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Liu C, Wang Q, Li L, Gao F, Zhang Y, Zhu Y. The peptide-based bispecific CAR T cells target EGFR and tumor stroma for effective cancer therapy. Int J Pharm 2024; 663:124558. [PMID: 39111352 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124558] [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: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell for solid tumors is limited partially because of the lack of tumor-specific antigens and off-target effects. Low molecular weight peptides allowed CAR T cell to display several antigen receptors to reduce off-target effects. Here, we develop a peptide-based bispecific CAR for EGFR and tumor stroma, which are expressed in a variety of tumor types. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH AND KEY RESULTS The peptide-based CAR T cells show excellent proliferation, cytotoxicity activity and are only activated by tumor cells overexpressing EGFR instead of normal cells with low EGFR expressing. In mouse xenograft models, the peptide bispecific CAR T cells can be delivered into the inner of tumor masses and thus are effective in inhibiting tumor growth. Meanwhile, they show strong expansion capacity and the property of maintaining long-term function in vivo. During treatment, no off-tumor toxicity is observed on healthy organs expressing lower levels of EGFR. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS Our findings demonstrate that peptide-based bispecific CAR T holds great potential in solid tumor therapy due to an excellent targeting ability towards tumors and tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuijuan Liu
- School of Nano Technology and Nano Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China; The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- School of Nano Technology and Nano Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Lin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Fan Gao
- School of Nano Technology and Nano Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yuanyue Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Suzhou BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yimin Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.
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Qin Y, Meng X, Li L, Liu C, Gao F, Yuan X, Huang Y, Zhu Y. Develop a PD-1-blockade peptide to reinvigorate T-cell activity and inhibit tumor progress. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 960:176144. [PMID: 37866745 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176144] [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: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly monoclonal antibodies blocking the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) pathway, have been successfully utilized in the clinic. However, certain drawbacks associated with antibodies, such as high immunogenicity and poor tissue penetration, need to be addressed for their broader clinical application. Peptides, as low molecular weight alternatives, have garnered increasing interest in this field. In this study, we employed bacterial surface display technology to identify a PD-1-binding peptide, PBP. The PBP peptide exhibited moderate affinity for human PD-1 (hPD-1) and displayed cross-reactivity with mouse PD-1 (mPD-1). Molecular docking analysis revealed that the interaction residues of the PBP peptide with PD-1 played crucial roles in the formation of the PD-1/PD-L1 complex. A competing binding assay demonstrated that the peptide could interfere the interaction of PD-1 and PD-L1. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that the PBP peptide could reinvigorate T cells inhibited by PD-L1. In an in vivo mouse model of CT26, the PBP peptide effectively suppressed tumor growth by enhancing T cell function. In conclusion, our results suggest that the PBP peptide exerts an anti-tumor effect by impeding the interplay between PD-1 and PD-L1, highlighting its potential as an alternative for tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingzhou Qin
- School of Nano Technology and Nano Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xiangzhou Meng
- School of Nano Technology and Nano Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Lin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Cuijuan Liu
- School of Nano Technology and Nano Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Fan Gao
- School of Nano Technology and Nano Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xin Yuan
- School of Nano Technology and Nano Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Ying Huang
- School of Nano Technology and Nano Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yimin Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Atkinson E, Dickman R. Growth factors and their peptide mimetics for treatment of traumatic brain injury. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 90:117368. [PMID: 37331175 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability in adults, caused by a physical insult damaging the brain. Growth factor-based therapies have the potential to reduce the effects of secondary injury and improve outcomes by providing neuroprotection against glutamate excitotoxicity, oxidative damage, hypoxia, and ischemia, as well as promoting neurite outgrowth and the formation of new blood vessels. Despite promising evidence in preclinical studies, few neurotrophic factors have been tested in clinical trials for TBI. Translation to the clinic is not trivial and is limited by the short in vivo half-life of the protein, the inability to cross the blood-brain barrier and human delivery systems. Synthetic peptide mimetics have the potential to be used in place of recombinant growth factors, activating the same downstream signalling pathways, with a decrease in size and more favourable pharmacokinetic properties. In this review, we will discuss growth factors with the potential to modulate damage caused by secondary injury mechanisms following a traumatic brain injury that have been trialled in other indications including spinal cord injury, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Peptide mimetics of nerve growth factor (NGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), glial cell line-derived growth factor (GDNF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) will be highlighted, most of which have not yet been tested in preclinical or clinical models of TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Atkinson
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK; UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
| | - Rachael Dickman
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
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Zhu L, Zhang X, Chen Y, Yan D, Han J. Identification of prognostic genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma microenvironment. Cancer Biomark 2022; 34:523-532. [PMID: 35275524 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-210432] [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: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous studies reveal the clinical significance of tumor microenvironment (TME) in multiple cancers. The association between TME in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and clinical outcomes remains unsolved. OBJECTIVE This study aims to exhibit the TME of OSCC and identified the prognostic marker. METHODS Gene expression profile and clinical data OSCC patients were from the TCGA database. The validated stage data was from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE65858). Immune/stromal scores of each patient were calculated by ESTIMATE algorithm. Biological functional prediction was conducted. Prognostic genes identified by survival analysis. Nomogram and Receiver operating characteristic curves were employed to test the predicting power. TIMER database was applied to evaluated the immune infiltrates. RESULTS Lower immune scores were observed in male patients (P= 0.0107) and different primary tumor sites of oral cavity with different stromal scores (P= 0.0328). The Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in immune related pathways. HGF gene (hepatocyte growth factor) was prognostic related and with a better prognostic performance when combined with clinical features (AUC=TCGA 0.638, AUC=GEO 0.714). HGF was significantly related with B cell, CD4ï¼T cell, CD8+T cell, macrophage, neutrophils, and dendritic cell infiltration. CONCLUSION The current study analyzed the TME and presented immune related prognostic biomarkers for OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longbiao Zhu
- Department of The Sixth Dental Division, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Jiangsu, China.,Department of The Sixth Dental Division, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Department of The Sixth Dental Division, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Jiangsu, China.,Department of The Sixth Dental Division, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Jiangsu Cancer Centre, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Donglin Yan
- Department of The Sixth Dental Division, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Stomatological Translational Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Han
- Jiangsu Cancer Centre, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Zhao M, Wang Y, Liu Y, Zhang W, Liu Y, Yang X, Cao Y, Wang S. C7 peptide inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by targeting the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway. Cancer Biol Ther 2019; 20:1430-1442. [PMID: 31441380 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2019.1647051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), characterized by a high rate of metastasis and recurrence after surgery, is caused by malignant proliferation of hepatocytes with epigenetic and/or genetic mutations. In particular, abnormal activation of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-/c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition receptor (c-Met) axis is closely associated with HCC metastasis. Unfortunately, effective treatments or drugs that target the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway are still in the research pipeline. Here, a c-Met inhibitor named the C7 peptide, which can inhibit both HGF and c-Met, can significantly inhibit HGF-induced (but not EGF-induced) cell migration and suppress the phosphorylation of c-Met, Akt and Erk1/2. Moreover, the C7 peptide can also significantly suppress tumor metastasis in nude mice and the phosphorylation of c-Met. Together, our current findings, demonstrated that the C7 peptide can inhibit HGF-induced cancer cell migration and invasion through the inhibition of Akt and Erk1/2. Identification of a peptide that can block HGF/c-Met signaling provides new insight into the mechanism of HCC and future clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyuan Zhao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China
| | - Yinhe Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China.,Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China
| | - Wanchun Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China.,Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China
| | - Yakun Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China
| | - Xiaoming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics , Beijing , P. R. China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China.,Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China
| | - Siying Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Anhui Medical University , Hefei , Anhui , P. R. China
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Dasari S, Fang Y, Mitra AK. Cancer Associated Fibroblasts: Naughty Neighbors That Drive Ovarian Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10110406. [PMID: 30380628 PMCID: PMC6265896 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10110406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, and patient prognosis has not improved significantly over the last several decades. In order to improve therapeutic approaches and patient outcomes, there is a critical need for focused research towards better understanding of the disease. Recent findings have revealed that the tumor microenvironment plays an essential role in promoting cancer progression and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment consists of cancer cells and several different types of normal cells recruited and reprogrammed by the cancer cells to produce factors beneficial to tumor growth and spread. These normal cells present within the tumor, along with the various extracellular matrix proteins and secreted factors, constitute the tumor stroma and can compose 10–60% of the tumor volume. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major constituent of the tumor microenvironment, and play a critical role in promoting many aspects of tumor function. This review will describe the various hypotheses about the origin of CAFs, their major functions in the tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer, and will discuss the potential of targeting CAFs as a possible therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subramanyam Dasari
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA.
| | - Yiming Fang
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA.
| | - Anirban K Mitra
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA.
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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Li C, Zhang N, Zhou J, Ding C, Jin Y, Cui X, Pu K, Zhu Y. Peptide Blocking of PD-1/PD-L1 Interaction for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res 2017; 6:178-188. [PMID: 29217732 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a promising alternative therapeutic approach for cancer patients. Interruption of immune checkpoints, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1, has been verified to be a successful means for cancer therapy in clinical trials. mAb targeting PD-L1 has been approved to treat urothelial carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, or Merkel cell carcinoma by the FDA. However, the high cost of the antibody can limit its application. In our study, targeting PD-L1 peptide (TPP-1), which specifically binds to PD-L1 with high affinity, was identified through bacterial surface display methods. Using a T-cell activation assay and mixed lymphocyte reaction, TPP-1 was verified to interfere with the interaction of PD-1/PD-L1. To examine the inhibitory effect of TPP-1 on tumor growth in vivo, a xenograft mouse model using H460 cells was established. The growth rate of tumor masses in TPP-1 or PD-L1 antibody-treated mice was 56% or 71% lower than that in control peptide-treated mice, respectively, indicating that TPP-1 inhibits, or at least retards, tumor growth. IHC of the tumors showed that IFNγ and granzyme B expression increased in the TPP-1 or PD-L1 antibody-treated groups, indicating that TPP-1 attenuates the inhibitory effect of PD-L1 on T cells and that T cells may get reactivated. On the basis of our data, TPP-1 peptide could work as an alternative to antibodies for tumor immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(2); 178-88. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nengpan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | - Jundong Zhou
- Nanjing Medical University, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital, Department Radio Oncology, Suzhou, China
| | - Chen Ding
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.,China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yaqing Jin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xueyuan Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.,Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kefeng Pu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | - Yimin Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.
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