1
|
Soltantoyeh T, Akbari B, Shahosseini Z, Mirzaei HR, Hadjati J. Simultaneous targeting of Tim3 and A2a receptors modulates MSLN-CAR T cell antitumor function in a human cervical tumor xenograft model. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1362904. [PMID: 38855110 PMCID: PMC11157064 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1362904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has transformed the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, its efficacy in solid tumors is limited by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that compromises CAR T cell antitumor function in clinical settings. To overcome this challenge, researchers have investigated the potential of inhibiting specific immune checkpoint receptors, including A2aR (Adenosine A2 Receptor) and Tim3 (T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3), to enhance CAR T cell function. In this study, we evaluated the impact of genetic targeting of Tim3 and A2a receptors on the antitumor function of human mesothelin-specific CAR T cells (MSLN-CAR) in vitro and in vivo. Methods Second-generation anti-mesothelin CAR T cells were produced using standard cellular and molecular techniques. A2aR-knockdown and/or Tim3- knockdown anti-mesothelin-CAR T cells were generated using shRNA-mediated gene silencing. The antitumor function of CAR T cells was evaluated by measuring cytokine production, proliferation, and cytotoxicity in vitro through coculture with cervical cancer cells (HeLa cell line). To evaluate in vivo antitumor efficacy of manufactured CAR T cells, tumor growth and mouse survival were monitored in a human cervical cancer xenograft model. Results In vitro experiments demonstrated that knockdown of A2aR alone or in combination with Tim3 significantly improved CAR T cell proliferation, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity in presence of tumor cells in an antigen-specific manner. Furthermore, in the humanized xenograft model, both double knockdown CAR T cells and control CAR T cells could effectively control tumor growth. However, single knockdown CAR T cells were associated with reduced survival in mice. Conclusion These findings highlight the potential of concomitant genetic targeting of Tim3 and A2a receptors to augment the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy in solid tumors. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised in light of our observation of decreased survival in mice treated with single knockdown MSLN-CAR T cells, emphasizing the need for careful efficacy considerations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Soltantoyeh
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnia Akbari
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Shahosseini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Mirzaei
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jamshid Hadjati
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kina Kilicaslan U, Aru B, Aydin Aksu S, Vardar Aker F, Yanikkaya Demirel G, Gurleyik MG. Relationship between immune checkpoint proteins and neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in breast cancer. Surg Oncol 2024; 52:102037. [PMID: 38290327 DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2024.102037] [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: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Following major developments in cancer immunotherapy, treatments targeting immune checkpoint proteins (ICP) gained interest in breast cancer, though studies mostly focus on patients with metastatic disease as well as patients nonresponsive to the conventional treatments. Herein, we aimed to investigate the levels of ICP in tumor stroma and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and tumor tissue prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy administration to evaluate the relationship between ICP levels, clinicopathological parameters, and NAC response. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted with 51 patients where PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, CD24 and CD44 levels were investigated in CD45+ cells while CD326, CD24, CD44 and PD-L1 protein expression levels were investigated in CD45- population. In addition, CD44 and CD24 levels were evaluated in the tumor stroma. TIL levels were investigated according to the TILS Working Group. Treatment responses after NAC were evaluated according to the MD Anderson RCB score. RESULTS Our results revealed positive correlation between CTLA-4 and CD44 expression in cases with high TIL levels as well as TIL levels and CTLA-4 expression in cases with partial response. Similarly, positive correlation was detected between TIM3 and PD-L1 levels in cases with good response. In addition, a negative correlation between TILs after NAC and PD-1/PD-L1 expression in lymphocytes in cases with partial complete response. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides preliminary data about the correlation between ICP and clinicopathological status and NAC response in breast cancer, in addition to underlining the requirement for further research to determine their potential as therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umut Kina Kilicaslan
- Department of General Surgery, Istanbul Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences Turkey, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Basak Aru
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sibel Aydin Aksu
- Department of Radiology, Istanbul Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences Turkey, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Fugen Vardar Aker
- Department of Pathology, Istanbul Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences Turkey, İstanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Meryem Gunay Gurleyik
- Department of General Surgery, Istanbul Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences Turkey, İstanbul, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Odstrcil RE, Dutta P, Liu J. Prediction of the Peptide-TIM3 Binding Site in Inhibiting TIM3-Galectin 9 Binding Pathways. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:6500-6509. [PMID: 37649156 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein-3 (TIM3) is an important receptor protein that modulates the immune system. The binding of TIM3 with Galectin 9 (GAL9) triggers immune system suppression, but the TIM3-GAL9 binding can be inhibited by binding of the peptide P26 to TIM3. A fast and accurate prediction of the P26-TIM3 binding site is crucial and a prerequisite for the investigation of P26-TIM3 interactions and TIM3-GAL9 binding pathways. Here, we present a machine learning approach, which considers protein conformational changes, to quickly identify the ligand-binding site on TIM3. Our results show that the P26 binding site is located near the C″-D loop of TIM3. Further simulations show that the binding pose is stabilized by a variety of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Binding of P26 can alter the conformations of nearby glycan side chains on TIM3, providing possible mechanisms of how P26 inhibits TIM3-GAL9 binding pathways. The insights from this work will facilitate the identification of other peptides or antibodies that may also inhibit the TIM3-GAL9 pathways and eventually lead to improved attempts in the modulation of the TIM3-GAL9 immunosuppression pathways. The strategies and machine learning method can be generalized to study ligand-receptor binding when the conformational changes during the binding are important.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan E Odstrcil
- School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman ,Washington 99164, United States
| | - Prashanta Dutta
- School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman ,Washington 99164, United States
| | - Jin Liu
- School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman ,Washington 99164, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hu G, Wang S, Wang S, Ding Q, Huang L. LAG-3 + tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes ameliorates overall survival in triple-negative breast cancer patients. Front Oncol 2023; 12:986903. [PMID: 36761428 PMCID: PMC9904386 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.986903] [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: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Immune checkpoint molecule lymphocyte-activating gene-3 (LAG-3), which is expressed on active lymphocytes, has proven to be associated with immunosuppression and cancer progression in a variety of solid tumors. However, the role of LAG-3+ lymphocytes in human breast cancer (BC) is still not conclusive. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to clarify the role of these cells in prognosis prediction for BC. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, and EBSCO to identify the studies evaluating the association of LAG-3+ lymphocyte infiltration and overall survival (OS) and/or disease-free survival (DFS) in BC patients, then combined extracted data with STATA 12.0. Results Eight published studies involving 5,859 BC patients were incorporated into this meta-analysis. We noted that a high number of LAG-3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were not appreciably associated with OS and DFS in BC patients. Strikingly, in stratified analyses based on the molecular type of BC, LAG-3+ lymphocyte infiltration was remarkably associated with better OS rather than DFS in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), whereas it significantly influenced neither OS nor DFS in Her2-positive BC. However, an increased density of these lymphocytes indicated a trend for better OS in Her2-positive BC. In addition, we found that LAG-3+ lymphocyte infiltration was also remarkably associated with prolonged OS in Her2-positive BC patients when they were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, an elevated number of these lymphocytes did not correlate with pathological complete response rate or clinicopathological features including lymph node metastasis. Conclusion The infiltration of LAG-3+ lymphocytes ameliorates OS in TNBC and Her2-positive BC, implicating that it is a valuable prognostic biomarker, and applications of anti-LAG-3 antagonists may possibly be not a promising therapeutic strategy for human BC especially for TNBC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoming Hu
- Department of General Surgery (Breast and Thyroid Surgery), Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Shaoxing Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Imaging of Tumor and Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China,*Correspondence: Guoming Hu, ; Liming Huang,
| | - Shimin Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Songxiang Wang
- Department of General Surgery (Breast and Thyroid Surgery), Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiannan Ding
- Medical Research Center Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liming Huang
- Department of General Surgery (Breast and Thyroid Surgery), Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China,*Correspondence: Guoming Hu, ; Liming Huang,
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang W, Xu K, Li Z, Wang L, Chen H. Tumor immune microenvironment components and the other markers can predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPANISH ONCOLOGY SOCIETIES AND OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF MEXICO 2023; 25:1579-1593. [PMID: 36652115 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-023-03075-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is an epithelial malignant tumor that occurs in the terminal ducts of the breast. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is an important part of breast cancer treatment. Its purpose is to use systemic treatment for some locally advanced breast cancer patients, to decrease the tumor size and clinical stage so that non-operable breast cancer patients can have a chance to access surgical treatment, or patients who are not suitable for breast-conserving surgery can get the opportunity of breast-conserving. However, some patients who do not respond to NACT will lead deterioration in their condition. Therefore, prediction of NACT efficacy in breast cancer is vital for precision therapy. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has a crucial role in the carcinogenesis and therapeutic response of breast cancer. In this review, we summarized the immune cells, immune checkpoints, and other biomarkers in the TME that can evaluate the efficacy of NACT in treating breast cancer. We believe that the detection and evaluation of the TME components in breast cancer are helpful to predict the efficacy of NACT, and the prediction methods are in the prospect. In addition, we also summarized other predictive factors of NACT, such as imaging examination, biochemical markers, and multigene/multiprotein profiling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiqian Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengfa Li
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Linwei Wang
- Department of Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Honglei Chen
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang MJ, Wu CC, Wang S, Yang LL, Sun ZJ. Overexpression of LAG3, TIM3, and A2aR in adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Oral Dis 2023; 29:175-187. [PMID: 34651389 DOI: 10.1111/odi.14045] [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: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) are the two most frequent malignancies of salivary glands. This study aims to explore the expression and migration of LAG3, TIM3, and A2aR in AdCC and MEC, and the potential relationship with oncogenic signaling molecules and immunosuppressive cytokines. MATERIALS AND METHODS Custom made human salivary gland tissue microarrays included 81 AdCCs, 52 MECs, 76 normal salivary glands (NSG), and 14 pleomorphic adenoma (PMA) samples. Immunohistochemical analysis of lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3), T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM3), adenosine 2a receptor (A2aR), oncogenic phosphorylated S6 kinase (p-S6) and ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2 ), and TGF-β1 was performed with salivary gland tissue microarrays of human samples. The correlation of the immunostaining was analyzed based on a digital pathological system, and data were evaluated by hierarchical cluster. Further in vitro studies of knockdown immune checkpoints LAG3, TIM3, and A2aR were carried out by siRNA transfection. RESULTS The expression levels of LAG3, TIM3, and A2aR were remarkably increased in AdCC and MEC, compared with NSG and PMA samples, but were independent of pathology grade. They were closely correlated with TGF-β1, slightly related to p-ERK1/2 and p-S6. After the knockdown of immune checkpoints LAG3, TIM3, and A2aR, the migration of SACC-LM cell line was significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that LAG3, TIM3, and A2aR are overexpressed in AdCC and MEC, may promote migration of SACC-LM cell and correlated with TGF-β1 and oncogenic signaling pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Jie Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Cong-Cong Wu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei-Lei Yang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Head Neck Oncology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ferguson AL, Sharman AR, Allen RO, Ye T, Lee JH, Low THH, Ch'ng S, Palme CE, Ashford B, Ranson M, Clark JR, Patrick E, Gupta R, Palendira U. High-Dimensional and Spatial Analysis Reveals Immune Landscape-Dependent Progression in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:4677-4688. [PMID: 36044477 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-1332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The tumor immune microenvironment impacts the biological behavior of the tumor, but its effect on clinical outcomes in head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (HNcSCC) is largely unknown. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We compared the immune milieu of high-risk HNcSCC that never progressed to metastasis with those that metastasized using multiparameter imaging mass cytometry. The cohort included both immunosuppressed patients (IS) and patients with an absence of clinical immune-suppression (ACIS). Spatial analyses were used to identify cellular interactions that were associated with tumor behavior. RESULTS Nonprogressing primary HNcSCC were characterized by higher CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses, including numerically increased regulatory T cells. In contrast, primary lesions from HNcSCC patients who progressed were largely devoid of T cells with lower numbers of innate immune cells and increased expression of checkpoint receptors and in the metastatic lesions were characterized by an accumulation of B cells. Spatial analysis reveals multiple cellular interactions associated with nonprogressing primary tumors that were distinct in primary tumors of disease-progressing patients. Cellular regional analysis of the tumor microenvironment also shows squamous cell-enriched tumor regions associated with primary nonprogressing tumors. CONCLUSIONS Effective responses from both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment are essential for immune control of primary HNcSCC. Our findings indicate that the early events that shape the immune responses in primary tumors dictate progression and disease outcomes in HNcSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela L Ferguson
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Theme, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ashleigh R Sharman
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Theme, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ruth O Allen
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Theme, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Thomas Ye
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jenny H Lee
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tsu-Hui H Low
- Central Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sydney Ch'ng
- Central Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Royal Prince Alfred Institute of Academic Surgery, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carsten E Palme
- The Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bruce Ashford
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marie Ranson
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jonathan R Clark
- Central Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Royal Prince Alfred Institute of Academic Surgery, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ellis Patrick
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ruta Gupta
- Central Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Umaimainthan Palendira
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Theme, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Griguolo G, Tosi A, Dieci MV, Fineberg S, Rossi V, Ventura A, Bottosso M, Bauchet L, Miglietta F, Jacob J, Rigau V, Fassan M, Jacot W, Conte P, Rosato A, Darlix A, Guarneri V. A comprehensive profiling of the immune microenvironment of breast cancer brain metastases. Neuro Oncol 2022; 24:2146-2158. [PMID: 35609559 PMCID: PMC9713504 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite potential clinical implications, the complexity of breast cancer (BC) brain metastases (BM) immune microenvironment is poorly understood. Through multiplex immunofluorescence, we here describe the main features of BCBM immune microenvironment (density and spatial distribution) and evaluate its prognostic impact. METHODS Sixty BCBM from patients undergoing neurosurgery at three institutions (2003-2018) were comprehensively assessed using two multiplex immunofluorescence panels (CD4, CD8, Granzyme B, FoxP3, CD68, pan-cytokeratin, DAPI; CD3, PD-1, PD-L1, LAG-3, TIM-3, CD163, pan-cytokeratin, DAPI). The prognostic impact of immune subpopulations and cell-to-cell spatial interactions was evaluated. RESULTS Subtype-related differences in BCBM immune microenvironment and its prognostic impact were observed. While in HR-/HER2- BM and HER2+ BM, higher densities of intra-tumoral CD8+ lymphocytes were associated with significantly longer OS (HR 0.16 and 0.20, respectively), in HR+/HER2- BCBMs a higher CD4+FoxP3+/CD8+ cell ratio in the stroma was associated with worse OS (HR 5.4). Moreover, a higher density of intra-tumoral CD163+ M2-polarized microglia/macrophages in BCBMs was significantly associated with worse OS in HR-/HER2- and HR+/HER2- BCBMs (HR 6.56 and 4.68, respectively), but not in HER2+ BCBMs. In HER2+ BCBMs, multiplex immunofluorescence highlighted a negative prognostic role of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction: patients with a higher percentage of PD-L1+ cells spatially interacting with (within a 20 µm radius) PD-1+ cells presented a significantly worse OS (HR 4.60). CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight subtype-related differences in BCBM immune microenvironment and identify two potential therapeutic targets, M2 microglia/macrophage polarization in HER2- and PD-1/PD-L1 interaction in HER2+ BCBMs, which warrant future exploration in clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maria Vittoria Dieci
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy,Division of Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Susan Fineberg
- Pathology Department, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Valentina Rossi
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Diagnostics, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Annavera Ventura
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Michele Bottosso
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luc Bauchet
- Department of Neurosurgery, Gui de Chauliac Hospital—CHU, Montpellier University Medical Center, Montpellier, France,Institute of Functional Genomics, Montpellier University, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Federica Miglietta
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Jack Jacob
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Valerie Rigau
- Department of Pathology, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Matteo Fassan
- Department of Medicine, Surgical Pathology Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy,Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - William Jacot
- Medical Oncology Department, Institut du Cancer de Montpellier—University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - PierFranco Conte
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy,Division of Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy,Immunology and Molecular Oncology Diagnostics, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Amelie Darlix
- Medical Oncology Department, Institut du Cancer de Montpellier, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, INSERM, CNRS—University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Valentina Guarneri
- Corresponding Author: Valentina Guarneri, MD, PhD, Division of Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padova, Italy ()
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yoshikawa K, Ishida M, Yanai H, Tsuta K, Sekimoto M, Sugie T. Prognostic significance of the expression levels of T‑cell immunoglobulin mucin‑3 and its ligand galectin‑9 for relapse‑free survival in triple‑negative breast cancer. Oncol Lett 2022; 23:197. [PMID: 35572493 PMCID: PMC9100485 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3) expressed at the T-cell surface acts as an immune checkpoint when bound by its ligand galectin-9. Blockade of immunosuppression by the TIM3/galectin-9 signalling pathway may offer novel therapeutic approaches for cancer immunotherapy. Consistent with this, TIM-3 expression is associated with poorer prognosis in several different types of cancer, possibly as a result of suppression of anticancer immunosurveillance. A number of studies have now documented some effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade even in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is highly aggressive. However, clinical responses are relatively weak, suggesting that several different pathways may be involved. In this context, the role of the TIM-3/galectin-9 checkpoint in TNBC is not clear. The present study aimed to determine the clinicopathological significance of TIM-3 and galectin-9 expression in this cancer. To this end, 62 patients with TNBC undergoing surgery at Kansai Medical University Hospital (Hirakata, Japan), but not given neoadjuvant chemotherapy, were examined. Tissue microarrays were employed for immunohistochemistry to analyse associations of TIM-3 and galectin-9 expression and their impact on relapse-free survival relative to other poor prognostic risk factors. Galectin-9 expression was detected in 49 of 62 patient samples (79%), and TIM-3 in 30 of them (48.4%). Tumour cell galectin-9 expression was associated with a more favourable prognosis (P=0.027) as was TIM-3 expression on tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (P=0.007). Multivariate analysis indicated that galectin-9- and TIM-3-double-positivity was significantly associated with a more favourable prognosis compared with galectin-9 and/or TIM-3 negativity (P=0.044). Thus, the TIM-3/galectin-9 signalling pathway may impact anticancer immune reactions in the tumour microenvironment of patients with TNBC. Further investigation will be necessary to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying these relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katsuhiro Yoshikawa
- Department of Pathology and Division of Diagnostic Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka 573‑1191, Japan
| | - Mitsuaki Ishida
- Department of Pathology and Division of Diagnostic Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka 573‑1191, Japan
| | - Hirotsugu Yanai
- Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka 573‑1191, Japan
| | - Koji Tsuta
- Department of Pathology and Division of Diagnostic Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka 573‑1191, Japan
| | - Mitsugu Sekimoto
- Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka 573‑1191, Japan
| | - Tomoharu Sugie
- Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka 573‑1191, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Tsai CY, Chi HC, Wu RC, Weng CH, Tai TS, Lin CY, Chen TD, Wang YH, Chou LF, Hsu SH, Lin PH, Pang ST, Yang HY. Combination Biomarker of Immune Checkpoints Predict Prognosis of Urothelial Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2021; 10:biomedicines10010008. [PMID: 35052695 PMCID: PMC8772792 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to Western counties, the incidence of urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains mar-edly elevated in Taiwan. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in limiting immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. To elucidate the relationship between immune checkpoints in the tumor immune microenvironment and UC progression, we utilize the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to analyze a microarray obtained from 308 patients with UC. We observed that the expression level of CD276 or TIM-3 was positively correlated with late-stage UC and poor prognosis. Patients with simultaneously high CD276 and TIM-3 expression in tumors have significantly reduced both univariate and multivariate survival, indicating that mRNA levels of these immune checkpoints could be independent prognostic biomarkers for UC overall survival and recurrence. Our cohort study showed rare CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells and Tregs infiltration during early-stage UC-known as cold tumors. Approximately 30% of late-stage tumors exhibited highly infiltrated cytotoxic T cells with high PD-1 and FOXP3 expression, which implied that cytotoxic T cells were inhibited in the advanced UC microenvironment. Collectively, our findings provide a better prognosis prediction by combined immune checkpoint biomarkers and a basis for early-stage UC standard treatment to convert cold tumors into hot tumors, followed by immune checkpoint therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Ying Tsai
- Kidney Research Center, Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (C.-Y.T.); (C.-H.W.); (C.-Y.L.); (L.-F.C.); (S.-H.H.)
| | - Hsiang-Cheng Chi
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan;
- Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Ren-Chin Wu
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (R.-C.W.); (T.-D.C.)
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Cheng-Hao Weng
- Kidney Research Center, Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (C.-Y.T.); (C.-H.W.); (C.-Y.L.); (L.-F.C.); (S.-H.H.)
| | - Tzong-Shyuan Tai
- Advanced Immunology Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
| | - Chan-Yu Lin
- Kidney Research Center, Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (C.-Y.T.); (C.-H.W.); (C.-Y.L.); (L.-F.C.); (S.-H.H.)
| | - Tai-Di Chen
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (R.-C.W.); (T.-D.C.)
| | - Ya-Hui Wang
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
| | - Li-Fang Chou
- Kidney Research Center, Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (C.-Y.T.); (C.-H.W.); (C.-Y.L.); (L.-F.C.); (S.-H.H.)
| | - Shen-Hsing Hsu
- Kidney Research Center, Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (C.-Y.T.); (C.-H.W.); (C.-Y.L.); (L.-F.C.); (S.-H.H.)
| | - Po-Hung Lin
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (P.-H.L.); (S.-T.P.)
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - See-Tong Pang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (P.-H.L.); (S.-T.P.)
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yu Yang
- Kidney Research Center, Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (C.-Y.T.); (C.-H.W.); (C.-Y.L.); (L.-F.C.); (S.-H.H.)
- Advanced Immunology Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-9753-62616
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cong Y, Liu J, Chen G, Qiao G. The Emerging Role of T-Cell Immunoglobulin Mucin-3 in Breast Cancer: A Promising Target For Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:723238. [PMID: 34504800 PMCID: PMC8421567 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.723238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer treatment through immune checkpoint receptor blockade has made significant advances in the recent years. However, resistance to the current immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been observed in many patients, who consequently do not respond to these treatments. T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) is a novel immune checkpoint molecule emerging as a potential therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. Epidemiologic findings reveal that genetic polymorphisms in the Tim-3 gene are associated with increased susceptibility to breast cancer. In patients with breast cancer, Tim-3 is expressed both on immune and tumor cells. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that Tim-3 can notably affect breast cancer treatment outcome and prognosis. Therefore, Tim-3 is being regarded as a high-potential target for improving breast cancer therapy. In this review, we summarize the role of Tim-3 in breast cancer and the regulation mechanisms of Tim-3 to furnish evidences for future research and therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yizi Cong
- Department of Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Guangdong Qiao
- Department of Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Unraveling How Tumor-Derived Galectins Contribute to Anti-Cancer Immunity Failure. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13184529. [PMID: 34572756 PMCID: PMC8469970 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review compiles our current knowledge of one of the main pathways activated by tumors to escape immune attack. Indeed, it integrates the current understanding of how tumor-derived circulating galectins affect the elicitation of effective anti-tumor immunity. It focuses on several relevant topics: which are the main galectins produced by tumors, how soluble galectins circulate throughout biological liquids (taking a body-settled gradient concentration into account), the conditions required for the galectins’ functions to be accomplished at the tumor and tumor-distant sites, and how the physicochemical properties of the microenvironment in each tissue determine their functions. These are no mere semantic definitions as they define which functions can be performed in said tissues instead. Finally, we discuss the promising future of galectins as targets in cancer immunotherapy and some outstanding questions in the field. Abstract Current data indicates that anti-tumor T cell-mediated immunity correlates with a better prognosis in cancer patients. However, it has widely been demonstrated that tumor cells negatively manage immune attack by activating several immune-suppressive mechanisms. It is, therefore, essential to fully understand how lymphocytes are activated in a tumor microenvironment and, above all, how to prevent these cells from becoming dysfunctional. Tumors produce galectins-1, -3, -7, -8, and -9 as one of the major molecular mechanisms to evade immune control of tumor development. These galectins impact different steps in the establishment of the anti-tumor immune responses. Here, we carry out a critical dissection on the mechanisms through which tumor-derived galectins can influence the production and the functionality of anti-tumor T lymphocytes. This knowledge may help us design more effective immunotherapies to treat human cancers.
Collapse
|