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Yadav R, Khatkar R, Yap KCH, Kang CYH, Lyu J, Singh RK, Mandal S, Mohanta A, Lam HY, Okina E, Kumar RR, Uttam V, Sharma U, Jain M, Prakash H, Tuli HS, Kumar AP, Jain A. The miRNA and PD-1/PD-L1 signaling axis: an arsenal of immunotherapeutic targets against lung cancer. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:414. [PMID: 39343796 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02182-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is a severe challenge to the health care system with intrinsic resistance to first and second-line chemo/radiotherapies. In view of the sterile environment of lung cancer, several immunotherapeutic drugs including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, and durvalumab are currently being used in clinics globally with the intention of releasing exhausted T-cells back against refractory tumor cells. Immunotherapies have a limited response rate and may cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in some patients. Hence, a deeper understanding of regulating immune checkpoint interactions could significantly enhance lung cancer treatments. In this review, we explore the role of miRNAs in modulating immunogenic responses against tumors. We discuss various aspects of how manipulating these checkpoints can bias the immune system's response against lung cancer. Specifically, we examine how altering the miRNA profile can impact the activity of various immune checkpoint inhibitors, focusing on the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway within the complex landscape of lung cancer. We believe that a clear understanding of the host's miRNA profile can influence the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and significantly contribute to existing immunotherapies for lung cancer patients. Additionally, we discuss ongoing clinical trials involving immunotherapeutic drugs, both as standalone treatments and in combination with other therapies, intending to advance the development of immunotherapy for lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Yadav
- Non-Coding RNA and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Rinku Khatkar
- Non-Coding RNA and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Kenneth C-H Yap
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chloe Yun-Hui Kang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Juncheng Lyu
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rahul Kumar Singh
- Non-Coding RNA and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Surojit Mandal
- Non-Coding RNA and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Adrija Mohanta
- Non-Coding RNA and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Hiu Yan Lam
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Elena Okina
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rajiv Ranjan Kumar
- Non-Coding RNA and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Vivek Uttam
- Non-Coding RNA and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Uttam Sharma
- Non-Coding RNA and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Manju Jain
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | | | | | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Aklank Jain
- Non-Coding RNA and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
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Jiang P, Jing S, Sheng G, Jia F. The basic biology of NK cells and its application in tumor immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1420205. [PMID: 39221244 PMCID: PMC11361984 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1420205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells play a crucial role as effector cells within the tumor immune microenvironment, capable of identifying and eliminating tumor cells through the expression of diverse activating and inhibitory receptors that recognize tumor-related ligands. Therefore, harnessing NK cells for therapeutic purposes represents a significant adjunct to T cell-based tumor immunotherapy strategies. Presently, NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy strategies encompass various approaches, including adoptive NK cell therapy, cytokine therapy, antibody-based NK cell therapy (enhancing ADCC mediated by NK cells, NK cell engagers, immune checkpoint blockade therapy) and the utilization of nanoparticles and small molecules to modulate NK cell anti-tumor functionality. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in NK cell-based anti-tumor immunotherapy, with the aim of offering insights and methodologies for the clinical treatment of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Jiang
- Department of General Medicine, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jingzhou First People’s Hospital, Jingzhou, China
| | - Shaoze Jing
- Department of Orthopedics, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Gaohong Sheng
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fajing Jia
- Department of General Medicine, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
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Lu W, Liu L, Kang X, Ren K, Huang Y, Cheng M, Li X, Xu F, Xu X. Combined treatment with cetuximab and STA9090 has synergistic anticancer effects on human non-small cell lung cancer. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024; 56:1022-1033. [PMID: 38818581 PMCID: PMC11322868 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024069] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cetuximab (CET), a human murine chimeric IgG monoclonal antibody and an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has been shown to be effective in treating various types of cancer. However, its use is hindered by limitations such as resistance development, variability in patient response, side effects, and challenges in biomarker identification. Therefore, CET is often combined with other targeted therapies or chemotherapies to enhance its effectiveness. In this study, we investigate the anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms of the combination of CET, an EGFR inhibitor, and STA9090, an inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), in both in vitro and in vivo models of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results demonstrate significantly stronger effects on NSCLC cells in response to combination therapy than to treatment with either agent alone, indicating that the combination of CET and STA9090 has potential synergistic effects. Additionally, the combination therapy inhibits tumor growth in a xenograft nude mouse model more effectively than treatment with either agent alone, suggesting improved efficacy when used together. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of the combination therapy are likely due to inactivation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathway, which is overly activated in cancer and contributes to tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Consequently, our findings suggest that STA9090 has potent direct antitumor activity and synergizes with CET against NSCLC tumors. It is highly likely that these synergistic effects are mediated through RTK pathway inactivation caused by the combination. Therefore, our findings strongly and consistently support the potential synergistic effect of STA9090, an RTK inhibitor, in combination with EGFR-targeting agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanjun Lu
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Respiratory DiseasesJiangxi Institute of Respiratory DiseaseDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicinethe First Affiliated HospitalJiangxi Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang330006China
- The First Clinical Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang30006China
| | - Lixia Liu
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational MedicineGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease ResearchSchool of Public HealthSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhou510515China
| | - Xiang Kang
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Respiratory DiseasesJiangxi Institute of Respiratory DiseaseDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicinethe First Affiliated HospitalJiangxi Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang330006China
- The First Clinical Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang30006China
| | - Kangkang Ren
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Respiratory DiseasesJiangxi Institute of Respiratory DiseaseDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicinethe First Affiliated HospitalJiangxi Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang330006China
- Jiangxi Hospital of China-Japan Friendship HospitalNanchang330052China
| | - Ye Huang
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Respiratory DiseasesJiangxi Institute of Respiratory DiseaseDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicinethe First Affiliated HospitalJiangxi Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang330006China
- Jiangxi Hospital of China-Japan Friendship HospitalNanchang330052China
| | - Minzhang Cheng
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Respiratory DiseasesJiangxi Institute of Respiratory DiseaseDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicinethe First Affiliated HospitalJiangxi Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang330006China
- Jiangxi Hospital of China-Japan Friendship HospitalNanchang330052China
| | - Xiaolei Li
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Respiratory DiseasesJiangxi Institute of Respiratory DiseaseDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicinethe First Affiliated HospitalJiangxi Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang330006China
- Jiangxi Hospital of China-Japan Friendship HospitalNanchang330052China
| | - Fei Xu
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Respiratory DiseasesJiangxi Institute of Respiratory DiseaseDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicinethe First Affiliated HospitalJiangxi Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang330006China
- Jiangxi Hospital of China-Japan Friendship HospitalNanchang330052China
| | - Xinping Xu
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Respiratory DiseasesJiangxi Institute of Respiratory DiseaseDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicinethe First Affiliated HospitalJiangxi Medical CollegeNanchang UniversityNanchang330006China
- Jiangxi Hospital of China-Japan Friendship HospitalNanchang330052China
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Zhang L, Zhang X, Guan M, Zeng J, Yu F, Lai F. Identification of a novel ADCC-related gene signature for predicting the prognosis and therapy response in lung adenocarcinoma. Inflamm Res 2024; 73:841-866. [PMID: 38507067 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-024-01871-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have largely neglected the role of ADCC in LUAD, and no study has systematically compiled ADCC-associated genes to create prognostic signatures. METHODS In this study, 1564 LUAD patients, 2057 NSCLC patients, and more than 5000 patients with various cancer types from diverse cohorts were included. R package ConsensusClusterPlus was utilized to classify patients into different subtypes. A number of machine-learning algorithms were used to construct the ADCCRS. GSVA and ClusterProfiler were used for enrichment analyses, and IOBR was used to quantify immune cell infiltration level. GISTIC2.0 and maftools were used to analyze the CNV and SNV data. The Oncopredict package was used to predict drug information based on the GDSC1. Three immunotherapy cohorts were used to evaluate patient response to immunotherapy. The Seurat package was used to process single-cell data, the AUCell package was used to calculate cells' geneset activity scores, and the Scissor algorithm was used to identify ADCCRS-associated cells. RESULTS Through unsupervised clustering, two distinct subtypes of LUAD were identified, each exhibiting distinct clinical characteristics. The ADCCRS, consisted of 16 genes, was constructed by integrated machine-learning methods. The prognostic power of ADCCRS was validated in 28 independent datasets. Further, ADCCRS shows better predictive abilities than 102 previously published signatures in predicting LUAD patients' survival. A nomogram incorporating ADCCRS and clinical features was constructed, demonstrating high predictive performance. ADCCRS positively correlates with patients' gene mutation, and integrated analysis of bulk and single-cell transcriptome data revealed the association of ADCCRS with TME modulators. Cells representing high-ADCCRS phenotype exhibited more malignant features. LUAD patients with high ADCCRS levels exhibited sensitivity to chemotherapy and targeted therapy, while displaying resistance to immunotherapy. In pan-cancer analysis, ADCCRS still exhibited significant prognostic value and was found to be a risk factor for most cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS ADCCRS offers a critical prognostic insight for patients with LUAD, shedding light on the tumor microenvironment and forecasting treatment responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangyu Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the Fitst Affiliated Hospiral, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Xun Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the Fitst Affiliated Hospiral, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Maohao Guan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the Fitst Affiliated Hospiral, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Jianshen Zeng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the Fitst Affiliated Hospiral, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Fengqiang Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the Fitst Affiliated Hospiral, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China.
| | - Fancai Lai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the Fitst Affiliated Hospiral, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China.
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De Rosa C, Iommelli F, De Rosa V, Ercolano G, Sodano F, Tuccillo C, Amato L, Tirino V, Ariano A, Cimmino F, di Guida G, Filosa G, di Liello A, Ciardiello D, Martinelli E, Troiani T, Napolitano S, Martini G, Ciardiello F, Papaccio F, Morgillo F, Della Corte CM. PBMCs as Tool for Identification of Novel Immunotherapy Biomarkers in Lung Cancer. Biomedicines 2024; 12:809. [PMID: 38672164 PMCID: PMC11048624 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040809] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer (LC), including both non-small (NSCLC) and small (SCLC) subtypes, is currently treated with a combination of chemo- and immunotherapy. However, predictive biomarkers to identify high-risk patients are needed. Here, we explore the role of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as a tool for novel biomarkers searching. METHODS We analyzed the expression of the cGAS-STING pathway, a key DNA sensor that activates during chemotherapy, in PBMCs from LC patients divided into best responders (BR), responders (R) and non-responders (NR). The PBMCs were whole exome sequenced (WES). RESULTS PBMCs from BR and R patients of LC cohorts showed the highest levels of STING (p < 0.0001) and CXCL10 (p < 0.0001). From WES, each subject had at least 1 germline/somatic alteration in a DDR gene and the presence of more DDR gene mutations correlated with clinical responses, suggesting novel biomarker implications. Thus, we tested the effect of the pharmacological DDR inhibitor (DDRi) in PBMCs and in three-dimensional spheroid co-culture of PBMCs and LC cell lines; we found that DDRi strongly increased cGAS-STING expression and tumor infiltration ability of immune cells in NR and R patients. Furthermore, we performed FACS analysis of PBMCs derived from LC patients from the BR, R and NR cohorts and we found that cytotoxic T cell subpopulations displayed the highest STING expression. CONCLUSIONS cGAS-STING signaling activation in PBMCs may be a novel potential predictive biomarker for the response to immunotherapy and high levels are correlated with a better response to treatment along with an overall increased antitumor immune injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina De Rosa
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Francesca Iommelli
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, 80145 Naples, Italy;
| | - Viviana De Rosa
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, 80145 Naples, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Ercolano
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (G.E.); (F.S.)
| | - Federica Sodano
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (G.E.); (F.S.)
| | - Concetta Tuccillo
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Luisa Amato
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Virginia Tirino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy;
- U.P. Diagnostica Citometrica e Mutazionale, A.O.U. Vanvitelli, Università degli Studi della Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Annalisa Ariano
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Flora Cimmino
- Hospital “Martiri Di Villa Malta”, 84087 Sarno, Italy;
| | - Gaetano di Guida
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Gennaro Filosa
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Alessandra di Liello
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Davide Ciardiello
- Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Neuroendocrine Tumors, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy;
| | - Erika Martinelli
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Teresa Troiani
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Stefania Napolitano
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Giulia Martini
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Fortunato Ciardiello
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Federica Papaccio
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, Italy;
| | - Floriana Morgillo
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Carminia Maria Della Corte
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.R.); (C.T.); (L.A.); (A.A.); (G.d.G.); (G.F.); (A.d.L.); (E.M.); (T.T.); (S.N.); (G.M.); (F.C.); (F.M.)
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Fantini M, Arlen PM, Tsang KY. Potentiation of natural killer cells to overcome cancer resistance to NK cell-based therapy and to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1275904. [PMID: 38077389 PMCID: PMC10704476 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cellular components of the innate immune system that can recognize and suppress the proliferation of cancer cells. NK cells can eliminate cancer cells through direct lysis, by secreting perforin and granzymes, or through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). ADCC involves the binding of the Fc gamma receptor IIIa (CD16), present on NK cells, to the constant region of an antibody already bound to cancer cells. Cancer cells use several mechanisms to evade antitumor activity of NK cells, including the accumulation of inhibitory cytokines, recruitment and expansion of immune suppressor cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), modulation of ligands for NK cells receptors. Several strategies have been developed to enhance the antitumor activity of NK cells with the goal of overcoming cancer cells resistance to NK cells. The three main strategies to engineer and boost NK cells cytotoxicity include boosting NK cells with modulatory cytokines, adoptive NK cell therapy, and the employment of engineered NK cells to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy. Although the first two strategies improved the efficacy of NK cell-based therapy, there are still some limitations, including immune-related adverse events, induction of immune-suppressive cells and further cancer resistance to NK cell killing. One strategy to overcome these issues is the combination of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that mediate ADCC and engineered NK cells with potentiated anti-cancer activity. The advantage of using mAbs with ADCC activity is that they can activate NK cells, but also favor the accumulation of immune effector cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Several clinical trials reported that combining engineered NK cells with mAbs with ADCC activity can result in a superior clinical response compared to mAbs alone. Next generation of clinical trials, employing engineered NK cells with mAbs with higher affinity for CD16 expressed on NK cells, will provide more effective and higher-quality treatments to cancer patients.
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Ying-Rui M, Bu-Fan B, Deng L, Rong S, Qian-Mei Z. Targeting the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in breast cancer. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1199152. [PMID: 37448962 PMCID: PMC10338072 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1199152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer has a high occurrence rate globally and its treatment has demonstrated clinical efficacy with the use of systemic chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade. Insufficient cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration and the accumulation of immunosuppressive cells within tumours are the primary factors responsible for the inadequate clinical effectiveness of breast cancer treatment. The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) represents a pivotal protein in the innate immune response. Upon activation, STING triggers the activation and enhancement of innate and adaptive immune functions, resulting in therapeutic benefits for malignant tumours. The STING signalling pathway in breast cancer is influenced by various factors such as deoxyribonucleic acid damage response, tumour immune microenvironment, and mitochondrial function. The use of STING agonists is gaining momentum in breast cancer research. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase-STING pathway, its agonists, and the latest findings related to their application in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma Ying-Rui
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bai Bu-Fan
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liu Deng
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shi Rong
- Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhou Qian-Mei
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
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8
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Paniagua-Herranz L, Doger B, Díaz-Tejeiro C, Sanvicente A, Nieto-Jiménez C, Moreno V, Pérez Segura P, Gyorffy B, Calvo E, Ocana A. Genomic Mapping of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition-Up-Regulated Tumors Identifies Novel Therapeutic Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3250. [PMID: 37370859 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123250] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The identification of proteins in the cellular membrane of the tumoral cell is a key to the design of therapeutic agents. Recently, the bi-specific antibody amivantamab, targeting the oncogenic membrane proteins EGFR and MET, received regulatory approval for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. METHODS The authors interrogated several publicly available genomic datasets to evaluate the expression of both receptors and PD-L1 in most of the solid and hematologic malignancies and focused on prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). RESULTS In PAAD, EGFR highly correlated with PD-L1 and MET, and MET showed a moderate correlation with PD-L1, while in PRAD, EGFR, MET and PD-L1 showed a strong correlation. In addition, in tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, including anti-PD(L)1 and anti-CTLA4, a high expression of EGFR and MET predicted detrimental survival. When exploring the relationship of immune populations with these receptors, the authors observed that in PAAD and PRAD, EGFR moderately correlated with CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, EGFR and MET correlated with neutrophils in PRAD. CONCLUSIONS The authors identified tumor types where EGFR and MET were highly expressed and correlated with a high expression of PD-L1, opening the door for the future combination of bi-specific EGFR/MET antibodies with anti-PD(L)1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Paniagua-Herranz
- Experimental Therapeutics in Cancer Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC) and CIBERONC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bernard Doger
- START Madrid-HM Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal (CIOCC), Early Phase Program, HM Sanchinarro University Hospital, 28050 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Díaz-Tejeiro
- Experimental Therapeutics in Cancer Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC) and CIBERONC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián Sanvicente
- Experimental Therapeutics in Cancer Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC) and CIBERONC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Nieto-Jiménez
- Experimental Therapeutics in Cancer Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC) and CIBERONC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Moreno
- START Madrid-Fundación Jiménez Díaz (FJD), Early Phase Program, Fundación Jiménez Díaz Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Pérez Segura
- Experimental Therapeutics in Cancer Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC) and CIBERONC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Balazs Gyorffy
- Department of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
- TTK Cancer Biomarker Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Emiliano Calvo
- START Madrid-HM Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal (CIOCC), Early Phase Program, HM Sanchinarro University Hospital, 28050 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Ocana
- Experimental Therapeutics in Cancer Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC) and CIBERONC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- START Madrid-Fundación Jiménez Díaz (FJD), Early Phase Program, Fundación Jiménez Díaz Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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9
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Chauffert B, Zhou Y, Medjkoune L, Ouikene A, Galez A, Belkhir F, Saint-Germain P, Youssef A, Chehimi M. High Response Rate to Carboplatin-Paclitaxel-Cetuximab and Pembrolizumab in Patients with Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Case Rep Oncol 2023; 16:13-20. [PMID: 36743882 PMCID: PMC9893993 DOI: 10.1159/000528326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The management of R/M HNSCC is rapidly evolving with new available treatment molecules and combination modalities. Anti-EGFR cetuximab (CTX) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) can be used either alone or in combination with conventional platinum-based doublet chemotherapy (with taxanes or fluorouracil). No data have been reported to date on the association of doublet chemotherapy concomitantly with both CTX and ICI. We present a case series of patients treated with 4 cycles of quadritherapy, every 3 weeks, including paclitaxel 175 mg/m2, carboplatin AUC 5, pembrolizumab 200 mg, and weekly 250 mg/m2 CTX. All patients achieved an objective response (6 complete responses, 2 partial responses). Clinical response was fast, so 1 patient avoided an emergency tracheostomy for laryngeal dyspnea. Four patients furtherly benefited from cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy on residual tumor sites after the response to quadritherapy. Adverse events were manageable, except for an ICI-related liver toxicity in a patient. Overall, this short series indicates that a quadruple therapy with carboplatin-paclitaxel-CTX and pembrolizumab seems to be safe and active in patients with R/M HNSCC. This observation could be confirmed through further clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Chauffert
- Department of Oncology-Hematology, Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, France
| | - Yuedan Zhou
- Department of Oncology-Hematology, Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, France
| | - Liza Medjkoune
- Department of Oncology-Hematology, Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, France
| | - Abdenour Ouikene
- Department of Oncology-Hematology, Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, France
| | - Agnes Galez
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, France
| | - Farid Belkhir
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, France
| | | | - Ali Youssef
- Department of Oncology-Hematology, Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, France
| | - Mohamad Chehimi
- Department of Oncology-Hematology, Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, France
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10
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Zhao R, He B, Bie Q, Cao J, Lu H, Zhang Z, Liang J, Wei L, Xiong H, Zhang B. AQP5 complements LGR5 to determine the fates of gastric cancer stem cells through regulating ULK1 ubiquitination. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:322. [PMID: 36372898 PMCID: PMC9661769 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02532-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are regarded as the "seed cells" for tumorigenesis, metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance. However, specific surface markers of CSCs of different origins have not been documented. METHODS Single-cell sequencing was used to analyze the highly expressed genes in cancer stem cells of gastric cancer patients, and it was verified that AQP5 was specifically highly expressed in gastric cancer stem cells (GC-CSCs) in vivo and in vitro. The effect of AQP5-promoting LGR5 on the malignant biological function of GC-CSCs was investigated. The mechanism by which AQP5 affects GC-CSCs was explored through transcriptome sequencing, proteomic detection, mass spectrometry, etc. RESULTS: We report the identification and validation of AQP5 as a potentially specific surface marker of GC-CSCs. AQP5 was significantly upregulated in CSCs isolated from gastric cancer patients and in spheroid cells, and AQP5 was coexpressed with the canonical stem marker LGR5. Biologically, AQP5 promoted the sphere formation, proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells in vitro and enhanced tumorigenesis in vivo. Furthermore, AQP5 coordinated with LGR5 and synergistically promoted the tumorigenesis of GC-CSCs. At the mechanistic level, AQP5 activated autophagy by inducing the LC3I/LC3II transformation in GC-CSCs, which was crucial for the biological functions of AQP5. Finally, we demonstrated that AQP5 recruited the E3 ligase TRIM21 to the key autophagy protein ULK1 and induced the K63-mediated ubiquitination of ULK1. CONCLUSIONS We elucidate a novel surface marker, AQP5, which is specifically expressed by GC-CSCs. Furthermore, our study creates a link between AQP5 and LGR5 and highlights the necessity of targeting both surface markers simultaneously as a promising approach for the treatment of gastric cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rou Zhao
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
| | - Baoyu He
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
| | - Qingli Bie
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinghe Cao
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
| | - Haoran Lu
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhixin Zhang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Liang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Wei
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
| | - Huabao Xiong
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Institute of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Institute of Forensic Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong People’s Republic of China
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