Ipilimumab in prostate cancer

Subtype and prognostic analysis of immunogenic cell death-related gene signature in prostate cancer

Background

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) plays a vital role in tumor progression and immune response. However, the integrative role of ICD-related genes and subtypes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unknown.

Materials and methods

The sample data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) prostate cancer-related databases. We first divided the subtypes based on ICD genes from 901 PCa patients and then identified the prognosis- related genes (PRGs) between different ICD subtypes. Subsequently, all the patients were randomly split into the training and test groups. We developed a risk signature in the training set by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox regression. Following this, we verified this prognostic signature in both the training test and external test sets. The relationships between the different subgroups and clinical pathological characteristics, immune infiltration characteristics, and mutation status of the TME were examined. Finally, the artificial neural network (ANN) and fundamental experiment study were constructed to verify the accuracy of the prognostic signature.

Results

We identified two ICD clusters with immunological features and three gene clusters composed of PRGs. Additionally, we demonstrated that the risk signature can be used to evaluate tumor immune cell infiltration, prognostic status, and an immune checkpoint inhibitor. The low-risk group, which has a high overlap with group C of the gene cluster, is characterized by high ICD levels, immunocompetence, and favorable survival probability. Furthermore, the tumor progression genes selected by the ANN also exhibit potential associations with risk signature genes.

Conclusion

This study identified individuals with high ICD levels in prostate cancer who may have more abundant immune infiltration and revealed the potential effects of risk signature on the TME, immune checkpoint inhibitor, and prognosis of PCa.

Next-generation cancer vaccine approaches: integrating lessons learned from current successes with promising biotechnologic advances

With the recent approval of sipuleucel-T for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and ipilimumab for metastatic melanoma, there is increasing excitement in the field of cancer immunotherapy. A large number of clinical trials are currently testing various vaccine vectors in a diverse array of cancer types. Which of these strategies will ultimately prove successful has yet to be determined. However, a better understanding of the complex interplay of tumor-specific T cells and the challenges faced at the tumor microenvironment, advances in biotechnology, and lessons learned from prior successes and failures will likely lead to approvals of other therapeutic cancer vaccines.

γδ T cells for cancer immunotherapy: A systematic review of clinical trials

γδ T cells contribute to the front line of lymphoid antitumor surveillance and bridge the gap between innate and adaptive immunity. They can be readily expanded to high numbers in vivo and in vitro, starting from the blood of cancer patients, and a number of Phase I trials have demonstrated that these cells can be employed in cancer immunotherapy. Sufficient patients have received γδ T cell-based immunotherapies in the context of clinical trials to evaluate their utility, and to inform the direction of new trials. A systematic approach was used to identify Phase I, Phase II, and feasibility studies testing γδ T cell-based immunotherapy in cancer patients. Studies were excluded from further analysis if they did not provide patient-specific data. Data were compiled to evaluate efficacy, with stratification by treatment approach. When possible, comparisons were made with the efficacy of second-line conventional therapeutic approaches for the same malignancy. Twelve eligible studies were identified, providing information on 157 patients who had received γδ T cell-based immunotherapy. The comparison of objective response data suggests that γδ T cell-based immunotherapy is superior to current second-line therapies for advanced renal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer, but not for non-small cell lung carcinoma. An evaluation of pooled data from 132 published in vitro experiments shows a consistent improvement in the cytotoxicity of γδ T cells in the presence of antitumor antibodies. Immunotherapy using γδ T cells alone shows promising clinical activity, but there is a strong preclinical rationale for combining this treatment modality with cancer-targeting antibodies to augment its efficacy.

Update on the challenges and recent advances in cancer immunotherapy

This overview provides an analysis of some of the immunotherapies currently in use and under investigation, with a special focus on the tumor microenvironment, which we believe is a major factor responsible for the general failure of immunotherapy to date. It is our expectation that combining immunotherapy with methods of altering the tumor microenvironment and targeting regulatory T cells and myeloid cells will yield favorable results.