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Ciccolella M, Andreone S, Mancini J, Sestili P, Negri D, Pacca AM, D’Urso MT, Macchia D, Canese R, Pang K, SaiYing Ko T, Decadt Y, Schiavoni G, Mattei F, Belardelli F, Aricò E, Bracci L. Anticancer Effects of Sublingual Type I IFN in Combination with Chemotherapy in Implantable and Spontaneous Tumor Models. Cells 2021; 10:845. [PMID: 33917958 PMCID: PMC8068355 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Salivary gland tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms representing less than 10% of all head and neck tumors. Among salivary gland tumors, salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare, but highly aggressive malignant tumor resembling ductal breast carcinoma. Sublingual treatments are promising for SDC due to the induction of both local and systemic biological effects and to reduced systemic toxicity compared to other administration routes. In the present study, we first established that the sublingual administration of type I IFN (IFN-I) is safe and feasible, and exerts antitumor effects both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy in transplantable tumor models, i.e., B16-OVA melanoma and EG.7-OVA lymphoma. Subsequently, we proved that sublingual IFN-I in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX) induces a long-lasting reduction of tumor mass in NeuT transgenic mice that spontaneously develop SDC. Most importantly, tumor shrinkage in NeuT transgenic micewas accompanied by the emergence of tumor-specific cellular immune responses both in the blood and in the tumor tissue. Altogether, these results provide evidence that sublingual IFN holds promise in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ciccolella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Sara Andreone
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Jacopo Mancini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Paola Sestili
- National Center for the Control and Evaluation of Medicines, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Donatella Negri
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Anna Maria Pacca
- Animal Research and Welfare Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.M.P.); (M.T.D.); (D.M.)
| | - Maria Teresa D’Urso
- Animal Research and Welfare Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.M.P.); (M.T.D.); (D.M.)
| | - Daniele Macchia
- Animal Research and Welfare Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.M.P.); (M.T.D.); (D.M.)
| | - Rossella Canese
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Ken Pang
- Biolingus AG, CH-6052 Hergiswil NW, Switzerland; (K.P.); (T.S.K.); (Y.D.)
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville 3052, Australia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Thomas SaiYing Ko
- Biolingus AG, CH-6052 Hergiswil NW, Switzerland; (K.P.); (T.S.K.); (Y.D.)
| | - Yves Decadt
- Biolingus AG, CH-6052 Hergiswil NW, Switzerland; (K.P.); (T.S.K.); (Y.D.)
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Fabrizio Mattei
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
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Maletzki C, Wiegele L, Nassar I, Stenzel J, Junghanss C. Chemo-immunotherapy improves long-term survival in a preclinical model of MMR-D-related cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:8. [PMID: 30630527 PMCID: PMC6329128 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-018-0476-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mismatch Repair Deficiency (MMR-D)-related tumors are highly immunogenic and constitute ideal vaccination targets. In a proof-of-concept study delayed tumorigenesis and prolonged survival has been shown in a clinically-relevant mouse model for MMR-D-related diseases (=MLH1 knock out mice). To refine this approach, vaccination was combined with immune modulatory low-dose chemotherapy to polarize immune regulatory subtypes. METHODS Mice (prophylactic: 8-10 weeks; therapeutic: > 36 weeks) received a single injection of cyclophosphamide (CPX, 120 mg/kg bw, i.p.) or gemcitabine (GEM, 100 mg/kg bw, i.p.) prior to vaccination (lysate of a gastrointestinal tumor allograft, 10 mg/kg bw, n = 9 mice/group). The vaccine was given repetitively (10 mg/kg bw, s.c., 4 x / once a week, followed by monthly boosts) until tumor formation or progression. Tumor growth ([18F] FDG PET/CT imaging) and immune responses were monitored (flow cytometry, IFNγ ELISpot). The microenvironment was analyzed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS Prophylactic application of GEM + lysate delayed tumorigenesis compared to lysate monotherapy and CPX-pre-treatment (median time of onset: 53 vs. 47 vs. 48 weeks). 33% of mice even remained tumor-free until the experimental endpoint (= 65 weeks). This was accompanied by long-term effect on cytokine plasma levels; splenic myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) as well as regulatory T cell numbers. Assessment of tumor microenvironment from GEM + lysate treated mice revealed low numbers of MDSCs, but enhanced T cell infiltration, in some cases co-expressing PD-L1. Therapeutic chemo-immunotherapy (GEM + lysate) had minor impact on overall survival (median time: 12 (GEM + lysate) vs. 11.5 (lysate) vs. 3 weeks (control)), but induced complete remission in one case. Dendritic and T cell infiltrates increased in both treatment groups. Reactive T cells specifically recognized MLH1-/- tumor cells in IFNγ ELISpot, but lacked response towards NK cell targets YAC-1. CONCLUSIONS Combined chemo-immunotherapy impairs tumor onset and growth likely attributable to modulation of immune responses. Depleting or 're-educating' immunosuppressive cell types, such as MDSC, may help moving a step closer to combat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Maletzki
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Leonie Wiegele
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Ingy Nassar
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jan Stenzel
- Core Facility Multimodal Small Animal Imaging, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 69a, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Christian Junghanss
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
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Castiello L, Sestili P, Schiavoni G, Dattilo R, Monque DM, Ciaffoni F, Iezzi M, Lamolinara A, Sistigu A, Moschella F, Pacca AM, Macchia D, Ferrantini M, Zeuner A, Biffoni M, Proietti E, Belardelli F, Aricò E. Disruption of IFN-I Signaling Promotes HER2/Neu Tumor Progression and Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 6:658-670. [PMID: 29622580 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Type I interferon (IFN-I) is a class of antiviral immunomodulatory cytokines involved in many stages of tumor initiation and progression. IFN-I acts directly on tumor cells to inhibit cell growth and indirectly by activating immune cells to mount antitumor responses. To understand the role of endogenous IFN-I in spontaneous, oncogene-driven carcinogenesis, we characterized tumors arising in HER2/neu transgenic (neuT) mice carrying a nonfunctional mutation in the IFNI receptor (IFNAR1). Such mice are unresponsive to this family of cytokines. Compared with parental neu+/- mice (neuT mice), IFNAR1-/- neu+/- mice (IFNAR-neuT mice) showed earlier onset and increased tumor multiplicity with marked vascularization. IFNAR-neuT tumors exhibited deregulation of genes having adverse prognostic value in breast cancer patients, including the breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) marker aldehyde dehydrogenase-1A1 (ALDH1A1). An increased number of BCSCs were observed in IFNAR-neuT tumors, as assessed by ALDH1A1 enzymatic activity, clonogenic assay, and tumorigenic capacity. In vitro exposure of neuT+ mammospheres and cell lines to antibodies to IFN-I resulted in increased frequency of ALDH+ cells, suggesting that IFN-I controls stemness in tumor cells. Altogether, these results reveal a role of IFN-I in neuT-driven spontaneous carcinogenesis through intrinsic control of BCSCs. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(6); 658-70. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Castiello
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sestili
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosanna Dattilo
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenica M Monque
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Ciaffoni
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Iezzi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSi-Met), G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Alessia Lamolinara
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSi-Met), G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Antonella Sistigu
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Department of General Pathology and Physiopathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Moschella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Pacca
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Macchia
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Ferrantini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ann Zeuner
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Biffoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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Anticoli S, Aricò E, Arenaccio C, Manfredi F, Chiozzini C, Olivetta E, Ferrantelli F, Lattanzi L, D'Urso MT, Proietti E, Federico M. Engineered exosomes emerging from muscle cells break immune tolerance to HER2 in transgenic mice and induce antigen-specific CTLs upon challenge by human dendritic cells. J Mol Med (Berl) 2017; 96:211-221. [PMID: 29282521 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-017-1617-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We recently described a novel biotechnological platform for the production of unrestricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) vaccines. It relies on in vivo engineering of exosomes, i.e., nanovesicles constitutively released by all cells, with full-length antigens of choice upon fusion with an exosome-anchoring protein referred to as Nefmut. They are produced upon intramuscular injection of a DNA vector and, when uploaded with a viral tumor antigen, were found to elicit an immune response inhibiting the tumor growth in a model of transplantable tumors. However, for a possible application in cancer immunotherapy, a number of key issues remained unmet. Among these, we investigated: (i) whether the immunogenic stimulus induced by the engineered exosomes can break immune tolerance, and (ii) their effectiveness when applied in human system. As a model of immune tolerance, we considered mice transgenic for the expression of activated rat HER2/neu which spontaneously develop adenocarcinomas in all mammary glands. When these mice were injected with a DNA vector expressing the product of fusion between Nefmut and the extracellular domain of HER2/neu, antigen-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes became readily detectable. This immune response associated with a HER2-directed CTL activity and a significant delay in tumor development. On the other hand, through cross-priming experiments, we demonstrated the effectiveness of the engineered exosomes emerging from transfected human primary muscle cells in inducing antigen-specific CTLs. We propose our CTL vaccine platform as part of new immunotherapy strategies against tumors expressing self-antigens, i.e., products highly expressed in oncologic lesions but tolerated by the immune system. KEY MESSAGES We established a novel, exosome-based method to produce unrestricted CTL vaccines. This strategy is effective in breaking the tolerance towards tumor self-antigens. Our method is also useful to elicit antigen-specific CTL immunity in humans. These findings open the way towards the use of this antitumor strategy in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Anticoli
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- FabioCell, Core Facilities, ISS, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Arenaccio
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Manfredi
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Chiozzini
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Olivetta
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Ferrantelli
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Lattanzi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, ISS, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa D'Urso
- National Center for Animal Experimentation and Health, ISS, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, ISS, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Federico
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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