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Savino W, Lepletier A. Thymus-derived hormonal and cellular control of cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1168186. [PMID: 37529610 PMCID: PMC10389273 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1168186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus gland is a central lymphoid organ in which developing T cell precursors, known as thymocytes, undergo differentiation into distinct type of mature T cells, ultimately migrating to the periphery where they exert specialized effector functions and orchestrate the immune responses against tumor cells, pathogens and self-antigens. The mechanisms supporting intrathymic T cell differentiation are pleiotropically regulated by thymic peptide hormones and cytokines produced by stromal cells in the thymic microenvironment and developing thymocytes. Interestingly, in the same way as T cells, thymic hormones (herein exemplified by thymosin, thymulin and thymopoietin), can circulate to impact immune cells and other cellular components in the periphery. Evidence on how thymic function influences tumor cell biology and response of patients with cancer to therapies remains unsatisfactory, although there has been some improvement in the knowledge provided by recent studies. Herein, we summarize research progression in the field of thymus-mediated immunoendocrine control of cancer, providing insights into how manipulation of the thymic microenvironment can influence treatment outcomes, including clinical responses and adverse effects of therapies. We review data obtained from clinical and preclinical cancer research to evidence the complexity of immunoendocrine interactions underpinning anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Savino
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- INOVA-IOC Network on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ailin Lepletier
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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2
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Ziemba B, Sikorska H, Jander M, Kuncman W, Danilewicz M, Appelhans D, Bryszewska M, Borowiec M, Franiak-Pietryga I. Anti-Tumour Activity of Glycodendrimer Nanoparticles in a Subcutaneous MEC-1 Xenograft Model of Human Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 20:325-334. [PMID: 31738155 DOI: 10.2174/1871520619666191019093558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) is an indolent disorder, which mainly affects older adults. Since the advent of chemoimmunotherapy, great progress has been made in its treatment. However, some patients develop a more aggressive form of the disease and are included in the group of high-risk CLL patients with a dismal prognosis and a need for new therapies. OBJECTIVE Maltotriose-modified poly(propylene imine) dendrimers were presented as potential agents in targeted therapy for CLL in the murine xenograft model. METHODS Tumour, brain and internal organs resected from NOD scid gamma mice were subjected to gross and histopathological evaluation. RESULTS The results of ex vivo tissue examination indicated that open-shell glycodendrimers prevented/inhibited the spread of CLL into the brain and internal organs and its transformation into a more aggressive form. CONCLUSION The results of the study have a potentially important impact on the design of future personalized therapies as well as clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ziemba
- GeneaMed LTD, Lodz, Poland.,Department of Clinical and Laboratory Genetics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | | | | | - Wojciech Kuncman
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Marian Danilewicz
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | | | - Maria Bryszewska
- Department of General Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Maciej Borowiec
- Department of Clinical and Laboratory Genetics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ida Franiak-Pietryga
- GeneaMed LTD, Lodz, Poland.,Department of Clinical and Laboratory Genetics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.,Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States
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3
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Simioni C, Bergamini F, Ferioli M, Rimondi E, Caruso L, Neri LM. New biomarkers and therapeutic strategies in acute lymphoblastic leukemias: Recent advances. Hematol Oncol 2019; 38:22-33. [PMID: 31487068 DOI: 10.1002/hon.2678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies, and it is normally characterized by an aberrant proliferation of immature lymphoid cells. Moreover, dysregulation of multiple signaling pathways that normally regulate cellular transcription, growth, translation, and proliferation is frequently encountered in this malignancy. ALL is the most frequent tumor in childhood, and adult ALL patients still correlate with poor survival. This review focuses on modern therapies in ALL that move beyond standard chemotherapy, with a particular emphasis on immunotherapeutic approaches as new treatment strategies. Bi-specific T-cell Engagers (BiTE) antibodies, the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, or CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats [CRISPR]-associated nuclease 9) represent other new innovative approaches for this disease. Target and tailored therapy could make the difference in previously untreatable cases, i.e., precision and personalized medicine. Clinical trials will help to select the most efficient novel therapies in ALL management and to integrate them with existing treatments to achieve durable cures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Simioni
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fabio Bergamini
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Martina Ferioli
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Erika Rimondi
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,LTTA-Electron Microscopy Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Luca M Neri
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,LTTA-Electron Microscopy Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Kerpel-Fronius S, Becker S, Barrett J, Brun J, Carlesi R, Chan A, Collia LF, Dubois DJ, Kleist P, Koski G, Kurihara C, Laranjeira LF, Schenk J, Silva H. The Shared Ethical Responsibility of Medically and Non-medically Qualified Experts in Human Drug Development Teams. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:843. [PMID: 30233356 PMCID: PMC6130227 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The complexity of developing and applying increasingly sophisticated new medicinal products has led to the participation of many non-medically qualified scientists in multi-disciplinary non-clinical and clinical drug development teams world-wide. In this introductory paper to the "IFAPP International Ethics Framework for Pharmaceutical Physicians and Medicines Development Scientists" it is argued that all members of such multidisciplinary teams must share the scientific and ethical responsibilities since they all influence directly or indirectly both the outcome of the various phases of the medicines development projects and the safety of the research subjects involved. The participating medical practitioner retains the overriding responsibility and the final decision to stop a trial if the well-being of the research subjects is seriously endangered. All the team members should follow the main ethical principles governing human research, the respect for autonomy, justice, beneficence and non-maleficence. Nevertheless, the weighing of these principles might be different under various conditions according to the specialty of the members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandor Kerpel-Fronius
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sander Becker
- Pharmaceutical Medicine, Dover Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Jane Barrett
- Pharmaceutical Medicine, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Dominique J. Dubois
- PHARMED Post-Graduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Medicine and Medicines Development Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Greg Koski
- Alliance for Clinical Research Excellence and Safety, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Chieko Kurihara
- Quality Assurance and Audit Office, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
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Lorentzen CL, Straten PT. CD19-Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells for Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Scand J Immunol 2015; 82:307-19. [PMID: 26099639 DOI: 10.1111/sji.12331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) for cancer represents a promising new treatment modality. ACT based on the administration of cytotoxic T cells genetically engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) recognizing CD19 expressed by B cell malignancies has been shown to induce complete lasting responses in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). So far, eleven clinical trials including 99 CLL and ALL patients treated with CAR T cells targeting CD19 have been published, and the results from these trials are promising with impressive clinical responses in heavily pretreated patients. Thus, CAR T cell therapy has induced complete responses in both CLL and ALL, and surprisingly, current results indicate that patients with ALL are more prone to respond than are CLL patients. Importantly, the majority of CAR cell studies have observed severe therapy-associated toxicities, which needs attention. Herein we review current data and discuss key aspects of this powerful approach to treat and potentially cure B cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Lorentzen
- University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT), Department of Hematology, 65Q9 Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - P T Straten
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT), Department of Hematology, 65Q9 Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
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Haji-Fatahaliha M, Hosseini M, Akbarian A, Sadreddini S, Jadidi-Niaragh F, Yousefi M. CAR-modified T-cell therapy for cancer: an updated review. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 44:1339-49. [PMID: 26068778 DOI: 10.3109/21691401.2015.1052465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells is a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy. These genetically modified receptors contain an antigen-binding moiety, a hinge region, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular costimulatory domain resulting in T-cell activation subsequent to antigen binding. Optimal tumor removal through CAR-modified T cells requires suitable target antigen selection, co-stimulatory signaling domain, and the ability of CAR T cells to traffic, persist, and retain antitumor function after adoptive transfer. There are several elements which can improve antitumor function of CAR T cells, including signaling, conditioning chemotherapy and irradiation, tumor burden of the disease, T-cell phenotype, and supplementary cytokine usage. This review outlines four generations of CAR. The pre-clinical and clinical studies showed that this technique has a great potential for treatment of solid and hematological malignancies. The main purpose of the current review is to focus on the pre-clinical and clinical developments of CAR-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Haji-Fatahaliha
- a Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,b Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,c Department of Immunology , Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran
| | - Maryam Hosseini
- b Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,c Department of Immunology , Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran
| | - Asiye Akbarian
- d Department of Microbiology , Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Sanam Sadreddini
- a Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,b Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,c Department of Immunology , Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran
| | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- e Department of Immunology , School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Mehdi Yousefi
- a Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,b Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,c Department of Immunology , Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran
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