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Zhao J, Guo H, Wu C, Guo H. Efficacy and safety of camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced biliary malignancy and associations between peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and clinical outcomes. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03707-x. [PMID: 39294513 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03707-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a highly heterogeneous aggressive tumor, and advanced patients have poor prognosis. This work aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy in treating advanced BTC, and to explore predictive biomarkers for distinguishing effective population. METHODS 183 advanced BTC patients admitted from September 2018 to September 2021 were retrospectively selected. 93 patients were treated with camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy (C+C group) and 90 patients were treated with chemotherapy alone (C group). Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), median progression-free survival (mPFS), and median overall survival (mOS) were analyzed between two groups. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were assessed by flow cytometry pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS The mPFS (6.9 months) and mOS (12.1 months) in the C+C group were significantly longer than those in the C group, which were 5.2 months and 9.8 months respectively (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.38-0.54, p=0.017; HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.32-0.47, p=0.033). The percentage of Total T, CD4+T, natural killer (NK) cells, lymphocyte, and CD4+/CD8+ cell ratios were significantly increased in effective patients after C+C treatment, but didn't increase in progressive disease (PD) patients. Higher percentage of Total T, CD4+T, and higher CD4+/CD8+ cell ratios post-treatment were associated with longer OS. CONCLUSIONS Camrelizumab combining chemotherapy significantly prolonged the mPFS and mOS of advanced BTC patients. Immunotherapy may improve the immune status of advanced patients, and immunotherapy efficacy might be predicted based on the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, No.83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxing Guo
- Department of Oncology, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, No.83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenxuan Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, No.83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongsheng Guo
- Department of Oncology, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, No.83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, People's Republic of China
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Lou Y, Chen Y, Guo K, Li B, Zheng S. Emerging biomarkers for immunotherapy response in biliary tract cancers: a comprehensive review of immune checkpoint inhibitor strategies. Biomark Med 2024; 18:703-715. [PMID: 39143949 DOI: 10.1080/17520363.2024.2385297] [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] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) have rising incidence and mortality rates. Chemotherapy's limited efficacy has led to exploring new treatments like immunotherapy. which offers modest benefits. Moreover, the identification of reliable predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint therapy in BTCs remains elusive, hindering personalized treatment strategies. This review provides an overview of the current landscape of emerging biomarkers for immunotherapy response in BTCs. We discuss the incremental benefits of combination therapy and the evolving role of immunotherapy in managing advanced BTC. Additionally, we highlight the need for robust predictive biomarkers to optimize treatment outcomes and foster a more individualized approach to patient care. We aim to identify promising research avenues and strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient survival in BTCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidan Lou
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Department of Oncology, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Yijing Chen
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Department of Oncology, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Kaibo Guo
- Department of Oncology, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology & Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Binbin Li
- Department of Oncology, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Department of Oncology, The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Song Zheng
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Department of Oncology, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology & Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Department of Oncology, The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
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Hua S, Gu X, Jin H, Zhang X, Liu Q, Yang J. Tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes: A promising immunotherapeutic target for preventing immune escape in cholangiocarcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:117080. [PMID: 38972151 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117080] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is becoming more common and deadly worldwide. Tumor-infiltrating T cell subtypes make distinct contributions to the immune system; collectively, they constitute a significant portion of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in CCA. By secreting cytokines and other chemicals, regulatory T cells (Tregs) decrease activated T cell responses, acting as immunosuppressors. Reduced CD8+ T cell activation results in stimulating programmed death-1 (PD-1), which undermines the immunological homeostasis of T lymphocytes. On the other hand, cancer cells are eliminated by activated cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) through the perforin-granzyme or Fas-FasL pathways. Th1 and CTL immune cell infiltration into the malignant tumor is also facilitated by γδ T cells. A higher prognosis is typically implied by CD8+ T cell infiltration, and survival is inversely associated with Treg cell density. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, either singly or in combination, provide novel therapeutic strategies for CCA immunotherapy. Furthermore, it is anticipated that immunotherapeutic strategies-such as the identification of new immune targets, combination treatments involving several immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor-T therapies (CAR-T)-will optimize the effectiveness of anti-CCA treatments while reducing adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Hua
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Xinyi Gu
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Hangbin Jin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital. School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zhang
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital. School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Hangzhou Institute of Digestive Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital. School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jianfeng Yang
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital. School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Hangzhou Institute of Digestive Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
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Zahran AM, Rayan A, Saad K, Rezk K, Soliman A, Rizk MA, Mahros AM, Mahran EEM, Bashir MA, Elmasry HM, Zahran ZAM, Ibrahim AK, Fageeh MM, Gamal DA. A Complex Interplay of Tumor Microenvironment Could Enhance Cholangiocarcinoma Progression Even After Surgery: A Prospective Study. J Clin Med Res 2024; 16:363-374. [PMID: 39206103 PMCID: PMC11349130 DOI: 10.14740/jocmr5201] [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: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The current study was conducted to explore the impact of macrophages and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) expression on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) on treatment outcomes and to define the interaction between these factors and the clinicopathologic features of advanced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients. Methods Twenty-five patients with metastatic CCA were recruited for the current study from El-Rajhi Hospital and the Clinical Oncology Department of Assiut University. Additionally, 19 healthy controls were included. Before the flow cytometric detection of immune cells, the diagnosis and staging of CCA were performed based on surgical intervention, imaging, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) determinations. This was followed by flow cytometric detection of CD4+, CD8+, CD4+PD-1+, CD8+PD-1+, and CD11b+CD68+ macrophages in the peripheral blood of both patients and controls. Results The current results revealed higher levels of CD4+, CD8+, and CD11b+CD68+ macrophages in controls compared to patients. At the same time, PD-1 expression was significantly higher in patients compared to controls. CD4+ was correlated with improved progression-free survival (PFS), while CD8+PD-1 was associated with shorter PFS. In general, CD4+ and CD8+ levels progressively increased with improved response to treatments, differentiation, single organ site metastasis, and surgical interventions. On the contrary, PD-1 expression and macrophages progressively increased with worsening response, dedifferentiation, multiple organ sites, and surgical interventions. The median PFS was 12 months, and the mean ± standard error (SE) was 13.1 ± 1.3. Conclusions CCA has a desmoplastic microenvironment with complex immunologic topography and tumor-reactive stroma. The immune landscape of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in CCA patients before treatment could reflect the state of systemic immune function and response to treatments. Our results revealed that T-lymphocytes correlated with better prognosis while macrophages and PD-1+ expression were associated with poor outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa M. Zahran
- Clinical Pathology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Amal Rayan
- Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Khaled Saad
- Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut, Egypt
| | - Khalid Rezk
- Surgical Oncology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Soliman
- General Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Ahmed Rizk
- General Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Aya Mohammed Mahros
- Department of Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Infectious Diseases, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Essam-Eldeen M.O. Mahran
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, New Valley University, New Valley, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Ahmed Bashir
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Heba M. Elmasry
- Clinical Pathology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | | | | | - Mohsen M. Fageeh
- Director of forensic toxicology services, FMSC, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Doaa A. Gamal
- Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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Yue S, Zhang Y, Zhang W. Recent Advances in Immunotherapy for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2024; 25:1089-1111. [PMID: 39066855 PMCID: PMC11329538 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-024-01243-y] [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: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a heterogeneous group of aggressive malignancies that arise from the epithelium of the biliary tract. Most patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. For patients with unresectable BTC, the survival advantage provided by systemic chemotherapy was limited. Over the last decade, immunotherapy has significantly improved the therapeutic landscape of solid tumors. There is an increasing number of studies evaluating the application of immunotherapy in BTC, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cancer vaccines and adoptive cell therapy. The limited response to ICIs monotherapy in unselected patients prompted investigators to explore different combination therapy strategies. Early clinical trials of therapeutic cancer vaccination and adoptive cell therapy have shown encouraging clinical results. However, there still has been a long way to go via validation of therapeutic efficacy and exploration of strategies to increase the efficacy. Identifying biomarkers that predict the response to immunotherapy will allow a more accurate selection of candidates. This review will provide an up-to-date overview of the current clinical data on the role of immunotherapy, summarize the promising biomarkers predictive of the response to ICIs and discuss the perspective for future research direction of immunotherapy in advanced BTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwei Yue
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, 430030, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato‑Pancreatic‑Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, 430030, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatic Surgery at Hubei Province, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunpu Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, 430030, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato‑Pancreatic‑Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, 430030, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatic Surgery at Hubei Province, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, 430030, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato‑Pancreatic‑Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, 430030, Wuhan, China.
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatic Surgery at Hubei Province, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, 430030, Wuhan, China.
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6
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Zhang HW, Yu HB. Case report: Translational treatment of unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Tislelizumab, Lenvatinib, and GEMOX in one case. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1428370. [PMID: 39077469 PMCID: PMC11284616 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1428370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (ICC) is one of the most common invasive malignancies. Currently, ICC is treated with radical surgical resection. However, the majority of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, making surgery ineligible for them. Case presentation We present a case of advanced ICC, which could not undergo radical surgery due to tumor invasion of liver blood vessels. The gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) regimen combined with Tislelizumab immunotherapy and Lenvatinib targeted therapy for 8 cycles resulted in significant tumor shrinkage significantly and the vascular invasion disappeared. CA19-9 levels were reduced to normal levels. Partial remission and successful tumor transformation were achieved. The patient underwent a successful radical surgical resection, including cholecystectomy, resection of liver segments IV, V, and VIII, as well as a regional lymphatic dissection procedure, resulting in complete pathological remission. Conclusion Tumor-free surgical margins (R0) resection of patients with advanced ICC after combination of immune, targeted and chemotherapy is rare, and there are almost no cases of complete postoperative remission. The GEMOX regimen in combination with Tislelizumab and Lenvatinib has a good antitumor efficacy and safety profile, and may be a feasible and safe translational treatment option for advanced ICC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hai-bo Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Dingli Clinical Institute of Wenzhou Medical University (Wenzhou Central Hospital), Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Chen F, Sheng J, Li X, Gao Z, Zhao S, Hu L, Chen M, Fei J, Song Z. Unveiling the promise of PD1/PD-L1: A new dawn in immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116659. [PMID: 38692063 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a rare yet notably aggressive cancer, has experienced a surge in incidence in recent years. Presently, surgical resection remains the most effective curative strategy for CCA. Nevertheless, a majority of patients with CCA are ineligible for surgical removal at the time of diagnosis. For advanced stages of CCA, the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin is established as the standard chemotherapy regimen. Despite this, treatment efficacy is often hindered by the development of resistance. In recent times, immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly those that block programmed death 1 and its ligand (PD1/PD-L1), have emerged as promising strategies against a variety of cancers and are being increasingly integrated into the therapeutic landscape of CCA. A growing body of research supports that the use of PD1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies in conjunction with chemotherapy may significantly improve patient outcomes. This article seeks to meticulously review the latest studies on PD1/PD-L1 involvement in CCA, delving into their expression profiles, prognostic significance, contribution to oncogenic processes, and their potential clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Chen
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian Sheng
- Department of Research and Teaching, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoping Li
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhaofeng Gao
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Siqi Zhao
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lingyu Hu
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Minjie Chen
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jianguo Fei
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Zhengwei Song
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China.
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8
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Das S. Comparison of Clinical Trial Results of the Recently Approved Immunotherapeutic Drugs for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers. Rev Recent Clin Trials 2024; 19:81-90. [PMID: 38288802 DOI: 10.2174/0115748871276666240123043710] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The recently approved immunotherapeutic drugs are Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Imfinzi (durvalumab) for advanced biliary tract cancers that inhibit PD-1 receptor and PD-L1 ligand, respectively. In this perspective, the results of the two clinical trials, i.e., TOPAZ-1 (NCT03875235) and KEYNOTE-966 (NCT04003636), are critically appraised, compared, and discussed to assess the benefits of these two drugs in the context of the treatment of advanced biliary tract cancers with a focus on PD-L1 status and MIS (microsatellite instability) status and therapy responsiveness in the subgroups. Analyzing the PD-L2 status in biliary tract cancer patients can aid in assessing the prognostic value of PD-L2 expression in determining the clinical response and this may aid in appropriate patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samayita Das
- Department of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115, USA
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9
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Li C, Bie L, Chen M, Ying J. Therapeutic significance of tumor microenvironment in cholangiocarcinoma: focus on tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:1310-1327. [PMID: 38213535 PMCID: PMC10776604 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive type of adenocarcinoma distinguished by its invasiveness. Depending on specific anatomical positioning within the biliary tree, CCA can be categorized into intrahepatic CCA (ICCA), perihilar CCA (pCCA) and distal CCA (dCCA). In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the global prevalence of CCA. Unfortunately, many CCA patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which makes surgical resection impossible. Although systemic chemotherapy is frequently used as the primary treatment for advanced or recurrent CCA, its effectiveness is relatively low. Therefore, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising avenue for advancing cancer treatment research. CCA exhibits a complex immune environment within the stromal tumor microenvironment (TME), comprising a multifaceted immune landscape and a tumor-reactive stroma. A deeper understanding of this complex TME is indispensable for identifying potential therapeutic targets. Thus, targeting tumor immune microenvironment holds promise as an effective therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqun Li
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Gastric Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
- Postgraduate training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lei Bie
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Muhua Chen
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Gastric Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jieer Ying
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Gastric Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
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10
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Luo WH, Li SJ, Wang XF. Response of cholangiocarcinoma with epigastric metastasis to lenvatinib plus sintilimab: A case report and review of literature. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:2033-2040. [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i11.2033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) poses a significant clinical challenge due to its low radical resection rate and a propensity for high postoperative recurrence, resulting in a poor dismal. Although the combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy has demonstrated notable efficacy in several solid tumors recently, however, its application in CCA remains underexplored and poorly documented.
CASE SUMMARY This case report describes a patient diagnosed with stage IV CCA, accompanied by liver and abdominal wall metastases, who underwent palliative surgery. Subsequently, the patient received two cycles of treatment combining lenvatinib with sintilimab, which resulted in a reduction in abdominal wall metastasis, while intrahepatic metastasis displayed progression. This unexpected observation illustrates different responses of intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases to the same therapy.
CONCLUSION Lenvatinib combined with sintilimab shows promise as a potential treatment strategy for advanced CCA. Genetic testing for related driver and/or passenger mutations, as well as an analysis of tumor immune microenvironment analysis, is crucial for optimizing drug combinations and eventually addressing the issue of non-response in specific metastatic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hui Luo
- The Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shao-Jun Li
- The Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xue-Feng Wang
- The Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
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11
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Sheng X, Qin JM. Mechanism of postoperative recurrence and metastasis of intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma and clinical prevention and treatment strategy. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2023; 31:753-765. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v31.i18.753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma is a primary adenocarcinoma originating from intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells. The tumor has no capsule. At the early stage of the tumor, there are infiltration and metastasis along the lymphatic vessels, blood vessels, perineural space, and loose fibrous connective tissue, which are characterized by lymph node metastasis. Due to the absence of characteristic clinical manifestations and the lack of specific molecular markers for early diagnosis, the surgical resection rate is low and the postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis rate is high. Low efficacy of chemoradiotherapy, molecular targeted drugs, and immunotherapy results in the poor prognosis. Further research of molecular pathology, gene function, and imaging technology can help elucidate the occurrence, recurrence, and metastasis mechanism of intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma to improve its early diagnosis rate and precise clinical staging. Individualized precision treatment and prevention for the risk factors to reduce the recurrence and metastasis rate postoperatively are key to improving the patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Sheng
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201100, China
| | - Jian-Min Qin
- Department of General Surgery, The Third Hospital Affiliated to Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
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12
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Tomlinson JL, Valle JW, Ilyas SI. Immunobiology of cholangiocarcinoma. J Hepatol 2023; 79:867-875. [PMID: 37201670 PMCID: PMC10524996 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Recent literature has significantly advanced our knowledge and understanding of the tumour immune microenvironment of cholangiocarcinoma. Detailed characterisation of the immune landscape has defined new patient subtypes. While not utilised in clinical practice yet, these novel classifications will help inform decisions regarding immunotherapeutic approaches. Suppressive immune cells, such as tumour-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, form a barrier that shields tumour cells from immune surveillance. The presence of this immunosuppressive barrier in combination with a variety of immune escape mechanisms employed by tumour cells leads to poor tumour immunogenicity. Broad strategies to re-equip the immune system include blockade of suppressive immune cell recruitment to priming cytotoxic effector cells against tumour antigens. While immunotherapeutic strategies are gaining traction for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma, there is a long road of discovery ahead in order to make meaningful contributions to patient therapy and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan W Valle
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester & Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sumera I Ilyas
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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13
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Rimini M, Fornaro L, Lonardi S, Niger M, Lavacchi D, Pressiani T, Lucchetti J, Giordano G, Pretta A, Tamburini E, Pirrone C, Rapposelli IG, Diana A, Martinelli E, Garajová I, Simionato F, Schirripa M, Formica V, Vivaldi C, Caliman E, Rizzato MD, Zanuso V, Nichetti F, Angotti L, Landriscina M, Scartozzi M, Ramundo M, Pastorino A, Daniele B, Cornara N, Persano M, Gusmaroli E, Cerantola R, Salani F, Ratti F, Aldrighetti L, Cascinu S, Rimassa L, Antonuzzo L, Casadei-Gardini A. Durvalumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin in advanced biliary tract cancer: An early exploratory analysis of real-world data. Liver Int 2023; 43:1803-1812. [PMID: 37452505 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The TOPAZ-1 phase III trial reported a survival benefit with the anti-programmed death cell ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. The present study investigated the efficacy and safety of this new standard treatment in a real-world setting. METHODS The analysed population included patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the biliary tract treated with durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin at 17 Italian centres. The primary endpoint of the study was progression-free survival (PFS), whereas secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR) and safety. Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) by baseline characteristics were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS From February 2022 to November 2022, 145 patients were enrolled. After a median follow-up of 8.5 months (95% CI: 7.9-13.6), the median PFS was 8.9 months (95% CI: 7.4-11.7). Median OS was 12.9 months (95% CI: 10.9-12.9). The investigator-assessed confirmed ORR was 34.5%, and the disease control rate was 87.6%. Any grade adverse events (AEs) occurred in 137 patients (94.5%). Grades 3-4 AEs occurred in 51 patients (35.2%). The rate of immune-mediated AEs (imAEs) was 22.7%. Grades 3-4 imAEs occurred in 2.1% of the patients. In univariate analysis, non-viral aetiology, ECOG PS >0 and NLR ≥3 correlated with shorter PFS. CONCLUSION The results reported in this first real-world analysis mostly confirmed the results achieved in the TOPAZ-1 trial in terms of PFS, ORR and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Rimini
- Medical Oncology Department, IRCSS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Sara Lonardi
- Medical Oncology 3, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Monica Niger
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Lavacchi
- Clinical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), Italy
| | - Jessica Lucchetti
- Division of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Giordano
- Unit of Medical Oncology and Biomolecular Therapy, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Andrea Pretta
- Medical Oncology, University and University Hospital, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Emiliano Tamburini
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Care, Cardinale G Panico, Tricase City Hospital, Tricase, Italy
| | - Chiara Pirrone
- Medical Oncology Unit 1, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino - IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ilario Giovanni Rapposelli
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Anna Diana
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, Napoli, Italy
| | - Erika Martinelli
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, Università Degli Studi Della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Ingrid Garajová
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Simionato
- Department of Oncology, San Bortolo General Hospital, Azienda ULSS8 Berica, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Marta Schirripa
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Belcolle Hospital, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Formica
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Vivaldi
- Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Enrico Caliman
- Clinical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Domenico Rizzato
- Medical Oncology 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Valentina Zanuso
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
| | - Federico Nichetti
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
- Computational Oncology, Molecular Precision Oncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Angotti
- Division of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Landriscina
- Unit of Medical Oncology and Biomolecular Therapy, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology, University and University Hospital, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Matteo Ramundo
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Care, Cardinale G Panico, Tricase City Hospital, Tricase, Italy
| | | | - Bruno Daniele
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, Napoli, Italy
| | - Noemi Cornara
- Medical Oncology Department, IRCSS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Persano
- Oncology Unit, San Martino Hospital, Oristano, Italy
| | - Eleonora Gusmaroli
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cerantola
- Medical Oncology 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Salani
- Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research "Health Science", Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ratti
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Division, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Aldrighetti
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Division, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Cascinu
- Medical Oncology Department, IRCSS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
| | - Lorenzo Antonuzzo
- Clinical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Casadei-Gardini
- Medical Oncology Department, IRCSS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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14
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Ilyas SI, Affo S, Goyal L, Lamarca A, Sapisochin G, Yang JD, Gores GJ. Cholangiocarcinoma - novel biological insights and therapeutic strategies. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:470-486. [PMID: 37188899 PMCID: PMC10601496 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00770-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In the past 5 years, important advances have been made in the scientific understanding and clinical management of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The cellular immune landscape of CCA has been characterized and tumour subsets with distinct immune microenvironments have been defined using molecular approaches. Among these subsets, the identification of 'immune-desert' tumours that are relatively devoid of immune cells emphasizes the need to consider the tumour immune microenvironment in the development of immunotherapy approaches. Progress has also made in identifying the complex heterogeneity and diverse functions of cancer-associated fibroblasts in this desmoplastic cancer. Assays measuring circulating cell-free DNA and cell-free tumour DNA are emerging as clinical tools for detection and monitoring of the disease. Molecularly targeted therapy for CCA has now become a reality, with three drugs targeting oncogenic fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusions and one targeting neomorphic, gain-of-function variants of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) obtaining regulatory approval. By contrast, immunotherapy using immune-checkpoint inhibitors has produced disappointing results in patients with CCA, underscoring the requirement for novel immune-based treatment strategies. Finally, liver transplantation for early stage intrahepatic CCA under research protocols is emerging as a viable therapeutic option in selected patients. This Review highlights and provides in-depth information on these advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumera I Ilyas
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Silvia Affo
- Liver, Digestive System and Metabolism Research, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lipika Goyal
- Department of Medicine, Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Angela Lamarca
- Department of Oncology, OncoHealth Institute, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation, Manchester, UK
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Gonzalo Sapisochin
- Ajmera Transplant Program and HPB Surgical Oncology, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gregory J Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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15
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Leowattana W, Leowattana T, Leowattana P. Paradigm shift of chemotherapy and systemic treatment for biliary tract cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:959-972. [PMID: 37389105 PMCID: PMC10302992 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i6.959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Biliary tract cancers (BTC) are frequently identified at late stages and have a poor prognosis due to limited systemic treatment regimens. For more than a decade, the combination of gemcitabine and cis-platin has served as the first-line standard treatment. There are few choices for second-line chemo-therapy. Targeted treatment with fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 inhibitors, neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase inhibitors, and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 inhibitors has had important results. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) such as pembrolizumab are only used in first-line treatment for microsatellite instability high patients. The TOPAZ-1 trial's outcome is encouraging, and there are several trials underway that might soon put targeted treatment and ICI combos into first-line options. Newer targets and agents for existing goals are being studied, which may represent a paradigm shift in BTC management. Due to a scarcity of targetable mutations and the higher toxicity profile of the current medications, the new category of drugs may occupy a significant role in BTC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wattana Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Rachatawee 10400, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tawithep Leowattana
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Wattana 10110, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pathomthep Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Rachatawee 10400, Bangkok, Thailand
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16
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Byeon SJ, Chang MS, Cho HJ, Park JH, Kim KH, Park JH, Choi IS, Kim W, Han DS, Ahn HS, Heo SC. Prognostic roles of leptin-signaling proteins, PD-L1, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in surgically-resected biliary tract cancers. J Surg Oncol 2023; 127:587-597. [PMID: 36367404 DOI: 10.1002/jso.27140] [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: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biliary tract cancers are rare, with a poor patient prognosis. Leptin and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) influence CD8+ and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)+ lymphocytes, and thus, cancer cell growth. We aimed to define the prognostic implications of these variables and the clinicopathological features of biliary tract cancers. METHODS Immunohistochemistry for leptin signaling-related proteins (leptin, leptin receptor, pSTAT3, extracellular-regulated kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin), PD-L1, CD8, and FOXP3 and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNAs were performed in 147 cases of surgically-resected biliary tract cancers. RESULTS Immune cell PD-L1-positivity, tumor size < 3 cm, adjuvant chemotherapy, no recurrence, and early-stage tumors were correlated with better 5-year survival in the tumoral PD-L1(-) and leptin(-) subgroups, and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma through multivariate analysis (all p < 0.05). Immune cell PD-L1 and adjuvant chemotherapy lost its prognostic significance in the tumoral PD-L1+ and leptin+ subgroups. CONCLUSIONS The prognostic implication of the variables may depend upon tumoral protein expression and the anatomical site. Immune cell PD-L1-positivity and the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy may indicate the favorable survival of patients with surgically-resected biliary tract cancers, specifically, in the tumoral PD-L1(-) or tumor leptin(-) subgroups and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. PD-L1- or leptin-targeted therapy combined with conventional chemotherapy may benefit the tumoral PD-L1+ or leptin+ subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Ju Byeon
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mee Soo Chang
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa Jin Cho
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hwan Park
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Hwan Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hyun Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In Sil Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Seok Han
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Seong Ahn
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Chul Heo
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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17
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Yang L, Zhong J, Wang W, Zhou F. Prognostic Nutritional Index Associates with Immunotherapy Response in Patients with Metastatic Biliary Tract Cancer. Nutr Cancer 2023; 75:696-706. [PMID: 36511876 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2022.2153880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate the effect of prognostic nutrition index (PNI) on the response and prognosis of patients with metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients treated with immunotherapy.Methods: The outcomes of 83 patients with metastatic BTC were evaluated retrospectively. Among them, 51 received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment (ICIs cohort) and 32 patients received first-line chemotherapy (chemotherapy cohort). According to the optimal cutoff value of PNI, patients in ICIs cohort were divided into low PNI group (PNI < 44.30) and high PNI group (PNI≥ 44.30).Results: Patients received first-line immunotherapy-based combination antitumor therapy in ICIs cohort showed significant longer median PFS and OS contrast with first-line chemotherapy cohort. In ICIs cohort, median PFS and OS were significantly longer in the high PNI group. In addition, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high PNI was an independent risk factor for median PFS (hazard ratio (HR), 0.474, 95% CI, 0.246-0.910; P = 0.025) and median OS (HR, 0.229, 95% CI, 0.097-0.539; P = 0.001) in ICIs cohort, respectively. Conclusion: Our study provides preliminary evidence that immunotherapy for metastatic BTC is effective and safe. PNI was an independent prognostic indicator of median PFS and OS in patients with metastatic BTC receiving immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology & Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Juan Zhong
- Department of Oncology, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenbo Wang
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology & Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fuxiang Zhou
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology & Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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18
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A combination therapy of bortezomib, CXCR4 inhibitor, and checkpoint inhibitor is effective in cholangiocarcinoma in vivo. iScience 2023; 26:106095. [PMID: 36843847 PMCID: PMC9950944 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a biliary tree malignancy with a dismal prognosis. Tumor microenvironment (TME), including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has been shown to be involved in drug resistance. To model the interactions between cancer cells and the TME, we established CCA complex patient-derived organoids (cPDOs) to include epithelial PDO (ePDOs) and matched CAFs. While ePDOs were sensitive to bortezomib, we found the matched cPDOs were relatively resistant. Mechanistically, this resistance was correlated with over-expression of CXCR4 in the CAF component of cPDOs. In accord with the role of CXCR4 in the resistance to bortezomib, we found that a CXCR4 inhibitor can reverse the resistance to bortezomib in vivo. Furthermore, we found that the inhibition of CXCR4 allowed bortezomib to sensitize CCA to anti-PD1 treatment, with a significant reduction of tumor burden and long-term overall survival. This novel cancer/stroma/immune triple treatment holds great promise for the treatment of CCA.
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19
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Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary liver cancer. Its incidence is low in the Western world but is rising globally. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been the only treatment options for decades. Progress in our molecular understanding of the disease and the identification of druggable targets, such as IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions, has provided new treatment options. Immunotherapy has emerged as a potent strategy for many different types of cancer and has shown efficacy in combination with chemotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma. In this Review, we discuss findings related to key immunological aspects of cholangiocarcinoma, including the heterogeneous landscape of immune cells within the tumour microenvironment, the immunomodulatory effect of the microbiota and IDH1 mutations, and the association of immune-related signatures and patient outcomes. We introduce findings from preclinical immunotherapy studies, discuss future immune-mediated treatment options, and provide a summary of results from clinical trials testing immune-based approaches in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. This Review provides a thorough survey of our knowledge on immune signatures and immunotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma.
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20
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Yu X, Zhu L, Wang T, Chen J. Immune microenvironment of cholangiocarcinoma: Biological concepts and treatment strategies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1037945. [PMID: 37138880 PMCID: PMC10150070 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1037945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma is characterized by a poor prognosis with limited treatment and management options. Chemotherapy using gemcitabine with cisplatin is the only available first-line therapy for patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma, although it offers only palliation and yields a median survival of < 1 year. Recently there has been a resurgence of immunotherapy studies focusing on the ability of immunotherapy to inhibit cancer growth by impacting the tumor microenvironment. Based on the TOPAZ-1 trial, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the combination of durvalumab and gemcitabine with cisplatin as the first-line treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. However, immunotherapy, like immune checkpoint blockade, is less effective in cholangiocarcinoma than in other types of cancer. Although several factors such as the exuberant desmoplastic reaction are responsible for cholangiocarcinoma treatment resistance, existing literature on cholangiocarcinoma cites the inflammatory and immunosuppressive environment as the most common factor. However, mechanisms activating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment contributing to cholangiocarcinoma drug resistance are complicated. Therefore, gaining insight into the interplay between immune cells and cholangiocarcinoma cells, as well as the natural development and evolution of the immune tumor microenvironment, would provide targets for therapeutic intervention and improve therapeutic efficacy by developing multimodal and multiagent immunotherapeutic approaches of cholangiocarcinoma to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this review, we discuss the role of the inflammatory microenvironment-cholangiocarcinoma crosstalk and reinforce the importance of inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment, thereby highlighting the explanatory and therapeutic shortcomings of immunotherapy monotherapy and proposing potentially promising combinational immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianzhe Yu
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Chengdu Second People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lingling Zhu
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- *Correspondence: Jiang Chen,
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21
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Vatankhah F, Salimi N, Khalaji A, Baradaran B. Immune checkpoints and their promising prospect in cholangiocarcinoma treatment in combination with other therapeutic approaches. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 114:109526. [PMID: 36481527 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is one of the malignant tumors that has shown rapid development in incidence and mortality in recent years. Like other types of cancer, patients with CCA experience alterations in the expression of immune checkpoints, indicating the importance of immune checkpoint inhibitors in treating CCA. The results of TCGA analysis in this study revealed a marginal difference in the expression of important immune checkpoints, Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and their ligands in CCA samples compared to normal ones. This issue showed the importance of combination therapy in this cancer. This review considers CCA treatment and covers several therapeutic modalities or combined treatment strategies. We also cover the most recent developments in the field and outline the important areas of immune checkpoint molecules as prognostic variables and therapeutic targets in CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Vatankhah
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Neda Salimi
- School of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Amirreza Khalaji
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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22
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Deng M, Li S, Wang Q, Zhao R, Zou J, Lin W, Mei J, Wei W, Guo R. Real-world outcomes of patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated with programmed cell death protein-1-targeted immunotherapy. Ann Med 2022; 54:803-811. [PMID: 35272564 PMCID: PMC8920361 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2048416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is a lack of effective treatment to improve the prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)-targeted immunotherapy has shown promising results in a variety of malignant tumours. However, in patients with advanced ICC, the safety and efficacy of anti-PD-1 agents remain unclear. METHODS Forty-two advanced ICC patients treated with anti-PD-1 agents from August 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Tumour response, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and time to tumour progression (TTP) were evaluated. Adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS The median duration of follow-up was 12.1 months, and the median time of treatment was 6.7 months for all patients. The median OS, median PFS, and median TTP for the whole cohort were 19.3 months, 11.6 months, and 11.6 months, respectively. The overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) for the whole cohort were 23.8% and 85.7%, respectively. Of the 42 evaluable individuals, two (4.8%) had hyperprogressive disease. The most common adverse events (AEs) were pain (n = 6; 14.3%), anorexia (n = 4; 9.5%), hypertension (n = 4; 9.5%), pyrexia (n = 3; 7.1%), cough (n = 3; 7.1%), and hypothyroidism (n = 3; 7.1%). The median OS of patients with albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 1 was longer than that of patients with ALBI grade 2 (19.3 months vs. 14.7 months). The median PFS did not show a significant difference between ALBI grade 1 and grade 2 patients (13.6 months vs. 6.9 months). CONCLUSIONS PD-1-targeted immunotherapy showed promising efficacy and safety in advanced ICC patients.Key messagesPD-1-targeted immunotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for advanced ICC patients.This study provides therapeutic strategy for advanced ICC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Deng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaohua Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiaoxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongce Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingwen Zou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenping Lin
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Mei
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongping Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a heterogenous group of cancers arising from the biliary tract. The hallmark of these cancers is the advanced stage of presentation and a paucity of durable treatment options. Despite the advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy in solid tumors, systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy has remained the mainstay for cholangiocarcinomas. RECENT FINDINGS With advances in the understanding of the tumor microenvironment, genetic features, and inflammatory milieu, have led to the identification of tumor-infiltrating immune cells as indicators of prognosis and response to treatment in BTC. Through an improved comprehension of immunology, immuno-oncology is becoming another pillar of treatment along with traditional radiation, surgery, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. This article reviews the evidence for immunotherapy use in cholangiocarcinoma, which still being in infancy, and offers promising new novel options for the management of biliary tract cancers.
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24
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Yuan ZG, Zeng TM, Tao CJ. Current and emerging immunotherapeutic approaches for biliary tract cancers. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2022; 21:440-449. [PMID: 36115807 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2022.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) comprise a heterogeneous group of aggressive malignancies with unfavorable prognoses. The benefit of chemotherapy seems to have reached a bottleneck and, therefore, new effective therapeutic strategies for advanced BTCs are needed. Molecularly targeted therapies in selected patients are rapidly changing the situation. However, the low frequency of specific driver alterations in BTCs limits their wide application. Recently, immunotherapeutic approaches are also under active investigation in BTCs, but the role of immunotherapy in BTCs remains controversial. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Web of Science, and meeting resources were searched for relevant articles published from January 2017 to May 2022. The search aimed to identify current and emerging immunotherapeutic approaches for BTCs. Information on clinical trials was obtained from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ and http://www.chictr.org.cn/. RESULTS Immunotherapy in BTC patients is currently under investigation, and most of the investigations focused on the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, only a subgroup of BTCs with microsatellite-instability high (MSI-H)/DNA mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) or tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) benefit from monotherapy of ICIs, and limited activity was observed in the second or subsequent settings. Nevertheless, promising results come from studies of ICIs in combination with other therapeutic approaches, including chemotherapy, in advanced BTCs, with a moderate toxicity profile. Recent studies demonstrated that compared to GEMCIS alone, durvalumab plus GEMCIS significantly improved patient survival (TOPAZ-1 trial) and that ICIs-combined chemoimmunotherapy is poised to become a new frontline therapy option, regardless of TMB and MMR/MSI status. Adoptive cell therapy and peptide- or dendritic-based cancer vaccines are other immunotherapeutic options that are being studied in BTCs. Numerous biomarkers have been investigated to define their predictive role in response to ICIs, but no predictive biomarker has been validated, except MSI-H/dMMR. CONCLUSIONS The role of immunotherapy in BTCs is currently under investigation and the results of ongoing studies are eagerly anticipated. Several studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of ICIs in combination with chemotherapy in treatment-naive patients, such as the phase III TOPAZ-1 trial, which will change the standard care of first-line chemotherapy for advanced BTCs. However, further research is needed to understand the best combination with immunotherapy and to discover more predictive biomarkers to guide clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Gang Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Navy Medical University), Shanghai 200438, China.
| | - Tian-Mei Zeng
- Department of Oncology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Navy Medical University), Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Chen-Jie Tao
- Department of Oncology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Navy Medical University), Shanghai 200438, China
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25
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Mastracci L, Grillo F, Parente P, Gullo I, Campora M, Angerilli V, Rossi C, Sacramento ML, Pennelli G, Vanoli A, Fassan M. PD-L1 evaluation in the gastrointestinal tract: from biological rationale to its clinical application. Pathologica 2022; 114:352-364. [PMID: 36305021 PMCID: PMC9614301 DOI: 10.32074/1591-951x-803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis have brought significant clinical benefit in many solid cancer types, including gastrointestinal malignancies. However, it has been estimated that only 20-40% of patients respond to treatment. The pattern of expression and potential predictive value of PD-L1 as an immunohistochemical biomarker has been extensively studied in gastrointestinal neoplasms. Until now, its predictive value has been demonstrated, and is currently in use only in upper gastrointestinal malignancies (gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma). In this Review, we describe the technical aspects and challenges related to PD-L1 immunohistochemical assays, the current role of PD-L1 as a biomarker in clinical practice and we outline the main studies and clinical trials analyzing the prognostic and predictive value of PD-L1 in gastrointestinal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Mastracci
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Grillo
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.,Anatomic Pathology, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genova, Italy
| | - Paola Parente
- Unit of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Irene Gullo
- Department of Pathology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João (CHUSJ), Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Portugal.,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Michela Campora
- Public Healthcare Trust of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Santa Chiara Hospital, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pathology Unit, Trento, Italy
| | - Valentina Angerilli
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Surgical Pathology Unit, University Hospital of Padua, Padua (PD), Italy
| | - Chiara Rossi
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, and IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Sacramento
- Department of Pathology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João (CHUSJ), Porto, Portugal
| | - Gianmaria Pennelli
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Surgical Pathology Unit, University Hospital of Padua, Padua (PD), Italy
| | - Alessandro Vanoli
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, and IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Surgical Pathology Unit, University Hospital of Padua, Padua (PD), Italy.,Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua (PD), Italy
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26
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Wang Y, He H. Prognostic value of soluble programmed cell death ligand-1 in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Immunotherapy 2022; 14:945-956. [PMID: 35822688 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0238] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Previously published data was collected and a meta-analysis was conducted to precisely identify the prognostic and clinicopathological significance of soluble programmed cell death ligand-1 (sPD-L1) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials & methods: Combined hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the correlation between sPD-L1 expression and prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Results: A total of 11 studies with 976 patients were included in this meta-analysis. High levels of sPD-L1 were associated with poor overall and progression-free survival (HR: 2.65, 95% CI: 2.32-3.02; p < 0.001 vs HR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.24-3.29; p = 0.005). sPD-L1 level was not significantly correlated with sex, smoking status, age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, subtype or EGFR mutation. Conclusion: High levels of sPD-L1 are a prognostic marker for poor survival in patients with NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Clinical Laboratory, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, 313000, China
| | - Haiyun He
- Department of Respiration, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, 313000, China
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27
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Zhang X, He Y, Ren P, Chen L, Han Z, Qi L, Chen L, Luo Y, Zhang N, Lu W, Guo H. Low expression and Hypermethylation of ATP2B1 in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Correlated With Cold Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:927298. [PMID: 35875160 PMCID: PMC9302110 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.927298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The efficacy of current therapeutic schedule is limited owing to fibroproliferative tumor microenvironment (TME) of cholangiocarcinoma, compelling a search for new therapeutic targets. Methods Gene expression profiles and methylation profiles were obtained from UCSC Xena. Consensus clustering was performed on the transcriptome data of cholangiocarcinoma to determine the different immune subtypes. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between hot tumor and cold tumors were identified. ESTIMATE was used to assess immune score, and the cases were separated into relatively superior and inferior immune score groups. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was applied to assess 28 immune cells in the cholangiocarcinoma microenvironment. Unsupervised consensus was applied for methylation profiling to distribute the high and low methylation groups. The correlation between DNA methylation and mRNA expression was investigated, and the relationship between the ATP2B1 gene and the immune microenvironment was explored. Finally, 77 cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) were collected for verification. Results Seven subtypes were related to patient outcomes (P=0.005). The proportions of CD8+ T cells in the “hot” immune type was significantly greater than that in the “cold” immune type (P<0.05). Next, DEGs and DNA methylation-governed genes were intersected, and ATP2B1 was identified as a prognosis factor in ICC (P=0.035). ATP2B1 expression was positively correlated with immune scores (P=0.005, r=0.458), the levels of infiltrating CD8+ T cells (P=0.004, r=0.47), and CD4+ T cells (P=0.027, r=0.37). Immunohistochemistry confirmed that the amounts of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells were significantly higher in ICC tissue samples than in tissues with ATP2B1 overexpression (P<0.05). Conclusions ATP2B1 overexpression can activate immune signals and prompt cold tumor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiehua Zhang
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Liver Cancer Research Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Baotou, China
| | - Yuchao He
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Peiqi Ren
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Liver Cancer Research Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiqiang Han
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Lisha Qi
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Liwei Chen
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Liver Cancer Research Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Hua Guo, ; Wei Lu,
| | - Hua Guo
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Hua Guo, ; Wei Lu,
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28
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Guo H, Qian Y, Yu Y, Bi Y, Jiao J, Jiang H, Yu C, Wu H, Shi Y, Kong X. An Immunity-Related Gene Model Predicts Prognosis in Cholangiocarcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:791867. [PMID: 35847907 PMCID: PMC9283581 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.791867] [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: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is closely related to both immune cell infiltration and mRNA expression. Therefore, we aimed at conducting multi-immune-related gene analyses to improve the prediction of CCA recurrence. Immune-related genes were selected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal (ImmPort). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was used to establish the multi-gene model that was significantly correlated with the recurrence-free survival (RFS) in two test series. Furthermore, compared with single genes, clinical characteristics, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE), and tumor inflammation signature (TIS), the 8-immune-related differentially expressed genes (8-IRDEGs) signature had a better prediction value. Moreover, the high-risk subgroup had a lower density of B-cell, plasma, B-cell naïve, CD8+ T-cell, CD8+ T-cell naïve, and CD8+ T-cell memory infiltration, as well as more severe immunosuppression and higher mutation counts. In conclusion, the 8-IRDEGs signature was a promising biomarker for distinguishing the prognosis and the molecular and immune features of CCA, and could be beneficial to the individualized immunotherapy for CCA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Guo
- Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Department of Liver Diseases, Central Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihan Qian
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Department of Liver Diseases, Central Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yeping Yu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuting Bi
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Department of Liver Diseases, Central Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junzhe Jiao
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Department of Liver Diseases, Central Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haocheng Jiang
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Department of Liver Diseases, Central Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang Yu
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Department of Liver Diseases, Central Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hailong Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Imaging, Collaborative Research Center, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoni Kong, ; Yanjun Shi, ; Hailong Wu,
| | - Yanjun Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoni Kong, ; Yanjun Shi, ; Hailong Wu,
| | - Xiaoni Kong
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Department of Liver Diseases, Central Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoni Kong, ; Yanjun Shi, ; Hailong Wu,
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29
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Chen R, Zheng D, Li Q, Xu S, Ye C, Jiang Q, Yan F, Jia Y, Zhang X, Ruan J. Immunotherapy of cholangiocarcinoma: Therapeutic strategies and predictive biomarkers. Cancer Lett 2022; 546:215853. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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30
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Chen X, Du J, Huang J, Zeng Y, Yuan K. Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Therapy in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2022; 10:553-563. [PMID: 35836758 PMCID: PMC9240234 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2021.00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver cancer and causes major economic and health burdens throughout the world. Although the incidence of ICC is relatively low, an upward trend has been seen over the past few decades. Owing to the lack of specific manifestations and tools for early diagnosis, most ICC patients have relatively advanced disease at diagnosis. Thus, neoadjuvant therapy is necessary to evaluate tumor biology and downstage these patients so that appropriate candidates can be selected for radical liver resection. However, even after radical resection, the recurrence rate is relatively high and is a main cause leading to death after surgery, which makes adjuvant therapy necessary. Because of its low incidence, studies in both neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings of ICC are lagging compared with other types of malignancy. While standard neoadjuvant and adjuvant regimens are not available in the current guidelines due to a lack of high-level evidence, some progress has been achieved in recent years. In this review, the available literature on advances in neoadjuvant and adjuvant strategies in ICC are evaluated, and possible challenges and opportunities for clinical and translational investigations in the near future are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yong Zeng
- Correspondence to: Kefei Yuan and Yong Zeng, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Laboratory of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, No. 37 Guoxue Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4308-7743 (KY), https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3347-9690 (YZ). Tel: +86-17340135791 (KY), +86-18680601472 (YZ), Fax: +86-28-8558-2944, E-mail: (KY), (YZ)
| | - Kefei Yuan
- Correspondence to: Kefei Yuan and Yong Zeng, Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Laboratory of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, No. 37 Guoxue Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4308-7743 (KY), https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3347-9690 (YZ). Tel: +86-17340135791 (KY), +86-18680601472 (YZ), Fax: +86-28-8558-2944, E-mail: (KY), (YZ)
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31
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Tan X, Bednarsch J, Rosin M, Appinger S, Liu D, Wiltberger G, Garcia Vallejo J, Lang SA, Czigany Z, Boroojerdi S, Gaisa NT, Boor P, Bülow RD, De Vos-Geelen J, Valkenburg-van Iersel L, Clahsen-van Groningen MC, de Jong EJM, Groot Koerkamp B, Doukas M, Rocha FG, Luedde T, Klinge U, Sivakumar S, Neumann UP, Heij LR. PD-1+ T-Cells Correlate with Nerve Fiber Density as a Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Resected Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092190. [PMID: 35565318 PMCID: PMC9103905 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092190] [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: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Recent studies have identified Nerve Fiber Density (NFD) as a prognostic biomarker for Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). In the field of CCA treatment with checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is increasing but not all patients respond. Good biomarkers to predict response to ICI are lacking. The present study investigates the immune cell composition and expression of checkpoint molecules in relation to NFD in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) patients. Our study identified NFD to correlate with PD-1+ T cells as a biomarker indicative for a good prognosis. Abstract Background and Aims: Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is a hepatobiliary malignancy, with a dismal prognosis. Nerve fiber density (NFD)—a novel prognostic biomarker—describes the density of small nerve fibers without cancer invasion and is categorized into high numbers and low numbers of small nerve fibers (high vs low NFD). NFD is different than perineural invasion (PNI), defined as nerve fiber trunks invaded by cancer cells. Here, we aim to explore differences in immune cell populations and survival between high and low NFD patients. Approach and Results: We applied multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) on 47 pCCA patients and investigated immune cell composition in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of high and low NFD. Group comparison and oncological outcome analysis was performed. CD8+PD-1 expression was higher in the high NFD than in the low NFD group (12.24 × 10−6 vs. 1.38 × 10−6 positive cells by overall cell count, p = 0.017). High CD8+PD-1 expression was further identified as an independent predictor of overall (OS; Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.41; p = 0.031) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; HR = 0.40; p = 0.039). Correspondingly, the median OS was 83 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 18–48) in patients with high CD8+PD-1+ expression compared to 19 months (95% CI: 5–93) in patients with low CD8+PD-1+ expression (p = 0.018 log rank). Furthermore, RFS was significantly lower in patients with low CD8+PD-1+ expression (14 months (95% CI: 6–22)) compared to patients with high CD8+PD-1+ expression (83 months (95% CI: 17–149), p = 0.018 log rank). Conclusions: PD-1+ T-cells correlate with high NFD as a prognostic biomarker and predict good survival; the biological pathway needs to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxiang Tan
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
- NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Mika Rosin
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Simone Appinger
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Georg Wiltberger
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Juan Garcia Vallejo
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Zoltan Czigany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Shiva Boroojerdi
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Nadine T. Gaisa
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (N.T.G.); (P.B.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Peter Boor
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (N.T.G.); (P.B.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Roman David Bülow
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (N.T.G.); (P.B.); (R.D.B.)
| | - Judith De Vos-Geelen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (J.D.V.-G.); (L.V.-v.I.); (E.J.M.d.J.)
| | - Liselot Valkenburg-van Iersel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (J.D.V.-G.); (L.V.-v.I.); (E.J.M.d.J.)
| | | | - Evelien J. M. de Jong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (J.D.V.-G.); (L.V.-v.I.); (E.J.M.d.J.)
| | - Bas Groot Koerkamp
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Michail Doukas
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (M.C.C.-v.G.); (M.D.)
| | - Flavio G. Rocha
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Duesseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Uwe Klinge
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
| | - Shivan Sivakumar
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK;
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Ulf Peter Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lara Rosaline Heij
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (X.T.); (J.B.); (M.R.); (S.A.); (D.L.); (G.W.); (S.A.L.); (Z.C.); (S.B.); (U.K.); (U.P.N.)
- NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (N.T.G.); (P.B.); (R.D.B.)
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (M.C.C.-v.G.); (M.D.)
- Correspondence:
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Rizzo A, Cusmai A, Ricci AD, Brandi G, Palmiotti G. Combination systemic therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors in biliary tract cancer: effective but not enough? Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 16:307-310. [PMID: 35302426 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2022.2055548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Rizzo
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico "Don Tonino Bello," I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Cusmai
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico "Don Tonino Bello," I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy
| | - Angela Dalia Ricci
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Brandi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gennaro Palmiotti
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico "Don Tonino Bello," I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy
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Kang S, El-Rayes BF, Akce M. Evolving Role of Immunotherapy in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1748. [PMID: 35406520 PMCID: PMC8996885 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biliary tract cancers (BTC) comprise a rare and diverse group of malignancies that involve the gallbladder and biliary tree. These cancers typically present in later stages because they are aggressive in nature and affected patients are often asymptomatic in earlier stages of disease. Moreover, BTCs are generally refractory to cytotoxic chemotherapy, which further contributes to their associated poor survival outcomes. Novel therapy approaches are clearly needed. Molecular targeted agents have been developed based on our expanding knowledge of the genetic mutations underlying BTCs and represent a promising treatment strategy in molecularly selected subgroups of patients. In addition, the advent of immunotherapy over recent years has dramatically changed the bleak outcomes observed in malignancies such as melanoma. Our growing understanding of the complex tumor microenvironment in BTC has identified mechanisms of tumor immune evasion that could potentially be targeted with immunotherapy. As a result, different immunotherapeutic approaches including immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy, have been investigated. The use of immunotherapeutic agents is currently only approved for a small subset of treatment-refractory BTCs based on microsatellite instability (MSI) status and tumor mutational burden (TMB), but this will likely change with the potential approval of immunotherapy plus chemotherapy as a result of the TOPAZ-1 trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Kang
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
| | - Bassel F. El-Rayes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
| | - Mehmet Akce
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
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Monge C, Pehrsson EC, Xie C, Duffy AG, Mabry D, Wood BJ, Kleiner DE, Steinberg SM, Figg WD, Redd B, Budhu A, Wang S, Tandon M, Ma L, Wei Wang X, Greten TF. A Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab in Combination with Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin with Molecular Profiling in Patients with Advanced Biliary Tract Carcinoma. Oncologist 2022; 27:e273-e285. [PMID: 35274717 PMCID: PMC8914487 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyab073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We conducted a phase II study of the combination of pembrolizumab with capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) in patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) to assess response rate and clinical efficacy. Exploratory objectives included correlative studies of immune marker expression, tumor evolution, and immune infiltration in response to treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Adult patients with histologically confirmed BTC were enrolled and received oxaliplatin and pembrolizumab on day 1 of cycles 1-6. Capecitabine was administered orally twice daily as intermittent treatment, with the first dose on day 1 and the last dose on day 14 of cycles 1-6. Starting on cycle 7, pembrolizumab monotherapy was continued until disease progression. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were safety, tolerability, feasibility, and response rate. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for PD-L1 and immune infiltrates was analyzed in paired tumor biopsies, as well as bulk transcriptome and exome profiling for five patients and single-cell RNA sequencing for one partial responder. RESULTS Eleven patients enrolled, three of whom had received no prior systemic therapy. Treatment was well tolerated, and the most common treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events were lymphocytopenia, anemia, and decreased platelet count. Three patients (27.3%) achieved a partial response, and six (54%) had stable disease. The disease control rate was 81.8%. The median PFS was 4.1 months with a 6-month PFS rate of 45.5%. Molecular profiling suggests qualitative differences in immune infiltration and clonal evolution based on response. CONCLUSION Capecitabine and oxaliplatin in combination with pembrolizumab is tolerable and a potentially effective treatment for refractory advanced BTC. This study highlights a design framework for the precise characterization of individual BTC tumors. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03111732).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Monge
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Erica C Pehrsson
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Science, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Changqing Xie
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Austin G Duffy
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Donna Mabry
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bradford J Wood
- Center for Interventional Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - David E Kleiner
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Seth M Steinberg
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - William D Figg
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bernadette Redd
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anuradha Budhu
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sophie Wang
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mayank Tandon
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Science, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Lichun Ma
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xin Wei Wang
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tim F Greten
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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35
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Kumar-Sinha C, Sahai V. T-Cell Subsets as Potential Biomarkers for Hepatobiliary Cancers and Selection of Immunotherapy Regimens as a Treatment Strategy. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2022; 20:203-214. [PMID: 35130506 DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2021.7097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Patients with advanced hepatocellular or biliary cancers have a dismal prognosis with limited efficacy from standard systemic therapies. The benefit of precision medicine has so far been limited to a subset of biliary cancers, including FGFR rearrangements; hotspot mutations in IDH1/2, BRAF, and BRCA1/2; and other rare alterations. In contrast, hepatocellular carcinoma, an inflammation-driven cancer with an immune-infiltrated microenvironment, provides a promising opportunity for immunotherapy, compared with the highly desmoplastic immune desert or excluded stromal microenvironment in biliary cancers. The immune contexture in hepatobiliary cancers is mostly immunosuppressive, protumorigenic, and exhausted, which together with low tumor mutation burden and decreased neoantigens provides challenges for immunotherapy. A better understanding of the spatiotemporal profile of T cells within the tumor microenvironment and the dynamic interplay of immune modulators in the context of standard or experimental therapies is crucial to define additional markers of response and design evidence-based combinatorial regimens. This review considers recent literature in this area and highlights promising leads and emerging trends.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vaibhav Sahai
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, and.,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Carapeto F, Bozorgui B, Shroff RT, Chagani S, Soto LS, Foo WC, Wistuba I, Meric-Bernstam F, Shalaby A, Javle M, Korkut A, Kwong LN. The immunogenomic landscape of resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatology 2022; 75:297-308. [PMID: 34510503 PMCID: PMC8766948 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a deadly and highly therapy-refractory cancer of the bile ducts, with early results from immune checkpoint blockade trials showing limited responses. Whereas recent molecular assessments have made bulk characterizations of immune profiles and their genomic correlates, spatial assessments may reveal actionable insights. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, we have integrated immune checkpoint-directed immunohistochemistry with next-generation sequencing of resected intrahepatic CCA samples from 96 patients. We found that both T-cell and immune checkpoint markers are enriched at the tumor margins compared to the tumor center. Using two approaches, we identify high programmed cell death protein 1 or lymphocyte-activation gene 3 and low CD3/CD4/inducible T-cell costimulator specifically in the tumor center as associated with poor survival. Moreover, loss-of-function BRCA1-associated protein-1 mutations are associated with and cause elevated expression of the immunosuppressive checkpoint marker, B7 homolog 4. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a foundation on which to rationally improve and tailor immunotherapy approaches for this difficult-to-treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Carapeto
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Behnaz Bozorgui
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rachna T Shroff
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Sharmeen Chagani
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Luisa Solis Soto
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Wai Chin Foo
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ignacio Wistuba
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Funda Meric-Bernstam
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ahmed Shalaby
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Milind Javle
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anil Korkut
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lawrence N Kwong
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Systemic Treatment for Metastatic Biliary Tract Cancer: State of the Art and a Glimpse to the Future. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:551-564. [PMID: 35200550 PMCID: PMC8871084 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29020050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent years have seen some breakthroughs in the therapeutic landscape of advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). Firstly, a better understanding of the molecular background of BTC has led to important improvements in the management of these hepatobiliary malignancies, with the advent of targeted agents representing an unprecedented paradigm shift, as witnessed by the FDA approval of pemigatinib and infigratinib for FGFR2-rearranged and ivosidenib in IDH1-mutant cholangiocarcinoma. In addition, several novel treatments are under assessment, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and combination chemotherapies. In the current review, we provide an overview of systemic treatment for metastatic BTC, summarizing recent clinical data on chemotherapy as well as the main results of targeted therapies and immunotherapy.
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38
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Immune suppressive checkpoint interactions in the tumour microenvironment of primary liver cancers. Br J Cancer 2022; 126:10-23. [PMID: 34400801 PMCID: PMC8727557 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01453-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The therapeutic options for the main types of primary liver cancer-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA)-are very limited. HCC and CCA are immunogenic cancers, but effective immune-mediated tumour control is prevented by their immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. Despite the critical involvement of key co-inhibitory immune checkpoint interactions in immunosuppression in liver cancer, only a minority of patients with HCC respond to monotherapy using approved checkpoint inhibitor antibodies. To develop effective (combinatorial) therapeutic immune checkpoint strategies for liver cancer, in-depth knowledge of the different mechanisms that contribute to intratumoral immunosuppression is needed. Here, we review the co-inhibitory pathways that are known to suppress intratumoral T cells in HCC and CCA. We provide a detailed description of insights from preclinical studies in cellular crosstalk within the tumour microenvironment that results in interactions between co-inhibitory receptors on different T-cell subsets and their ligands on other cell types, including tumour cells. We suggest alternative immune checkpoints as promising targets, and draw attention to the possibility of combined targeting of co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory pathways to abrogate immunosuppression.
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39
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Zhang R, Puzzoni M, Mariani S, Zheng Y, Liscia N, Guo Y, Donisi C, Liu Y, Impera V, Fang W, Scartozzi M. Emerging treatment evolutions and integrated molecular characteristics of biliary tract cancers. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:4819-4833. [PMID: 34534382 PMCID: PMC8645726 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) consist of a group of highly heterogeneous malignancies that are characterized by genomic differences among tumors from different anatomic sites. The current treatment for BTC includes surgery, chemotherapy, target therapy, and immunotherapy. Although surgery remains the primary option for localized disease, representing the only potential curative treatment, a high risk of recurrence cannot be neglected. Chemotherapy has been considered the standard of care for both advanced and metastatic disease and in adjuvant settings. However, drug resistance is a major obstacle associated with chemotherapy. The development of genetic testing technologies, including next-generation sequencing, has opened the door for the identification of drug targets and candidate molecules. A series of preclinical studies has demonstrated the role of gene mutations, abnormal signaling pathways, and immunosuppression in the pathogenesis of BTC, laying the foundation for the application of targeted therapy and immunotherapy. A variety of molecularly targeted agents, including pemigatinib, have shown promising survival benefits in patients with advanced disease. The rapidly evolving role of multimodal therapy represents the subject of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruyi Zhang
- Department of Medical OncologySchool of MedicineThe First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Marco Puzzoni
- Department of Medical OncologyMedical OncologyUniversity Hospital of CagliariUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Department of Medical OncologyMedical OncologyUniversity Hospital of CagliariUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Medical OncologySchool of MedicineThe First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Nicole Liscia
- Medical Oncology UnitSapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Yixuan Guo
- Department of Medical OncologySchool of MedicineThe First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Clelia Donisi
- Department of Medical OncologyMedical OncologyUniversity Hospital of CagliariUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Medical OncologySchool of MedicineThe First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | | | - Weijia Fang
- Department of Medical OncologySchool of MedicineThe First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Department of Medical OncologyMedical OncologyUniversity Hospital of CagliariUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
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40
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Jayaraman PS, Gaston K. Targeting protein kinase CK2 in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2021; 2:434-447. [PMID: 36045705 PMCID: PMC9400764 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2021.00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a disease with a very poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Although targeted therapies directed towards specific mutations found in CCA are becoming available and are showing great potential, many tumors do not carry actionable mutations and, in those that do, the emergence of drug resistance is a likely consequence of treatment. Therapeutic targeting of enzymes and other proteins that show elevated activity in CCA cells but which are not altered by mutation is a potential strategy for the treatment of target negative and drug-resistant disease. Protein kinase CK2 (CK2) is a ubiquitously expressed kinase that has increased expression and increased activity in a variety of cancer types including CCA. Several potent CK2 inhibitors are in pre-clinical development or under assessment in a variety of clinical trials often in combination with drugs that induce DNA damage. This review outlines the importance of CK2 in CCA and assesses the progress that has been made in the evaluation of CK2 inhibition as a treatment strategy in this disease. Targeting CK2 based on the expression levels or activity of this protein and/or in combination with drugs that induce DNA damage or inhibit cell cycle progression, could be a viable option for tumors that lack actionable mutations, or for tumors that develop resistance to targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padma-Sheela Jayaraman
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
- Division of Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Kevin Gaston
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
- Division of Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
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41
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Persano M, Puzzoni M, Ziranu P, Pusceddu V, Lai E, Pretta A, Donisi C, Pinna G, Spanu D, Cimbro E, Parrino A, Liscia N, Mariani S, Dubois M, Migliari M, Scartozzi M. Molecular-driven treatment for biliary tract cancer: the promising turning point. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2021; 21:1253-1264. [PMID: 34551663 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2021.1982699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the past, targeted therapies have not shown positive results as they have been used without adequate molecular selection of patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC). This has led to an expansion of research on characteristics and molecular selection to identify new effective strategies in this setting. Improved knowledge of the molecular biology of these neoplasms has highlighted their extraordinary heterogeneity and has made it possible to identify targetable gene alterations, including fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 2 gene fusions, and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations. The FDA recently approved ivosidenib and pemigatinib for the treatment of BTCs. AREAS COVERED We review data in the literature regarding targeted therapies for the treatment of BTCs, as well as on the prospects deriving from the extraordinary molecular heterogeneity of these neoplasms. EXPERT OPINION At present, it is essential to evaluate the expression of the genetic alterations expressed by these neoplasms to offer patients an increasingly personalized therapeutic approach. Studies are needed to better define the limits and potentials of targeted therapies and their role in the therapeutic algorithm to improve the poor prognosis of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Persano
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Puzzoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Pina Ziranu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valeria Pusceddu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Eleonora Lai
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Andrea Pretta
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Clelia Donisi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Pinna
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Dario Spanu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Erika Cimbro
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alissa Parrino
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nicole Liscia
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Dubois
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Migliari
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Gutiérrez-Larrañaga M, González-López E, Roa-Bautista A, Rodrigues PM, Díaz-González Á, Banales JM, López-Hoyos M, Santos-Laso A, Crespo J. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: The Emerging Cornerstone in Cholangiocarcinoma Therapy? Liver Cancer 2021; 10:545-560. [PMID: 34950178 PMCID: PMC8647071 DOI: 10.1159/000518104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) encompasses a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors with dismal prognosis and increasing incidence worldwide. Both late diagnosis due to the lack of early symptoms and the refractory nature of these tumors seriously compromise patients' welfare and outcomes. SUMMARY During the last decade, immunotherapy and, more specifically, modulation of immune checkpoints-mediated signaling pathways have been under the spotlight in the field of oncology, emerging as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of several cancers, including CCA. Generally, high expression levels of immune checkpoints in patients with CCA have been associated with worse clinical outcomes, particularly with shorter overall survival and relapse-free survival. Thus, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which mainly constitute different monoclonal antibodies, have been developed in order to hamper the immune checkpoint-mediated pathways. Interestingly, chemotherapy may increase the expression of immune checkpoints, while other therapeutic approaches such as ablative and targeted therapies may enhance their antitumor activity. In this sense, several clinical trials evaluated the safety and efficacy of ICIs for CCA, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other ICIs or loco-regional and systemic therapies. Additionally, many other clinical trials are currently ongoing and results are eagerly awaited. Here, we summarize the key aspects of immune checkpoint molecules as prognostic factors and therapeutic targets in CCA, highlighting the most recent advances in the field and future research directions. KEY MESSAGES (1) Effective therapeutic approaches for CCA are urgently needed. (2) Expression levels of immune checkpoints in patients with CCA have been proposed to be related with clinical outcomes. (3) Combination of different ICIs may outperform the efficacy of ICI monotherapy for CCA treatment. (4) Recent studies point toward the combination of ICIs and other common therapies, especially chemotherapy, as a promising strategy for treatment of CCA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Gutiérrez-Larrañaga
- Department of Immunology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Elena González-López
- Department of Immunology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Adriel Roa-Bautista
- Department of Immunology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Pedro M. Rodrigues
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain,National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Díaz-González
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Jesus M. Banales
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain,National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), Madrid, Spain,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Marcos López-Hoyos
- Department of Immunology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Alvaro Santos-Laso
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain,*Alvaro Santos-Laso,
| | - Javier Crespo
- National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), Madrid, Spain,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
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43
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Zeng FL, Chen JF. Application of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2021; 20:15330338211039952. [PMID: 34528830 PMCID: PMC8450549 DOI: 10.1177/15330338211039952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma is a general term for intrahepatic and extrahepatic malignant tumors deriving in the biliary system. According to the location, it is divided into intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and distal cholangiocarcinoma. Progressive cholangiocarcinoma yields poor outcomes with radiotherapy; therefore, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic breakthroughs. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy brings the treatment for cancer into a new field, with the use of drugs targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 considerably extending the survival of patients with melanoma, lung cancer, and other solid tumors. The FDA has approved the application of pembrolizumab for solid tumors with high microsatellite instability and defective mismatch repair, including cholangiocarcinoma. Moreover, the combination of ICIs with chemotherapy and radiation therapy showed good promise. The aim of the present study was to review the application of ICIs in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma and to summarize the reported individualized immunotherapy-based protocols and ongoing clinical trials for clinical reference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan-Li Zeng
- The Second Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, Hebei 066600, China
| | - Jing-Fang Chen
- Easter Theater General Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210016, China
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44
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Ding Y, Han X, Sun Z, Tang J, Wu Y, Wang W. Systemic Sequential Therapy of CisGem, Tislelizumab, and Lenvatinib for Advanced Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Conversion Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:691380. [PMID: 34527576 PMCID: PMC8435785 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.691380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), always diagnosed at an advanced stage in recent years, is of high aggression and poor prognosis. There is no standard treatment beyond first-line chemotherapy and no molecular-targeted agents or immune checkpoint inhibitors approved for advanced intrahepatic CCA. Hence, we firstly report an original therapeutic strategy for a 60-year-old patient diagnosed with intrahepatic CCA categorized as Stage IIIB (T3N1M0) by the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. After histopathological examination and next-generation sequencing, the patient was treated with four courses of novel systemic sequential therapy (intravenous gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 and cisplatin 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8; oral lenvatinib 8 mg/day from days 1 to 21; intravenous tislelizumab 200 mg on day 15). Then, the patient achieved partial response and was operated on right hemihepatectomy, cholecystectomy, and abdominal lymph node dissection. Without any perioperative complications, the patient was discharged from our hospital in perfect condition. Thereafter, the patient continued to use this new regimen 1 month after surgery for adjuvant therapy and was confirmed without recurrence when we followed up. In a word, we found an effective therapeutic regimen for preoperative advanced intrahepatic CCA conversion therapy, which may become a new approach in cancer treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Ding
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Medicine Innovation Center of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Medicine Innovation Center of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhongquan Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Medicine Innovation Center of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinlong Tang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yingsheng Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Medicine Innovation Center of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Medicine Innovation Center of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province , Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China
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45
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Deng M, Li SH, Fu X, Yan XP, Chen J, Qiu YD, Guo RP. Relationship between PD-L1 expression, CD8+ T-cell infiltration and prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:371. [PMID: 34253205 PMCID: PMC8273972 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02081-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Programmed death- ligand 1 (PD-L1) seems to be associated with the immune escape of tumors, and immunotherapy may be a favorable treatment for PD-L1-positive patients. We evaluated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) specimens for their expression of PD-L1, infiltration of CD8+ T cells, and the relationship between these factors and patient survival. METHODS In total, 69 resections of ICC were stained by immunohistochemistry for PD-L1, programmed death factor-1 (PD-1), and CD8+ T cells. CD8+ T-cell densities were analyzed both within tumors and at the tumor-stromal interface. Patient survival was predicted based on the PD-L1 status and CD8+ T-cell density. RESULTS The expression rate of PD-L1 was 12% in cancer cells and 51% in interstitial cells. The expression rate of PD-1 was 30%, and the number of CD8+ T-cells increased with the increase of PD-L1 expression (p < 0.05). The expression of PD-L1 in the tumor was correlated with poor overall survival(OS) (p = 0.004), and the number of tumor and interstitial CD8+ T-cells was correlated with poor OS and disease-free survival (DFS) (All p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The expression of PD-L1 in the tumor is related to poor OS, and the number of tumor or interstitial CD8+ T-cells is related to poor OS and DFS. For patients who lose their chance of surgery, PD-L1 immunosuppressive therapy may be the focus of future research as a potential treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Deng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shao-Hua Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu Fu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhong-Shan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Peng Yan
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhong-Shan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu-Dong Qiu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhong-Shan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Rong-Ping Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
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46
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Charalampakis N, Papageorgiou G, Tsakatikas S, Fioretzaki R, Kole C, Kykalos S, Tolia M, Schizas D. Immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma: a 2021 update. Immunotherapy 2021; 13:1113-1134. [PMID: 34190581 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare malignancy with generally dismal prognosis. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the management of cancer patients during the last decade, offering durable responses with an acceptable safety profile, but there are still no significant advances regarding CCA. Novel immunotherapeutic methods, such as cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, adoptive cell therapy and combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with other agents are currently under investigation and may improve prognosis. Efforts to find robust biomarkers for response are also ongoing. In this review, we discuss the rationale for the use of immunotherapy in CCA and available clinical data. Ongoing trials will also be presented, as well as key findings from each study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Charalampakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, 185 37, Greece
| | - Georgios Papageorgiou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, 185 37, Greece
| | - Sergios Tsakatikas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, 185 37, Greece
| | - Rodanthi Fioretzaki
- Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, 185 37, Greece
| | - Christo Kole
- First Department of Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, 115 27, Greece
| | - Stylianos Kykalos
- Second Propedeutic Department of Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, 115 27, Greece
| | - Maria Tolia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Crete, Voutes, 71110, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Schizas
- First Department of Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, 115 27, Greece
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Lomphithak T, Akara-Amornthum P, Murakami K, Hashimoto M, Usubuchi H, Iwabuchi E, Unno M, Cai Z, Sasano H, Jitkaew S. Tumor necroptosis is correlated with a favorable immune cell signature and programmed death-ligand 1 expression in cholangiocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11743. [PMID: 34083572 PMCID: PMC8175514 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89977-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Necroptosis, a regulated form of necrosis, has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy that could enhance cancer immunotherapy. However, its role in tumorigenesis is still debated because recent studies have reported both anti- and pro-tumoral effects. Here, we aimed to systematically evaluate the associations between tumor necroptosis (mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein, MLKL; phosphorylated MLKL, pMLKL; and receptor-interacting protein kinase 1-receptor-interacting protein kinase 3, RIPK1-RIPK3 interaction) and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (CD8+ and FOXp3+ T cells and CD163+ M2 macrophages) and tumor PD-L1 by immunohistochemistry in 88 cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients who had undergone surgical resection. Their associations with clinicopathological characteristics, survival data, and prognosis were evaluated. MLKL was found to be an unfavorable prognostic factor (p-value = 0.023, HR = 2.070) and was inversely correlated with a clinically favorable immune cell signature (high CD8+/high FOXp3+/low CD163+). Both pMLKL and RIPK1-RIPK3 interaction were detected in CCA primary tissues. In contrast to MLKL, pMLKL status was significantly positively correlated with a favorable immune signature (high CD8+/high FOXp3+/low CD163+) and PD-L1 expression. Patients with high pMLKL-positive staining were significantly associated with an increased abundance of CD8+ T cell intratumoral infiltration (p-value = 0.006). Patients with high pMLKL and PD-L1 expressions had a longer overall survival (OS). The results from in vitro experiments showed that necroptosis activation in an RMCCA-1 human CCA cell line selectively promoted proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression. Jurkat T cells stimulated with necroptotic RMCCA-1-derived conditioned medium promoted PD-L1 expression in RMCCA-1. Our findings demonstrated the differential associations of necroptosis activation (pMLKL) and MLKL with a clinically favorable immune signature and survival rates and highlighted a novel therapeutic possibility for combining a necroptosis-based therapeutic approach with immune checkpoint inhibitors for more efficient treatment of CCA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanpisit Lomphithak
- Graduate Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Perawatt Akara-Amornthum
- Graduate Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Keigo Murakami
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Hashimoto
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hajime Usubuchi
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Erina Iwabuchi
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Michiaki Unno
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 98-8075, Japan
| | - Zhenyu Cai
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Siriporn Jitkaew
- Age-Related Inflammation and Degeneration Research Unit, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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48
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Yao WY, Gong W. Immunotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma: From concept to clinical trials. SURGERY IN PRACTICE AND SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sipas.2021.100028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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49
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Zhou M, Wang C, Lu S, Xu Y, Li Z, Jiang H, Ma Y. Tumor-associated macrophages in cholangiocarcinoma: complex interplay and potential therapeutic target. EBioMedicine 2021; 67:103375. [PMID: 33993051 PMCID: PMC8134032 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive and multifactorial malignancy of the biliary tract. The carcinogenesis of CCA is associated with genomic and epigenetic abnormalities, as well as environmental effects. However, early clinical diagnosis and reliable treatment strategies of CCA remain unsatisfactory. Multiple compartments of the tumor microenvironment significantly affect the progression of CCA. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a type of plastic immune cells that are recruited and activated in the CCA microenvironment, especially at the tumor invasive front and perivascular sites. TAMs create a favorable environment that benefits CCA growth by closely interacting with CCA cells and other stromal cells via releasing multiple protumor factors. In addition, TAMs exert immunosuppressive and antichemotherapeutic effects, thus intensifying the malignancy. Targeting TAMs may provide an improved understanding of, and novel therapeutic approaches for, CCA. This review focuses on revealing the interplay between TAMs and CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghua Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of Hepatic Minimal Invasive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Chaoqun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of Hepatic Minimal Invasive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Shounan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of Hepatic Minimal Invasive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Yanan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of Hepatic Minimal Invasive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Zihao Li
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of Hepatic Minimal Invasive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Hongchi Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of Hepatic Minimal Invasive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
| | - Yong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Department of Hepatic Minimal Invasive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
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50
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Novel Pharmacological Options in the Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma: Mechanisms of Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102358. [PMID: 34068398 PMCID: PMC8153564 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cholangiocarcinoma, a tumor derived from epithelial cells of the biliary tree, is characterized by a dismal prognosis. Its late diagnosis, which makes surgical resection not an option for most patients, and its marked refractoriness to standard chemotherapy, justify its high position in the rank of the most lethal cancers. Identifying specific druggable genetic alterations constitutes a promising alternative for the use of personalized targeted anticancer agents, and immunotherapy, or drugs able to interact with proteins involved in the crosstalk between cancer and immune cells, could also be an option in the future. However, it has also been observed that some patients fail to respond to these new therapies or after an initial response, the disease progresses. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of pharmacoresistance is of utmost importance to design more effective treatments. Abstract Despite the crucial advances in understanding the biology of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) achieved during the last decade, very little of this knowledge has been translated into clinical practice. Thus, CCA prognosis is among the most dismal of solid tumors. The reason is the frequent late diagnosis of this form of cancer, which makes surgical removal of the tumor impossible, together with the poor response to standard chemotherapy and targeted therapy with inhibitors of tyrosine kinase receptors. The discovery of genetic alterations with an impact on the malignant characteristics of CCA, such as proliferation, invasiveness, and the ability to generate metastases, has led to envisage to treat these patients with selective inhibitors of mutated proteins. Moreover, the hope of developing new tools to improve the dismal outcome of patients with advanced CCA also includes the use of small molecules and antibodies able to interact with proteins involved in the crosstalk between cancer and immune cells with the aim of enhancing the immune system’s attack against the tumor. The lack of effect of these new therapies in some patients with CCA is associated with the ability of tumor cells to continuously adapt to the pharmacological pressure by developing different mechanisms of resistance. However, the available information about these mechanisms for the new drugs and how they evolve is still limited.
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