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Liu S, Ji F, Ding Y, Ding B, Feng S, Brennick C, Lin H, Zhang T, Shen Y. VISTA: A promising target for overcoming immune evasion in gynecologic cancers. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 138:112655. [PMID: 38986302 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112655] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment but has shown limited efficacy in gynecologic cancers. VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation), a member of the B7 family, is emerging as another checkpoint that regulates the anti-tumor immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. This paper reviews the structure, expression, and mechanism of action of VISTA. Furthermore, it highlights recent advances in VISTA-blocking therapies and their potential in improving outcomes for patients with gynecologic cancers. By understanding the role of VISTA in mediating the immune evasion of gynecologic tumors, we can develop more effective combinatory treatment strategies that could overcome resistance to current ICB therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicong Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China
| | - Feng Ji
- Department of Clinical Science and Research, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China
| | - Bo Ding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China
| | - Songwei Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China
| | - Cory Brennick
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Clinical Science and Research, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Yang Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China.
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2
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Vanmeerbeek I, Naulaerts S, Sprooten J, Laureano RS, Govaerts J, Trotta R, Pretto S, Zhao S, Cafarello ST, Verelst J, Jacquemyn M, Pociupany M, Boon L, Schlenner SM, Tejpar S, Daelemans D, Mazzone M, Garg AD. Targeting conserved TIM3 +VISTA + tumor-associated macrophages overcomes resistance to cancer immunotherapy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadm8660. [PMID: 39028818 PMCID: PMC11259173 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm8660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Despite the success of immunotherapy, overcoming immunoresistance in cancer remains challenging. We identified a unique niche of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), coexpressing T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing 3 (TIM3) and V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), that dominated human and mouse tumors resistant to most of the currently used immunotherapies. TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs were sustained by IL-4-enriching tumors with low (neo)antigenic and T cell-depleted features. TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs showed an anti-inflammatory and protumorigenic phenotype coupled with inability to sense type I interferon (IFN). This was established with cancer cells succumbing to immunogenic cell death (ICD). Dying cancer cells not only triggered autocrine type I IFNs but also exposed HMGB1/VISTA that engaged TIM3/VISTA on TAMs to suppress paracrine IFN-responses. Accordingly, TIM3/VISTA blockade synergized with paclitaxel, an ICD-inducing chemotherapy, to repolarize TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs to proinflammatory TAMs that killed cancer cells via tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) signaling. We propose targeting TIM3+VISTA+ TAMs to overcome immunoresistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaure Vanmeerbeek
- Laboratory of Cell Stress and Immunity, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefan Naulaerts
- Laboratory of Cell Stress and Immunity, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jenny Sprooten
- Laboratory of Cell Stress and Immunity, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Raquel S. Laureano
- Laboratory of Cell Stress and Immunity, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jannes Govaerts
- Laboratory of Cell Stress and Immunity, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rosa Trotta
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Samantha Pretto
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Shikang Zhao
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah Trusso Cafarello
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joren Verelst
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Jacquemyn
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martyna Pociupany
- Laboratory of Cell Stress and Immunity, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Susan M. Schlenner
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sabine Tejpar
- Laboratory for Molecular Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk Daelemans
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Massimiliano Mazzone
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumour Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Abhishek D. Garg
- Laboratory of Cell Stress and Immunity, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Ta HM, Roy D, Zhang K, Alban T, Juric I, Dong J, Parthasarathy PB, Patnaik S, Delaney E, Gilmour C, Zakeri A, Shukla N, Rupani A, Phoon YP, Liu C, Avril S, Gastman B, Chan T, Wang LL. LRIG1 engages ligand VISTA and impairs tumor-specific CD8 + T cell responses. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eadi7418. [PMID: 38758807 PMCID: PMC11334715 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adi7418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade is a promising approach to activate antitumor immunity and improve the survival of patients with cancer. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is an immune checkpoint target; however, the downstream signaling mechanisms are elusive. Here, we identify leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains 1 (LRIG1) as a VISTA binding partner, which acts as an inhibitory receptor by engaging VISTA and suppressing T cell receptor signaling pathways. Mice with T cell-specific LRIG1 deletion developed superior antitumor responses because of expansion of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) with increased effector function and survival. Sustained tumor control was associated with a reduction of quiescent CTLs (TCF1+ CD62Lhi PD-1low) and a reciprocal increase in progenitor and memory-like CTLs (TCF1+ PD-1+). In patients with melanoma, elevated LRIG1 expression on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ CTLs correlated with resistance to immunotherapies. These results delineate the role of LRIG1 as an inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor and propose a rationale for targeting the VISTA/LRIG1 axis for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hieu Minh Ta
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Dia Roy
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Keman Zhang
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Tyler Alban
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ivan Juric
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Juan Dong
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Prerana B. Parthasarathy
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Sachin Patnaik
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Elizabeth Delaney
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Cassandra Gilmour
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Amin Zakeri
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Nidhi Shukla
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Amit Rupani
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Yee Peng Phoon
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Caini Liu
- Department of Inflammation and Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Stefanie Avril
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Brian Gastman
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Timothy Chan
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Li Lily Wang
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Thisted T, Smith FD, Mukherjee A, Kleschenko Y, Feng F, Jiang ZG, Eitas T, Malhotra K, Biesova Z, Onumajuru A, Finley F, Cifuentes A, Zhang G, Martin GH, Takeuchi Y, Thiam K, Schreiber RD, van der Horst EH. VISTA checkpoint inhibition by pH-selective antibody SNS-101 with optimized safety and pharmacokinetic profiles enhances PD-1 response. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2917. [PMID: 38575562 PMCID: PMC10995192 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47256-x] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
VISTA, an inhibitory myeloid-T-cell checkpoint, holds promise as a target for cancer immunotherapy. However, its effective targeting has been impeded by issues such as rapid clearance and cytokine release syndrome observed with previous VISTA antibodies. Here we demonstrate that SNS-101, a newly developed pH-selective VISTA antibody, addresses these challenges. Structural and biochemical analyses confirmed the pH-selectivity and unique epitope targeted by SNS-101. These properties confer favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles on SNS-101. In syngeneic tumor models utilizing human VISTA knock-in mice, SNS-101 shows in vivo efficacy when combined with a PD-1 inhibitor, modulates cytokine and chemokine signaling, and alters the tumor microenvironment. In summary, SNS-101, currently in Phase I clinical trials, emerges as a promising therapeutic biologic for a wide range of patients whose cancer is refractory to current immunotherapy regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Thisted
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - F Donelson Smith
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Yuliya Kleschenko
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Feng Feng
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Zhi-Gang Jiang
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Timothy Eitas
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Kanam Malhotra
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Zuzana Biesova
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Adejumoke Onumajuru
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Faith Finley
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Anokhi Cifuentes
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc., 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | | | - Yoshiko Takeuchi
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington Univ. School of Medicine, Mailstop 8118, 425 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Kader Thiam
- genOway, Technopark Gerland, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Robert D Schreiber
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington Univ. School of Medicine, Mailstop 8118, 425 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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Cao Y, Yu K, Zhang Z, Gu Y, Gu Y, Li W, Zhang W, Shen Z, Xu J, Qin J. Blockade of V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation reprograms tumour-associated macrophages and improves efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor in gastric cancer. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1578. [PMID: 38356419 PMCID: PMC10867598 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1578] [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: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS In gastric cancer, the response rate of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor is far from satisfactory, indicating additional nonredundant pathways might hamper antitumour immunity. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) has been reported in several malignancies as a novel immune-checkpoint. Nevertheless, the role of VISTA in gastric cancer still remains obscure. Our purpose is to explore the clinical significance and potential mechanism of VISTA in affecting gastric cancer patients' survival and immunotherapeutic responsiveness. METHODS Our study recruited eight independent cohorts with a total of 1403 gastric cancer patients. Immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence, flow cytometry or intracellular flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, magnetic-activated cell sorting, smart-seq2, in vitro cell co-culture and ex vivo tumour inhibition assays were applied to investigate the clinical significance and potential mechanism of VISTA in gastric cancer. RESULTS VISTA was predominantly expressed on tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), and indicated poor clinical outcomes and inferior immunotherapeutic responsiveness. VISTA+ TAMs showed a mixed phenotype. Co-culture of TAMs and CD8+ T cells indicated that VISTA+ TAMs attenuated effective function of CD8+ T cells. Blockade of VISTA reprogrammed TAMs to a proinflammatory phenotype, reactivated CD8+ T cells and promoted apoptosis of tumour cells. Moreover, blockade of VISTA could also enhance the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor, suggesting that blockade of VISTA might synergise with PD-1 inhibitor in gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS Our data revealed that VISTA was an immune-checkpoint associated with immunotherapeutic resistance. Blockade of VISTA reprogrammed TAMs, promoted T-cell-mediated antitumour immunity, and enhanced efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor, which might have implications in the treatment of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Cao
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Kuan Yu
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zihao Zhang
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yun Gu
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yichao Gu
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wandi Li
- Department of ImmunologySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Weijuan Zhang
- Department of ImmunologySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zhenbin Shen
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jiejie Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jing Qin
- Department of General SurgeryZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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Wright QG, Sinha D, Wells JW, Frazer IH, Gonzalez Cruz JL, Leggatt GR. Peritumoral administration of immunomodulatory antibodies as a triple combination suppresses skin tumor growth without systemic toxicity. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e007960. [PMID: 38296598 PMCID: PMC10831460 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007960] [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] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Skin cancers, particularly keratinocyte cancers, are the most commonly diagnosed tumors. Although surgery is often effective in early-stage disease, skin tumors are not always easily accessible, can reoccur and have the ability to metastasize. More recently, immunotherapies, including intravenously administered checkpoint inhibitors, have been shown to control some skin cancers, but with off-target toxicities when used in combination. Our study investigated whether peritumoral administration of an antibody combination targeting PD-1, 4-1BB (CD137) and VISTA might control skin tumors and lead to circulating antitumor immunity without off-target toxicity. METHODS The efficacy of combination immunotherapy administered peritumorally or intravenously was tested using transplantable tumor models injected into mouse ears (primary tumors) or subcutaneously in flank skin (secondary tumors). Changes to the tumor microenvironment were tracked using flow cytometry while tumor-specific, CD8 T cells were identified through enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays. Off-target toxicity of the combination immunotherapy was assessed via serum alanine aminotransferase ELISA and histological analysis of liver sections. RESULTS The data showed that local administration of antibody therapy eliminated syngeneic murine tumors transplanted in the ear skin at a lower dose than required intravenously, and without measured hepatic toxicity. Tumor elimination was dependent on CD8 T cells and was associated with an increased percentage of CD8 T cells expressing granzyme B, KLRG1 and Eomes, and a decreased population of CD4 T cells including CD4+FoxP3+ cells in the treated tumor microenvironment. Importantly, untreated, distal tumors regressed following antibody treatment of a primary tumor, and immune memory prevented growth of subcutaneous flank tumors administered 50 days after regression of a primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS Together, these data suggest that peritumoral immunotherapy for skin tumors offers advantages over conventional intravenous delivery, allowing antibody dose sparing, improved safety and inducing long-term systemic memory. Future clinical trials of immunotherapy for primary skin cancer should focus on peritumoral delivery of combinations of immune checkpoint antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin G Wright
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Debottam Sinha
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James W Wells
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ian H Frazer
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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7
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Rezagholizadeh F, Tajik F, Talebi M, Taha SR, Shariat Zadeh M, Farhangnia P, Hosseini HS, Nazari A, Mollazadeh Ghomi S, Kamrani Mousavi SM, Haeri Moghaddam N, Khorramdelazad H, Joghataei MT, Safari E. Unraveling the potential of CD8, CD68, and VISTA as diagnostic and prognostic markers in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1283364. [PMID: 38357542 PMCID: PMC10865497 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1283364] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pancreatic cancer is a truculent disease with limited treatment options and a grim prognosis. Immunotherapy has shown promise in treating various types of cancer, but its effectiveness in pancreatic cancer has been lacking. As a result, it is crucial to identify markers associated with immunological pathways in order to improve the treatment outcomes for this deadly cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of three markers, CD8, CD68, and VISTA, in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common subtype of pancreatic cancer. Methods We analyzed gene expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database using bioinformatics tools. We also utilized the STRING online tool and Funrich software to study the protein-protein interactions and transcription factors associated with CD8, CD68, and VISTA. In addition, tissue microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining were performed on 228 samples of PDAC tissue and 10 samples of normal pancreatic tissue to assess the expression levels of the markers. We then correlated these expression levels with the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients and evaluated their survival rates. Results The analysis of the GEO data revealed slightly elevated levels of VISTA in PDAC samples compared to normal tissues. However, there was a significant increase in CD68 expression and a notable reduction in CD8A expression in pancreatic cancer. Further investigation identified potential protein-protein interactions and transcription factors associated with these markers. The IHC staining of PDAC tissue samples showed an increased expression of VISTA, CD68, and CD8A in pancreatic cancer tissues. Moreover, we found correlations between the expression levels of these markers and certain clinicopathological features of the patients. Additionally, the survival analysis revealed that high expression of CD8 was associated with better disease-specific survival and progression-free survival in PDAC patients. Conclusion These findings highlight the potential of CD8, CD68, and VISTA as diagnostic and prognostic indicators in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Rezagholizadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tajik
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Talebi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Human and Animal Cell Bank, Iranian Biological Resource Center (IBRC), Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Reza Taha
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Pooya Farhangnia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Board for Transplantation and Cell-Based Therapeutics (ImmunoTACT), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamideh Sadat Hosseini
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aram Nazari
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Mollazadeh Ghomi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Board for Transplantation and Cell-Based Therapeutics (ImmunoTACT), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyede Mahtab Kamrani Mousavi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloofar Haeri Moghaddam
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Khorramdelazad
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Joghataei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Safari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Zhang K, Zakeri A, Alban T, Dong J, Ta HM, Zalavadia AH, Branicky A, Zhao H, Juric I, Husich H, Parthasarathy PB, Rupani A, Drazba JA, Chakraborty AA, Ching-Cheng Huang S, Chan T, Avril S, Wang LL. VISTA promotes the metabolism and differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells by STAT3 and polyamine-dependent mechanisms. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113661. [PMID: 38175754 PMCID: PMC10851928 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113661] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) impair antitumor immune responses. Identifying regulatory circuits during MDSC development may bring new opportunities for therapeutic interventions. We report that the V-domain suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) functions as a key enabler of MDSC differentiation. VISTA deficiency reduced STAT3 activation and STAT3-dependent production of polyamines, which causally impaired mitochondrial respiration and MDSC expansion. In both mixed bone marrow (BM) chimera mice and myeloid-specific VISTA conditional knockout mice, VISTA deficiency significantly reduced tumor-associated MDSCs but expanded monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and enhanced T cell-mediated tumor control. Correlated expression of VISTA and arginase-1 (ARG1), a key enzyme supporting polyamine biosynthesis, was observed in multiple human cancer types. In human endometrial cancer, co-expression of VISTA and ARG1 on tumor-associated myeloid cells is associated with poor survival. Taken together, these findings unveil the VISTA/polyamine axis as a central regulator of MDSC differentiation and warrant therapeutically targeting this axis for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keman Zhang
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Amin Zakeri
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Tyler Alban
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Juan Dong
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Hieu M Ta
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ajay H Zalavadia
- Imaging Core Facility, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Andrelie Branicky
- Imaging Core Facility, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Haoxin Zhao
- Imaging Core Facility, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ivan Juric
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Hanna Husich
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Prerana B Parthasarathy
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Amit Rupani
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Judy A Drazba
- Imaging Core Facility, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Abhishek A Chakraborty
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Stanley Ching-Cheng Huang
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Timothy Chan
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Stefanie Avril
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Li Lily Wang
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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9
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Wang B, Ou Z, Zhong W, Huang L, Liao W, Sheng Y, Guo Z, Chen J, Yang W, Chen K, Huang X, Yang T, Lin T, Huang J. Effective Antitumor Immunity Can Be Triggered by Targeting VISTA in Combination with a TLR3-Specific Adjuvant. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:1656-1670. [PMID: 37847894 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment is often associated with accumulation of intratumoral inhibitory macrophages. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is a nonredundant immune checkpoint that can induce both T-cell and myeloid-cell immunosuppression. In this study, we found that high levels of VISTA+ immune cells were associated with advanced stage bladder cancer and predicted poor survival in patients. A combination of high infiltration of VISTA+ immune cells and PD-L1+ immune cells or PD-1+ T cells predicted the worst survival. Flow cytometry and multiplex immunofluorescence analyses confirmed that VISTA expression was higher in macrophages than in T cells or neutrophils, and only VISTA+CD163+ macrophage density predicted poor prognosis in patients with bladder cancer. Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are known to trigger the innate immune response in macrophages. We found that the VISTA-specific mAb 13F3 augmented the ability of a TLR3-specific adjuvant to induce macrophage activation in vitro. In the MB49 syngeneic mouse model of bladder cancer, treatment with 13F3 curbed tumor growth and prolonged survival when combined with a TLR3-specific adjuvant. The combination treatment reduced the intratumoral frequency of CD206+ anti-inflammatory macrophages and levels of the immunosuppressive molecule TGFβ1, but it upregulated expression of immunostimulatory molecules (Ifna, Ifnb, and Trail) and increased the CD8+ T cell/regulatory T-cell ratio. These findings indicate that elevated VISTA expression in immune cells, particularly macrophages, is associated with an unfavorable prognosis in patients with bladder cancer and suggest that targeting VISTA in combination with a TLR3-specific adjuvant has translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Ziwei Ou
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Wenlong Zhong
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Lin Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Wenjian Liao
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yiyu Sheng
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Zhixing Guo
- Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Junyu Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Wenjuan Yang
- Department of Hematology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaodong Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Tenghao Yang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Tianxin Lin
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jian Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
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10
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Roy D, Gilmour C, Patnaik S, Wang LL. Combinatorial blockade for cancer immunotherapy: targeting emerging immune checkpoint receptors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1264327. [PMID: 37928556 PMCID: PMC10620683 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1264327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The differentiation, survival, and effector function of tumor-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T cells lie at the center of antitumor immunity. Due to the lack of proper costimulation and the abundant immunosuppressive mechanisms, tumor-specific T cells show a lack of persistence and exhausted and dysfunctional phenotypes. Multiple coinhibitory receptors, such as PD-1, CTLA-4, VISTA, TIGIT, TIM-3, and LAG-3, contribute to dysfunctional CTLs and failed antitumor immunity. These coinhibitory receptors are collectively called immune checkpoint receptors (ICRs). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting these ICRs have become the cornerstone for cancer immunotherapy as they have established new clinical paradigms for an expanding range of previously untreatable cancers. Given the nonredundant yet convergent molecular pathways mediated by various ICRs, combinatorial immunotherapies are being tested to bring synergistic benefits to patients. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of several emerging ICRs, including VISTA, TIGIT, TIM-3, and LAG-3, and the preclinical and clinical data supporting combinatorial strategies to improve existing ICI therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dia Roy
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Cassandra Gilmour
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Sachin Patnaik
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Li Lily Wang
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
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11
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Noelle RJ, Lines JL, Lewis LD, Martell RE, Guillaudeux T, Lee SW, Mahoney KM, Vesely MD, Boyd-Kirkup J, Nambiar DK, Scott AM. Clinical and research updates on the VISTA immune checkpoint: immuno-oncology themes and highlights. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1225081. [PMID: 37795437 PMCID: PMC10547146 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1225081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoints limit the activation of the immune system and serve an important homeostatic function but can also restrict immune responses against tumors. Inhibition of specific immune checkpoint proteins such as the B7:CD28 family members programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) has transformed the treatment of various cancers by promoting the anti-tumor activation of immune cells. In contrast to these effects, the V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) regulates the steady state of the resting immune system and promotes homeostasis by mechanisms distinct from PD-1 and CTLA-4. The effects of VISTA blockade have been shown to include a decrease in myeloid suppression coupled with proinflammatory changes by mechanisms that are separate and distinct from other immune checkpoint proteins; in some preclinical studies these immune effects appear synergistic. Given the potential benefits of VISTA blockade in the context of cancer therapy, the second Annual VISTA Symposium was convened virtually on September 23, 2022, to review new research from investigators and immuno-oncology experts. Discussions in the meeting extended the knowledge of VISTA biology and the effects of VISTA inhibition, particularly on cells of the myeloid lineage and resting T cells, as three candidate anti-VISTA antibodies are in, or nearing, clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randolph J. Noelle
- ImmuNext Inc., Lebanon, NH, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - J. Louise Lines
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Lionel D. Lewis
- Section of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth Cancer Center, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Robert E. Martell
- Curis, Inc., Lexington, MA, United States
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Sam W. Lee
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Mahoney
- Department of Medical, Division of Medical Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matthew D. Vesely
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | | | - Dhanya K. Nambiar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Andrew M. Scott
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health and Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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12
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Digomann D, Strack J, Heiduk M, Plesca I, Rupp L, Reiche C, Nicolaus S, Beer C, Sommer U, Schmitz M, Distler M, Weitz J, Seifert AM, Seifert L. VISTA Ligation Reduces Antitumor T-Cell Activity in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082326. [PMID: 37190254 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has shown promising results in multiple solid tumors and hematological malignancies. However, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been largely refractory to current clinical immunotherapies. The V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) inhibits T-cell effector function and maintains peripheral tolerance. Here, we determine VISTA expression in nontumorous pancreatic (n = 5) and PDAC tissue using immunohistochemistry (n = 76) and multiplex immunofluorescence staining (n = 67). Additionally, VISTA expression on tumor-infiltrating immune cells and matched blood samples (n = 13) was measured with multicolor flow cytometry. Further, the effect of recombinant VISTA on T-cell activation was investigated in vitro, and VISTA blockade was tested in an orthotopic PDAC mouse model in vivo. PDAC showed significantly higher VISTA expression compared to that of a nontumorous pancreas. Patients with a high density of VISTA-expressing tumor cells had reduced overall survival. The VISTA expression of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was increased after stimulation and particularly after a coculture with tumor cells. We detected a higher level of proinflammatory cytokine (TNFα and IFNγ) expression by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which was reversed with the addition of recombinant VISTA. A VISTA blockade reduced tumor weights in vivo. The VISTA expression of tumor cells has clinical relevance, and its blockade may be a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Digomann
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Johannes Strack
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Max Heiduk
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ioana Plesca
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Luise Rupp
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Charlotte Reiche
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Simone Nicolaus
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Carolin Beer
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ulrich Sommer
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marius Distler
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Weitz
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adrian M Seifert
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena Seifert
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Else Kröner Clinician Scientist Professor for "Translational Tumor Immunological Research", 01307 Dresden, Germany
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