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Hao J, Zhao X, Wang C, Cao X, Liu Y. Recent Advances in Nanoimmunotherapy by Modulating Tumor-Associated Macrophages for Cancer Therapy. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:867-882. [PMID: 38919067 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00242] [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: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has yielded remarkable results across a variety of tumor types. Nevertheless, the complex and immunosuppressive microenvironment within solid tumors poses significant challenges to established therapies such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. Within the milieu, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a significant role by directly suppressing T-cell functionality and fostering an immunosuppressive environment. Effective regulation of TAMs is, therefore, crucial to enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapies. Various therapeutic strategies targeting TAM modulation have emerged, including blocking TAM recruitment, direct elimination, promoting repolarization toward the M1 phenotype, and enhancing phagocytic capacity against tumor cells. The recently introduced CAR macrophage (CAR-M) therapy opens new possibilities for macrophage-based immunotherapy. Compared with CAR-T, CAR-M may demonstrate superior targeting and infiltration capabilities toward solid tumors. This review predominantly delves into the origin and development process of TAMs, their role in promoting tumor growth, and provides a comprehensive overview of immunotherapies targeting TAMs. It underscores the significance of regulating TAMs in bolstering antitumor therapies while discussing the potential and challenges of developing TAMs as targets for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xinzhi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Chun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xianghui Cao
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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2
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Willoughby JE, Dou L, Bhattacharya S, Jackson H, Seestaller-Wehr L, Kilian D, Bover L, Voo KS, Cox KL, Murray T, John M, Shi H, Bojczuk P, Jing J, Niederer H, Shepherd AJ, Hook L, Hopley S, Inzhelevskaya T, Penfold CA, Mockridge CI, English V, Brett SJ, Srinivasan R, Hopson C, Smothers J, Hoos A, Paul E, Martin SL, Morley PJ, Yanamandra N, Cragg MS. Impact of isotype on the mechanism of action of agonist anti-OX40 antibodies in cancer: implications for therapeutic combinations. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008677. [PMID: 38964788 PMCID: PMC11227834 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND OX40 has been widely studied as a target for immunotherapy with agonist antibodies taken forward into clinical trials for cancer where they are yet to show substantial efficacy. Here, we investigated potential mechanisms of action of anti-mouse (m) OX40 and anti-human (h) OX40 antibodies, including a clinically relevant monoclonal antibody (mAb) (GSK3174998) and evaluated how isotype can alter those mechanisms with the aim to develop improved antibodies for use in rational combination treatments for cancer. METHODS Anti-mOX40 and anti-hOX40 mAbs were evaluated in a number of in vivo models, including an OT-I adoptive transfer immunization model in hOX40 knock-in (KI) mice and syngeneic tumor models. The impact of FcγR engagement was evaluated in hOX40 KI mice deficient for Fc gamma receptors (FcγR). Additionally, combination studies using anti-mouse programmed cell death protein-1 (mPD-1) were assessed. In vitro experiments using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) examining possible anti-hOX40 mAb mechanisms of action were also performed. RESULTS Isotype variants of the clinically relevant mAb GSK3174998 showed immunomodulatory effects that differed in mechanism; mIgG1 mediated direct T-cell agonism while mIgG2a acted indirectly, likely through depletion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) via activating FcγRs. In both the OT-I and EG.7-OVA models, hIgG1 was the most effective human isotype, capable of acting both directly and through Treg depletion. The anti-hOX40 hIgG1 synergized with anti-mPD-1 to improve therapeutic outcomes in the EG.7-OVA model. Finally, in vitro assays with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs), anti-hOX40 hIgG1 also showed the potential for T-cell stimulation and Treg depletion. CONCLUSIONS These findings underline the importance of understanding the role of isotype in the mechanism of action of therapeutic mAbs. As an hIgG1, the anti-hOX40 mAb can elicit multiple mechanisms of action that could aid or hinder therapeutic outcomes, dependent on the microenvironment. This should be considered when designing potential combinatorial partners and their FcγR requirements to achieve maximal benefit and improvement of patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane E Willoughby
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Lang Dou
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Heather Jackson
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura Seestaller-Wehr
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David Kilian
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura Bover
- Immunology Department/ Genomics Medicine Department, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kui S Voo
- ORBIT, Institute of Applied Cancer Science, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kerry L Cox
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Tom Murray
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Mel John
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Hong Shi
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Paul Bojczuk
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Junping Jing
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Heather Niederer
- Biopharm Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited, Stevenage, UK
| | - Andrew J Shepherd
- Protein, Cellular and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, UK
| | - Laura Hook
- Biopharm Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited, Stevenage, UK
| | - Stephanie Hopley
- Biopharm Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited, Stevenage, UK
| | - Tatyana Inzhelevskaya
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Chris A Penfold
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - C Ian Mockridge
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Vikki English
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Sara J Brett
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Roopa Srinivasan
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christopher Hopson
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James Smothers
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Axel Hoos
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elaine Paul
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
- GlaxoSmithKline, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephen L Martin
- Biopharm Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited, Stevenage, UK
| | - Peter J Morley
- Immunology Research Unit, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, UK
| | - Niranjan Yanamandra
- Immuno-Oncology and Combinations RU, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mark S Cragg
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Lim SH, Beers SA, Al-Shamkhani A, Cragg MS. Agonist Antibodies for Cancer Immunotherapy: History, Hopes, and Challenges. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:1712-1723. [PMID: 38153346 PMCID: PMC7615925 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-1014] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is among the most promising new treatment modalities to arise over the last two decades; antibody drugs are delivering immunotherapy to millions of patients with many different types of cancer. Initial success with antibody therapeutics came in the form of direct targeting or cytotoxic antibodies, such as rituximab and trastuzumab, which bind directly to tumor cells to elicit their destruction. These were followed by immunomodulatory antibodies that elicit antitumor responses by either stimulating immune cells or relieving tumor-mediated suppression. By far the most successful approach in the clinic to date has been relieving immune suppression, with immune checkpoint blockade now a standard approach in the treatment of many cancer types. Despite equivalent and sometimes even more impressive effects in preclinical models, agonist antibodies designed to stimulate the immune system have lagged behind in their clinical translation. In this review, we document the main receptors that have been targeted by agonist antibodies, consider the various approaches that have been evaluated to date, detail what we have learned, and consider how their anticancer potential can be unlocked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean H. Lim
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Stephen A. Beers
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Aymen Al-Shamkhani
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Mark S. Cragg
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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4
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Knorr DA, Blanchard L, Leidner RS, Jensen SM, Meng R, Jones A, Ballesteros-Merino C, Bell RB, Baez M, Marino A, Sprott D, Bifulco CB, Piening B, Dahan R, Osorio JC, Fox BA, Ravetch JV. FcγRIIB Is an Immune Checkpoint Limiting the Activity of Treg-Targeting Antibodies in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:322-333. [PMID: 38147316 PMCID: PMC10911703 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical murine data indicate that fragment crystallizable (Fc)-dependent depletion of intratumoral regulatory T cells (Treg) is a major mechanism of action of anti-CTLA-4. However, the two main antibodies administered to patients (ipilimumab and tremelimumab) do not recapitulate these effects. Here, we investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the limited Treg depletion observed with these therapies. Using an immunocompetent murine model humanized for CTLA-4 and Fcγ receptors (FcγR), we show that ipilimumab and tremelimumab exhibit limited Treg depletion in tumors. Immune profiling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in both humanized mice and humans revealed high expression of the inhibitory Fc receptor, FcγRIIB, which limits antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity/phagocytosis. Blocking FcγRIIB in humanized mice rescued the Treg-depleting capacity and antitumor activity of ipilimumab. Furthermore, Fc engineering of antibodies targeting Treg-associated targets (CTLA-4 or CCR8) to minimize FcγRIIB binding significantly enhanced Treg depletion, resulting in increased antitumor activity across various tumor models. Our results define the inhibitory FcγRIIB as an immune checkpoint limiting antibody-mediated Treg depletion in the TME, and demonstrate Fc engineering as an effective strategy to overcome this limitation and improve the efficacy of Treg-targeting antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Knorr
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Lucas Blanchard
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Rom S. Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (a division of Providence Cancer Institute), Portland, Oregon
| | - Shawn M. Jensen
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (a division of Providence Cancer Institute), Portland, Oregon
| | - Ryan Meng
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (a division of Providence Cancer Institute), Portland, Oregon
| | - Andrew Jones
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | | | - Richard B. Bell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (a division of Providence Cancer Institute), Portland, Oregon
| | - Maria Baez
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Alessandra Marino
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - David Sprott
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (a division of Providence Cancer Institute), Portland, Oregon
| | - Carlo B. Bifulco
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (a division of Providence Cancer Institute), Portland, Oregon
| | - Brian Piening
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (a division of Providence Cancer Institute), Portland, Oregon
| | - Rony Dahan
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Juan C. Osorio
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Bernard A. Fox
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (a division of Providence Cancer Institute), Portland, Oregon
| | - Jeffrey V. Ravetch
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
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Galvez-Cancino F, Simpson AP, Costoya C, Matos I, Qian D, Peggs KS, Litchfield K, Quezada SA. Fcγ receptors and immunomodulatory antibodies in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:51-71. [PMID: 38062252 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00637-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of both cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) as negative regulators of antitumour immunity led to the development of numerous immunomodulatory antibodies as cancer treatments. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the efficacy of immunoglobulin G (IgG)-based therapies depends not only on their ability to block or engage their targets but also on the antibody's constant region (Fc) and its interactions with Fcγ receptors (FcγRs). Fc-FcγR interactions are essential for the activity of tumour-targeting antibodies, such as rituximab, trastuzumab and cetuximab, where the killing of tumour cells occurs at least in part due to these mechanisms. However, our understanding of these interactions in the context of immunomodulatory antibodies designed to boost antitumour immunity remains less explored. In this Review, we discuss our current understanding of the contribution of FcγRs to the in vivo activity of immunomodulatory antibodies and the challenges of translating results from preclinical models into the clinic. In addition, we review the impact of genetic variability of human FcγRs on the activity of therapeutic antibodies and how antibody engineering is being utilized to develop the next generation of cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Galvez-Cancino
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Alexander P Simpson
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Cristobal Costoya
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Ignacio Matos
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Danwen Qian
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Karl S Peggs
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK.
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK.
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6
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Zhu J, Huang Q, Peng X, Luo C, Liu Z, Liu D, Yuan H, Yuan R, Cheng X. Identification of molecular subtypes based on PANoptosis-related genes and construction of a signature for predicting the prognosis and response to immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1218661. [PMID: 37662906 PMCID: PMC10471990 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1218661] [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: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have demonstrated that PANoptosis is strongly correlated with cancer immunity and progression. This study aimed to develop a PANoptosis-related signature (PANRS) to explore its potential value in predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Based on the expression of PANoptosis-related genes, three molecular subtypes were identified. To construct a signature, the differentially expressed genes between different molecular subtypes were subjected to multivariate least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression analyses. The risk scores of patients in the training set were calculated using the signature. The patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the median risk scores. The predictive performance of the signature was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier plotter, receiving operating characteristic curves, nomogram, and calibration curve. The results were validated using external datasets. Additionally, the correlation of the signature with the immune landscape and drug sensitivity was examined. Furthermore, the effect of LPCAT1 knockdown on HCC cell behavior was verified using in vitro experiments. Results This study developed a PANRS. The risk score obtained by using the PANRS was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients with HCC and exhibited good prognostic predictive performance. The nomogram constructed based on the risk score and clinical information can accurately predicted the survival probability of patients with HCC. Patients with HCC in the high-risk groups have high immune scores and tend to generate an immunosuppressive microenvironment. They also exhibited a favorable response to immunotherapy, as evidenced by high tumor mutational burden, high immune checkpoint gene expression, high human leukocyte antigen gene expression, low tumor immune dysfunction and low exclusion scores. Additionally, the PANRS enabled the identification of 15 chemotherapeutic agents, including sorafenib, for patients with HCC with different risk levels, guiding clinical treatment. The signature gene LPCAT1 was upregulated in HCC cell lines. LPCAT1 knockdown markedly decreased HCC cell proliferation and migration. Conclusion PANRS can accurately predict the prognosis and immunotherapy response of patients with HCC and consequently guide individualized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingyu Peng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Chen Luo
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zitao Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Dongdong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Hukou County People’s Hospital, Jiujiang, China
| | - Huazhao Yuan
- Department of General Surgery, Jiujiang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Jiujiang, China
| | - Rongfa Yuan
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xuexin Cheng
- Biological Resource Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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7
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Fortis SP, Batsaki P, Stokidis S, Moschandreou D, Grouzi E, Baxevanis CN, Gritzapis AD, Goulielmaki M. A Blood-Based Immune Gene Signature with Prognostic Significance in Localized Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3697. [PMID: 37509358 PMCID: PMC10377824 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143697] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common male cancers worldwide and one of the deadliest if unsuccessfully treated. Τhe need for reliable, easily accessible immune-related molecular biomarkers that could be combined with clinically defined criteria, including PSA and Gleason score, to accurately predict PCa patients' clinical outcomes is emerging. Herein, we describe for the first time a blood-identified immune-related gene signature comprising eight upregulated multi-functional genes associated with poor prognosis. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of PCa patients' peripheral blood samples revealed a more than three-fold upregulation of each of the eight genes as compared to samples originating from healthy donors. The construction of gene and protein interaction networks revealed different extents of the functional implications of these genes in the regulation of cell proliferation and immune responses. Analysis of the available data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) regarding gene expression and survival of prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) and pan-cancer (PANCAN) patients revealed that intra-tumoral upregulation of this eight-gene signature (8-GS) was associated with poor 5-year progression-free intervals in PCa patients, even in those with high Gleason scores, and also with an unfavorable prognosis for cancer patients irrespective of the cancer type and even in the early stages. These observations suggest that further investigation of the 8-GS prospectively in randomized clinical trials, in which clinical benefit in terms of evaluating time to disease progression can be assessed, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotirios P Fortis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Batsaki
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Savvas Stokidis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitra Moschandreou
- Department of Transfusion Service and Clinical Hemostasis, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Elisavet Grouzi
- Department of Transfusion Service and Clinical Hemostasis, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin N Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Angelos D Gritzapis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Goulielmaki
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
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8
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Dadas O, Ertay A, Cragg MS. Delivering co-stimulatory tumor necrosis factor receptor agonism for cancer immunotherapy: past, current and future perspectives. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1147467. [PMID: 37180119 PMCID: PMC10167284 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1147467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF) and their receptors (TNFRSF) are important regulators of the immune system, mediating proliferation, survival, differentiation, and function of immune cells. As a result, their targeting for immunotherapy is attractive, although to date, under-exploited. In this review we discuss the importance of co-stimulatory members of the TNFRSF in optimal immune response generation, the rationale behind targeting these receptors for immunotherapy, the success of targeting them in pre-clinical studies and the challenges in translating this success into the clinic. The efficacy and limitations of the currently available agents are discussed alongside the development of next generation immunostimulatory agents designed to overcome current issues, and capitalize on this receptor class to deliver potent, durable and safe drugs for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osman Dadas
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ayse Ertay
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Mark S. Cragg
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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9
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Knorr D, Leidner R, Jensen S, Meng R, Jones A, Ballesteros-Merino C, Bell RB, Baez M, Sprott D, Bifulco C, Piening B, Dahan R, Fox BA, Ravetch J. FcyRIIB is a novel immune checkpoint in the tumor microenvironment limiting activity of Treg-targeting antibodies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.19.522856. [PMID: 36711504 PMCID: PMC9884505 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.19.522856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Despite pre-clinical murine data supporting T regulatory (Treg) cell depletion as a major mechanism by which anti-CTLA-4 antibodies function in vivo, the two main antibodies tested in patients (ipilimumab and tremelimumab) have failed to demonstrate similar effects. We report analogous findings in an immunocompetent murine model humanized for CTLA-4 and Fcy receptors (hCTLA-4/hFcyR mice), where both ipilimumab and tremelimumab fail to show appreciable Treg depletion. Immune profiling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in both mice and human samples revealed upregulation of the inhibitory Fcy receptor, FcyRIIB, which limits the ability of the antibody Fc fragment of human anti-CTLA-4 antibodies to induce effective antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicty/phagocytosis (ADCC/ADCP). Blocking FcyRIIB in humanized mice rescues Treg depleting capacity and anti-tumor activity of ipilimumab. For another target, CC motif chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8), which is selectively expressed on tumor infiltrating Tregs, we show that Fc engineering to enhance binding to activating Fc receptors, while limiting binding to the inhibitory Fc receptor, leads to consistent Treg depletion and single-agent activity across multiple tumor models, including B16, MC38 and MB49. These data reveal the importance of reducing engagement to the inhibitory Fc receptor to optimize Treg depletion by TME targeting antibodies. Our results define the inhibitory FcyRIIB receptor as a novel immune checkpoint limiting antibody-mediated Treg depletion in tumors, and demonstrate Fc variant engineering as a means to overcome this limitation and augment efficacy for a repertoire of antibodies currently in use or under clinical evaluation in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Knorr
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Rom Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Shawn Jensen
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Ryan Meng
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Andrew Jones
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | | | - R. Bryan Bell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Maria Baez
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - David Sprott
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Carlo Bifulco
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Brian Piening
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Rony Dahan
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Bernard A. Fox
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a division of Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
| | - Jeffrey Ravetch
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY
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10
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Kang Y, Yang X, Feng Z, Lv R, Zhu J. Tumor-associated macrophages improve hypoxia-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress response in colorectal cancer cells by regulating TGF-β1/SOX4. Cell Signal 2022; 99:110430. [PMID: 35933032 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors that can induce endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). This study aimed to explore the mechanism behind tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) improving the ERS response of colorectal cancer (CRC) under hypoxic conditions. Herein, it was demonstrated that TAMs reduce ERS by secreting TGF-β1 and activating SOX4/TMEM2 signaling in CRC cells. The expression levels of TGF-β1, SOX4, and TMEM2 in 20 pairs of tumor tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were assessed. A co-culture system of CRC cells with THP-1-derived macrophages under hypoxic conditions in vitro was investigated to determine the protective effect of TAMs on CRC cells. Moreover, to further verify the underlying mechanism, TGF-β1 and SOX4 were knocked down in the TAMs and CRC cells, respectively. The results exposed that TGF-β1, SOX4, and TMEM2 were abundantly expressed in tumor tissues. Moreover, the co-culture system revealed that macrophages stimulate TGF-β1 secretion under hypoxia, which depresses the CRC cells' ERS, further promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. Furthermore, increased TGF-β1 levels promoted the expression of SOX4 and TMEM2 in CRC cells. Conversely, the knockdown of SOX4 attenuated the protective effect of TAMs on TGF-β1-stimulated CRC cells. In conclusion, these results suggest that the elevated ERS induced by hypoxia in CRC cells could be relieved by TAMs via the secretion of TGF-β1. Finally, TGF-β1 suppresses undue ERS response in CRC cells by activating the SOX4-TMEM2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Kang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinshan Branch Hospital of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuezhong Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhoupu Hospital of Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaoming Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinshan Branch Hospital of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ranxu Lv
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinshan Branch Hospital of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Junfeng Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinshan Branch Hospital of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
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11
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Hypoxia as a Modulator of Inflammation and Immune Response in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092291. [PMID: 35565420 PMCID: PMC9099524 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A clear association between hypoxia and cancer has heretofore been established; however, it has not been completely developed. In this sense, the understanding of the tumoral microenvironment is critical to dissect the complexity of cancer, including the reduction in oxygen distribution inside the tumoral mass, defined as tumoral hypoxia. Moreover, hypoxia not only influences the tumoral cells but also the surrounding cells, including those related to the inflammatory processes. In this review, we analyze the participation of HIF, NF-κB, and STAT signaling pathways as the main components that interconnect hypoxia and immune response and how they modulate tumoral growth. In addition, we closely examine the participation of the immune cells and how they are affected by hypoxia, the effects of the progression of cancer, and some innovative applications that take advantage of this knowledge, to suggest potential therapies. Therefore, we contribute to the understanding of the complexity of cancer to propose innovative therapeutic strategies in the future.
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