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Jama M, Tabana Y, Barakat KH. Targeting cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) in breast cancer. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:353. [PMID: 38956700 PMCID: PMC11218087 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01901-9] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) has a high mortality rate and is one of the most common malignancies in the world. Initially, BC was considered non-immunogenic, but a paradigm shift occurred with the discovery of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the BC tumor microenvironment. CTLA-4 (Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) immunotherapy has emerged as a treatment option for BC, but it has limitations, including suboptimal antitumor effects and toxicity. Research has demonstrated that anti-CTLA-4 combination therapies, such as Treg depletion, cancer vaccines, and modulation of the gut microbiome, are significantly more effective than CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody (mAB) monotherapy. Second-generation CTLA-4 antibodies are currently being developed to mitigate immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and augment antitumor efficacy. This review examines anti-CTLA-4 mAB in BC, both as monotherapy and in combination with other treatments, and sheds light on ongoing clinical trials, novel CTLA-4 therapeutic strategies, and potential utility of biomarkers in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Jama
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Yasser Tabana
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Khaled H Barakat
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
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Mitra A, Kumar A, Amdare NP, Pathak R. Current Landscape of Cancer Immunotherapy: Harnessing the Immune Arsenal to Overcome Immune Evasion. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:307. [PMID: 38785789 PMCID: PMC11118874 DOI: 10.3390/biology13050307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immune evasion represents a leading hallmark of cancer, posing a significant obstacle to the development of successful anticancer therapies. However, the landscape of cancer treatment has significantly evolved, transitioning into the era of immunotherapy from conventional methods such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. Immunotherapy has emerged as a pivotal component in cancer treatment, harnessing the body's immune system to combat cancer and offering improved prognostic outcomes for numerous patients. The remarkable success of immunotherapy has spurred significant efforts to enhance the clinical efficacy of existing agents and strategies. Several immunotherapeutic approaches have received approval for targeted cancer treatments, while others are currently in preclinical and clinical trials. This review explores recent progress in unraveling the mechanisms of cancer immune evasion and evaluates the clinical effectiveness of diverse immunotherapy strategies, including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and antibody-based treatments. It encompasses both established treatments and those currently under investigation, providing a comprehensive overview of efforts to combat cancer through immunological approaches. Additionally, the article emphasizes the current developments, limitations, and challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, by integrating analyses of cancer immunotherapy resistance mechanisms and exploring combination strategies and personalized approaches, it offers valuable insights crucial for the development of novel anticancer immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Mitra
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Anoop Kumar
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, National Institute of Biologicals, Noida 201309, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nitin P. Amdare
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Rajiv Pathak
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
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3
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Ren X, Cui H, Dai L, Chang L, Liu D, Yan W, Zhao X, Kang H, Ma X. PIK3CA mutation-driven immune signature as a prognostic marker for evaluating the tumor immune microenvironment and therapeutic response in breast cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:119. [PMID: 38466449 PMCID: PMC10927816 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05626-4] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Gene mutations drive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) heterogeneity, in turn affecting prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy. PIK3CA is the most frequently mutated gene in breast cancer (BC), yet its relevance to BC prognosis remains controversial. Herein, we sought to determine the impact of PIK3CA mutation-driven immune genes (PDIGs) on BC prognosis in relation to TIME heterogeneity. METHODS PIK3CA mutation characteristics were compared and verified between the TCGA-BRCA dataset and a patient cohort from our hospital. PIK3CA mutation-driven differentially expressed genes were identified for consensus clustering and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to select the modules most relevant to the immune subtype. Thereafter, the two were intersected to obtain PDIGs. Univariate Cox, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were sequentially performed on PDIGs to obtain a PIK3CA mutation-driven immune signature (PDIS), which was then validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differences in functional enrichment, mutation landscape, immune infiltration, checkpoint gene expression, and drug response were compared between different risk groups. RESULTS PIK3CA mutation frequencies in the TCGA and validation cohorts were 34.49% and 40.83%, respectively. PIK3CA mutants were significantly associated with ER, PR, and molecular BC subtypes in our hospital cohort. The PDIS allowed for effective risk stratification and exhibited prognostic power in TCGA and GEO sets. The low-risk patients exhibited greater immune infiltration, higher expression of common immune checkpoint factors, and lower scores for tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion. CONCLUSION The PDIS can be used as an effective prognostic model for predicting immunotherapy response to guide clinical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Ren
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hanxiao Cui
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Luyao Dai
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lidan Chang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenyu Yan
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xuyan Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huafeng Kang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Xiaobin Ma
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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Singh R, Srivastava P, Manna PP. Evaluation of regulatory T-cells in cancer immunotherapy: therapeutic relevance of immune checkpoint inhibition. Med Oncol 2024; 41:59. [PMID: 38238513 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02289-y] [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: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The evolution of the complex immune system is equipped to defend against perilous intruders and concurrently negatively regulate the deleterious effect of immune-mediated inflammation caused by self and nonself antigens. Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are specialized cells that minimize immune-mediated inflammation, but in malignancies, this feature has been exploited toward cancer progression by keeping the antitumor immune response in check. The modulation of Treg cell infiltration and their induction in the TME (tumor microenvironment) alongside associated inhibitory molecules, both soluble or membranes tethered in the TME, have proven clinically beneficial in boosting the tumoricidal activity of the immune system. Moreover, Treg-associated immune checkpoints pose a greater obstruction in cancer immunotherapy. Inhibiting or blocking active immune checkpoint signaling in combination with other therapies has proven clinically beneficial. This review summarizes the ontogeny of Treg cells and their migration, stability, and function in the TME. We also elucidate the Treg-associated checkpoint moieties that impede effective antitumor activity and harness these molecules for effective and targeted immunotherapy against cancer nuisance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjeet Singh
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Prateek Srivastava
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India
| | - Partha Pratim Manna
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, 221005, India.
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Chamorro DF, Somes LK, Hoyos V. Engineered Adoptive T-Cell Therapies for Breast Cancer: Current Progress, Challenges, and Potential. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:124. [PMID: 38201551 PMCID: PMC10778447 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010124] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer remains a significant health challenge, and novel treatment approaches are critically needed. This review presents an in-depth analysis of engineered adoptive T-cell therapies (E-ACTs), an innovative frontier in cancer immunotherapy, focusing on their application in breast cancer. We explore the evolving landscape of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapies, highlighting their potential and challenges in targeting breast cancer. The review addresses key obstacles such as target antigen selection, the complex breast cancer tumor microenvironment, and the persistence of engineered T-cells. We discuss the advances in overcoming these barriers, including strategies to enhance T-cell efficacy. Finally, our comprehensive analysis of the current clinical trials in this area provides insights into the future possibilities and directions of E-ACTs in breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego F. Chamorro
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.F.C.); (L.K.S.)
| | - Lauren K. Somes
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.F.C.); (L.K.S.)
| | - Valentina Hoyos
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.F.C.); (L.K.S.)
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Aslan V, Karabörk Kılıç AC, Özet A, Üner A, Günel N, Yazıcı O, Savaş G, Bayrak A, Eraslan E, Öksüzoğlu B, Kılıç HK, Özdemir N. The role of spleen volume change in predicting immunotherapy response in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1045. [PMID: 37904131 PMCID: PMC10617093 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11558-y] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is a significant issue in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), as it is in the majority of cancer types. An important deficiency in immunooncology today is the lack of a predictive factor to identify this patient group. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a type of cell that contributes to immunotherapy resistance by inhibiting T cell activity. While it accumulates in the tumor microenvironment and blood, it can also accumulate in lymphoid organs such as the spleen and cause splenomegaly. Therefore we aimed to evaluate the effect of increase in splenic volume, which can be considered as an indirect indicator of increased MDSC cells, on survival outcomes in mRCC patients. METHODS We analyzed 45 patients with mRCC who received nivolumab as a second-line or subsequent therapy. Splenic volume was analyzed from baseline imaging before starting nivolumab and from control imaging performed within the first 6 months of treatment initiation. Additionally, we analyzed how patients' body mass index (BMI), IMDC risk score, ECOG performance status, nephrectomy status, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and sites of metastasis. RESULTS Median splenic volume change was 10% (ranging from - 22% to + 117%) during follow-up. Change in splenic volume was found to be associated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.025, 0.04). The median PFS in patients with increased splenic volume was 5 months, while it was 17 months in patients without increased splenic volume. (HR 2.1, 95% CI (1-4), p = 0.04). The median OS in patients with increased splenic volume was 9 months, while it was 35 months in patients without increased splenic volume (HR 2.7, 95% CI (1.1-6.2), p = 0.025). In four patients with decreased splenic volume, neither PFS nor OS could reach the median value. Log-rank p value in respectively (0.015, 0.035), The group in which an increase in volume was accompanied by a high NLR had the shortest survival rate. Basal splenic volume was analyzed separately. However, neither PFS nor OS differed significantly. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the change in splenic volume throughout immunotherapy regimens may be utilized to predict PFS and OS in mRCC patients undergoing treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volkan Aslan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
| | | | - Ahmet Özet
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aytuğ Üner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nazan Günel
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ozan Yazıcı
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Gözde Savaş
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Bayrak
- Department of Radiology, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Emrah Eraslan
- Department of Radiology, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Berna Öksüzoğlu
- Department of Radiology, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Nuriye Özdemir
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
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Pan C, Xu A, Ma X, Yao Y, Zhao Y, Wang C, Chen C. Research progress of Claudin-low breast cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1226118. [PMID: 37904877 PMCID: PMC10613467 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1226118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Claudin-low breast cancer (CLBC) is a subgroup of breast cancer discovered at the molecular level in 2007. Claudin is one of the primary proteins that make up tight junctions, and it plays crucial roles in anti-inflammatory and antitumor responses as well as the maintenance of water and electrolyte balance. Decreased expression of claudin results in the disruption of tight junction structures and the activation of downstream signaling pathways, which can lead to tumor formation. The origin of Claudin-low breast cancer is still in dispute. Claudin-low breast cancer is characterized by low expression of Claudin3, 4, 7, E-cadherin, and HER2 and high expression of Vimentin, Snai 1/2, Twist 1/2, Zeb 1/2, and ALDH1, as well as stem cell characteristics. The clinical onset of claudin-low breast cancer is at menopause age, and its histological grade is higher. This subtype of breast cancer is more likely to spread to lymph nodes than other subtypes. Claudin-low breast cancer is frequently accompanied by increased invasiveness and a poor prognosis. According to a clinical retrospective analysis, claudin-low breast cancer can achieve low pathological complete remission. At present, although several therapeutic targets of claudin-low breast cancer have been identified, the effective treatment remains in basic research stages, and no animal studies or clinical trials have been designed. The origin, molecular biological characteristics, pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of CLBC are extensively discussed in this article. This will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of CLBC and serve as the foundation for the individualization of breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Pan
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Anqi Xu
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Department of Anesthesia, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yanfei Yao
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Youmei Zhao
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Zohair B, Chraa D, Rezouki I, Benthami H, Razzouki I, Elkarroumi M, Olive D, Karkouri M, Badou A. The immune checkpoint adenosine 2A receptor is associated with aggressive clinical outcomes and reflects an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in human breast cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1201632. [PMID: 37753093 PMCID: PMC10518422 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1201632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The crosstalk between the immune system and cancer cells has aroused considerable interest over the past decades. To escape immune surveillance cancer cells evolve various strategies orchestrating tumor microenvironment. The discovery of the inhibitory immune checkpoints was a major breakthrough due to their crucial contribution to immune evasion. The A2AR receptor represents one of the most essential pathways within the TME. It is involved in several processes such as hypoxia, tumor progression, and chemoresistance. However, its clinical and immunological significance in human breast cancer remains elusive. Methods The mRNA expression and protein analysis were performed by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. The log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test was used to estimate Kaplan-Meier analysis for overall survival. Using large-scale microarray data (METABRIC), digital cytometry was conducted to estimate cell abundance. Analysis was performed using RStudio software (7.8 + 2023.03.0) with EPIC, CIBERSORT, and ImmuneCellAI algorithms. Tumor purity, stromal and immune scores were calculated using the ESTIMATE computational method. Finally, analysis of gene set enrichment (GSEA) and the TISCH2 scRNA-seq database were carried out. Results Gene and protein analysis showed that A2AR was overexpressed in breast tumors and was significantly associated with high grade, elevated Ki-67, aggressive molecular and histological subtypes, as well as poor survival. On tumor infiltrating immune cells, A2AR was found to correlate positively with PD-1 and negatively with CTLA-4. On the other hand, our findings disclosed more profuse infiltration of protumoral cells such as M0 and M2 macrophages, Tregs, endothelial and exhausted CD8+ T cells within A2ARhigh tumors. According to the Single-Cell database, A2AR is expressed in malignant, stromal and immune cells. Moreover, it is related to tumor purity, stromal and immune scores. Our results also revealed that CD8+T cells from A2ARhigh patients exhibited an exhausted functional profile. Finally, GSEA analysis highlighted the association of A2AR with biological mechanisms involved in tumor escape and progression. Conclusion The present study is the first to elucidate the clinical and immunological relevance of A2AR in breast cancer patients. In light of these findings, A2AR could be deemed a promising therapeutic target to overcome immune evasion prevailing within the TME of breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma Zohair
- Immuno-Genetics and Human Pathology Laboratory (LIGEP), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Dounia Chraa
- Team Immunity and Cancer, The Cancer Research Center of Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, 41068, CNRS, UMR7258, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Ibtissam Rezouki
- Immuno-Genetics and Human Pathology Laboratory (LIGEP), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Hamza Benthami
- Immuno-Genetics and Human Pathology Laboratory (LIGEP), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ibtissam Razzouki
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Elkarroumi
- Mohamed VI Oncology Center, Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Daniel Olive
- Team Immunity and Cancer, The Cancer Research Center of Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, 41068, CNRS, UMR7258, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, Marseille, France
| | - Mehdi Karkouri
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Abdallah Badou
- Immuno-Genetics and Human Pathology Laboratory (LIGEP), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
- Mohammed VI Center for Research & Innovation, Rabat, Morocco and Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health, Casablanca, Morocco
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Lim C, Hwang D, Yazdimamaghani M, Atkins HM, Hyun H, Shin Y, Ramsey JD, Rädler PD, Mott KR, Perou CM, Sokolsky-Papkov M, Kabanov AV. High-Dose Paclitaxel and its Combination with CSF1R Inhibitor in Polymeric Micelles for Chemoimmunotherapy of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. NANO TODAY 2023; 51:101884. [PMID: 37484164 PMCID: PMC10357922 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2023.101884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The presence of immunosuppressive immune cells in tumors is a significant barrier to the generation of therapeutic immune responses. Similarly, in vivo triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models often contain prevalent, immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in breast cancer initiation, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we test systemic chemoimmunotherapy using small-molecule agents, paclitaxel (PTX), and colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor, PLX3397, to enhance the adaptive T cell immunity against TNBCs in immunocompetent mouse TNBC models. We use high-capacity poly(2-oxazoline) (POx)-based polymeric micelles to greatly improve the solubility of insoluble PTX and PLX3397 and widen the therapeutic index of such drugs. The results demonstrate that high-dose PTX in POx, even as a single agent, exerts strong effects on TME and induces long-term immune memory. In addition, we demonstrate that the PTX and PLX3397 combination provides consistent therapeutic improvement across several TNBC models, resulting from the repolarization of the immunosuppressive TME and enhanced T cell immune response that suppress both the primary tumor growth and metastasis. Overall, the work emphasizes the benefit of drug reformulation and outlines potential translational path for both PTX and PTX with PLX3397 combination therapy using POx polymeric micelles for the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaemin Lim
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Duhyeong Hwang
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mostafa Yazdimamaghani
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hannah Marie Atkins
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Hyesun Hyun
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yuseon Shin
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, South Korea
| | - Jacob D Ramsey
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Patrick D Rädler
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kevin R Mott
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Charles M Perou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Marina Sokolsky-Papkov
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alexander V Kabanov
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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10
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Wang X, Liu L, Yue T, Sun Z, Bae J, Tseng KF, Zhang A, Qiao J, Fu YX. Targeting tumor microenvironment with antibody-guided IL-2 pro-cytokine promotes and rejuvenates dysfunctional CD8 + T cells. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:268. [PMID: 37433760 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01463-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | - Longchao Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Tao Yue
- Aetio Biotherapy, Dallas, TX, 75247, USA
| | - Zhichen Sun
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Joonbeom Bae
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | | | - Anli Zhang
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jian Qiao
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA.
| | - Yang-Xin Fu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA.
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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11
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Wang B, Han Y, Zhang Y, Zhao Q, Wang H, Wei J, Meng L, Xin Y, Jiang X. Overcoming acquired resistance to cancer immune checkpoint therapy: potential strategies based on molecular mechanisms. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:120. [PMID: 37386520 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01073-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 to boost tumor-specific T lymphocyte immunity have opened up new avenues for the treatment of various histological types of malignancies, with the possibility of durable responses and improved survival. However, the development of acquired resistance to ICI therapy over time after an initial response remains a major obstacle in cancer therapeutics. The potential mechanisms of acquired resistance to ICI therapy are still ambiguous. In this review, we focused on the current understanding of the mechanisms of acquired resistance to ICIs, including the lack of neoantigens and effective antigen presentation, mutations of IFN-γ/JAK signaling, and activation of alternate inhibitory immune checkpoints, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, epigenetic modification, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. Further, based on these mechanisms, potential therapeutic strategies to reverse the resistance to ICIs, which could provide clinical benefits to cancer patients, are also briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yin Han
- Cancer Prevention and Treatment Institute of Chengdu, Department of Pathology, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yuyu Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Qin Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Cancer Prevention and Treatment Institute of Chengdu, Department of Pathology, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Huanhuan Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jinlong Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Lingbin Meng
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Ying Xin
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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12
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Greco S, Fabbri N, Spaggiari R, De Giorgi A, Fabbian F, Giovine A. Update on Classic and Novel Approaches in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1772. [PMID: 37371867 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061772] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for almost 15% of all diagnosed breast cancers and often presents high rates of relapses and metastases, with generally poor prognosis despite multiple lines of treatment. Immunotherapy has radically changed the approach of clinicians towards TNBC in the last two to three years, even if targeted and specific therapeutic options are still missing; this unmet need is further justified by the extreme molecular and clinical heterogeneity of this subtype of breast cancer and by the weak response to both single-agent and combined therapies. In March 2023, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the main association of cancer centers in the United States, released the last clinical practice guidelines, with an update on classic and novel approaches in the field of breast cancer. The purpose of this comprehensive review is to summarize the latest findings in the setting of metastatic TNBC treatment, focusing on each category of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and included in the NCCN guidelines. We also introduce part of the latest published studies, which have reported new and promising molecules able to specifically target some of the biomarkers involved in TNBC pathogenesis. We searched the PubMed and Scopus databases for free full texts reported in the literature of the last 5 years, using the words "triple-negative breast cancer" or "TNBC" or "basal-like". The articles were analyzed by the authors independently and double-blindly, and a total of 114 articles were included in the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Greco
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Delta Hospital, Via Valle Oppio 2, 44023 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicolò Fabbri
- Department of General Surgery, Delta Hospital, Via Valle Oppio 2, 44023 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Riccardo Spaggiari
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alfredo De Giorgi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fabio Fabbian
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Antonio Giovine
- Department of Internal Medicine, Delta Hospital, Via Valle Oppio 2, 44023 Ferrara, Italy
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13
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Lasorsa F, Rutigliano M, Milella M, Ferro M, Pandolfo SD, Crocetto F, Tataru OS, Autorino R, Battaglia M, Ditonno P, Lucarelli G. Cellular and Molecular Players in the Tumor Microenvironment of Renal Cell Carcinoma. J Clin Med 2023; 12:3888. [PMID: 37373581 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12123888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) represents the most prevalent type of kidney cancer. Surgery plays a key role in the treatment of this cancer, although one third of patients are diagnosed with metastatic ccRCC and about 25% of patients will develop a recurrence after nephrectomy with curative intent. Molecular-target-based agents, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), are recommended for advanced cancers. In addition to cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment (TME) includes non-malignant cell types embedded in an altered extracellular matrix (ECM). The evidence confirms that interactions among cancer cells and TME elements exist and are thought to play crucial roles in the development of cancer, making them promising therapeutic targets. In the TME, an unfavorable pH, waste product accumulation, and competition for nutrients between cancer and immune cells may be regarded as further possible mechanisms of immune escape. To enhance immunotherapies and reduce resistance, it is crucial first to understand how the immune cells work and interact with cancer and other cancer-associated cells in such a complex tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Lasorsa
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Monica Rutigliano
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Martina Milella
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Matteo Ferro
- Division of Urology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, 71013 Milan, Italy
| | - Savio Domenico Pandolfo
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Crocetto
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Octavian Sabin Tataru
- Department of Simulation Applied in Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Riccardo Autorino
- Department of Urology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Michele Battaglia
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Pasquale Ditonno
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lucarelli
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
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14
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Yin L, Chen GL, Xiang Z, Liu YL, Li XY, Bi JW, Wang Q. Current progress in chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114648. [PMID: 37023621 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women. Around 20-30% breast cancer patients undergo invasion or metastasis after radical surgical resection and eventually die. Number of breast cancer patients show poor sensitivity toward treatments despite the advances in chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and molecular targeted treatments. Therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence or metastasis develop with the ongoing treatments. Conducive treatment strategies are thus required. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cell therapy has progressed as a part of tumor immunotherapy. However, CAR-T treatment has not been effective in solid tumors because of tumor microenvironment complexity, inhibitory effects of extracellular matrix, and lacking ideal tumor antigens. Herein, the prospects of CAR-T cell therapy for metastatic breast cancer are discussed, and the targets for CAR-T therapy in breast cancer (HER-2, C-MET, MSLN, CEA, MUC1, ROR1, EGFR) at clinical level are reviewed. Moreover, solutions are proposed for the challenges of breast cancer CAR-T therapy regarding off-target effects, heterogeneous antigen expression by tumor cells and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Ideas for improving the therapeutics of CAR-T cell therapy in metastatic breast cancer are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250023 Jinan, China; Oncology Department, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, 250023 Jinan, China; Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 250355 Jinan, China
| | - Gui-Lai Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250023 Jinan, China; Oncology Department, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, 250023 Jinan, China
| | - Zhuo Xiang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250023 Jinan, China; Oncology Department, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, 250023 Jinan, China
| | - Yu-Lin Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250023 Jinan, China; Oncology Department, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, 250023 Jinan, China
| | - Xing-Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, China
| | - Jing-Wang Bi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250023 Jinan, China; Oncology Department, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, 250023 Jinan, China.
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250023 Jinan, China; Oncology Department, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, 250023 Jinan, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, China.
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15
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Sumii Y, Kondo T, Ikegawa S, Fukumi T, Iwamoto M, Nishimura MF, Sugiura H, Sando Y, Nakamura M, Meguri Y, Matsushita T, Tanimine N, Kimura M, Asada N, Ennishi D, Maeda Y, Matsuoka KI. Hematopoietic stem cell-derived Tregs are essential for maintaining favorable B cell lymphopoiesis following posttransplant cyclophosphamide. JCI Insight 2023; 8:162180. [PMID: 37092551 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.162180] [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: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is associated with a low incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) following hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation. Previous studies have shown the important roles of B cell immunity in cGVHD development. Here, we investigated the long-term reconstitution of B lymphopoiesis after PTCy using murine models. We first demonstrated that the immune homeostatic abnormality leading to cGVHD is characterized by an initial increase in effector T cells in the bone marrow and subsequent B and Treg cytopenia. PTCy, but not cyclosporine A or rapamycin, inhibits the initial alloreactive T cell response, which restores intra-bone marrow B lymphogenesis with a concomitant vigorous increase in Tregs. This leads to profound changes in posttransplant B cell homeostasis, including decreased B cell activating factors, increased transitional and regulatory B cells, and decreased germinal center B cells. To identify the cells responsible for PTCy-induced B cell tolerance, we selectively depleted Treg populations that were graft or HSC derived using DEREG mice. Deletion of either Treg population without PTCy resulted in critical B cytopenia. PTCy rescued B lymphopoiesis from graft-derived Treg deletion. In contrast, the negative effect of HSC-derived Treg deletion could not be overcome by PTCy, indicating that HSC-derived Tregs are essential for maintaining favorable B lymphopoiesis following PTCy. These findings define the mechanisms by which PTCy restores homeostasis of the B cell lineage and reestablishes immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Sumii
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
| | - Takumi Kondo
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
| | | | - Takuya Fukumi
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
| | - Miki Iwamoto
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
| | - Midori Filiz Nishimura
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | | | - Yasuhisa Sando
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
| | - Makoto Nakamura
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
| | - Yusuke Meguri
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
| | - Takashi Matsushita
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Naoki Tanimine
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Maiko Kimura
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
| | - Noboru Asada
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ennishi
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
| | - Yoshinobu Maeda
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine and
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16
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Lasorsa F, di Meo NA, Rutigliano M, Milella M, Ferro M, Pandolfo SD, Crocetto F, Tataru OS, Autorino R, Battaglia M, Ditonno P, Lucarelli G. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Molecular Basis and Rationale for Their Use in Clinical Practice. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041071. [PMID: 37189689 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the seventh most common cancer in men and the ninth most common cancer in women worldwide. There is plenty of evidence about the role of the immune system in surveillance against tumors. Thanks to a better understanding of immunosurveillance mechanisms, immunotherapy has been introduced as a promising cancer treatment in recent years. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has long been thought chemoresistant but highly immunogenic. Considering that up to 30% of the patients present metastatic disease at diagnosis, and around 20–30% of patients undergoing surgery will suffer recurrence, we need to identify novel therapeutic targets. The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the clinical management of RCC has revolutionized the therapeutic approach against this tumor. Several clinical trials have shown that therapy with ICIs in combination or ICIs and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor has a very good response rate. In this review article we summarize the mechanisms of immunity modulation and immune checkpoints in RCC and discuss the potential therapeutic strategies in renal cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Lasorsa
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola Antonio di Meo
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Monica Rutigliano
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Martina Milella
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Matteo Ferro
- Division of Urology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Savio Domenico Pandolfo
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Crocetto
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Octavian Sabin Tataru
- The Institution Organizing University Doctoral Studies (I.O.S.U.D.), George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Riccardo Autorino
- Department of Urology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Michele Battaglia
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Pasquale Ditonno
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lucarelli
- Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
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17
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Xu L, Zhang S, Feng J, Tan D, Sun H, Guo H. ncRNAs-mediated overexpression of STIL predict unfavorable prognosis and correlated with the efficacy of immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:44. [PMID: 36899391 PMCID: PMC10007768 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02869-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND STIL centriolar assembly protein (STIL) is a cytoplasmic protein implicated in cellular growth and proliferation as well as chromosomal stability, which abnormal condition affected tumor immunity and tumor progression. However, the role of STIL in the biological mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. METHODS Comprehensive bioinformatic approaches, in vitro functional assays, and validation were conducted to elucidate the oncogenic value of STIL in HCC. RESULTS In the present study, we found that STIL may serve as an independent prognostic indicator and a potential oncogene in HCC. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) showed that upregulated expression of STIL was positively associated with pathways enriched in the cell cycle and DNA damage response. Subsequently, we identified several non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) accounting for the upregulation of STIL expression using a combination of in silico bioinformatics approaches (including expression analysis, correlation analysis, and survival analysis). Finally, CCNT2-AS1/SNHG1-has-miR-204-5p-STIL axis was screened out as the most potential upstream ncRNA-related pathway of STIL in HCC. Moreover, STIL expression is highly associated with the infiltration of immune cells, the expression of immune checkpoints, as well as the survival benefit of immunotherapy/chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Our study discloses that ncRNAs-mediated overexpression of STIL independently predicted poor prognosis and correlated with the efficacy of PD-1-targeted immunotherapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longwen Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China
| | - Shirong Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinteng Feng
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China
| | - Deli Tan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Sadeghirad H, Bahrami T, Layeghi SM, Yousefi H, Rezaei M, Hosseini-Fard SR, Radfar P, Warkiani ME, O'Byrne K, Kulasinghe A. Immunotherapeutic targets in non-small cell lung cancer. Immunology 2023; 168:256-272. [PMID: 35933597 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13562] [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: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and has a 5-year survival rate of ~20%. Immunotherapies have shown promising results leading to durable responses, however, they are only effective for a subset of patients. To determine the best therapeutic approach, a thorough and in-depth profiling of the tumour microenvironment (TME) is required. The TME is a complex network of cell types that form an interconnected network, promoting tumour cell initiation, growth and dissemination. The stroma, immune cells and endothelial cells that comprise the TME generate a plethora of cytotoxic or cytoprotective signalling pathways. In this review, we discuss immunotherapeutic targets in NSCLC tumours and how the TME may influence patients' response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habib Sadeghirad
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tayyeb Bahrami
- Liver and Digestive Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Sepideh M Layeghi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Yousefi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSUHSC School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Meysam Rezaei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Seyed R Hosseini-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Payar Radfar
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Majid E Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ken O'Byrne
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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19
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Blomberg OS, Kos K, Spagnuolo L, Isaeva OI, Garner H, Wellenstein MD, Bakker N, Duits DE, Kersten K, Klarenbeek S, Hau CS, Kaldenbach D, Raeven EA, Vrijland K, Kok M, de Visser KE. Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade triggers persistent and systemic T reg activation which blunts therapeutic efficacy against metastatic spread of breast tumors. Oncoimmunology 2023; 12:2201147. [PMID: 37089449 PMCID: PMC10114978 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2201147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical successes of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in advanced cancer patients have recently spurred the clinical implementation of ICB in the neoadjuvant and perioperative setting. However, how neoadjuvant ICB therapy affects the systemic immune landscape and metastatic spread remains to be established. Tumors promote both local and systemic expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are key orchestrators of tumor-induced immunosuppression, contributing to immune evasion, tumor progression and metastasis. Tregs express inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules and thus may be unintended targets for ICB therapy counteracting its efficacy. Using ICB-refractory models of spontaneous primary and metastatic breast cancer that recapitulate the poor ICB response of breast cancer patients, we observed that combined anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapy inadvertently promotes proliferation and activation of Tregs in the tumor, tumor-draining lymph node and circulation. Also in breast cancer patients, Treg levels were elevated upon ICB. Depletion of Tregs during neoadjuvant ICB in tumor-bearing mice not only reshaped the intratumoral immune landscape into a state favorable for ICB response but also induced profound and persistent alterations in systemic immunity, characterized by elevated CD8+ T cells and NK cells and durable T cell activation that was maintained after treatment cessation. While depletion of Tregs in combination with neoadjuvant ICB did not inhibit primary tumor growth, it prolonged metastasis-related survival driven predominantly by CD8+ T cells. This study demonstrates that neoadjuvant ICB therapy of breast cancer can be empowered by simultaneous targeting of Tregs, extending metastasis-related survival, independent of a primary tumor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga S. Blomberg
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kevin Kos
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lorenzo Spagnuolo
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Olga I. Isaeva
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hannah Garner
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Max D. Wellenstein
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Noor Bakker
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Danique E.M. Duits
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kelly Kersten
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd Klarenbeek
- Experimental Animal Pathology Facility, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cheei-Sing Hau
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daphne Kaldenbach
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth A.M. Raeven
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kim Vrijland
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen Kok
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Karin E. de Visser
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- CONTACT Karin E. de Visser Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam1066 CX, The Netherlands
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Drug Repurposing at the Interface of Melanoma Immunotherapy and Autoimmune Disease. Pharmaceutics 2022; 15:pharmaceutics15010083. [PMID: 36678712 PMCID: PMC9865219 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells have a remarkable ability to evade recognition and destruction by the immune system. At the same time, cancer has been associated with chronic inflammation, while certain autoimmune diseases predispose to the development of neoplasia. Although cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized antitumor treatment, immune-related toxicities and adverse events detract from the clinical utility of even the most advanced drugs, especially in patients with both, metastatic cancer and pre-existing autoimmune diseases. Here, the combination of multi-omics, data-driven computational approaches with the application of network concepts enables in-depth analyses of the dynamic links between cancer, autoimmune diseases, and drugs. In this review, we focus on molecular and epigenetic metastasis-related processes within cancer cells and the immune microenvironment. With melanoma as a model, we uncover vulnerabilities for drug development to control cancer progression and immune responses. Thereby, drug repurposing allows taking advantage of existing safety profiles and established pharmacokinetic properties of approved agents. These procedures promise faster access and optimal management for cancer treatment. Together, these approaches provide new disease-based and data-driven opportunities for the prediction and application of targeted and clinically used drugs at the interface of immune-mediated diseases and cancer towards next-generation immunotherapies.
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21
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Wang G, Romero Y, Thevarajan I, Zolkiewska A. ADAM12 abrogation alters immune cell infiltration and improves response to checkpoint blockade therapy in the T11 murine model of triple-negative breast cancer. Oncoimmunology 2022; 12:2158006. [PMID: 36545255 PMCID: PMC9762783 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2158006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) impedes anti-tumor immune responses and contributes to immunotherapy resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). ADAM12, a member of cell surface metalloproteases, is selectively upregulated in mesenchymal/claudin-low TNBCs, where its expression is largely restricted to tumor cells. The role of cancer cell-expressed ADAM12 in modulating the immune TME is not known. We show that Adam12 knockout in the T11 mouse syngeneic transplantation model of claudin-low TNBC leads to decreased numbers of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils (TINs)/polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) and increased numbers of tumor-infiltrating B cells and T cells. ADAM12 loss in cancer cells increases chemotaxis of B cells in vitro and this effect is eliminated by inhibition of CXCR4, a receptor for CXCL12, or anti-CXCL12 blocking antibody. Importantly, ADAM12 loss in T11 cancer cells sensitizes tumors to anti-PD1/anti-CTLA4 combination therapy, although the initial responsiveness is followed by acquired therapy resistance. Depletion of B cells in mice eliminates the improved response to immune checkpoint blockade of Adam12 knockout T11 tumors. Analysis of gene expression data for claudin-low TNBCs from the METABRIC patient cohort shows significant inverse correlations between ADAM12 and gene expression signatures of several anti-tumor immune cell populations, as well as a significant positive correlation between ADAM12 and gene expression signature of TINs/PMN-MDSCs. Collectively, these results implicate ADAM12 in immunosuppression within the TME in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanpeng Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Yeni Romero
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Indhujah Thevarajan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Anna Zolkiewska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA,CONTACT Anna Zolkiewska Department of Biochemistry and molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, 141 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS66506, USA
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22
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Zhang C, Li Y, Qian J, Zhu Z, Huang C, He Z, Zhou L, Gong Y. Identification of a claudin-low subtype in clear cell renal cell carcinoma with implications for the evaluation of clinical outcomes and treatment efficacy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1020729. [PMID: 36479115 PMCID: PMC9719924 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1020729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In bladder and breast cancer, the claudin-low subtype is widely identified, revealing a distinct tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunological feature. Although we have previously identified individual claudin members as prognostic biomarkers in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the existence of an intrinsic claudin-low subtype and its interplay with TME and clinical outcomes remains unclear. Methods Transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)- kidney clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) cohort and E-MTAB-1980 were derived as the training and validation cohorts, respectively. In addition, GSE40435, GSE53757, International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) datasets, and RNA-sequencing data from local ccRCC patients were utilized as validation cohorts for claudin clustering based on silhouette scores. Using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and multiple machine learning algorithms, including least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), CoxBoost, and random forest, we constructed a claudin-TME related (CTR) risk signature. Furthermore, the CTR associated genomic characteristics, immunity, and treatment sensitivity were evaluated. Results A claudin-low phenotype was identified and associated with an inferior survival and distinct TME and cancer immunity characteristics. Based on its interaction with TME, a risk signature was developed with robust prognostic prediction accuracy. Moreover, we found its association with a claudin-low, stem-like phenotype and advanced clinicopathological features. Intriguingly, it was also effective in kidney chromophobe and renal papillary cell carcinoma. The high CTR group exhibited genomic characteristics similar to those of claudin-low phenotype, including increased chromosomal instability (such as deletions at 9p) and risk genomic alterations (especially BAP1 and SETD2). In addition, a higher abundance of CD8 T cells and overexpression of immune checkpoints, such as LAG3, CTLA4 and PDCD1, were identified in the high CTR group. Notably, ccRCC patients with high CTR were potentially more sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors; their counterparts could have more clinical benefits when treated with antiangiogenic drugs, mTOR, or HIF inhibitors. Conclusion We comprehensively evaluated the expression features of claudin genes and identified a claudin-low phenotype in ccRCC. In addition, its related signature could robustly predict the prognosis and provide guide for personalizing management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuijian Zhang
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China,National Urological Cancer Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yifan Li
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China,National Urological Cancer Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jinqin Qian
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China,National Urological Cancer Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenpeng Zhu
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China,National Urological Cancer Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Huang
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China,National Urological Cancer Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhisong He
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China,National Urological Cancer Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Liqun Zhou
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China,National Urological Cancer Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanqing Gong
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China,National Urological Cancer Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Yanqing Gong,
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Shahverdi M, Masoumi J, Ghorbaninezhad F, Shajari N, Hajizadeh F, Hassanian H, Alizadeh N, Jafarlou M, Baradaran B. The modulatory role of dendritic cell-T cell cross-talk in breast cancer: Challenges and prospects. Adv Med Sci 2022; 67:353-363. [PMID: 36116207 DOI: 10.1016/j.advms.2022.09.001] [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: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antigen recognition and presentation are highlighted as the first steps in developing specialized antigen responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) are outstanding professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) responsible for priming cellular immunity in pathological states, including cancer. However, the diminished or repressed function of DCs is thought to be a substantial mechanism through which tumors escape from the immune system. In this regard, DCs obtained from breast cancer (BC) patients represent a notably weakened potency to encourage specific T-cell responses. Additionally, impaired DC-T-cell cross-talk in BC facilitates the immune evade of cancer cells and is connected with tumor advancement, immune tolerance, and adverse prognosis for patients. In this review we aim to highlight the available knowledge on DC-T-cell interactions in BC aggressiveness and show its therapeutic potential in BC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahshid Shahverdi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Javad Masoumi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farid Ghorbaninezhad
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Neda Shajari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Farnaz Hajizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Hassanian
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nazila Alizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahdi Jafarlou
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Weng J, Li S, Zhu Z, Liu Q, Zhang R, Yang Y, Li X. Exploring immunotherapy in colorectal cancer. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:95. [PMID: 35842707 PMCID: PMC9288068 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01294-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy combined with or without targeted therapy is the fundamental treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Due to the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and the biological characteristics of the tumor cells, it is difficult to make breakthroughs in traditional strategies. The immune checkpoint blockades (ICB) therapy has made significant progress in the treatment of advanced malignant tumors, and patients who benefit from this therapy may obtain a long-lasting response. Unfortunately, immunotherapy is only effective in a limited number of patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), and segment initial responders can subsequently develop acquired resistance. From September 4, 2014, the first anti-PD-1/PD-L1 drug Pembrolizumab was approved by the FDA for the second-line treatment of advanced malignant melanoma. Subsequently, it was approved for mCRC second-line treatment in 2017. Immunotherapy has rapidly developed in the past 7 years. The in-depth research of the ICB treatment indicated that the mechanism of colorectal cancer immune-resistance has become gradually clear, and new predictive biomarkers are constantly emerging. Clinical trials examining the effect of immune checkpoints are actively carried out, in order to produce long-lasting effects for mCRC patients. This review summarizes the treatment strategies for mCRC patients, discusses the mechanism and application of ICB in mCRC treatment, outlines the potential markers of the ICB efficacy, lists the key results of the clinical trials, and collects the recent basic research results, in order to provide a theoretical basis and practical direction for immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyong Weng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shanbao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Zhonglin Zhu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ruoxin Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yufei Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xinxiang Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Gao H, Tian Q, Zhou Y, Zhu L, Lu Y, Ma Y, Feng J, Jiang Y, Wang B. 3D Collagen Fiber Concentration Regulates Treg Cell Infiltration in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:904418. [PMID: 35774776 PMCID: PMC9237245 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.904418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by poor prognosis and a lack of effective therapeutic agents owing to the absence of biomarkers. A high abundance of tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells (Tregs) was associated with worse prognosis in malignant disease. Exploring the association between Treg cell infiltration and TNBC will provide new insights for understanding TNBC immunosuppression and may pave the way for developing novel immune-based treatments. Materials and Methods Patients from TCGA were divided into Treg-high (Treg-H) and Treg-low (Treg-L) groups based on the abundance of Tregs according to CIBERSORT analysis. The association between expression level of Tregs and the clinical characteristics as well as prognosis of breast cancer were evaluated. Next, a Treg-related prognostic model was established after survival-dependent univariate Cox and LASSO regression analysis, companied with an external GEO cohort validation. Then, GO, KEGG and GSEA analyses were performed between the Treg-H and Treg-L groups. Masson and Sirius red/Fast Green staining were applied for ECM characterization. Accordingly, Jurkat T cells were encapsulated in 3D collagen to mimic the ECM microenvironment, and the expression levels of CD4, FOXP3 and CD25 were quantified according to immunofluorescence staining. Results The expression level of Tregs is significantly associated with the clinical characteristics of breast cancer patients, and a high level of Treg cell expression indicates a poor prognosis in TNBC. To further evaluate this, a Treg-related prognostic model was established that accurately predicted outcomes in both TCGA training and GEO validation cohorts of TNBC patients. Subsequently, ECM-associated signaling pathways were identified between the Treg-H and Treg-L groups, indicating the role of ECM in Treg infiltration. Since we found increasing collagen concentrations in TNBC patients with distant migration, we encapsulated Jurkat T cells within a 3D matrix with different collagen concentrations and observed that increasing collagen concentrations promoted the expression of Treg biomarkers, supporting the regulatory role of ECM in Treg infiltration. Conclusion Our results support the association between Treg expression and breast cancer progression as well as prognosis in the TNBC subtype. Moreover, increasing collagen density may promote Treg infiltration, and thus induce an immunosuppressed TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Gao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qi Tian
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Lizhe Zhu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yinliang Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yingying Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jinteng Feng
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yina Jiang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yina Jiang, ; Bo Wang,
| | - Bo Wang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yina Jiang, ; Bo Wang,
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Zhu N, Yang Y, Wang H, Tang P, Zhang H, Sun H, Gong L, Yu Z. CSF2RB Is a Unique Biomarker and Correlated With Immune Infiltrates in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:822849. [PMID: 35574409 PMCID: PMC9096117 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.822849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors. However, there are gaps in understanding the molecular and cellular interactions between tumor cells and the immune tumor microenvironment (TME). The aim of this study was to identify a novel gene that played an important role in the tumor microenvironment of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods The gene expression profile and clinical data for LUAD were downloaded from TCGA database. First, we used the ESTIMATE algorithm to evaluate the immune and stromal scores accordingly. Also, we analyzed differentially expressed immune-related genes (IRGs) in the high and low immune/stromal score groups. Then, we used the protein–protein interaction network (PPI network) and a univariate Cox regression analysis to identify the hub gene. After that, we analyzed the relationship between CSF2RB expression and TNM stage/prognosis. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to analyze the pathway regulated by CSF2RB and the Pearson correlation analysis method was used to analyze the correlation between the CSF2RB and immune cells. Finally, we used Western blot, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to validate CSF2RB expression in cancer and para-cancerous tissues. Results We identified that CSF2RB played an important role in the tumor microenvironment of LUAD. The expression of CSF2RB in tumor tissues was lower than that in normal tissues. Furthermore, the Kaplan–Meier plotter showed that a low CSF2RB expression was associated with poor survival and multivariate COX regression analysis revealed that the CSF2RB gene was an independent risk factor for prognosis, independent of whether patients received chemotherapy or radiotherapy. More importantly, a high expression of CSF2RB was related to early T, N, and clinical stages. GSEA analysis revealed that CSF2RB associated with diverse immune-related pathways, including T-cell receptor signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and B-cell receptor signaling pathway. CSF2RB expression levels were also positively related with the levels of infiltrating CD4+ T cells, macrophages, NK cells, and monocytes in LUAD. Finally, tumor tissues from LUAD patients were used for the assessment of CSF2RB expression. It was significantly lower in tumor sites than in adjacent normal tissues, which was consistent with data analysis. Conclusion CSF2RB effectively predicted the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma which could also be a potential target for cancer treatment and prevention. However, further studies are required to elucidate the function and regulatory mechanisms of CSF2RB and to develop some novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Zhu
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital; National, Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yueyang Yang
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital; National, Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Haitong Wang
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital; National, Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Peng Tang
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital; National, Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongdian Zhang
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital; National, Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital; National, Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Gong
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital; National, Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhentao Yu
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital; National, Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and PeKing Union Medical College, Shenzhen, China
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Xie X, Lee J, Iwase T, Kai M, Ueno NT. Emerging drug targets for triple-negative breast cancer: A guided tour of the preclinical landscape. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:405-425. [PMID: 35574694 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2077188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most fatal molecular subtype of breast cancer because of its aggressiveness and resistance to chemotherapy. FDA-approved therapies for TNBC are limited to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and trophoblast cell surface antigen 2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate. Therefore, developing a novel effective targeted therapy for TNBC is an urgent unmet need. AREAS COVERED In this narrative review, we discuss emerging targets for TNBC treatment discovered in early translational studies. We focus on cancer cell membrane molecules, hyperactive intracellular signaling pathways, and the tumor microenvironment (TME) based on their druggability, therapeutic potency, specificity to TNBC, and application in immunotherapy. EXPERT OPINION The significant challenges in the identification and validation of TNBC-associated targets are 1) application of appropriate genetic, molecular, and immunological approaches for modulating the target, 2) establishment of a proper mouse model that accurately represents the human immune TME, 3) TNBC molecular heterogeneity, and 4) failure translation of preclinical findings to clinical practice. To overcome those difficulties, future research needs to apply novel technology, such as single-cell RNA sequencing, thermostable group II intron reverse transcriptase sequencing, and humanized mouse models. Further, combination treatment targeting multiple pathways in both the TNBC tumor and its TME is essential for effective disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Xie
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jangsoon Lee
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Toshiaki Iwase
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Megumi Kai
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Naoto T Ueno
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Role of Anti-Angiogenic Factors in the Pathogenesis of Breast Cancer: A Review of Therapeutic Potential. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 236:153956. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Anders CK, Woodcock MG, Van Swearingen AED, Moore DT, Sambade MJ, Laurie S, Robeson A, Kolupaev O, Cuaboy LA, Garrett AL, McKinnon K, Cowens K, Bortone D, Calhoun BC, Wilkinson AD, Carey L, Jolly T, Muss H, Reeder-Hayes K, Kaltman R, Jankowitz R, Gudena V, Olajide O, Perou C, Dees EC, Vincent BG, Serody JS. Evaluating the efficacy of a priming dose of cyclophosphamide prior to pembrolizumab to treat metastatic triple negative breast cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003427. [PMID: 35121644 PMCID: PMC8819787 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by the presence of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, however, the response to single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is modest. Preclinical models have demonstrated that intratumoral regulatory T cells (Tregs) dampen the antitumor response to ICI. We performed a single-arm phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy of a single low dose of cyclophosphamide (Cy) to deplete Tregs administered before initiating pembrolizumab. PATIENTS AND METHODS 40 patients with pretreated metastatic TNBC were enrolled. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and change in peripheral blood Tregs after Cy. Secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), duration of response, overall survival, treatment-related adverse events (AEs), and correlative evaluations. RESULTS Median PFS was 1.8 months, and the ORR was 21%. Tregs were not significantly decreased after Cy prior to ICI (-3.3%, p=0.19), and increased significantly after the first cycle of therapy (+21% between cycles 1 and 2, p=0.005). Immune-related AEs were similar to historical pembrolizumab monotherapy, and were associated with response to therapy (p=0.02). Patients with pretreatment tumors harboring increased expression of B cell metagene signatures and increased circulating B cell receptor repertoire diversity were associated with clinical response and immune-related toxicity (IRT). CONCLUSIONS Among patients with heavily pretreated TNBC, Cy prior to pembrolizumab did not significantly deplete Tregs, and in those with decreased numbers there was rapid recovery following therapy. Increased B cell gene expression in baseline samples was associated with clinical response and IRT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark G Woodcock
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Dominic T Moore
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Maria J Sambade
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sonia Laurie
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexander Robeson
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Oleg Kolupaev
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Luz A Cuaboy
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amy L Garrett
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Karen McKinnon
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kristen Cowens
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dante Bortone
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Benjamin C Calhoun
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alec D Wilkinson
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lisa Carey
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Trevor Jolly
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hyman Muss
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Katherine Reeder-Hayes
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rebecca Kaltman
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, George Washington Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Rachel Jankowitz
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vinay Gudena
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Cone Health Cancer Center, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Oludamilola Olajide
- Rex Hematology Oncology Associates, Rex Cancer Care, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charles Perou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - E Claire Dees
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Benjamin G Vincent
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Hematology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jonathan S Serody
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA .,Division of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Division of Hematology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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30
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Semba T, Wang X, Xie X, Cohen EN, Reuben JM, Dalby KN, Long JP, Phi LTH, Tripathy D, Ueno NT. Identification of the JNK-Active Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cluster Associated With an Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment. J Natl Cancer Inst 2022; 114:97-108. [PMID: 34250544 PMCID: PMC8755499 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djab128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) is key for tumor progression, the molecular characteristics associated with the immunosuppressive TME remain unknown in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our previous functional proteomic study of TNBC tumors identified that C-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway-related molecules were enriched in a cluster associated with the inflammatory pathway. However, the role of the JNK pathway in the TNBC TME is still unclear. METHODS Transcriptomic analysis was conducted using The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets. The effect of JNK-IN-8, a covalent pan-JNK inhibitor, on TNBC tumor growth, lung metastasis, and the TME was measured in TNBC syngeneic mouse models (n = 13 per group). Tumor (n = 43) or serum (n = 46) samples from TNBC patients were analyzed using multiplex immunohistochemistry or Luminex assay. All statistical tests were 2-sided. RESULTS CIBERSORT analysis revealed that TNBC patients with high phosphorylated JNK level (n = 47) had more regulatory T cell (Treg) infiltration than those with a low phosphorylated JNK level (n = 47) (P = .02). Inhibition of JNK signaling statistically significantly reduced tumor growth (P < .001) and tumor-infiltrating Tregs (P = .02) while increasing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in TNBC mouse models through the reduction of C-C motif ligand 2 (CCL2). Tumor-associated macrophages were the predominant cells secreting CCL2, and inhibition of JNK signaling reduced CCL2 secretion of human primary macrophages. Moreover, in patients with TNBC (n = 43), those with high levels of CCL2+ tumor-associated macrophages had more Treg and less CD8+ T cell infiltration (P = .04), and the serum CCL2 level was associated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio = 2.65, 95% confidence interval = 1.29 to 5.44, P = .008) in TNBC patients (n = 46). CONCLUSIONS The JNK/C-JUN/CCL2 axis contributes to TNBC aggressiveness via forming an immunosuppressive TME and can offer novel therapeutic strategies for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Semba
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xuemei Xie
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Evan N Cohen
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James M Reuben
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kevin N Dalby
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - James P Long
- Department of Biostatistics, Division of Basic Science Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lan Thi Hanh Phi
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Debu Tripathy
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Naoto T Ueno
- Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Salkeni MA, Shin JY, Gulley JL. Resistance to Immunotherapy: Mechanisms and Means for Overcoming. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1342:45-80. [PMID: 34972962 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-79308-1_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade transformed cancer therapy during the last decade. However, durable responses remain uncommon, early and late relapses occur over the course of treatment, and many patients with PD-L1-expressing tumors do not respond to PD-(L)1 blockade. In addition, while some malignancies exhibit inherent resistance to treatment, others develop adaptations that allow them to evade antitumor immunity after a period of response. It is crucial to understand the pathophysiology of the tumor-immune system interplay and the mechanisms of immune escape in order to circumvent primary and acquired resistance. Here we provide an outline of the most well-defined mechanisms of resistance and shed light on ongoing efforts to reinvigorate immunoreactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad A Salkeni
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - John Y Shin
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Sun Q, Li Y, Yang X, Wu X, Liu Z, Mou Y, Song X. Identification and Validation of 17-lncRNA Related to Regulatory T Cell Heterogeneity as a Prognostic Signature for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2021; 12:782216. [PMID: 34880875 PMCID: PMC8645855 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.782216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful eradication of tumors by the immune system depends on generation of antigen-specific T cells that migrate to tumor sites and kill cancerous cells. However, presence of suppressive Treg populations inside tumor microenvironment hinders effector T cell function and decreases antitumor immunity. In this study we independently evaluated and confirmed prognostic signature of 17-Treg-related-lncRNA. Immune cell infiltration analysis using 17-lncRNA signature as a probe, accurately described Treg populations in tumor immune microenvironment. 17-lncRNA signature model predicted prognosis with excellent accuracy in all three cohorts: training cohort (AUC=0.82), testing cohort (AUC=0.61) and total cohort (AUC=0.72). The Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed that the overall survival of patients in the low-risk group was significantly better than those in the high-risk group(P<0.001). CIBERSORT analysis confirmed that low risk group had higher infiltration of tumor killer CD8 T cells, memory activated CD4 T cells, follicular helper T cells and T cells regulatory (Tregs), and lower expression of M0 macrophages and Mast cells activated. These results indicate that the 17-lncRNA signature is a novel prognostic and support the use of lncRNA as a stratification tool to help guide the course of treatment and clinical decision making in patients at high risk of HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Yumei Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Xinxin Wu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Yakui Mou
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Xicheng Song
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
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33
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Vick SC, Kolupaev OV, Perou CM, Serody JS. Anti-PD-1 Checkpoint Therapy Can Promote the Function and Survival of Regulatory T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:2598-2607. [PMID: 34607937 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown in a model of claudin-low breast cancer that regulatory T cells (Tregs) are increased in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and express high levels of PD-1. In mouse models and patients with triple-negative breast cancer, it is postulated that one cause for the lack of activity of anti-PD-1 therapy is the activation of PD-1-expressing Tregs in the TME. We hypothesized that the expression of PD-1 on Tregs would lead to enhanced suppressive function of Tregs and worsen antitumor immunity during PD-1 blockade. To evaluate this, we isolated Tregs from claudin-low tumors and functionally evaluated them ex vivo. We compared transcriptional profiles of Tregs isolated from tumor-bearing mice with or without anti-PD-1 therapy using RNA sequencing. We found several genes associated with survival and proliferation pathways; for example, Jun, Fos, and Bcl2 were significantly upregulated in Tregs exposed to anti-PD-1 treatment. Based on these data, we hypothesized that anti-PD-1 treatment on Tregs results in a prosurvival phenotype. Indeed, Tregs exposed to PD-1 blockade had significantly higher levels of Bcl-2 expression, and this led to increased protection from glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. In addition, we found in vitro and in vivo that Tregs in the presence of anti-PD-1 proliferated more than control Tregs PD-1 blockade significantly increased the suppressive activity of Tregs at biologically relevant Treg/Tnaive cell ratios. Altogether, we show that this immunotherapy blockade increases proliferation, protection from apoptosis, and suppressive capabilities of Tregs, thus leading to enhanced immunosuppression in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Vick
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Oleg V Kolupaev
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; and
| | - Charles M Perou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; and.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Jonathan S Serody
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; .,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; and
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34
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Jørgensen N, Hviid TVF, Nielsen LB, Sønderstrup IMH, Eriksen JO, Ejlertsen B, Gerdes AM, Kruse TA, Thomassen M, Jensen MB, Lænkholm AV. Tumour-infiltrating CD4-, CD8- and FOXP3-positive immune cells as predictive markers of mortality in BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast cancer. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:1388-1398. [PMID: 34365471 PMCID: PMC8576013 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01514-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognostic value of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer is well-established. However, the investigation of specific T-cell subsets exclusively in BRCA-associated breast cancer is sparse. METHODS Tumour tissues from 414 BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients were analysed by immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis for expression of CD4, CD8 and FOXP3 immune markers. Distribution of CD4-, CD8- and FOXP3-positive cells and clinicopathological characteristics were assessed according to groups of low or high expression. The prognostic value was evaluated as continuous variables in univariate and multivariate analyses of overall survival and disease-free survival. RESULTS Both CD4 and CD8 expression are associated with histological diagnosis, tumour grade and oestrogen and progesterone receptor expression status. CD4 expression is associated with BRCA gene status. A high percentage of tumour-infiltrating CD4-, CD8- or FOXP3-positive cells is significantly associated with lower mortality in BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast cancer and CD8-positive cells are associated with disease-free survival. No heterogeneity according to BRCA gene status was found for the prognostic value of the immune markers. CONCLUSIONS The results support a prognostic role of specific T-cell subsets in BRCA-associated breast cancer and the promising potential of targeting the immune system in the treatment of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanna Jørgensen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Vauvert F Hviid
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Lise B Nielsen
- Danish Breast Cancer Group, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida M H Sønderstrup
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jens Ole Eriksen
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Bent Ejlertsen
- Danish Breast Cancer Group, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Marie Gerdes
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Torben A Kruse
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mads Thomassen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Maj-Britt Jensen
- Danish Breast Cancer Group, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Vibeke Lænkholm
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
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Shin S, Lee J, Han J, Li F, Ling D, Park W. Tumor Microenvironment Modulating Functional Nanoparticles for Effective Cancer Treatments. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2021; 19:205-219. [PMID: 34674182 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-021-00403-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the major diseases that threaten human life worldwide. Despite advances in cancer treatment techniques, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, it is still difficult to cure cancer because of the resistance mechanism of cancer cells. Current understanding of tumor biology has revealed that resistance to these anticancer therapies is due to the tumor microenvironment (TME) represented by hypoxia, acidity, dense extracellular matrix, and immunosuppression. This review demonstrates the latest strategies for effective cancer treatment using functional nanoparticles that can modulate the TME. Indeed, preclinical studies have shown that functional nanoparticles can effectively modulate the TME to treat refractory cancer. This strategy of using TMEs with controllable functional nanoparticles is expected to maximize cancer treatment efficiency in the future by combining it with various modern cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungyong Shin
- Department of Biomedical-Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, 14662, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoung Lee
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jieun Han
- Department of Biomedical-Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, 14662, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Fangyuan Li
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.,Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Daishun Ling
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.,National Center for Translational Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Wooram Park
- Department of Biomedical-Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, 14662, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, 14662, Republic of Korea.
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36
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Kos K, de Visser KE. The Multifaceted Role of Regulatory T Cells in Breast Cancer. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CANCER BIOLOGY-SERIES 2021; 5:291-310. [PMID: 34632244 PMCID: PMC7611782 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cancerbio-042920-104912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The microenvironment of breast cancer hosts a dynamic cross talk between diverse players of the immune system. While cytotoxic immune cells are equipped to control tumor growth and metastasis, tumor-corrupted immunosuppressive immune cells strive to impair effective immunity and promote tumor progression. Of these, regulatory T cells (Tregs), the gatekeepers of immune homeostasis, emerge as multifaceted players involved in breast cancer. Intriguingly, clinical observations suggest that blood and intratumoral Tregs can have strong prognostic value, dictated by breast cancer subtype. Accordingly, emerging preclinical evidence shows that Tregs occupy a central role in breast cancer initiation and progression and provide critical support to metastasis formation. Here, Tregs are not only important for immune escape but also promote tumor progression independent of their immune regulatory capacity. Combining insights into Treg biology with advances made across the rapidly growing field of immuno-oncology is expected to set the stage for the design of more effective immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Kos
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karin E de Visser
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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37
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Vanhaesebroeck B, Perry MWD, Brown JR, André F, Okkenhaug K. PI3K inhibitors are finally coming of age. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021; 20:741-769. [PMID: 34127844 PMCID: PMC9297732 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00209-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Overactive phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) in cancer and immune dysregulation has spurred extensive efforts to develop therapeutic PI3K inhibitors. Although progress has been hampered by issues such as poor drug tolerance and drug resistance, several PI3K inhibitors have now received regulatory approval - the PI3Kα isoform-selective inhibitor alpelisib for the treatment of breast cancer and inhibitors mainly aimed at the leukocyte-enriched PI3Kδ in B cell malignancies. In addition to targeting cancer cell-intrinsic PI3K activity, emerging evidence highlights the potential of PI3K inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy. This Review summarizes key discoveries that aid the clinical translation of PI3Kα and PI3Kδ inhibitors, highlighting lessons learnt and future opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew W D Perry
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory & Immunology BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jennifer R Brown
- CLL Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fabrice André
- Institut Gustave Roussy, INSERM U981, Université Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Klaus Okkenhaug
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Pilard C, Ancion M, Delvenne P, Jerusalem G, Hubert P, Herfs M. Cancer immunotherapy: it's time to better predict patients' response. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:927-938. [PMID: 34112949 PMCID: PMC8476530 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01413-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In less than a decade, half a dozen immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved and are currently revolutionising the treatment of many cancer (sub)types. With the clinical evaluation of novel delivery approaches (e.g. oncolytic viruses, cancer vaccines, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity) and combination therapies (e.g. chemo/radio-immunotherapy) as well as the emergence of novel promising targets (e.g. TIGIT, LAG-3, TIM-3), the 'immunotherapy tsunami' is not about to end anytime soon. However, this enthusiasm in the field is somewhat tempered by both the relatively low percentage (<15%) of patients who display an effective anti-cancer immune response and the inability to accurately identify them. Recently, several existing or acquired features/parameters have been shown to impact the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In the present review, we critically discuss current knowledge regarding predictive biomarkers for checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy, highlight the missing/unclear links and emphasise the importance of characterising each neoplasm and its microenvironment in order to better guide the course of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Pilard
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Marie Ancion
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Philippe Delvenne
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium ,grid.411374.40000 0000 8607 6858Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Guy Jerusalem
- grid.411374.40000 0000 8607 6858Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Pascale Hubert
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Michael Herfs
- grid.4861.b0000 0001 0805 7253Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
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Brown JT, Liu Y, Shabto JM, Martini D, Ravindranathan D, Hitron EE, Russler GA, Caulfield S, Yantorni L, Joshi SS, Kissick H, Ogan K, Nazha B, Carthon BC, Kucuk O, Harris WB, Master VA, Bilen MA. Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score associated with survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002851. [PMID: 34326170 PMCID: PMC8323383 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) is a composite biomarker that uses albumin and C reactive protein (CRP). There are multiple immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based combinations approved for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We investigated the ability of mGPS to predict outcomes in patients with mRCC receiving ICI. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed patients with mRCC treated with ICI as monotherapy or in combination at Winship Cancer Institute between 2015 and 2020. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were measured from the start date of ICI until death or clinical/radiographical progression, respectively. The baseline mGPS was defined as a summary score based on pre-ICI values with one point given for CRP>10 mg/L and/or albumin<3.5 g/dL, resulting in possible scores of 0, 1 and 2. If only albumin was low with a normal CRP, no points were awarded. Univariate analysis (UVA) and multivariate analysis (MVA) were carried out using Cox proportional hazard model. Outcomes were also assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS 156 patients were included with a median follow-up 24.2 months. The median age was 64 years and 78% had clear cell histology. Baseline mGPS was 0 in 36%, 1 in 40% and 2 in 24% of patients. In UVA, a baseline mGPS of 2 was associated with shorter OS (HR 4.29, 95% CI 2.24 to 8.24, p<0.001) and PFS (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.01, p=0.006) relative to a score of 0; this disparity in outcome based on baseline mGPS persisted in MVA. The respective median OS of patients with baseline mGPS of 0, 1 and 2 was 44.5 (95% CI 27.3 to not evaluable), 15.3 (95% CI 11.0 to 24.2) and 10 (95% CI 4.6 to 17.5) months (p<0.0001). The median PFS of these three cohorts was 6.7 (95% CI 3.6 to 13.1), 4.2 (95% CI 2.9 to 6.2) and 2.6 (95% CI 2.0 to 5.6), respectively (p=0.0216). The discrimination power of baseline mGPS to predict survival outcomes was comparable to the IMDC risk score based on Uno's c-statistic (OS: 0.6312 vs 0.6102, PFS: 0.5752 vs 0.5533). CONCLUSION The mGPS is prognostic in this cohort of patients with mRCC treated with ICI as monotherapy or in combination. These results warrant external and prospective validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline T Brown
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Yuan Liu
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Departments of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Julie M Shabto
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Dylan Martini
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Deepak Ravindranathan
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Emilie Elise Hitron
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Greta Anne Russler
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sarah Caulfield
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lauren Yantorni
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Shreyas Subhash Joshi
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Haydn Kissick
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kenneth Ogan
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Bassel Nazha
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Bradley C Carthon
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Omer Kucuk
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Wayne B Harris
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Viraj A Master
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mehmet Asim Bilen
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA .,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Zheng H, Siddharth S, Parida S, Wu X, Sharma D. Tumor Microenvironment: Key Players in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Immunomodulation. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133357. [PMID: 34283088 PMCID: PMC8269090 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complicated network composed of various cells, signaling molecules, and extra cellular matrix. TME plays a crucial role in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) immunomodulation and tumor progression, paradoxically, acting as an immunosuppressive as well as immunoreactive factor. Research regarding tumor immune microenvironment has contributed to a better understanding of TNBC subtype classification. Shall we treat patients precisely according to specific subtype classification? Moving beyond traditional chemotherapy, multiple clinical trials have recently implied the potential benefits of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. In this review, we aimed to elucidate the paradoxical role of TME in TNBC immunomodulation, summarize the subtype classification methods for TNBC, and explore the synergistic mechanism of chemotherapy plus immunotherapy. Our study may provide a new direction for the development of combined treatment strategies for TNBC. Abstract Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease and is highly related to immunomodulation. As we know, the most effective approach to treat TNBC so far is still chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can induce immunogenic cell death, release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling; therefore, it will be interesting to investigate the relationship between chemotherapy-induced TME changes and TNBC immunomodulation. In this review, we focus on the immunosuppressive and immunoreactive role of TME in TNBC immunomodulation and the contribution of TME constituents to TNBC subtype classification. Further, we also discuss the role of chemotherapy-induced TME remodeling in modulating TNBC immune response and tumor progression with emphasis on DAMPs-associated molecules including high mobility group box1 (HMGB1), exosomes, and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), which may provide us with new clues to explore effective combined treatment options for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Zheng
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Breast Cancer, Department of Breast Surgery, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430079, China
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; (S.S.); (S.P.); (D.S.)
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (X.W.)
| | - Sumit Siddharth
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; (S.S.); (S.P.); (D.S.)
| | - Sheetal Parida
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; (S.S.); (S.P.); (D.S.)
| | - Xinhong Wu
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Breast Cancer, Department of Breast Surgery, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430079, China
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (X.W.)
| | - Dipali Sharma
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; (S.S.); (S.P.); (D.S.)
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Zou T, Lu W, Mezhuev Y, Lan M, Li L, Liu F, Cai T, Wu X, Cai Y. A review of nanoparticle drug delivery systems responsive to endogenous breast cancer microenvironment. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2021; 166:30-43. [PMID: 34098073 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2021.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer, as a malignant disease that seriously threatens women's health, urgently needs to be researched to develop effective and safe therapeutic drugs. Nanoparticle drug delivery systems (NDDS), provide a powerful means for drug targeting to the breast cancer, enhancing the bioavailability and reducing the adverse effects of anticancer drug. However, the breast cancer microenvironment together with heterogeneity of cancer, impedes the tumor targeting effect of NDDS. Breast cancer microenvironment, exerts endogenous stimuli, such as hypoxia, acidosis, and aberrant protease expression, shape a natural shelter for tumor growth, invasion and migration. On the basis of the ubiquitous of endogenous stimuli in the breast cancer microenvironment, researchers exploited them to design the stimuli-responsive NDDS, which response to endogenous stimulus, targeted release drug in breast cancer microenvironment. In this review, we highlighted the effect of the breast cancer microenvironment, summarized innovative NDDS responsive to the internal stimuli in the tumor microenvironment, including the material, the targeting groups, the loading drugs, targeting position and the function of stimuli-responsive nanoparticle drug delivery system. The limitations and potential applications of the stimuli-responsive nanoparticle drug delivery systems for breast cancer treatment were discussed to further the application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengteng Zou
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Wenping Lu
- Guang an'men Hospital China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yaroslav Mezhuev
- Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Moscow, 125047, Russia
| | - Meng Lan
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Lihong Li
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Fengjie Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Tiange Cai
- College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, PR China.
| | - Xiaoyu Wu
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3M2, Canada.
| | - Yu Cai
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Cancer Research Institute, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China.
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42
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Sharma R, Kadife E, Myers M, Kannourakis G, Prithviraj P, Ahmed N. Determinants of resistance to VEGF-TKI and immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:186. [PMID: 34099013 PMCID: PMC8183071 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01961-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGF-TKIs) have been the mainstay of treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Despite its early promising results in decreasing or delaying the progression of RCC in patients, VEGF-TKIs have provided modest benefits in terms of disease-free progression, as 70% of the patients who initially respond to the treatment later develop drug resistance, with 30% of the patients innately resistant to VEGF-TKIs. In the past decade, several molecular and genetic mechanisms of VEGF-TKI resistance have been reported. One of the mechanisms of VEGF-TKIs is inhibition of the classical angiogenesis pathway. However, recent studies have shown the restoration of an alternative angiogenesis pathway in modulating resistance. Further, in the last 5 years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized RCC treatment. Although some patients exhibit potent responses, a non-negligible number of patients are innately resistant or develop resistance within a few months to ICI therapy. Hence, an understanding of the mechanisms of VEGF-TKI and ICI resistance will help in formulating useful knowledge about developing effective treatment strategies for patients with advanced RCC. In this article, we review recent findings on the emerging understanding of RCC pathology, VEGF-TKI and ICI resistance mechanisms, and potential avenues to overcome these resistance mechanisms through rationally designed combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Revati Sharma
- Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia
- Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia
| | - Elif Kadife
- Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia
| | - Mark Myers
- Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia
| | - George Kannourakis
- Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia
- Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia
| | | | - Nuzhat Ahmed
- Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia.
- Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia.
- The Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
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43
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Walens A, Olsson LT, Gao X, Hamilton AM, Kirk EL, Cohen SM, Midkiff BR, Xia Y, Sherman ME, Nikolaishvili-Feinberg N, Serody JS, Hoadley KA, Troester MA, Calhoun BC. Protein-based immune profiles of basal-like vs. luminal breast cancers. J Transl Med 2021; 101:785-793. [PMID: 33623115 PMCID: PMC8140991 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-00506-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes play an important, but incompletely understood role in chemotherapy response and prognosis. In breast cancer, there appear to be distinct immune responses by subtype, but most studies have used limited numbers of protein markers or bulk sequencing of RNA to characterize immune response, in which spatial organization cannot be assessed. To identify immune phenotypes of Basal-like vs. Luminal breast cancer we used the GeoMx® (NanoString) platform to perform digital spatial profiling of immune-related proteins in tumor whole sections and tissue microarrays (TMA). Visualization of CD45, CD68, or pan-Cytokeratin by immunofluorescence was used to select regions of interest in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections. Forty-four antibodies representing stromal markers and multiple immune cell types were applied to quantify the tumor microenvironment. In whole tumor slides, immune hot spots (CD45+) had increased expression of many immune markers, suggesting a diverse and robust immune response. In epithelium-enriched areas, immune signals were also detectable and varied by subtype, with regulatory T-cell (Treg) markers (CD4, CD25, and FOXP3) being higher in Basal-like vs. Luminal breast cancer. Extending these findings to TMAs with more patients (n = 75), we confirmed subtype-specific immune profiles, including enrichment of Treg markers in Basal-likes. This work demonstrated that immune responses can be detected in epithelium-rich tissue, and that TMAs are a viable approach for obtaining important immunoprofiling data. In addition, we found that immune marker expression is associated with breast cancer subtype, suggesting possible prognostic, or targetable differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Walens
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Linnea T Olsson
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Xiaohua Gao
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Alina M Hamilton
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Erin L Kirk
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Stephanie M Cohen
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Translational Pathology Laboratory, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Bentley R Midkiff
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Translational Pathology Laboratory, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yongjuan Xia
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Translational Pathology Laboratory, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mark E Sherman
- Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Nana Nikolaishvili-Feinberg
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Translational Pathology Laboratory, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jonathan S Serody
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Katherine A Hoadley
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Melissa A Troester
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Benjamin C Calhoun
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Zalfa C, Paust S. Natural Killer Cell Interactions With Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment and Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:633205. [PMID: 34025641 PMCID: PMC8133367 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.633205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and heterogeneous environment composed of cancer cells, tumor stroma, a mixture of tissue-resident and infiltrating immune cells, secreted factors, and extracellular matrix proteins. Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in fighting tumors, but chronic stimulation and immunosuppression in the TME lead to NK cell exhaustion and limited antitumor functions. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous group of myeloid cells with potent immunosuppressive activity that gradually accumulate in tumor tissues. MDSCs interact with innate and adaptive immune cells and play a crucial role in negatively regulating the immune response to tumors. This review discusses MDSC-mediated NK cell regulation within the TME, focusing on critical cellular and molecular interactions. We review current strategies that target MDSC-mediated immunosuppression to enhance NK cell cytotoxic antitumor activity. We also speculate on how NK cell-based antitumor immunotherapy could be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silke Paust
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
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45
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Nam JH, Lee JH, Choi SY, Jung NC, Song JY, Seo HG, Lim DS. Functional Ambivalence of Dendritic Cells: Tolerogenicity and Immunogenicity. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094430. [PMID: 33922658 PMCID: PMC8122871 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and inducers of T cell-mediated immunity. Although DCs play a central role in promoting adaptive immune responses against growing tumors, they also establish and maintain peripheral tolerance. DC activity depends on the method of induction and/or the presence of immunosuppressive agents. Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) induce immune tolerance by activating CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and/or by producing cytokines that inhibit T cell activation. These findings suggest that tDCs may be an effective treatment for autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hee Nam
- Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13488, Korea; (J.-H.N.); (S.-Y.C.)
| | - Jun-Ho Lee
- Pharos Vaccine Inc., 14 Galmachiro 288 bun-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13201, Korea; (J.-H.L.); (N.-C.J.)
| | - So-Yeon Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13488, Korea; (J.-H.N.); (S.-Y.C.)
| | - Nam-Chul Jung
- Pharos Vaccine Inc., 14 Galmachiro 288 bun-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13201, Korea; (J.-H.L.); (N.-C.J.)
| | - Jie-Young Song
- Department of Radiation Cancer Sciences, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, 75 Nowon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01812, Korea;
| | - Han-Geuk Seo
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology of Animal Products, Sanghuh College of Life Sciences, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea;
| | - Dae-Seog Lim
- Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13488, Korea; (J.-H.N.); (S.-Y.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-10-2770-4777
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46
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Lan HR, Du WL, Liu Y, Mao CS, Jin KT, Yang X. Role of immune regulatory cells in breast cancer: Foe or friend? Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 96:107627. [PMID: 33862552 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women between the ages of 20 and 50, affecting more than 2.1 million people and causing the annual death of more than 627,000 women worldwide. Based on the available knowledge, the immune system and its components are involved in the pathogenesis of several malignancies, including BC. Cancer immunobiology suggests that immune cells can play a dual role and induce anti-tumor or immunosuppressive responses, depending on the tumor microenvironment (TME) signals. The most important effector immune cells with anti-tumor properties are natural killer (NK) cells, B, and T lymphocytes. On the other hand, immune and non-immune cells with regulatory/inhibitory phenotype, including regulatory T cells (Tregs), regulatory B cells (Bregs), tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and regulatory natural killer cells (NKregs), can promote the growth and development of tumor cells by inhibiting anti-tumor responses, inducing angiogenesis and metastasis, as well as the expression of inhibitory molecules and suppressor mediators of the immune system. However, due to the complexity of the interaction and the modification in the immune cells' phenotype and the networking of the immune responses, the exact mechanism of action of the immunosuppressive and regulatory cells is not yet fully understood. This review article reviews the immune responses involved in BC as well as the role of regulatory and inhibitory cells in the pathogenesis of the disease. Finally, therapeutic approaches based on inhibition of immunosuppressive responses derived from regulatory cells are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Rong Lan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, PR China
| | - Wen-Lin Du
- Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, PR China; Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, PR China
| | - Yuyao Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, PR China
| | - Chun-Sen Mao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, PR China
| | - Ke-Tao Jin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, PR China
| | - Xue Yang
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, PR China.
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Cuesta-Mateos C, Brown JR, Terrón F, Muñoz-Calleja C. Of Lymph Nodes and CLL Cells: Deciphering the Role of CCR7 in the Pathogenesis of CLL and Understanding Its Potential as Therapeutic Target. Front Immunol 2021; 12:662866. [PMID: 33841445 PMCID: PMC8024566 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.662866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The lymph node (LN) is an essential tissue for achieving effective immune responses but it is also critical in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Within the multitude of signaling pathways aberrantly regulated in CLL the homeostatic axis composed by the chemokine receptor CCR7 and its ligands is the main driver for directing immune cells to home into the LN. In this literature review, we address the roles of CCR7 in the pathophysiology of CLL, and how this chemokine receptor is of critical importance to develop more rational and effective therapies for this malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Cuesta-Mateos
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria- Instituto de La Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain.,IMMED S.L., Immunological and Medicinal Products, Madrid, Spain.,Catapult Therapeutics BV, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Jennifer R Brown
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Fernando Terrón
- IMMED S.L., Immunological and Medicinal Products, Madrid, Spain.,Catapult Therapeutics BV, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Cecilia Muñoz-Calleja
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria- Instituto de La Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain.,School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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48
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Salemme V, Centonze G, Cavallo F, Defilippi P, Conti L. The Crosstalk Between Tumor Cells and the Immune Microenvironment in Breast Cancer: Implications for Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:610303. [PMID: 33777750 PMCID: PMC7991834 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.610303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer progression is a complex process controlled by genetic and epigenetic factors that coordinate the crosstalk between tumor cells and the components of tumor microenvironment (TME). Among those, the immune cells play a dual role during cancer onset and progression, as they can protect from tumor progression by killing immunogenic neoplastic cells, but in the meanwhile can also shape tumor immunogenicity, contributing to tumor escape. The complex interplay between cancer and the immune TME influences the outcome of immunotherapy and of many other anti-cancer therapies. Herein, we present an updated view of the pro- and anti-tumor activities of the main immune cell populations present in breast TME, such as T and NK cells, myeloid cells, innate lymphoid cells, mast cells and eosinophils, and of the underlying cytokine-, cell–cell contact- and microvesicle-based mechanisms. Moreover, current and novel therapeutic options that can revert the immunosuppressive activity of breast TME will be discussed. To this end, clinical trials assessing the efficacy of CAR-T and CAR-NK cells, cancer vaccination, immunogenic cell death-inducing chemotherapy, DNA methyl transferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors, cytokines or their inhibitors and other immunotherapies in breast cancer patients will be reviewed. The knowledge of the complex interplay that elapses between tumor and immune cells, and of the experimental therapies targeting it, would help to develop new combination treatments able to overcome tumor immune evasion mechanisms and optimize clinical benefit of current immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Salemme
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giorgia Centonze
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Federica Cavallo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Paola Defilippi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Laura Conti
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
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49
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Searching for Peptide Inhibitors of T Regulatory Cell Activity by Targeting Specific Domains of FOXP3 Transcription Factor. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9020197. [PMID: 33671179 PMCID: PMC7922534 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The ability of cancer cells to evade the immune system is due in part to their capacity to induce and recruit T regulatory cells (Tregs) to the tumor microenvironment. Strategies proposed to improve antitumor immunity by depleting Tregs generally lack specificity and raise the possibility of autoimmunity. Therefore, we propose to control Tregs by their functional inactivation rather than depletion. Tregs are characterized by the expression of the Forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) transcription factor, which is considered their “master regulator”. Its interaction with DNA is assisted primarily by its interaction with other proteins in the so-called “Foxp3 interactome”, which elicits much of the characteristic Treg cell transcriptional signature. We speculated that the disruption of such a protein complex by using synthetic peptides able to bind Foxp3 might have an impact on the functionality of Treg cells and thus have a therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. (2) Methods: By using a phage-displayed peptide library, or short synthetic peptides encompassing Foxp3 fragments, or by studying the crystal structure of the Foxp3:NFAT complex, we have identified a series of peptides that are able to bind Foxp3 and inhibit Treg activity. (3) Results: We identified some peptides encompassing fragments of the leuzin zipper or the C terminal domain of Foxp3 with the capacity to inhibit Treg activity in vitro. The acetylation/amidation of linear peptides, head-to-tail cyclization, the incorporation of non-natural aminoacids, or the incorporation of cell-penetrating peptide motifs increased in some cases the Foxp3 binding capacity and Treg inhibitory activity of the identified peptides. Some of them have shown antitumoral activity in vivo. (4) Conclusions: Synthetic peptides constitute an alternative to inhibit Foxp3 protein–protein interactions intracellularly and impair Treg immunosuppressive activity. These peptides might be considered as potential hit compounds on the design of new immunotherapeutic approaches against cancer.
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50
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Baram T, Rubinstein-Achiasaf L, Ben-Yaakov H, Ben-Baruch A. Inflammation-Driven Breast Tumor Cell Plasticity: Stemness/EMT, Therapy Resistance and Dormancy. Front Oncol 2021; 10:614468. [PMID: 33585241 PMCID: PMC7873936 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.614468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular heterogeneity poses an immense therapeutic challenge in cancer due to a constant change in tumor cell characteristics, endowing cancer cells with the ability to dynamically shift between states. Intra-tumor heterogeneity is largely driven by cancer cell plasticity, demonstrated by the ability of malignant cells to acquire stemness and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) properties, to develop therapy resistance and to escape dormancy. These different aspects of cancer cell remodeling are driven by intrinsic as well as by extrinsic signals, the latter being dominated by factors of the tumor microenvironment. As part of the tumor milieu, chronic inflammation is generally regarded as a most influential player that supports tumor development and progression. In this review article, we put together recent findings on the roles of inflammatory elements in driving forward key processes of tumor cell plasticity. Using breast cancer as a representative research system, we demonstrate the critical roles played by inflammation-associated myeloid cells (mainly macrophages), pro-inflammatory cytokines [such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin 6 (IL-6)] and inflammatory chemokines [primarily CXCL8 (interleukin 8, IL-8) and CXCL1 (GROα)] in promoting tumor cell remodeling. These inflammatory components form a common thread that is involved in regulation of the three plasticity levels: stemness/EMT, therapy resistance, and dormancy. In view of the fact that inflammatory elements are a common denominator shared by different aspects of tumor cell plasticity, it is possible that their targeting may have a critical clinical benefit for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamir Baram
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Linor Rubinstein-Achiasaf
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hagar Ben-Yaakov
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Adit Ben-Baruch
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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