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Corulli LR, Cecil DL, Gad E, Koehnlein M, Coveler AL, Childs JS, Lubet RA, Disis ML. Multi-Epitope-Based Vaccines for Colon Cancer Treatment and Prevention. Front Immunol 2021; 12:729809. [PMID: 34526999 PMCID: PMC8437302 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.729809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Overexpression of nonmutated proteins involved in oncogenesis is a mechanism by which such proteins become immunogenic. We questioned whether overexpressed colorectal cancer associated proteins found at higher incidence and associated with poor prognosis could be effective vaccine antigens. We explored whether vaccines targeting these proteins could inhibit the development of intestinal tumors in the azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon model and APC Min mice. Methods Humoral immunity was evaluated by ELISA. Web-based algorithms identified putative Class II binding epitopes of the antigens. Peptide and protein specific T-cells were identified from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells using IFN-gamma ELISPOT. Peptides highly homologous between mouse and man were formulated into vaccines and tested for immunogenicity in mice and in vivo tumor challenge. Mice treated with AOM and APC Min transgenic mice were vaccinated and monitored for tumors. Results Serum IgG for CDC25B, COX2, RCAS1, and FASCIN1 was significantly elevated in colorectal cancer patient sera compared to volunteers (CDC25B p=0.002, COX-2 p=0.001, FASCIN1 and RCAS1 p<0.0001). Epitopes predicted to bind to human class II MHC were identified for each protein and T-cells specific for both the peptides and corresponding recombinant protein were generated from human lymphocytes validating these proteins as human antigens. Some peptides were highly homologous between mouse and humans and after immunization, mice developed both peptide and protein specific IFN-γ-secreting cell responses to CDC25B, COX2 and RCAS1, but not FASCIN1. FVB/nJ mice immunized with CDC25B or COX2 peptides showed significant inhibition of growth of the syngeneic MC38 tumor compared to control (p<0.0001). RCAS1 peptide vaccination showed no anti-tumor effect. In the prophylactic setting, after immunization with CDC25B or COX2 peptides mice treated with AOM developed significantly fewer tumors as compared to controls (p<0.0002) with 50% of mice remaining tumor free in each antigen group. APC Min mice immunized with CDC25B or COX2 peptides developed fewer small bowel tumors as compared to controls (p=0.01 and p=0.02 respectively). Conclusions Immunization with CDC25B and COX2 epitopes consistently suppressed tumor development in each model evaluated. These data lay the foundation for the development of multi-antigen vaccines for the treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren R. Corulli
- University of Washington (UW) Medicine, Cancer Vaccine Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Denise L. Cecil
- University of Washington (UW) Medicine, Cancer Vaccine Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ekram Gad
- University of Washington (UW) Medicine, Cancer Vaccine Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Marlese Koehnlein
- University of Washington (UW) Medicine, Cancer Vaccine Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Andrew L. Coveler
- University of Washington (UW) Medicine, Cancer Vaccine Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jennifer S. Childs
- University of Washington (UW) Medicine, Cancer Vaccine Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ronald A. Lubet
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Mary L. Disis
- University of Washington (UW) Medicine, Cancer Vaccine Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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2
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Kaipe H, Raffetseder J, Ernerudh J, Solders M, Tiblad E. MAIT Cells at the Fetal-Maternal Interface During Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1788. [PMID: 32973750 PMCID: PMC7466580 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main functions of the human placenta is to provide a barrier between the fetal and maternal blood circulations, where gas exchange and transfer of nutrients to the developing fetus take place. Despite being a barrier, there is a multitude of crosstalk between maternal immune cells and fetally derived semi-allogeneic trophoblast cells. Therefore, the maternal immune system has a difficult task to both tolerate the fetus but at the same time also defend the mother and the fetus from infections. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an increasingly recognized subset of T cells with anti-microbial functions that get activated in the context of non-polymorphic MR1 molecules, but also in response to inflammation. MAIT cells accumulate at term pregnancy in the maternal blood that flows into the intervillous space inside the placenta. Chemotactic factors produced by the placenta may be involved in recruiting and retaining particular immune cell subsets, including MAIT cells. In this Mini-Review, we describe what is known about MAIT cells during pregnancy and discuss the potential biological functions of MAIT cells at the fetal-maternal interface. Since MAIT cells have anti-microbial and tissue-repairing functions, but lack alloantigen reactivity, they could play an important role in protecting the fetus from bacterial infections and maintaining tissue homeostasis without risks of mediating harmful responses toward semi-allogenic fetal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Kaipe
- Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna Raffetseder
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Martin Solders
- Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eleonor Tiblad
- Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Eyrich M, Schulze H. HLA Matching in Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation. Transfus Med Hemother 2019; 46:348-355. [PMID: 31832060 DOI: 10.1159/000502422] [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: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
For several malignant and nonmalignant disorders such as leukemias, lymphomas, or inborn errors of hematopoiesis, stem cell transplantation is the only curative option. Depending on the underlying cause of the disease, the conditioning regimens, source of the stem cells, and graft composition may vary. Possible stem cell donors are selected from databases considering existing major histocompatibility genes of the donor and the recipient. This is currently performed by matching human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B, and -C for class I, as well as HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 for class II. Stem cell transplantation for nonmalignant disorders is a specialty of pediatrics. While algorithms for donor selection in these cases are generally similar, the objective of optimizing a possible graft-versus-leukemia effect is less important. In this article, we aim to provide an overview on the current methods for HLA typing and the algorithms for HLA matching. We also address ethical aspects regarding children and minors as stem cell donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Eyrich
- University Children's Hospital, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Harald Schulze
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, Chair I, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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4
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Matko S, Manderla J, Bonsack M, Schmitz M, Bornhauser M, Tonn T, Odendahl M. PRAME peptide-specific CD8 + T cells represent the predominant response against leukemia-associated antigens in healthy individuals. Eur J Immunol 2018; 48:1400-1411. [PMID: 29738081 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201747399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Antigen-specific T cells isolated from healthy individuals (HIs) have shown great therapeutic potential upon adoptive transfer for the treatment of viremia in immunosuppressed patients. The lack of comprehensive data on the prevalence and characteristics of leukemia-associated antigen (LAA)-specific T cells in HIs still limits such an approach for tumor therapy. Therefore, we have investigated T-cell responses against prominent candidates comprising Wilms' tumor protein 1 (WT1), preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME), Survivin, NY-ESO, and p53 by screening PBMCs from HIs using intracellular IFN-γ staining following provocation with LAA peptide mixes. Here, we found predominantly poly-functional effector/effector memory CCR7- /CD45RA+/- /CD8+ LAA peptide-specific T cells with varying CD95 expression in 34 of 100 tested HIs, whereas CD4+ T cells responses were restricted to 5. Most frequent LAA peptide-specific T cell responses were directed against WT1 and PRAME peptides with a prevalence of 20 and 17%, respectively, showing the highest magnitude (0.16% ± 0.22% (mean ± SD)) for PRAME peptides. Cytotoxicity of PRAME peptide-specific T cells was demonstrated by specific killing of PRAME peptide-pulsed T2 cells. Furthermore, the proliferative capacity of PRAME peptide-specific T cells was confined to HIs responsive toward PRAME peptide challenge corroborating the accuracy of the screening results. In conclusion, we identified PRAME as a promising target antigen for adoptive leukemia therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Matko
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany.,Institute for Transfusion Medicine Dresden, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julia Manderla
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany.,Institute for Transfusion Medicine Dresden, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria Bonsack
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) partner site Dresden; and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Bornhauser
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) partner site Dresden; and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Torsten Tonn
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany.,Institute for Transfusion Medicine Dresden, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) partner site Dresden; and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcus Odendahl
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany.,Institute for Transfusion Medicine Dresden, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Dresden, Germany
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5
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Abstract
An important role of the immune system is in the surveillance for abnormal or transformed cells, which is known as cancer immunosurveillance. Through this process, the first changes to normal tissue homeostasis caused by infectious or other inflammatory insults can be detected by the immune system through the recognition of antigenic molecules (including tumour antigens) expressed by abnormal cells. However, as they develop, tumour cells can acquire antigenic and other changes that allow them to escape elimination by the immune system. To bias this process towards elimination, immunosurveillance can be improved by the administration of vaccines based on tumour antigens. Therapeutic cancer vaccines have been extensively tested in patients with advanced cancer but have had little clinical success, which has been attributed to the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. Thus, the administration of preventive vaccines at pre-malignant stages of the disease holds promise, as they function before tumour-associated immune suppression is established. Accordingly, immunological and clinical studies are yielding impressive results.
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6
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Pearce H, Hutton P, Chaudhri S, Porfiri E, Patel P, Viney R, Moss P. Spontaneous CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell responses directed against cancer testis antigens are present in the peripheral blood of testicular cancer patients. Eur J Immunol 2017; 47:1232-1242. [PMID: 28555838 PMCID: PMC5519936 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201646898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer/testis antigen (CTAg) expression is restricted to spermatogenic cells in an immune‐privileged site within the testis. However, these proteins are expressed aberrantly by malignant cells and T‐cell responses against CTAgs develop in many cancer patients. We investigated the prevalence, magnitude and phenotype of CTAg‐specific T cells in the blood of patients with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). CD8+ and CD4+ T‐cell responses against MAGE‐A family antigens were present in 44% (20/45) of patients’ samples assayed by ex vivo IFN‐γ ELISPOT. The presence of MAGE‐specific CD8+ T cells was further determined following short‐term in vitro expansion through the use of pMHC‐I multimers containing known immunogenic peptides. Longitudinal analysis revealed that the frequency of MAGE‐specific T cells decreased by 89% following orchidectomy suggesting that persistence of tumor antigen is required to sustain CTAg‐specific T‐cell immunity. Notably, this decrease correlated with a decline in the global effector/memory T‐cell pool following treatment. Spontaneous T‐cell immunity against CTAg proteins therefore develops in many patients with testicular cancer and may play an important role in the excellent clinical outcome of patients with this tumor subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden Pearce
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Paul Hutton
- University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Emilio Porfiri
- University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.,Institute of Cancer and Genomics, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Prashant Patel
- University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.,Institute of Cancer and Genomics, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Richard Viney
- University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Paul Moss
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
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7
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Abstract
Prevention is an essential component of cancer eradication. Next-generation sequencing of cancer genomes and epigenomes has defined large numbers of driver mutations and molecular subgroups, leading to therapeutic advances. By comparison, there is a relative paucity of such knowledge in premalignant neoplasia, which inherently limits the potential to develop precision prevention strategies. Studies on the interplay between germ-line and somatic events have elucidated genetic processes underlying premalignant progression and preventive targets. Emerging data hint at the immune system's ability to intercept premalignancy and prevent cancer. Genetically engineered mouse models have identified mechanisms by which genetic drivers and other somatic alterations recruit inflammatory cells and induce changes in normal cells to create and interact with the premalignant tumor microenvironment to promote oncogenesis and immune evasion. These studies are currently limited to only a few lesion types and patients. In this Perspective, we advocate a large-scale collaborative effort to systematically map the biology of premalignancy and the surrounding cellular response. By bringing together scientists from diverse disciplines (e.g., biochemistry, omics, and computational biology; microbiology, immunology, and medical genetics; engineering, imaging, and synthetic chemistry; and implementation science), we can drive a concerted effort focused on cancer vaccines to reprogram the immune response to prevent, detect, and reject premalignancy. Lynch syndrome, clonal hematopoiesis, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia which also serve as models for inherited syndromes, blood, and viral premalignancies, are ideal scenarios in which to launch this initiative.
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8
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Lakshminarayanan V, Supekar NT, Wei J, McCurry DB, Dueck AC, Kosiorek HE, Trivedi PP, Bradley JM, Madsen CS, Pathangey LB, Hoelzinger DB, Wolfert MA, Boons GJ, Cohen PA, Gendler SJ. MUC1 Vaccines, Comprised of Glycosylated or Non-Glycosylated Peptides or Tumor-Derived MUC1, Can Circumvent Immunoediting to Control Tumor Growth in MUC1 Transgenic Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0145920. [PMID: 26788922 PMCID: PMC4720451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
It remains challenging to produce decisive vaccines against MUC1, a tumor-associated antigen widely expressed by pancreas, breast and other tumors. Employing clinically relevant mouse models, we ruled out such causes as irreversible T-cell tolerance, inadequate avidity, and failure of T-cells to recognize aberrantly glycosylated tumor MUC1. Instead, every tested MUC1 preparation, even non-glycosylated synthetic 9mer peptides, induced interferon gamma-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells that recognized glycosylated variants including tumor-associated MUC1. Vaccination with synthetic peptides conferred protection as long as vaccination was repeated post tumor challenge. Failure to revaccinate post challenge was associated with down-regulated tumor MUC1 and MHC molecules. Surprisingly, direct admixture of MUC1-expressing tumor with MUC1-hyperimmune T-cells could not prevent tumor outgrowth or MUC1 immunoediting, whereas ex vivo activation of the hyperimmune T-cells prior to tumor admixture rendered them curative. Therefore, surrogate T-cell preactivation outside the tumor bed, either in culture or by repetitive vaccination, can overcome tumor escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vani Lakshminarayanan
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
| | - Nitin T. Supekar
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Jie Wei
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
| | - Dustin B. McCurry
- Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
| | - Amylou C. Dueck
- Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
| | - Heidi E. Kosiorek
- Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
| | - Priyanka P. Trivedi
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
| | - Judy M. Bradley
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
| | - Cathy S. Madsen
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
| | - Latha B. Pathangey
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
| | | | - Margreet A. Wolfert
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Geert-Jan Boons
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SJG); (PAC); (GJB)
| | - Peter A. Cohen
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
- Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SJG); (PAC); (GJB)
| | - Sandra J. Gendler
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
- Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SJG); (PAC); (GJB)
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9
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Casalegno-Garduño R, Schmitt A, Spitschak A, Greiner J, Wang L, Hilgendorf I, Hirt C, Ho AD, Freund M, Schmitt M. Immune responses to WT1 in patients with AML or MDS after chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Int J Cancer 2015; 138:1792-801. [PMID: 26519872 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Revised: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) is overexpressed in leukemia and WT1-derived CD8(+) T-cell epitopes for immunotherapies targeting WT1 have been defined. Here, we analyzed expression of WT1 in 226 peripheral blood and bone marrow samples from patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (AML/MDS) before and after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Transcripts were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and WT1-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTL) were monitored by tetramer staining and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays. Reduction of WT1 levels correlated with a longer survival (p < 0.01). Increment of WT1 transcripts eventually resulted in relapse and subsequent death of the patients. In patients with longer survival and continuous complete remission (cCR) after SCT, higher and enduring frequencies of WT1-specific CTL than in patients developing a relapse were detected. These cells were effector T cells secreting interferon gamma and granzyme B. In summary, WT1 is a suitable marker for the detection of minimal residual disease after SCT or chemotherapy. A rising WT1 signal correlated with a dismal prognosis of the patients. WT1-specific CD8(+) T cells might contribute to the maintenance of a cCR. Targeting WT-1 by peptide/protein vaccination as well as adoptive transfer of genetically modified T cells are future options in the individualized therapy for AML/MDS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaely Casalegno-Garduño
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine V, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anita Schmitt
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alf Spitschak
- Institute of Experimental Gene Therapy and Cancer Research, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jochen Greiner
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inken Hilgendorf
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.,Department of Hematology/Oncology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Carsten Hirt
- Department of Internal Medicine C, Hematology/Oncology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anthony D Ho
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mathias Freund
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Michael Schmitt
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Enninga EAL, Nevala WK, Holtan SG, Markovic SN. Immune Reactivation by Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Healthy Pregnancies Re-Purposed to Target Tumors: Novel Checkpoint Inhibition in Cancer Therapeutics. Front Immunol 2015; 6:424. [PMID: 26379664 PMCID: PMC4549650 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the immune system in cancer progression has become increasingly evident over the past decade. Chronic inflammation in the promotion of tumorigenesis is well established, and cancer-associated tolerance/immune evasion has long been appreciated. Recent developments of immunotherapies targeting cancer-associated inflammation and immune tolerance, such as cancer vaccines, cell therapies, neutralizing antibodies, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, have shown promising clinical results. However, despite significant therapeutic advances, most patients diagnosed with metastatic cancer still succumb to their malignancy. Treatments are often toxic, and the financial burden of novel therapies is significant. Thus, new methods for utilizing similar biological systems to compare complex biological processes can give us new hypotheses for combating cancer. One such approach is comparing trophoblastic growth and regulation to tumor invasion and immune escape. Novel concepts regarding immune activation in pregnancy, especially reactivation of the immune system at labor through toll like receptor engagement by fetal derived DNA, may be applicable to cancer immunotherapy. This review summarizes mechanisms of inflammation in cancer, current immunotherapies used in the clinic, and suggestions for looking beyond oncology for novel methods to reverse cancer-associated tolerance and immunologic exhaustion utilizing mechanisms encountered in normal human pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shernan G. Holtan
- Department of Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Svetomir N. Markovic
- Department of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- *Correspondence: Svetomir N. Markovic, Department of Hematology/Oncology, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA,
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