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Kciuk M, Yahya EB, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed M, Rashid S, Iqbal MO, Kontek R, Abdulsamad MA, Allaq AA. Recent Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2721. [PMID: 37345057 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is among the current leading causes of death worldwide, despite the novel advances that have been made toward its treatment, it is still considered a major public health concern. Considering both the serious impact of cancer on public health and the significant side effects and complications of conventional therapeutic options, the current strategies towards targeted cancer therapy must be enhanced to avoid undesired toxicity. Cancer immunotherapy has become preferable among researchers in recent years compared to conventional therapeutic options, such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. The understanding of how to control immune checkpoints, develop therapeutic cancer vaccines, genetically modify immune cells as well as enhance the activation of antitumor immune response led to the development of novel cancer treatments. In this review, we address recent advances in cancer immunotherapy molecular mechanisms. Different immunotherapeutic approaches are critically discussed, focusing on the challenges, potential risks, and prospects involving their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Kciuk
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Genetics, University of Lodz, Banacha Street 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Lodz, Banacha Street 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
| | - Esam Bashir Yahya
- Bioprocess Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | | | - Summya Rashid
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Omer Iqbal
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Glycoscience and Glycoengineering, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Renata Kontek
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Genetics, University of Lodz, Banacha Street 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
| | - Muhanad A Abdulsamad
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Sabratha University, Sabratha 00218, Libya
| | - Abdulmutalib A Allaq
- Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Malaysia
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Bleve A, Durante B, Sica A, Consonni FM. Lipid Metabolism and Cancer Immunotherapy: Immunosuppressive Myeloid Cells at the Crossroad. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165845. [PMID: 32823961 PMCID: PMC7461616 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer progression generates a chronic inflammatory state that dramatically influences hematopoiesis, originating different subsets of immune cells that can exert pro- or anti-tumor roles. Commitment towards one of these opposing phenotypes is driven by inflammatory and metabolic stimuli derived from the tumor-microenvironment (TME). Current immunotherapy protocols are based on the reprogramming of both specific and innate immune responses, in order to boost the intrinsic anti-tumoral activity of both compartments. Growing pre-clinical and clinical evidence highlights the key role of metabolism as a major influence on both immune and clinical responses of cancer patients. Indeed, nutrient competition (i.e., amino acids, glucose, fatty acids) between proliferating cancer cells and immune cells, together with inflammatory mediators, drastically affect the functionality of innate and adaptive immune cells, as well as their functional cross-talk. This review discusses new advances on the complex interplay between cancer-related inflammation, myeloid cell differentiation and lipid metabolism, highlighting the therapeutic potential of metabolic interventions as modulators of anticancer immune responses and catalysts of anticancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augusto Bleve
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Largo Donegani, 2-28100 Novara, Italy; (A.B.); (B.D.); (F.M.C.)
| | - Barbara Durante
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Largo Donegani, 2-28100 Novara, Italy; (A.B.); (B.D.); (F.M.C.)
| | - Antonio Sica
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Largo Donegani, 2-28100 Novara, Italy; (A.B.); (B.D.); (F.M.C.)
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center–IRCCS–, via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-(0)-321-375881; Fax: +39-(0)-321-375821
| | - Francesca Maria Consonni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Largo Donegani, 2-28100 Novara, Italy; (A.B.); (B.D.); (F.M.C.)
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Li L, Zheng Y, Zheng Q, Jiang J. Mechanism of inhibiting proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma Hepa1-6 cells by embryonic stem cell-conditioned medium. Exp Ther Med 2020; 19:2406-2414. [PMID: 32226485 PMCID: PMC7092933 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.8527] [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: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative effect of embryonic stem cell-conditioned medium (ESC-CM) on the mouse liver cancer Hepa1-6 cells in vitro. Furthermore, in order to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism, the microRNAs (miRNAs) in ESC-CM associated with the inhibition of Hepa1-6 proliferation were identified. Following the co-culture of ESC-CM and Hepa1-6 in Transwell chambers, the proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and associated protein expression were determined in Hepal-6 cells. Moreover, miRNA array analysis was employed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. Based on the differentially expressed miRNAs, the target genes and potential associated signaling pathways were determined. Finally, RT-qPCR was conducted to confirm the above results. The ESC-CM inhibited Hepal-6 cell proliferation and increased the percentage of cells at G1 phase and decreased the percentage of cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. The expression of cyclin D1/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/CDK6 was decreased following co-culture, with no effect on cell apoptosis. Six significantly regulated miRNAs were identified and 423 putative target genes of these regulated miRNAs were predicted. Gene ontology analysis revealed the putative target genes to be associated with the ‘DNA replication (GO: 0006260)’ GO term, ‘apoptosis’ and ‘signal transduction’. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis indicated that deregulated miRNAs were enriched in the Wnt signaling (KEGG entry: Map 04310) and Hippo signaling pathways (KEGG entry: Map 04390), pathways associated with cancer. Overall, the present study demonstrated the inhibition of Hepa1-6 cell line proliferation upon treatment with ESC-CM, by decreasing cell cycle-associated protein cyclin D1/CDK4/CDK6 expression and arresting cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle, with no effect on cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the inhibition of proliferation by ESC-CM may be mediated by miRNAs that affect cell cycle-associated mRNAs and the Wnt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longqin Li
- Liver Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Yichao Zheng
- Liver Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Qi Zheng
- Liver Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Jiaji Jiang
- Liver Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
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Villanueva N, Bazhenova L. New strategies in immunotherapy for lung cancer: beyond PD-1/PD-L1. Ther Adv Respir Dis 2018; 12:1753466618794133. [PMID: 30215300 PMCID: PMC6144513 DOI: 10.1177/1753466618794133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has significantly altered the treatment landscape for many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently approved immuno-oncology agents for lung cancer are aimed at the reversal of immune checkpoints, programmed death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). Although responses to checkpoint inhibitors are encouraging, and in some cases durable, these successes are not universal among all treated patients. In order to optimize our treatment approach utilizing immunotherapy, we must better understand the interaction between cancer and the immune system and evasion mechanisms. In this review, we will provide an overview of the immune system and cancer, and review novel therapies that promote tumor antigen release for immune system detection, activate the effector T-cell response, and reverse inhibitory antitumor signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Villanueva
- University of California, San Diego, Moore’s Cancer Center, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lyudmila Bazhenova
- 3855 Health Sciences Drive, #0987 La Jolla, University of California, San Diego, Moore’s Cancer Center, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
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McDonald F, De Waele M, Hendriks LEL, Faivre-Finn C, Dingemans AMC, Van Schil PE. Management of stage I and II nonsmall cell lung cancer. Eur Respir J 2017; 49:1600764. [PMID: 28049169 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00764-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of stage I and II nonsmall cell lung cancer is likely to increase with the ageing population and introduction of screening for high-risk individuals. Optimal management requires multidisciplinary collaboration. Local treatments include surgery and radiotherapy and these are currently combined with (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy in specific cases to improve long-term outcome. Targeted therapies and immunotherapy may also become important therapeutic modalities in this patient group. For resectable disease in patients with low cardiopulmonary risk, complete surgical resection with lobectomy remains the gold standard. Minimally invasive techniques, conservative and sublobar resections are suitable for a subset of patients. Data are emerging that radiotherapy, especially stereotactic body radiation therapy, is a valid alternative in compromised patients who are high-risk candidates for surgery. Whether this is also true for good surgical candidates remains to be evaluated in randomised trials. In specific subgroups adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to prolong survival; however, patient selection remains important. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may yield similar results as adjuvant chemotherapy. The role of targeted therapies and immunotherapy in early stage nonsmall cell lung cancer has not yet been determined and results of randomised trials are awaited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona McDonald
- Dept of Radiotherapy, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, UK
- These authors equally contributed to this manuscript
| | - Michèle De Waele
- Dept of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- These authors equally contributed to this manuscript
| | - Lizza E L Hendriks
- Dept of Respiratory Disease, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- These authors equally contributed to this manuscript
| | - Corinne Faivre-Finn
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Radiotherapy Related Research, Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Anne-Marie C Dingemans
- Dept of Respiratory Disease, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Paul E Van Schil
- Dept of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
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Veit JA, Heine D, Thierauf J, Lennerz J, Shetty S, Schuler PJ, Whiteside T, Beutner D, Meyer M, Grünewald I, Ritter G, Gnjatic S, Sikora AG, Hoffmann TK, Laban S. Expression and clinical significance of MAGE and NY-ESO-1 cancer-testis antigens in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. Head Neck 2016; 38:1008-16. [PMID: 26874246 DOI: 10.1002/hed.24403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is a rare but highly malignant tumor. Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) represent an immunogenic family of cancer-specific proteins and thus represent an attractive target for immunotherapy. METHODS Eighty-four cases of ACC were identified, the CTAs pan-Melanoma antigen (pan-MAGE; M3H67) and New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (NY-ESO-1; E978) were detected immunohistochemically (IHC) and correlated with clinical data. RESULTS Expression of NY-ESO-1 was found in 48 of 84 patients (57.1%) and of pan-MAGE in 28 of 84 patients (31.2%). Median overall survival (OS) in NY-ESO-1 positive versus negative patients was 130.8 and 282.0 months (p = .223), respectively. OS in pan-MAGE positive versus negative patients was 105.3 and 190.5 months, respectively (p = .096). Patients expressing both NY-ESO-1 and pan-MAGE simultaneously had significantly reduced OS with a median of 90.5 months compared with 282.0 months in negative patients (p = .047). CONCLUSION A significant fraction of patients with ACC show expression of the CTAs NY-ESO-1 and/or pan-MAGE with promising immunotherapeutic implications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1008-1016, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes A Veit
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniela Heine
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Julia Thierauf
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jochen Lennerz
- Department of Pathology, Center for Integrated Diagnostics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Subasch Shetty
- Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Kensington Hospital, Whangarei, New Zealand
| | - Patrick J Schuler
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Theresa Whiteside
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Dirk Beutner
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Moritz Meyer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Inga Grünewald
- Institute of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gerd Ritter
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sacha Gnjatic
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
| | - Andrew G Sikora
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Thomas K Hoffmann
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Simon Laban
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Baxevanis CN, Anastasopoulou EA, Voutsas IF, Papamichail M, Perez SA. Immune biomarkers: how well do they serve prognosis in human cancers? Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2014; 15:49-59. [PMID: 25345403 DOI: 10.1586/14737159.2015.965684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In order to be optimally efficacious, therapeutic cancer vaccines must induce robust tumor-specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells, which are responsible for tumor cell lysis. Unlike cytotoxic drugs, which act directly on the tumor, cancer vaccines demonstrate new kinetics involving the generation of specific cellular immune responses, which need to be translated into antitumor responses to delay tumor progression and improve survival. These delayed kinetics of action establish a new concept of benefit in the long term, which implies a slow down in tumor growth rates, than a marked reduction in tumor size. Therefore, there is a significant need to identify intermediate biomarkers so that clinical responses can be evaluated in a timely manner. Therapeutic vaccination as a modality for cancer treatment has received significant attention with multiple clinical trials demonstrating improvements in overall survival. Significant challenges to this modality remain, including increasing vaccine potency and minimizing treatment-related toxicities and identifying prognostic and predictive biomarkers of clinical benefit that may guide to select and optimize the therapeutic strategies for patients most likely to gain benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantin N Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras avenue, Athens 11522, Greece
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