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Jungles KM, Holcomb EA, Pearson AN, Jungles KR, Bishop CR, Pierce LJ, Green MD, Speers CW. Updates in combined approaches of radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1022542. [PMID: 36387071 PMCID: PMC9643771 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1022542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent non-skin cancer diagnosed in females and developing novel therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes is crucial. The immune system plays an integral role in the body’s response to breast cancer and modulating this immune response through immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic option. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors were recently approved for the treatment of breast cancer patients, not all patients respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors as a monotherapy, highlighting the need to better understand the biology underlying patient response. Additionally, as radiotherapy is a critical component of breast cancer treatment, understanding the interplay of radiation and immune checkpoint inhibitors will be vital as recent studies suggest that combined therapies may induce synergistic effects in preclinical models of breast cancer. This review will discuss the mechanisms supporting combined approaches with radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer. Moreover, this review will analyze the current clinical trials examining combined approaches of radiotherapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Finally, this review will evaluate data regarding treatment tolerance and potential biomarkers for these emerging therapies aimed at improving breast cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassidy M. Jungles
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Erin A. Holcomb
- Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Ashley N. Pearson
- Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Kalli R. Jungles
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Caroline R. Bishop
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Lori J. Pierce
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Michael D. Green
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Michael D. Green, ; Corey W. Speers,
| | - Corey W. Speers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Michael D. Green, ; Corey W. Speers,
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Michmerhuizen AR, Lerner LM, Ward C, Pesch AM, Zhang A, Schwartz R, Wilder-Romans K, Eisner JR, Rae JM, Pierce LJ, Speers CW. Androgen and oestrogen receptor co-expression determines the efficacy of hormone receptor-mediated radiosensitisation in breast cancer. Br J Cancer 2022; 127:927-936. [PMID: 35618789 PMCID: PMC9427858 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01849-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Radiation therapy (RT) and hormone receptor (HR) inhibition are used for the treatment of HR-positive breast cancers; however, little is known about the interaction of the androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER) in response to RT in AR-positive, ER-positive (AR+/ER+) breast cancers. Here we assessed radiosensitisation of AR+/ER+ cell lines using pharmacologic or genetic inhibition/degradation of AR and/or ER. METHODS Radiosensitisation was assessed with AR antagonists (enzalutamide, apalutamide, darolutamide, seviteronel, ARD-61), ER antagonists (tamoxifen, fulvestrant) or using knockout of AR. RESULTS Treatment with AR antagonists or ER antagonists in combination with RT did not result in radiosensitisation changes (radiation enhancement ratios [rER]: 0.76-1.21). Fulvestrant treatment provided significant radiosensitisation of CAMA-1 and BT-474 cells (rER: 1.06-2.0) but not ZR-75-1 cells (rER: 0.9-1.11). Combining tamoxifen with enzalutamide did not alter radiosensitivity using a 1 h or 1-week pretreatment (rER: 0.95-1.14). Radiosensitivity was unchanged in AR knockout compared to Cas9 cells (rER: 1.07 ± 0.11), and no additional radiosensitisation was achieved with tamoxifen or fulvestrant compared to Cas9 cells (rER: 0.84-1.19). CONCLUSION While radiosensitising in AR + TNBC, AR inhibition does not modulate radiation sensitivity in AR+/ER+ breast cancer. The efficacy of ER antagonists in combination with RT may also be dependent on AR expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R Michmerhuizen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lynn M Lerner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Connor Ward
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Andrea M Pesch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Amanda Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rachel Schwartz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kari Wilder-Romans
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - James M Rae
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lori J Pierce
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Corey W Speers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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