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Lin Q, Wang X, Hu Y. The opportunities and challenges in immunotherapy: Insights from the regulation of PD-L1 in cancer cells. Cancer Lett 2023:216318. [PMID: 37454966 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The immunosuppressive molecule programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is frequently upregulated in human cancers. Binding of PD-L1 to its receptor, programmed death-1 (PD-1), on activated T cells facilitates cancer cells to evade the host immune system. Antibody-based PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors can inhibit PD-1/PD-L1 interaction allowing reactivate cytotoxic T cells to eradicate advanced cancer cells. However, the majority of cancer patients fail to respond to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies and the molecular mechanisms for this remain poorly understood. Recent studies show that PD-L1 expression level on tumor cells affect the clinical efficacy of immune checkpoint therapies. Thus, furthering our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of PD-L1 expression in cancer cells will be critical to improve clinical response rates and the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 immune therapies. Here we review recent studies, primarily focusing on the mechanisms that regulate PD-L1 expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and protein level, with the purpose to drive the development of more targeted and effective anti-PD-1/PD-L1 cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyu Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China; Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China
| | - Xingwen Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China; Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China
| | - Ying Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China; Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China.
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Inchakalody VP, Hydrose SP, Krishnankutty R, Merhi M, Therachiyil L, Sasidharan Nair V, Elashi AA, Khan AQ, Taleb S, Raza A, Yoosuf ZSKM, Fernandes Q, Al-Zaidan L, Mestiri S, Taib N, Bedhiafi T, Moustafa D, Assami L, Maalej KM, Elkord E, Uddin S, Al Homsi U, Dermime S. The molecular mechanisms of apoptosis accompanied with the epigenetic regulation of the NY-ESO-1 antigen in non-small lung cancer cells treated with decitabine (5-aza-CdR). Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 945:175612. [PMID: 36822455 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulated epigenetic modifications are common in lung cancer but have been reversed using demethylating agent like 5-Aza-CdR. 5-Aza-CdR induces/upregulates the NY-ESO-1 antigen in lung cancer. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms accompanied with the epigenetic regulation of NY-ESO-1 in 5-Aza-CdR-treated NCI-H1975 cell line. We showed significant induction of the NY-ESO-1 protein (**p < 0.0097) using Cellular ELISA. Bisulfite-sequencing demonstrated 45.6% demethylation efficiency at the NY-ESO-1 gene promoter region and RT-qPCR analysis confirmed the significant induction of NY-ESO-1 at mRNA level (128-fold increase, *p < 0.050). We then investigated the mechanism by which 5-Aza-CdR inhibits cell proliferation in the NCI-H1975 cell line. Upregulation of the death receptors TRAIL (2.04-fold *p < 0.011) and FAS (2.1-fold *p < 0.011) indicate activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. The upregulation of Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1 (1.9-fold), Major vault protein (1.8-fold), Bax (1.16-fold), and Cytochrome C (1.39-fold) indicate the activation of the intrinsic pathway. We also observed the differential expression of protein Complement C3 (3.3-fold), Destrin (-5.1-fold), Vimentin (-1.7-fold), Peroxiredoxin 4 (-1.6-fold), Fascin (-1.8-fold), Heme oxygenase-2 (-0.67-fold**p < 0.0055), Hsp27 (-0.57-fold**p < 0.004), and Hsp70 (-0.39-fold **p < 0.001), indicating reduced cell growth, cell migration, and metastasis. The upregulation of 40S ribosomal protein S9 (3-fold), 40S ribosomal protein S15 (4.2-fold), 40S ribosomal protein S18 (2.5-fold), and 60S ribosomal protein L22 (4.4-fold) implied the induction of translation machinery. These results reiterate the decisive role of 5-Aza-CdR in lung cancer treatment since it induces the epigenetic regulation of NY-ESO-1 antigen, inhibits cell proliferation, increases apoptosis, and decreases invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varghese P Inchakalody
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shereena P Hydrose
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Roopesh Krishnankutty
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Maysaloun Merhi
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Lubna Therachiyil
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Varun Sasidharan Nair
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Germany
| | - Asma A Elashi
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdul Q Khan
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sara Taleb
- Genomics and Precision Medicine, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Afsheen Raza
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Zeenath Safira K M Yoosuf
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Queenie Fernandes
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Lobna Al-Zaidan
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sarra Mestiri
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nassiba Taib
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Takwa Bedhiafi
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dina Moustafa
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Laila Assami
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Karama Makni Maalej
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Eyad Elkord
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Oman; Biomedical Research Center, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ussama Al Homsi
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Said Dermime
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Translational Cancer Research Facility, Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
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Almutairi MH, Alrubie TM, Almutairi BO, Alamri AM, Alrefaei AF, Arafah MM, Alanazi M, Semlali A. The Expression Patterns of Human Cancer-Testis Genes Are Induced through Epigenetic Drugs in Colon Cancer Cells. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:1319. [PMID: 36355490 PMCID: PMC9692864 DOI: 10.3390/ph15111319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The expression of human germline genes is restricted to the germ cells of the gonads, which produce sperm and eggs. The germline genes involved in testis development and potentially activated in cancer cells are known as cancer-testis (CT) genes. These genes are potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers, as well as drivers of the oncogenic process. CT genes can be reactivated by treatment with drugs that demethylate DNA. The majority of the existing literature on CT gene activation focuses on X-chromosome-produced CT genes. We tested the hypothesis that epigenetic landscape changes, such as DNA methylation, can alter several CT gene expression profiles in cancer and germ cells. METHODS Colon cancer (CC) cell lines were treated with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, or with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) trichostatin A (TSA). The effects of these epigenetic treatments on the transcriptional activation of previously published CT genes (CTAG1A, SCP2D1, TKTL2, LYZL6, TEX33, and ACTRT1) and testis-specific genes (NUTM1, ASB17, ZSWIM2, ADAM2, and C10orf82) were investigated. RESULTS We found that treatment of CC cell lines with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine or TSA correlated with activation of X-encoded CT genes and non-X-encoded CT genes in somatic (non-germline) cells. CONCLUSION These findings confirm that a subset of CT genes can be regulated by hypomethylating drugs and subsequently provide a potential therapeutic target for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhlid H. Almutairi
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Turki M. Alrubie
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bader O. Almutairi
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M. Alamri
- Genome Research Chair, Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulwahed F. Alrefaei
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha M. Arafah
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Alanazi
- Genome Research Chair, Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelhabib Semlali
- Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Buccale, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université Laval, 2420 Rue de la Terrasse, Local 1758, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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PD-L1 regulation revisited: impact on immunotherapeutic strategies. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:868-881. [PMID: 34187739 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A particularly promising cancer treatment is the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against immune checkpoints (i.e., immune checkpoint inhibitors; ICIs). However, many patients experience relapse and severe adverse events. To overcome these negative issues and improve efficiency, current approaches rely on combinatorial treatments, including some modulating the expression of programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoints directly. In this review, we examine the recently discovered pathways involved in PD-L1 expression and highlight the relevant druggable strategies that are being developed to both improve the response rate and avoid the onset of resistance. Altogether, these new strategies will pave the way for effective treatment combinations in future oncology clinical trials.
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Sakane T, Murase T, Okuda K, Masaki A, Nakanishi R, Inagaki H. Expression of cancer testis antigens in thymic epithelial tumors. Pathol Int 2021; 71:471-479. [PMID: 33902161 DOI: 10.1111/pin.13103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are detected in cancer cells but not in healthy normal tissues, with the exception of gametogenic tissues. However, to our knowledge, expression of the antigens in thymic epithelial tumors has not been examined yet. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of five CTAs (MAGE-A, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-C1, SAGE and GAGE7) in 192 cases of thymic epithelial tumor. The CTAs were variably expressed in the thymic epithelial tumors. Type B component of type AB thymomas, type B1/B2/B3 thymomas, and thymic carcinomas showed a generally positive correlation between the malignancy grades and positive expression rates in four CTAs other than MAGE-C1. In thymic squamous cell carcinomas (SqCCs), four antigens except for MAGE-C1 showed high expression rates ranging from 23.1% to 43.6%. In the prognostic analysis, a positive expression of SAGE (P = 0.0485) and GAGE7 (P = 0.0289) were associated with a shorter overall survival in type B2/B3 thymomas, respectively. In thymic SqCC, a positive MAGE-A expression was significantly associated with an increased level of programmed death ligand in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (P = 0.0181). We showed (i) a frequent CTA expression, (ii) a general correlation of CTA expression with tumor malignancy grades and (iii) a prognostic impact in some of the CTAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Sakane
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Oncology, Immunology and Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takayuki Murase
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Okuda
- Department of Oncology, Immunology and Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ayako Masaki
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Nakanishi
- Department of Oncology, Immunology and Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Inagaki
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan
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Sakai Y, Kurose K, Sakaeda K, Abo H, Atarashi Y, Ide N, Sato T, Kanda E, Fukuda M, Oga T, Noda K, Oka M. A novel automated immunoassay for serum NY-ESO-1 and XAGE1 antibodies in combinatory prediction of response to anti-programmed cell death-1 therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer. Clin Chim Acta 2021; 519:51-59. [PMID: 33865813 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibodies (Abs) are key drugs in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment; however, clinical benefits with anti-PD-1 monotherapy are limited. We reported that serum Abs against cancer-testis antigens NY-ESO-1 and XAGE1 predicted clinical benefits. We aimed to develop a fully automated immunoassay system measuring NY-ESO-1/XAGE1 Abs. METHODS Sera from 30 NSCLC patients before anti-PD-1 monotherapy were reacted with recombinant NY-ESO-1 protein- or synthetic XAGE1 peptide-coated magnetic beads. ALP-conjugated Ab and chemiluminescent substrate were added and luminescence measured. These procedures were automated using high sensitivity chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (HISCL™). NY-ESO-1/XAGE1 Ab stability was tested under various conditions. Response prediction accuracy was evaluated using area under receiver operating curve (AUROC). RESULTS HISCL detected specific serum NY-ESO-1/XAGE1 Abs, which levels in ELISA and HISCL were highly correlated. The Ab levels in HISCL were stable at four temperatures, five freeze/thaw cycles, and long-term storage; the levels were not interfered by common blood components. The Ab levels in 15 NSCLC responders to anti-PD-1 monotherapy were significantly higher than those in non-responders and healthy donors. The AUROC was the highest (0.91; 95% CI, 0.78-1.0) in combinatory prediction with NY-ESO-1/XAGE1 Abs. CONCLUSION Our immunoassay system is useful to predict clinical benefits with NSCLC immune-checkpoint therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumiko Sakai
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Hyogo 651-2271, Japan
| | - Koji Kurose
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
| | - Kanako Sakaeda
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Hyogo 651-2271, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Abo
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Hyogo 651-2271, Japan
| | - Yusuke Atarashi
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Hyogo 651-2271, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Ide
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Hyogo 651-2271, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Sato
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Hyogo 651-2271, Japan
| | - Eiichiro Kanda
- Medical Science, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
| | - Minoru Fukuda
- Nagasaki University, Clinical Oncology Center, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan
| | - Toru Oga
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
| | - Kenta Noda
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Hyogo 651-2271, Japan
| | - Mikio Oka
- Immuno-Oncology, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama 701-0192, Japan.
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Jung EH, Jang HR, Kim SH, Suh KJ, Kim YJ, Lee JH, Chung JH, Kim M, Keam B, Kim TM, Kim DW, Heo DS, Lee JS. Tumor LAG-3 and NY-ESO-1 expression predict durable clinical benefits of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Thorac Cancer 2021; 12:619-630. [PMID: 33458968 PMCID: PMC7919166 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.13834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an established treatment for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that have demonstrated durable clinical benefits (DCBs). Previous studies have suggested NY‐ESO‐1 and LAG‐3 to be surrogate markers of ICI responses in NSCLC; therefore, we explored the predictive value of their expression in NSCLC. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 38 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with anti‐PD‐1 monoclonal antibodies from 2013 to 2016 at Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital after failed platinum‐based chemotherapy. Tumor tissues from each patient were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis to determine NY‐ESO‐1, LAG‐3, and PD‐L1 expression, whose ability to predict progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was then analyzed alongside their positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values. Results NY‐ESO‐1 or LAG‐3 expression was detected in all tumor samples from patients with high PD‐L1 expression and was significantly associated with favorable outcomes, unlike PD‐L1 expression. Patients with both NY‐ESO‐1‐ and LAG‐3‐expressing tumors had a high DCB rate and those with triple‐positive PD‐L1, LAG‐3, and NY‐ESO expression had a superior median OS and PFS than those with triple‐negative expression. Furthermore, LAG‐3 and NY‐ESO‐1 co‐expression was an independent predictor of both PFS and OS, while LAG‐3 displayed a good NPV. Conclusions Patients with NSCLC who co‐express NY‐ESO‐1 or LAG‐3 with PD‐L1 exhibit greater DCBs and improved long‐term survival following anti‐PD‐1 therapy. Moreover, NY‐ESO‐1 and LAG‐3 could be novel predictive biomarkers of survival and should be considered in the future use of ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hee Jung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Hee Ryeong Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Se Hyun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Koung Jin Suh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Yu Jung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Ju-Hyun Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Jin-Haeng Chung
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Miso Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Bhumsuk Keam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Tae Min Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong-Wan Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dae Seog Heo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Seok Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
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Romero-Garcia S, Prado-Garcia H, Carlos-Reyes A. Role of DNA Methylation in the Resistance to Therapy in Solid Tumors. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1152. [PMID: 32850327 PMCID: PMC7426728 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the recent advances in chemotherapeutic treatments against cancer, some types of highly aggressive and invasive cancer develop drug resistance against conventional therapies, which continues to be a major problem in the fight against cancer. In recent years, studies of alterations of DNA methylome have given us a better understanding of the role of DNA methylation in the development of tumors. DNA methylation (DNAm) is an epigenetic change that promotes the covalent transfer of methyl groups to DNA. This process suppresses gene expression through the modulation of the transcription machinery access to the chromatin or through the recruitment of methyl binding proteins. DNAm is regulated mainly by DNA methyltransferases. Aberrant DNAm contributes to tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance to current anti-tumoral therapies. Aberrant DNAm may occur through hypermethylation in the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes, which leads to their silencing, while hypomethylation in the promoter regions of oncogenes can activate them. In this review, we discuss the impact of dysregulated methylation in certain genes, which impact signaling pathways associated with apoptosis avoidance, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. The analysis of methylome has revealed patterns of global methylation, which regulate important signaling pathways involved in therapy resistance in different cancer types, such as breast, colon, and lung cancer, among other solid tumors. This analysis has provided gene-expression signatures of methylated region-specific DNA that can be used to predict the treatment outcome in response to anti-cancer therapy. Additionally, changes in cancer methylome have been associated with the acquisition of drug resistance. We also review treatments with demethylating agents that, in combination with standard therapies, seem to be encouraging, as tumors that are in early stages can be successfully treated. On the other hand, tumors that are in advanced stages can be treated with these combination schemes, which could sensitize tumor cells that are resistant to the therapy. We propose that rational strategies, which combine specific demethylating agents with conventional treatment, may improve overall survival in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Romero-Garcia
- Department of Chronic-Degenerative Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases "Ismael Cosío Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Heriberto Prado-Garcia
- Department of Chronic-Degenerative Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases "Ismael Cosío Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Angeles Carlos-Reyes
- Department of Chronic-Degenerative Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases "Ismael Cosío Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
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Sublethal Radiation Affects Antigen Processing and Presentation Genes to Enhance Immunogenicity of Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072573. [PMID: 32272797 PMCID: PMC7178186 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
While immunotherapy in cancer is designed to stimulate effector T cell response, tumor-associated antigens have to be presented on malignant cells at a sufficient level for recognition of cancer by T cells. Recent studies suggest that radiotherapy enhances the anti-cancer immune response and also improves the efficacy of immunotherapy. To understand the molecular basis of such observations, we examined the effect of ionizing X-rays on tumor antigens and their presentation in a set of nine human cell lines representing cancers of the esophagus, lung, and head and neck. A single dose of 7.5 or 15 Gy radiation enhanced the New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1) tumor-antigen-mediated recognition of cancer cells by NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T cells. Irradiation led to significant enlargement of live cells after four days, and microscopy and flow cytometry revealed multinucleation and polyploidy in the cells because of dysregulated mitosis, which was also revealed in RNA-sequencing-based transcriptome profiles of cells. Transcriptome analyses also showed that while radiation had no universal effect on genes encoding tumor antigens, it upregulated the expression of numerous genes involved in antigen processing and presentation pathways in all cell lines. This effect may explain the immunostimulatory role of cancer radiotherapy.
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Lingling Z, Jiewei L, Li W, Danli Y, Jie Z, Wen L, Dan P, Lei P, Qinghua Z. Molecular regulatory network of PD-1/PD-L1 in non-small cell lung cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2020; 216:152852. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2020.152852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Ohue Y, Kurose K, Karasaki T, Isobe M, Yamaoka T, Futami J, Irei I, Masuda T, Fukuda M, Kinoshita A, Matsushita H, Shimizu K, Nakata M, Hattori N, Yamaguchi H, Fukuda M, Nozawa R, Kakimi K, Oka M. Serum Antibody Against NY-ESO-1 and XAGE1 Antigens Potentially Predicts Clinical Responses to Anti-Programmed Cell Death-1 Therapy in NSCLC. J Thorac Oncol 2019; 14:2071-2083. [PMID: 31449889 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2019.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors effectively treat NSCLC and prolong survival. Robust biomarkers for predicting clinical benefits of good response and long survival with anti-PD-1 therapy have yet to be identified; therefore, predictive biomarkers are needed to select patients with benefits. METHODS We conducted a prospective study to explore whether serum antibody against NY-ESO-1 and/or XAGE1 cancer-testis antigens predicted primarily good clinical response and secondarily long survival with anti-PD-1 therapy for NSCLC. The serum antibody was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and tumor immune microenvironment and mutation burden were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and next-generation sequencing. RESULTS In the discovery cohort (n = 13), six antibody-positive NSCLC cases responded to anti-PD-1 therapy (two complete and four partial responses), whereas seven antibody-negative NSCLC cases did not. Antibody positivity was associated with good response and survival, regardless of tumor programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, mutation burden, and CD8+ T-cell infiltration. In the validation cohort (n = 75), 17 antibody-positive NSCLC cases responded well to anti-PD-1 therapy as compared with 58 negative NSCLC cases (objective response rate 65% versus 19%, p = 0.0006) and showed significantly prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival. Antibody titers highly correlated with tumor reduction rates. In the multivariate analysis, response biomarkers were tumor programmed death ligand 1 expression and antibody positivity, and only antibody positivity was a significantly better predictive biomarker of progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 0.4, p = 0.01) and overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.2, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that NY-ESO-1 and/or XAGE1 serum antibodies are useful biomarkers for predicting clinical benefits in anti-PD-1 therapy for NSCLC and probably for other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Ohue
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Koji Kurose
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takahiro Karasaki
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Midori Isobe
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takaaki Yamaoka
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Junichiro Futami
- Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Isao Irei
- Department of Pathology, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takeshi Masuda
- Department of Respiratory Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masaaki Fukuda
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Genbaku Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Kinoshita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki Prefecture Shimabara Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Matsushita
- Department of Immunotherapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Cancer Immunology Data Multi-level Integration Unit, Medical Science Innovation Hub Program, RIKEN, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Shimizu
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Masao Nakata
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Noboru Hattori
- Department of Respiratory Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Yamaguchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Minoru Fukuda
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan; Clinical Oncology Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Ryohei Nozawa
- Faculty of Health and Welfare Services Administration, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kakimi
- Department of Immunotherapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Cancer Immunology Data Multi-level Integration Unit, Medical Science Innovation Hub Program, RIKEN, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mikio Oka
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
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Li S, Yin L, Huang K, Zhao Y, Zhang H, Cai C, Xu Y, Huang L, Wang X, Lan T, Li H, Ma P. Downregulation of DACT-2 by Promoter Methylation and its Clinicopathological Significance in Prostate Cancer. J Cancer 2019; 10:1755-1763. [PMID: 31205531 PMCID: PMC6548005 DOI: 10.7150/jca.28577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Backgrounds: Dapper homolog (DACT) 2, a member of DACT gene family, is frequently down-regulated in various malignancies and linked to tumor progression. However, the regulatory mechanism of DACT-2 expression and its biological role in human prostate cancer (PCa) remains elusive. Here, we investigated the expression and an epigenetic change of DACT-2 in prostate cancer, and determined if these findings were correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics of PCa. Methods: The expression profile of DACT-2 of was detected by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry in four prostate cell lines (RWPE-1, LNCaP, PC-3 and DU145), 56 cases of frozen prostate tissues (forty-seven primary prostate carcinomas, nine paired noncancerous and cancerous prostate tissues) and a tissue microarray sets including 100 paraffin-embedded prostate samples (3 normal tissues, 2 cases of adjacent tissues and 95 cases of cancer). Subsequently, the regulatory mechanism of DACT-2 down-regulation was investigated through methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfite sequencing (BSP). The role of DACT-2 in prostate cancer cell migration and invasion was respectively examined by wound healing and transwell assay. After 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment of prostate cancer cells, qRT-PCR was used to detect whether the expression of DACT-2 gene mRNA in the cells recovered. Results: Immunohistochemical results shown that the DACT-2 protein was strongly (3+) expressed in the cytoplasm of all 5 noncancerous tissues and 12.7% (12/95) prostate cancer (PCa) tissues. Whereas 68.4% (65/95) PCa samples and 18.9% (18/95) PCa tissues respectively displayed weakly (1+) expressed and moderately (2+) expressed. In addition, DACT-2 expression was negatively associated with Gleason score in tumor specimens (p=0.029). What's more, down-regulation and promoter methylation of DACT-2 were observed in 68.1% (32/47) frozen PCa tissues and all three prostate cancer cell lines. And, the expression of DACT-2 mRNA was restored by the treatment of demethylated drug 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in all prostate cancer lines. Prostate cancer cells invasion and migration were significantly suppressed by ectopic expression of DACT-2 in vitro. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that DACT-2 may be a useful biomarker for distinguishing prostate tumor tissues from non-cancerous samples and a potential target for epigenetic silencing in primary prostate Cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibao Li
- School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Lingyu Yin
- School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Kai Huang
- Department of Urology, Northern Jiangsu People's hospital, Yangzhou 225001 China
| | - Yao Zhao
- School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Haoliang Zhang
- School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Chenchen Cai
- School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Yinhai Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Lingyan Huang
- School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Xiaozhou Wang
- The center of functional experiment, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Ting Lan
- School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Hongchun Li
- School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Ping Ma
- School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
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Martinez M, Moon EK. CAR T Cells for Solid Tumors: New Strategies for Finding, Infiltrating, and Surviving in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2019; 10:128. [PMID: 30804938 PMCID: PMC6370640 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 512] [Impact Index Per Article: 102.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, T cells that have been genetically engineered to express a receptor that recognizes a specific antigen, have given rise to breakthroughs in treating hematological malignancies. However, their success in treating solid tumors has been limited. The unique challenges posed to CAR T cell therapy by solid tumors can be described in three steps: finding, entering, and surviving in the tumor. The use of dual CAR designs that recognize multiple antigens at once and local administration of CAR T cells are both strategies that have been used to overcome the hurdle of localization to the tumor. Additionally, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment has implications for T cell function in terms of differentiation and exhaustion, and combining CARs with checkpoint blockade or depletion of other suppressive factors in the microenvironment has shown very promising results to mitigate the phenomenon of T cell exhaustion. Finally, identifying and overcoming mechanisms associated with dysfunction in CAR T cells is of vital importance to generating CAR T cells that can proliferate and successfully eliminate tumor cells. The structure and costimulatory domains chosen for the CAR may play an important role in the overall function of CAR T cells in the TME, and “armored” CARs that secrete cytokines and third- and fourth-generation CARs with multiple costimulatory domains offer ways to enhance CAR T cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Martinez
- Perelman School of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Edmund Kyung Moon
- Perelman School of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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