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Current Understanding of Neurofibromatosis Type 1, 2, and Schwannomatosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115850. [PMID: 34072574 PMCID: PMC8198724 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by the development of tumors of the central or peripheral nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, organs, skin, and bones. There are three types of NF: NF1 accounting for 96% of all cases, NF2 in 3%, and schwannomatosis (SWN) in <1%. The NF1 gene is located on chromosome 17q11.2, which encodes for a tumor suppressor protein, neurofibromin, that functions as a negative regulator of Ras/MAPK and PI3K/mTOR signaling pathways. The NF2 gene is identified on chromosome 22q12, which encodes for merlin, a tumor suppressor protein related to ezrin-radixin-moesin that modulates the activity of PI3K/AKT, Raf/MEK/ERK, and mTOR signaling pathways. In contrast, molecular insights on the different forms of SWN remain unclear. Inactivating mutations in the tumor suppressor genes SMARCB1 and LZTR1 are considered responsible for a majority of cases. Recently, treatment strategies to target specific genetic or molecular events involved in their tumorigenesis are developed. This study discusses molecular pathways and related targeted therapies for NF1, NF2, and SWN and reviews recent clinical trials which involve NF patients.
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Tamura R, Morimoto Y, Sato M, Kuranari Y, Oishi Y, Kosugi K, Yoshida K, Toda M. Difference in the hypoxic immunosuppressive microenvironment of patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 schwannomas and sporadic schwannomas. J Neurooncol 2020; 146:265-273. [PMID: 31897926 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-019-03388-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients uniformly develop multiple schwannomas. The tumor-microenvironment (TME) is associated with hypoxia and consists of immunosuppressive cells, including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The hypoxic TME of NF2 schwannomas remains unclear. In addition, no comparative study has investigated immunosuppressive cells in NF2 and sporadic schwannomas. METHODS In 22 NF2 and 21 sporadic schwannomas, we analyzed the immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and VEGFR2, platelet derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFR-β), programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/ programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), Foxp3, CD163, CD3, and CD8 to assess the immunosuppressive TME. RESULTS Most vessels in sporadic schwannomas exhibited slight or negative VEGFR1 and 2 expressions with pericytes coverage. In contrast, large vessels in NF2 schwannomas exhibited strong VEGFR1 and 2 expressions without pericytes. The number of CD3+, CD8+, and CD163+ cells was significantly higher in NF2 schwannomas than in sporadic ones. The expression of PD-L1 and nestin positive cell ratio was higher in NF2 schwannomas than that in sporadic ones. The number of CD163+ cells, nestin positive cell ratio, and HIF-1α expression were significantly associated with shorter progression-free survival in NF2 schwannomas. CONCLUSIONS This study presents the clinicopathological features of the differences in immunosuppressive cells and the expression of immune checkpoint molecules between NF2 and sporadic schwannomas. Hypoxic TME was first detected in NF2-schwannomas, which was associated with the tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Tamura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yukina Morimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Mizuto Sato
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yuki Kuranari
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yumiko Oishi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kenzo Kosugi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazunari Yoshida
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masahiro Toda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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Tamura R, Fujioka M, Morimoto Y, Ohara K, Kosugi K, Oishi Y, Sato M, Ueda R, Fujiwara H, Hikichi T, Noji S, Oishi N, Ogawa K, Kawakami Y, Ohira T, Yoshida K, Toda M. A VEGF receptor vaccine demonstrates preliminary efficacy in neurofibromatosis type 2. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5758. [PMID: 31848332 PMCID: PMC6917794 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13640-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab has shown efficacy for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). Theoretically, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) can kill both tumor vessel cells and tumor cells expressing VEGFRs. Here we show an exploratory clinical study of VEGFRs peptide vaccine in seven patients with progressive NF2-derived schwannomas. Hearing improves in 2/5 assessable patients (40%) as determined by international guidelines, with increases in word recognition scores. Tumor volume reductions of ≥20% are observed in two patients, including one in which bevacizumab had not been effective. There are no severe adverse events related to the vaccine. Both VEGFR1-specific and VEGFR2-specific CTLs are induced in six patients. Surgery is performed after vaccination in two patients, and significant reductions in the expression of VEGFRs in schwannomas are observed. Therefore, this clinical immunotherapy study demonstrates the safety and preliminary efficacy of VEGFRs peptide vaccination in patients with NF2. The anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody bevacizumab has shown efficacy for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). Here, the authors show that VEGFRs peptide vaccination can improve hearing and reduce tumor volume in NF2 patients, including in previously bevacizumab resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Tamura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masato Fujioka
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yukina Morimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ohara
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kenzo Kosugi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yumiko Oishi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Mizuto Sato
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ryo Ueda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Fujiwara
- Department of Radiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Hikichi
- OncoTherapy Science, Inc., 3-2-1, Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, 213-0012, Japan
| | - Shinobu Noji
- Division of Cellular Signaling Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Naoki Oishi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kaoru Ogawa
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kawakami
- Division of Cellular Signaling Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takayuki Ohira
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazunari Yoshida
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masahiro Toda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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