] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in utilizing nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA molecules, for therapeutic purposes. For DNA molecules, although various DNA delivery systems have been established, viral vector systems are the go-to choice for large-scale commercial applications. However, viral systems have certain disadvantages such as immune response, limited payload capacity, insertional mutagenesis and pre-existing immunity. In contrast, nonviral systems are less immunogenic, not size limited, safer, and easier for manufacturing compared with viral systems. What's more, nonviral DNA vectors have demonstrated their capacity to mediate specific protein expression in vivo for diverse therapeutic objectives containing a wide range of diseases such as cancer, rare diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious diseases, yielding promising therapeutic outcomes. However, exogenous plasmid DNA is prone to degrade and has poor immunogenicity in vivo. Thus, various strategies have been developed: (i) designing novel plasmids with special structures, (ii) optimizing plasmid sequences for higher expression, and (iii) developing more efficient nonviral DNA delivery systems. Based on these strategies, many interesting clinical results have been reported. This Review discusses the development of DNA-based nonviral gene therapy, including novel plasmids, nonviral delivery systems, clinical advances, and prospects. These developments hold great potential for enhancing the efficacy and safety of nonviral gene therapy and expanding its applications in the treatment of various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocai Guan
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yufeng Pei
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Jie Song
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
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Campana LG, Daud A, Lancellotti F, Arroyo JP, Davalos RV, Di Prata C, Gehl J. Pulsed Electric Fields in Oncology: A Snapshot of Current Clinical Practices and Research Directions from the 4th World Congress of Electroporation. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3340. [PMID: 37444450 PMCID: PMC10340685 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The 4th World Congress of Electroporation (Copenhagen, 9-13 October 2022) provided a unique opportunity to convene leading experts in pulsed electric fields (PEF). PEF-based therapies harness electric fields to produce therapeutically useful effects on cancers and represent a valuable option for a variety of patients. As such, irreversible electroporation (IRE), gene electrotransfer (GET), electrochemotherapy (ECT), calcium electroporation (Ca-EP), and tumour-treating fields (TTF) are on the rise. Still, their full therapeutic potential remains underappreciated, and the field faces fragmentation, as shown by parallel maturation and differences in the stages of development and regulatory approval worldwide. This narrative review provides a glimpse of PEF-based techniques, including key mechanisms, clinical indications, and advances in therapy; finally, it offers insights into current research directions. By highlighting a common ground, the authors aim to break silos, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and pave the way to novel possibilities for intervention. Intriguingly, beyond their peculiar mechanism of action, PEF-based therapies share technical interconnections and multifaceted biological effects (e.g., vascular, immunological) worth exploiting in combinatorial strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca G. Campana
- Department of Surgery, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Rd., Manchester M13 9WL, UK;
| | - Adil Daud
- Department of Medicine, University of California, 550 16 Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA;
| | - Francesco Lancellotti
- Department of Surgery, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Rd., Manchester M13 9WL, UK;
| | - Julio P. Arroyo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (J.P.A.); (R.V.D.)
| | - Rafael V. Davalos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (J.P.A.); (R.V.D.)
- Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Claudia Di Prata
- Department of Surgery, San Martino Hospital, 32100 Belluno, Italy;
| | - Julie Gehl
- Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Aggarwal C, Saba NF, Algazi A, Sukari A, Seiwert TY, Haigentz M, Porosnicu M, Bonomi M, Boyer J, Esser MT, Cheng LI, Agrawal S, Jennings EC, Durham NM, Fraser K, Lissa D, Gong M, Ceaicovscaia N, Gascó Hernández A, Kumar R. Safety and Efficacy of MEDI0457 plus Durvalumab in Patients with Human Papillomavirus-Associated Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:560-570. [PMID: 36455147 PMCID: PMC9890138 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-1987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tumoral programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression is common in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We assessed whether a DNA vaccine targeting HPV-16/18 E6/E7 with IL12 adjuvant (MEDI0457) combined with the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab could enhance HPV-specific T-cell response and improve outcomes in recurrent/metastatic HPV-16/18-associated HNSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this phase Ib/IIa study, immunotherapy-naïve patients with ≥1 previous platinum-containing regimen (neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy or for recurrent/metastatic disease) received MEDI0457 7 mg intramuscularly with electroporation on weeks 1, 3, 7, and 12, then every 8 weeks, plus durvalumab 1,500 mg intravenously on weeks 4, 8, and 12, then every 4 weeks, until confirmed progression and/or unacceptable toxicity. Coprimary objectives were safety and objective response rate (ORR; H0: ORR ≤ 15%); secondary objectives included 16-week disease control rate (DCR-16), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS Of 35 treated patients, 29 were response evaluable (confirmed HPV-associated disease; received both agents). ORR was 27.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 12.7-47.2; four complete responses, four partial responses]; responses were independent of PD-L1 tumor-cell expression (≥25% vs. <25%). DCR-16 was 44.8% (95% CI, 26.5-64.3). Median PFS was 3.5 months (95% CI, 1.9-9.0); median OS was 29.2 months (15.2-not calculable). Twenty-eight (80.0%) patients had treatment-related adverse events [grade 3: 5 (14.3%); no grade 4/5], resulting in discontinuation in 2 (5.7%) patients. HPV-16/18-specific T cells increased on treatment; 4 of 8 evaluable patients had a >2-fold increase in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS MEDI0457 plus durvalumab was well tolerated. While the primary efficacy endpoint was not reached, clinical benefit was encouraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charu Aggarwal
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nabil F. Saba
- Winship Cancer Institute, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Alain Algazi
- Department of Medicine: Hematology/Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Ammar Sukari
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Tanguy Y. Seiwert
- Johns Hopkins University, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Missak Haigentz
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | | | | | - Jean Boyer
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mark T. Esser
- Vaccines & Immune Therapies, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland
| | - Lily I. Cheng
- Pathology, Oncology Safety, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland
| | - Sonia Agrawal
- Oncology Data Science, Research and Early Development, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland
| | - Emily C. Jennings
- Oncology Data Science, Research and Early Development, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland
| | - Nicholas M. Durham
- Oncology R&D Translational Medicine, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland
| | - Karl Fraser
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland
| | - Delphine Lissa
- Early Oncology Clinical Science, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Maozhen Gong
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland
| | | | | | - Rakesh Kumar
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland
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Gao W, Pan J, Pan J. Antitumor Activities of Interleukin-12 in Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225592. [PMID: 36428682 PMCID: PMC9688694 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most common and serious malignant tumor among skin cancers. Although more and more studies have revolutionized the systematic treatment of advanced melanoma in recent years, access to innovative drugs for melanoma is still greatly restricted in many countries. IL-12 produced mainly by antigen-presenting cells regulates the immune response and affects the differentiation of T cells in the process of antigen presentation. However, the dose-limited toxicity of IL-12 limits its clinical application. The present review summarizes the basic biological functions and toxicity of IL-12 in the treatment of melanoma and discusses the clinical application of IL-12, especially the combination of IL-12 with immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines and other therapeutic drugs. We also summarize several promising technological approaches such as carriers that have been developed to improve the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of IL-12 or IL-12 encoding plasmid application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Gao
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Jun Pan
- Institute of Cancer, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Jianping Pan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-0571-88285702
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Shi G, Scott M, Mangiamele CG, Heller R. Modification of the Tumor Microenvironment Enhances Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2429. [PMID: 36365247 PMCID: PMC9695203 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to checkpoint-blockade treatments is a challenge in the clinic. Both primary and acquired resistance have become major obstacles, greatly limiting the long-lasting effects and wide application of blockade therapy. Many patients with metastatic melanoma eventually require further therapy. The absence of T-cell infiltration to the tumor site is a well-accepted contributor limiting immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy. In this study, we combined intratumoral injection of plasmid IL-12 with electrotransfer and anti-PD-1 in metastatic B16F10 melanoma tumor model to increase tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and improve therapeutic efficacy. We showed that effective anti-tumor responses required a subset of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Additionally, the combination therapy induced higher MHC-I surface expression on tumor cells to hamper tumor cells escaping from immune recognition. Furthermore, we found that activating T cells by exposure to IL-12 resulted in tumors sensitized to anti-PD-1 treatment, suggesting a therapeutic strategy to improve responses to checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilan Shi
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Megan Scott
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | - Cathryn G. Mangiamele
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | - Richard Heller
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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Martínez-Puente DH, Pérez-Trujillo JJ, Zavala-Flores LM, García-García A, Villanueva-Olivo A, Rodríguez-Rocha H, Valdés J, Saucedo-Cárdenas O, Montes de Oca-Luna R, Loera-Arias MDJ. Plasmid DNA for Therapeutic Applications in Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14091861. [PMID: 36145609 PMCID: PMC9503848 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the interest in using nucleic acids for therapeutic applications has been increasing. DNA molecules can be manipulated to express a gene of interest for gene therapy applications or vaccine development. Plasmid DNA can be developed to treat different diseases, such as infections and cancer. In most cancers, the immune system is limited or suppressed, allowing cancer cells to grow. DNA vaccination has demonstrated its capacity to stimulate the immune system to fight against cancer cells. Furthermore, plasmids for cancer gene therapy can direct the expression of proteins with different functions, such as enzymes, toxins, and cytotoxic or proapoptotic proteins, to directly kill cancer cells. The progress and promising results reported in animal models in recent years have led to interesting clinical results. These DNA strategies are expected to be approved for cancer treatment in the near future. This review discusses the main strategies, challenges, and future perspectives of using plasmid DNA for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - José Juan Pérez-Trujillo
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Monterrey 64460, Mexico
| | - Laura Mireya Zavala-Flores
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Northeast Biomedical Research Center (CIBIN) of IMSS, Nuevo Leon Delegation, Monterrey 64720, Mexico
| | - Aracely García-García
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Monterrey 64460, Mexico
| | - Arnulfo Villanueva-Olivo
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Monterrey 64460, Mexico
| | - Humberto Rodríguez-Rocha
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Monterrey 64460, Mexico
| | - Jesús Valdés
- Departamento de Bioquímica, CINVESTAV-México, Av. IPN 2508, Colonia San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Odila Saucedo-Cárdenas
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Monterrey 64460, Mexico
| | - Roberto Montes de Oca-Luna
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Monterrey 64460, Mexico
- Correspondence: (R.M.d.O.-L.); (M.d.J.L.-A.); Tel.: +52-81-8329-4195 (R.M.d.O.-L. & M.d.J.L.-A.)
| | - María de Jesús Loera-Arias
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Monterrey 64460, Mexico
- Correspondence: (R.M.d.O.-L.); (M.d.J.L.-A.); Tel.: +52-81-8329-4195 (R.M.d.O.-L. & M.d.J.L.-A.)
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