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Kramer G, Blair T, Bambina S, Kaur AP, Alice A, Baird J, Friedman D, Dowdell AK, Tomura M, Grassberger C, Piening BD, Crittenden MR, Gough MJ. Fluorescence tracking demonstrates T cell recirculation is transiently impaired by radiation therapy to the tumor. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11909. [PMID: 38789721 PMCID: PMC11126658 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62871-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
T cells recirculate through tissues and lymphatic organs to scan for their cognate antigen. Radiation therapy provides site-specific cytotoxicity to kill cancer cells but also has the potential to eliminate the tumor-specific T cells in field. To dynamically study the effect of radiation on CD8 T cell recirculation, we used the Kaede mouse model to photoconvert tumor-infiltrating cells and monitor their movement out of the field of radiation. We demonstrate that radiation results in loss of CD8 T cell recirculation from the tumor to the lymph node and to distant sites. Using scRNASeq, we see decreased proliferating CD8 T cells in the tumor following radiation therapy resulting in a proportional enrichment in exhausted phenotypes. By contrast, 5 days following radiation increased recirculation of T cells from the tumor to the tumor draining lymph node corresponds with increased immunosurveillance of the treated tumor. These data demonstrate that tumor radiation therapy transiently impairs systemic T cell recirculation from the treatment site to the draining lymph node and distant untreated tumors. This may inform timing therapies to improve systemic T cell-mediated tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwen Kramer
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Tiffany Blair
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Shelly Bambina
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Aanchal Preet Kaur
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Alejandro Alice
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Jason Baird
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - David Friedman
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Alexa K Dowdell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Michio Tomura
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University, Tondabayashi, Osaka, 584-8540, Japan
| | - Clemens Grassberger
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brian D Piening
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Marka R Crittenden
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
- The Oregon Clinic, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Michael J Gough
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA.
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Rykkelid AM, Sinha PM, Folefac CA, Horsman MR, Sørensen BS, Søland TM, Schreurs OJF, Malinen E, Edin NFJ. Combination of proton- or X-irradiation with anti-PDL1 immunotherapy in two murine oral cancers. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11569. [PMID: 38773258 PMCID: PMC11109162 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62272-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Combining radiation therapy with immunotherapy is a strategy to improve both treatments. The purpose of this study was to compare responses for two syngeneic head and neck cancer (HNC) tumor models in mice following X-ray or proton irradiation with or without immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). MOC1 (immunogenic) and MOC2 (less immunogenic) tumors were inoculated in the right hind leg of each mouse (C57BL/6J, n = 398). Mice were injected with anti-PDL1 (10 mg/kg, twice weekly for 2 weeks), and tumors were treated with single-dose irradiation (5-30 Gy) with X-rays or protons. MOC2 tumors grew faster and were more radioresistant than MOC1 tumors, and all mice with MOC2 tumors developed metastases. Irradiation reduced the tumor volume in a dose-dependent manner. ICI alone reduced the tumor volume for MOC1 with 20% compared to controls, while no reduction was seen for MOC2. For MOC1, there was a clear treatment synergy when combining irradiation with ICI for radiation doses above 5 Gy and there was a tendency for X-rays being slightly more biologically effective compared to protons. For MOC2, there was a tendency of protons being more effective than X-rays, but both radiation types showed a small synergy when combined with ICI. Although the responses and magnitudes of the therapeutic effect varied, the optimal radiation dose for maximal synergy appeared to be in the order of 10-15 Gy, regardless of tumor model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Marit Rykkelid
- Department of Physics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048, 0316, Blindern, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Michael R Horsman
- Experimental Clinical Oncology - Dept. Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Brita Singers Sørensen
- Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tine Merete Søland
- Institute of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1052, 0316, Blindern, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Eirik Malinen
- Department of Physics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048, 0316, Blindern, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Radiation Biology, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4950, 0424, Nydalen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nina Frederike J Edin
- Department of Physics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048, 0316, Blindern, Oslo, Norway.
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Kansal V, Kinney BL, Schmitt NC. Characterization of the tumor microenvironment in the mouse oral cancer (MOC1) model after orthotopic implantation in the buccal mucosa. Head Neck 2024; 46:1056-1062. [PMID: 38445546 PMCID: PMC11003840 DOI: 10.1002/hed.27722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical models are invaluable for studies of head and neck cancer. There is growing interest in the use of orthotopic syngeneic models, wherein cell lines are injected into the oral cavity of immunocompetent mice. In this brief report, we describe injection of mouse oral cancer 1 (MOC1) cells into the buccal mucosa and illustrate the tumor growth pattern, lymph node response, and changes in the tumor immune microenvironment over time. METHODS MOC1 cells were injected into the buccal mucosa of C57BL6 mice. Animals were sacrificed at 7, 14, 21, or 27 days. Tumors and lymph nodes were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS All mice developed tumors by day 7 and required euthanasia for tumor burden and/or weight loss by day 27. Lymph node mapping showed that these tumors reliably drain to a submandibular lymph node. The proportion of intratumoral CD8+ T cells decreased over time, while neutrophilic myeloid cells increased dramatically. Growth of orthotopic MOC2 and MOC22 also showed similar growth patterns versus published data in flank tumors. CONCLUSIONS When used orthotopically in the buccal mucosa, the MOC1 model induces a robust lymph node response and distinct pattern of immune cell infiltration, with peak immune infiltration by day 14.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikash Kansal
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Brendan L.C. Kinney
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Nicole C. Schmitt
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
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Kansal V, Kinney BLC, Schmitt NC. Orthotopic injection of an established syngeneic mouse oral cancer cell line (MOC1) induces a robust draining lymph node response. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.12.575399. [PMID: 38260311 PMCID: PMC10802585 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.12.575399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Background Preclinical models are invaluable for studies on the pathogenesis and treatment of head and neck cancer. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of orthotopic syngeneic models, wherein head and neck cancer cell lines are injected into the oral cavity of immunocompetent mice. However, few such orthotopic models have been described in detail. In this brief report, we describe techniques for injection of mouse oral cancer 1 (MOC1) cells into the buccal mucosa and illustrate the tumor growth pattern, lymph node response, and changes in the tumor immune microenvironment over time. Methods MOC1 cells were injected into the buccal mucosa of C57BL6 mice. Animals were sacrificed at 7, 14, 21, or 27 days. Tumors and lymph nodes were harvested and analyzed for immune cell subsets by flow cytometry. Results All inoculated mice developed palpable buccal tumors by day 7 and required euthanasia for tumor burden and/or weight loss by day 27. Lymph node mapping showed that these tumors reliably drain to a submandibular lymph node, which enlarges considerably over time. As in MOC1 tumors in the flank, the proportion of intratumoral CD8+ T cells decreased over time, while neutrophilic myeloid cells increased dramatically. However, the pattern and time course of immune changes in the TME were slightly different in the orthotopic buccal model. Conclusions When used orthotopically in the buccal mucosa, the MOC1 model induces a robust lymph node response and distinct pattern of immune cell infiltration, with peak immune infiltration by day 14.
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Restaino AC, Walz A, Vermeer SJ, Barr J, Kovács A, Fettig RR, Vermeer DW, Reavis H, Williamson CS, Lucido CT, Eichwald T, Omran DK, Jung E, Schwartz LE, Bell M, Muirhead DM, Hooper JE, Spanos WC, Drapkin R, Talbot S, Vermeer PD. Functional neuronal circuits promote disease progression in cancer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade4443. [PMID: 37163587 PMCID: PMC10171812 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade4443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The molecular and functional contributions of intratumoral nerves to disease remain largely unknown. We localized synaptic markers within tumors suggesting that these nerves form functional connections. Consistent with this, electrophysiological analysis shows that malignancies harbor significantly higher electrical activity than benign disease or normal tissues. We also demonstrate pharmacologic silencing of tumoral electrical activity. Tumors implanted in transgenic animals lacking nociceptor neurons show reduced electrical activity. These data suggest that intratumoral nerves remain functional at the tumor bed. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrates the presence of the neuropeptide, Substance P (SP), within the tumor space. We show that tumor cells express the SP receptor, NK1R, and that ligand/receptor engagement promotes cellular proliferation and migration. Our findings identify a mechanism whereby intratumoral nerves promote cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C. Restaino
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD, USA
| | - Austin Walz
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey Barr
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Attila Kovács
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Robin R. Fettig
- Basic Biomedical Sciences Program, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USA
| | - Daniel W. Vermeer
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Hunter Reavis
- Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Tuany Eichwald
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Solna, Sweden
- Queen’s University, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dalia K. Omran
- Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Euihye Jung
- Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lauren E. Schwartz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Maria Bell
- Sanford Gynecologic Oncology, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | | | - Jody E. Hooper
- Legacy Gift Rapid Autopsy Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William C. Spanos
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Sanford Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Ronny Drapkin
- Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sebastien Talbot
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Solna, Sweden
- Queen’s University, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paola D. Vermeer
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD, USA
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Kostecki KL, Iida M, Wiley AL, Kimani S, Mehall B, Tetreault K, Alexandridis R, Yu M, Hong S, Salgia R, Bruce JY, Birge RB, Harari P, Wheeler DL. Dual Axl/MerTK inhibitor INCB081776 creates a proinflammatory tumor immune microenvironment and enhances anti-PDL1 efficacy in head and neck cancer. Head Neck 2023; 45:1255-1271. [PMID: 36939040 PMCID: PMC10079616 DOI: 10.1002/hed.27340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tyrosine kinase receptors Axl and MerTK are highly overexpressed in head and neck cancer (HNC) cells, where they are critical drivers of survival, proliferation, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. METHODS We investigated the role of Axl and MerTK in creating an immunologically "cold" tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) by targeting both receptors simultaneously with a small molecule inhibitor of Axl and MerTK (INCB081776). Effects of INCB081776 and/or anti-PDL1 on mouse oral cancer (MOC) cell growth and on the TIME were evaluated. RESULTS Targeting Axl and MerTK can reduce M2 and induce M1 macrophage polarization. In vivo, INCB081776 treatment alone or with anti-PDL1 appears to slow MOC tumor growth, increase proinflammatory immune infiltration, and decrease anti-inflammatory immune infiltration. CONCLUSIONS This data indicates that simultaneous targeting of Axl and MerTK with INCB081776, either alone or in combination with anti-PDL1, slows tumor growth and creates a proinflammatory TIME in mouse models of HNC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kourtney L Kostecki
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Mari Iida
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anne L Wiley
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Stanley Kimani
- Rutgers Biomedical Health and Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Bridget Mehall
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kaitlin Tetreault
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Roxana Alexandridis
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Menggang Yu
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Seungpyo Hong
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, Madison, WI, USA
- Yonsei Frontier Lab and Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Justine Y Bruce
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Rutgers Biomedical Health and Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Paul Harari
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Deric L Wheeler
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
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Kansal V, Burnham AJ, Kinney BLC, Saba NF, Paulos C, Lesinski GB, Buchwald ZS, Schmitt NC. Statin drugs enhance responses to immune checkpoint blockade in head and neck cancer models. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-005940. [PMID: 36650022 PMCID: PMC9853267 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade is approved for first-line treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but few patients respond. Statin drugs (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) are associated with superior survival in several cancer types, including HNSCC. Emerging data suggest that manipulation of cholesterol may enhance some aspects of antitumor immunity. METHODS We used syngeneic murine models (mouse oral cancer, MOC1 and TC-1) to investigate our hypothesis that a subset of statin drugs would enhance antitumor immunity and delay tumor growth. RESULTS Using an ex vivo coculture assay of murine cancer cells and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, we discovered that all seven statin drugs inhibited tumor cell proliferation. Simvastatin and lovastatin also enhanced T-cell killing of tumor cells. In mice, daily oral simvastatin or lovastatin enhanced tumor control and extended survival when combined with PD-1 blockade, with rejection of MOC1 tumors in 30% of mice treated with lovastatin plus anti-PD-1. Results from flow cytometry of tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes suggested T cell activation and shifts from M2 to M1 macrophage predominance as potential mechanisms of combination therapy. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that statins deserve further study as well-tolerated, inexpensive drugs that may enhance responses to PD-1 checkpoint blockade and other immunotherapies for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikash Kansal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Andre J Burnham
- Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Brendan L C Kinney
- Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nabil F Saba
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA,Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chrystal Paulos
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA,Departments of Surgery and Microbiology/Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Gregory B Lesinski
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA,Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Nicole C Schmitt
- Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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8
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Kono M, Saito S, Egloff AM, Allen CT, Uppaluri R. The mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) model: A 10-year retrospective on model development and head and neck cancer investigations. Oral Oncol 2022; 132:106012. [PMID: 35820346 PMCID: PMC9364442 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.106012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical models of cancer have long been paramount to understanding tumor development and advancing the treatment of cancer. Creating preclinical models that mimic the complexity and heterogeneity of human tumors is a key challenge in the advancement of cancer therapy. About ten years ago, we created the mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) cell line models that were derived from 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced mouse oral squamous cell cancers. This model has been used in numerous investigations, including studies on tumor biology and therapeutics. We have seen remarkable progress in cancer immunology in recent years, and these cell lines, which are syngeneic to C57BL/6 background, have also been used to study the anti-tumor immune response. Herein, we aim to review the MOC model from its development and characterization to its use in non-immunological and immunological preclinical head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) studies. Integrating and refining these MOC model studies and extending findings to other systems will provide crucial insights for translational approaches aimed at improving head and neck cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihisa Kono
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
| | - Shin Saito
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Ann Marie Egloff
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States.
| | - Clint T Allen
- Section on Translational Tumor Immunology, National Institutes on Deafness and Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States.
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9
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Saddawi-Konefka R, O'Farrell A, Faraji F, Clubb L, Allevato MM, Jensen SM, Yung BS, Wang Z, Wu VH, Anang NA, Msari RA, Schokrpur S, Pietryga IF, Molinolo AA, Mesirov JP, Simon AB, Fox BA, Bui JD, Sharabi A, Cohen EEW, Califano JA, Gutkind JS. Lymphatic-preserving treatment sequencing with immune checkpoint inhibition unleashes cDC1-dependent antitumor immunity in HNSCC. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4298. [PMID: 35879302 PMCID: PMC9314425 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31941-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the promise of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), therapeutic responses remain limited. This raises the possibility that standard of care treatments delivered in concert may compromise the tumor response. To address this, we employ tobacco-signature head and neck squamous cell carcinoma murine models in which we map tumor-draining lymphatics and develop models for regional lymphablation with surgery or radiation. We find that lymphablation eliminates the tumor ICI response, worsening overall survival and repolarizing the tumor- and peripheral-immune compartments. Mechanistically, within tumor-draining lymphatics, we observe an upregulation of conventional type I dendritic cells and type I interferon signaling and show that both are necessary for the ICI response and lost with lymphablation. Ultimately, we provide a mechanistic understanding of how standard oncologic therapies targeting regional lymphatics impact the tumor response to immune-oncology therapy in order to define rational, lymphatic-preserving treatment sequences that mobilize systemic antitumor immunity, achieve optimal tumor responses, control regional metastatic disease, and confer durable antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Saddawi-Konefka
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Aoife O'Farrell
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Farhoud Faraji
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lauren Clubb
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Shawn M Jensen
- Earle A Chiles Research Institute, Robert W Franz Cancer Research Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Bryan S Yung
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zhiyong Wang
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Victoria H Wu
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Shiruyeh Schokrpur
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Jill P Mesirov
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Aaron B Simon
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UC Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Bernard A Fox
- Earle A Chiles Research Institute, Robert W Franz Cancer Research Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jack D Bui
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Sharabi
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ezra E W Cohen
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Joseph A Califano
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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10
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Prasad M, Zorea J, Jagadeeshan S, Shnerb AB, Mathukkada S, Bouaoud J, Michon L, Novoplansky O, Badarni M, Cohen L, Yegodayev KM, Tzadok S, Rotblat B, Brezina L, Mock A, Karabajakian A, Fayette J, Cohen I, Cooks T, Allon I, Dimitstein O, Joshua B, Kong D, Voronov E, Scaltriti M, Carmi Y, Conde-Lopez C, Hess J, Kurth I, Morris LGT, Saintigny P, Elkabets M. MEK1/2 inhibition transiently alters the tumor immune microenvironment to enhance immunotherapy efficacy against head and neck cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003917. [PMID: 35292516 PMCID: PMC8928405 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway is hyperactive in head and neck cancer (HNC), inhibition of MEK1/2 in HNC patients has not shown clinically meaningful activity. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the effect of MEK1/2 inhibition on the tumor microenvironment (TME) of MAPK-driven HNC, elucidate tumor-host interaction mechanisms facilitating immune escape on treatment, and apply rationale-based therapy combination immunotherapy and MEK1/2 inhibitor to induce tumor clearance. Methods Mouse syngeneic tumors and xenografts experiments were used to analyze tumor growth in vivo. Single-cell cytometry by time of flight, flow cytometry, and tissue stainings were used to profile the TME in response to trametinib (MEK1/2 inhibitor). Co-culture of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) with CD8+ T cells was used to measure immune suppression. Overexpression of colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) in tumor cells was used to show the effect of tumor-derived CSF-1 on sensitivity to trametinib and anti-programmed death- 1 (αPD-1) in mice. In HNC patients, the ratio between CSF-1 and CD8A was measured to test the association with clinical benefit to αPD-1 and αPD-L1 treatment. Results Using preclinical HNC models, we demonstrated that treatment with trametinib delays HNC initiation and progression by reducing tumor cell proliferation and enhancing the antitumor immunity of CD8+ T cells. Activation of CD8+ T cells by supplementation with αPD-1 antibody eliminated tumors and induced an immune memory in the cured mice. Mechanistically, an early response to trametinib treatment sensitized tumors to αPD-1-supplementation by attenuating the expression of tumor-derived CSF-1, which reduced the abundance of two CSF-1R+CD11c+ MDSC populations in the TME. In contrast, prolonged treatment with trametinib abolished the antitumor activity of αPD-1, because tumor cells undergoing the epithelial to mesenchymal transition in response to trametinib restored CSF-1 expression and recreated an immune-suppressive TME. Conclusion Our findings provide the rationale for testing the trametinib/αPD-1 combination in HNC and highlight the importance of sensitizing tumors to αPD-1 by using MEK1/2 to interfere with the tumor–host interaction. Moreover, we describe the concept that treatment of cancer with a targeted therapy transiently induces an immune-active microenvironment, and supplementation of immunotherapy during this time further activates the antitumor machinery to cause tumor elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Prasad
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Jonathan Zorea
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Sankar Jagadeeshan
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Avital B Shnerb
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Sooraj Mathukkada
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Jebrane Bouaoud
- Department of Translational Medicine Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France.,Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France
| | - Lucas Michon
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France
| | - Ofra Novoplansky
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Mai Badarni
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Limor Cohen
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ksenia M Yegodayev
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Sapir Tzadok
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Barak Rotblat
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Libor Brezina
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Andreas Mock
- Department of Medical Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Translational Medical Oncology, NCT Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andy Karabajakian
- Department of Translational Medicine Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France.,Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France.,Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France
| | - Jérôme Fayette
- Department of Translational Medicine Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France.,Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France.,Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France
| | - Idan Cohen
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Tomer Cooks
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Irit Allon
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Institute of Pathology, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel
| | - Orr Dimitstein
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Benzion Joshua
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel
| | - Dexin Kong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Elena Voronov
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Maurizio Scaltriti
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Yaron Carmi
- Department of Pathology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Cristina Conde-Lopez
- Division of Radiooncology-Radiobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jochen Hess
- Section Experimental and Translational Head and Neck Oncology, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ina Kurth
- Division of Radiooncology-Radiobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luc G T Morris
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pierre Saintigny
- Department of Translational Medicine Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France.,Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France.,Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France
| | - Moshe Elkabets
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel .,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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11
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Sharon S, Duhen T, Bambina S, Baird J, Leidner R, Bell B, Casap N, Crittenden M, Vasudevan S, Jubran M, Kravchenko-Balasha N, Gough M. Explant Modeling of the Immune Environment of Head and Neck Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:611365. [PMID: 34221953 PMCID: PMC8249923 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.611365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients exhibit distinct responses to immunotherapies that are thought to be linked to their tumor immune environment. However, wide variations in outcomes are also observed in patients with matched baseline tumor environments, indicating that the biological response to treatment is not currently predictable using a snapshot analysis. To investigate the relationship between the immune environment of tumors and the biological response to immunotherapies, we characterized four murine head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) models on two genetic backgrounds. Using tumor explants from those models, we identified correlations between the composition of infiltrating immune cells and baseline cytokine profiles prior to treatment. Following treatment with PD-1 blockade, CTLA-4 blockade, or OX40 stimulation, we observed inter-individual variability in the response to therapy between genetically identical animals bearing the same tumor. These distinct biological responses to treatment were not linked to the initial tumor immune environment, meaning that outcome would not be predictable from a baseline analysis of the tumor infiltrates. We similarly performed the explant assay on patient HNSCC tumors and found significant variability between the baseline environment of the tumors and their response to therapy. We propose that tumor explants provide a rapid biological assay to assess response to candidate immunotherapies that may allow matching therapies to individual patient tumors. Further development of explant approaches may allow screening and monitoring of treatment responses in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shay Sharon
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hadassah and Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Thomas Duhen
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Shelly Bambina
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Jason Baird
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Rom Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Bryan Bell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Nardy Casap
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hadassah and Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Marka Crittenden
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
- The Oregon Clinic, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Swetha Vasudevan
- The Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maria Jubran
- The Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Michael Gough
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
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12
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The aryl hydrocarbon receptor suppresses immunity to oral squamous cell carcinoma through immune checkpoint regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2012692118. [PMID: 33941684 PMCID: PMC8126867 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012692118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors represent some of the most important cancer treatments developed in the last 20 y. However, existing immunotherapy approaches benefit only a minority of patients. Here, we provide evidence that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a central player in the regulation of multiple immune checkpoints in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Orthotopic transplant of mouse OSCC cells from which the AhR has been deleted (MOC1AhR-KO) results, within 1 wk, in the growth of small tumors that are then completely rejected within 2 wk, concomitant with an increase in activated T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes (tdLNs) and T cell signaling within the tumor. By 2 wk, AhR+ control cells (MOC1Cas9), but not MOC1AhR-KO cells up-regulate exhaustion pathways in the tumor-infiltrating T cells and expression of checkpoint molecules on CD4+ T cells (PD-1, CTLA4, Lag3, and CD39) and macrophages, dendritic cells, and Ly6G+ myeloid cells (PD-L1 and CD39) in tdLNs. Notably, MOC1AhR-KO cell transplant renders mice 100% immune to later challenge with wild-type tumors. Analysis of altered signaling pathways within MOC1AhR-KO cells shows that the AhR controls baseline and IFNγ-induced Ido and PD-L1 expression, the latter of which occurs through direct transcriptional control. These observations 1) confirm the importance of malignant cell AhR in suppression of tumor immunity, 2) demonstrate the involvement of the AhR in IFNγ control of PD-L1 and IDO expression in the cancer context, and 3) suggest that the AhR is a viable target for modulation of multiple immune checkpoints.
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13
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el Hage A, Dormond O. Combining mTOR Inhibitors and T Cell-Based Immunotherapies in Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1359. [PMID: 33802831 PMCID: PMC8002586 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
mTOR regulates several processes that control tumor development, including cancer cell growth, angiogenesis and the immune response to tumor. Accordingly, mTOR inhibitors have been thoroughly explored in cancer therapy but have failed to provide long-lasting anticancer benefits. Several resistance mechanisms that counteract the antitumor effect of mTOR inhibitors have been identified and have highlighted the need to use mTOR inhibitors in combination therapies. In this context, emerging evidence has demonstrated that mTOR inhibitors, despite their immunosuppressive properties, provide anticancer benefits to immunotherapies. In fact, mTOR inhibitors also display immunostimulatory effects, in particular by promoting memory CD8+ T cell generation. Hence, mTOR inhibitors represent a therapeutic opportunity to promote antitumor CD8 responses and to boost the efficacy of different modalities of cancer immunotherapy. In this context, strategies to reduce the immunosuppressive activity of mTOR inhibitors and therefore to shift the immune response toward antitumor immunity will be useful. In this review, we present the different classes of mTOR inhibitors and discuss their effect on immune cells by focusing mainly on CD8+ T cells. We further provide an overview of the different preclinical studies that investigated the anticancer effects of mTOR inhibitors combined to immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivier Dormond
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland;
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14
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Bittner ML, Lopes R, Hua J, Sima C, Datta A, Wilson-Robles H. Comprehensive live-cell imaging analysis of cryptotanshinone and synergistic drug-screening effects in various human and canine cancer cell lines. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0236074. [PMID: 33544704 PMCID: PMC7864433 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several studies have highlighted both the extreme anticancer effects of Cryptotanshinone (CT), a Stat3 crippling component from Salvia miltiorrhiza, as well as other STAT3 inhibitors to fight cancer. Methods Data presented in this experiment incorporates 2 years of in vitro studies applying a comprehensive live-cell drug-screening analysis of human and canine cancer cells exposed to CT at 20 μM concentration, as well as to other drug combinations. As previously observed in other studies, dogs are natural cancer models, given to their similarity in cancer genetics, epidemiology and disease progression compared to humans. Results Results obtained from several types of human and canine cancer cells exposed to CT and varied drug combinations, verified CT efficacy at combating cancer by achieving an extremely high percentage of apoptosis within 24 hours of drug exposure. Conclusions CT anticancer efficacy in various human and canine cancer cell lines denotes its ability to interact across different biological processes and cancer regulatory cell networks, driving inhibition of cancer cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L. Bittner
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Rosana Lopes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RL); (HWR)
| | - Jianping Hua
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Chao Sima
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Aniruddha Datta
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Heather Wilson-Robles
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RL); (HWR)
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15
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Drijvers JM, Sharpe AH, Haigis MC. The effects of age and systemic metabolism on anti-tumor T cell responses. eLife 2020; 9:e62420. [PMID: 33170123 PMCID: PMC7655106 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Average age and obesity prevalence are increasing globally. Both aging and obesity are characterized by profound systemic metabolic and immunologic changes and are cancer risk factors. The mechanisms linking age and body weight to cancer are incompletely understood, but recent studies have provided evidence that the anti-tumor immune response is reduced in both conditions, while responsiveness to immune checkpoint blockade, a form of cancer immunotherapy, is paradoxically intact. Dietary restriction, which promotes health and lifespan, may enhance cancer immunity. These findings illustrate that the systemic context can impact anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy responsiveness. Here, we review the current knowledge of how age and systemic metabolic state affect the anti-tumor immune response, with an emphasis on CD8+ T cells, which are key players in anti-tumor immunity. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms may lead to novel therapies enhancing anti-tumor immunity in the context of aging or metabolic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jefte M Drijvers
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute and Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s HospitalBostonUnited States
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute and Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute and Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s HospitalBostonUnited States
| | - Marcia C Haigis
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute and Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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16
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Woods LT, Jasmer KJ, Muñoz Forti K, Shanbhag VC, Camden JM, Erb L, Petris MJ, Weisman GA. P2Y 2 receptors mediate nucleotide-induced EGFR phosphorylation and stimulate proliferation and tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Oral Oncol 2020; 109:104808. [PMID: 32540611 PMCID: PMC7736485 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.104808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess functional expression of the P2Y2 nucleotide receptor (P2Y2R) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines and define its role in nucleotide-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation. The use of anti-EGFR therapeutics to treat HNSCC is hindered by intrinsic and acquired drug resistance. Defining novel pathways that modulate EGFR signaling could identify additional targets to treat HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS In human HNSCC cell lines CAL27 and FaDu and the mouse oral cancer cell line MOC2, P2Y2R contributions to extracellular nucleotide-induced changes in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and EGFR and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation were determined using the ratiometric Ca2+ indicator fura-2 and immunoblot analysis, respectively. Genetic knockout of P2Y2Rs using CRISPR technology or pharmacological inhibition with P2Y2R-selective antagonist AR-C118925 defined P2Y2R contributions to in vivo tumor growth. RESULTS P2Y2R agonists UTP and ATP increased intracellular Ca2+ levels and ERK1/2 and EGFR phosphorylation in CAL27 and FaDu cells, responses that were inhibited by AR-C118925 or P2Y2R knockout. P2Y2R-mediated EGFR phosphorylation was also attenuated by inhibition of the adamalysin family of metalloproteases or Src family kinases. P2Y2R knockout reduced UTP-induced CAL27 cell proliferation in vitro and significantly reduced CAL27 and FaDu tumor xenograft volume in vivo. In a syngeneic mouse model of oral cancer, AR-C118925 administration reduced MOC2 tumor volume. CONCLUSION P2Y2Rs mediate HNSCC cell responses to extracellular nucleotides and genetic or pharmacological blockade of P2Y2R signaling attenuates tumor cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, suggesting that the P2Y2R represents a novel therapeutic target in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas T Woods
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Kimberly J Jasmer
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Kevin Muñoz Forti
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Vinit C Shanbhag
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Jean M Camden
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Laurie Erb
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Michael J Petris
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA
| | - Gary A Weisman
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310 USA.
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17
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Ye W, Gunti S, Allen CT, Hong Y, Clavijo PE, Van Waes C, Schmitt NC. ASTX660, an antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, increases antigen processing machinery and can enhance radiation-induced immunogenic cell death in preclinical models of head and neck cancer. Oncoimmunology 2020; 9:1710398. [PMID: 32002309 PMCID: PMC6959437 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1710398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) antagonists have shown activity in preclinical models of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and work across several cancer types has demonstrated diverse immune stimulatory effects including enhancement of T cell, NK cell, and dendritic cell function. However, tumor-cell-intrinsic mechanisms for this immune upregulation have been largely unexplored. In this study, we show that ASTX660, an antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, induces expression of immunogenic cell death (ICD) markers in sensitive HNSCC cell lines in vitro. Experiments in syngeneic mouse models of HNSCC showed that ASTX660 can also enhance radiation-induced ICD in vivo. On a functional level, ASTX660 also enhanced killing of multiple murine cell lines by cytotoxic tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and when combined with XRT, stimulated clonal expansion of antigen-specific T lymphocytes and expression of MHC class I on the surface of tumor cells. Flow cytometry experiments in several human HNSCC cell lines showed that MHC class I (HLA-A,B,C) was reliably upregulated in response to ASTX660 + TNFα, while increases in other antigen processing machinery (APM) components were variable among different cell lines. These findings suggest that ASTX660 may enhance anti-tumor immunity both by promoting ICD and by enhancing antigen processing and presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenda Ye
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Medical Research Scholars Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sreenivasulu Gunti
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Youji Hong
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nicole C Schmitt
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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18
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Amin D, Richa T, Mollaee M, Zhan T, Tassone P, Johnson J, Luginbuhl A, Cognetti D, Martinez-Outschoorn U, Stapp R, Solomides C, Rodeck U, Curry J. Metformin Effects on FOXP3 + and CD8 + T Cell Infiltrates of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Laryngoscope 2019; 130:E490-E498. [PMID: 31593308 DOI: 10.1002/lary.28336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Alterations of cellular metabolism have been implicated in immune dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Metformin has recently emerged as a candidate of interest for combination with immunotherapy in HNSCC. This study investigated the effect of metformin on immune cell infiltrates of HNSCC. METHODS Retrospective analysis of T cell infiltrates in primary tumor specimens from patients enrolled in a clinical window of opportunity trial of presurgical metformin. Metformin was titrated to a standard diabetic dose (2000 mg/day) for a minimum of 9 days (mean 13.6 days) prior to surgical resection. Pre and posttreatment surgical specimens from 36 patients (16 HPV+ , 20 HPV- ) were comparatively analyzed. FOXP3+ and CD8+ immune cell infiltrates in the tumor and peritumoral stroma of pre and posttreatment HNSCC specimens were quantified by digital image analysis using Visiopharm software. RESULTS Metformin treatment was associated with a 41.4% decrease in FOXP3+ T cells in intratumor regions of interest (P = .004) and a 66.5% increase in stromal CD8+ T cells at the leading edge of the tumor (P = .021) when compared to pretreatment biopsies. This was reflected in increased CD8+ /FOXP3+ cell ratios within the tumor (P < .001) and stromal compartments (P < .001). The effects of metformin occurred independently of HPV status. CONCLUSION Metformin treatment may favorably alter the immune TME in HNSCC independent of HPV status. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1b. This study is most accurately described as a non-randomized controlled trial and therefore may reflect a level of evidence below 1b but above 2a from the provided "levels of evidence" chart. Laryngoscope, 130:E490-E498, 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dev Amin
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Tony Richa
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Mehri Mollaee
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Tingting Zhan
- Department of Biostatistics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Patrick Tassone
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Jennifer Johnson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Adam Luginbuhl
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - David Cognetti
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | | | - Robert Stapp
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Charalambos Solomides
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Ulrich Rodeck
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Joseph Curry
- Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
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19
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A novel reporter construct for screening small molecule inhibitors that specifically target self-renewing cancer cells. Exp Cell Res 2019; 383:111551. [PMID: 31401066 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.111551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of cancer cells, which possess self-renewal ability, and lead to tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. Live detection and isolation of CSCs are important to understand the biology of CSCs as well as to screen drugs that target them. Even though CSCs are detected using surface markers, there is a lot of inconsistencies for that in a given cancer type. At the same time, self-renewal markers like ALDH1A1, OCT4A and SOX2, which are intracellular molecules, are reliable markers for CSCs in different cancers. In the present study, we generated a reporter construct for self-renewing CSCs, based on ALDH1A1 expression. Oral cancer cells harboring ALDH1A1-DsRed2 were used to screen inhibitors that target CSCs. Our results showed that Comb1, a cocktail of inhibitors for EGF and TGF-β pathways and their intermediates, effectively reduced the DsRed2 population to 34%. Our immunohistochemical analysis on primary oral cancer corroborated the importance of EGF and TGF-β pathways in sustaining CSCs. Since these two pathways are also critical for the self-renewal and differentiation of normal stem cells, Comb1 might abolish them as well. On analysis of the effect of Comb1 on normal murine bone marrow cells, there was no significant change in the stem cell self-renewal and differentiation potential in the treated group compared to untreated cells. To conclude, we claim that ALDH1A1-DsRed2 is a useful tool to detect CSCs, and Comb1 is effective in targeting CSCs without affecting normal stem cells.
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20
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Heath BR, Michmerhuizen NL, Donnelly CR, Sansanaphongpricha K, Sun D, Brenner JC, Lei YL. Head and Neck Cancer Immunotherapy beyond the Checkpoint Blockade. J Dent Res 2019; 98:1073-1080. [PMID: 31340724 DOI: 10.1177/0022034519864112] [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: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of immune checkpoint receptor blockade has brought exciting promises for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). While patients who respond to checkpoint inhibitors tend to develop a durable response, <15% of patients with HNSCC respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors, underscoring the critical need to alleviate cancer resistance to immunotherapy. Major advances have been made to elucidate the intrinsic and adaptive resistance mechanisms to immunotherapy. Central genomic events in HNSCC have been found to possess previously unknown roles in suppressing immune sensing. Such inhibitory function affects both the innate and adaptive arms of tumor-specific immunity. While checkpoint blockade effectively reinvigorates adaptive T-cell responses, additional targeting of the oncogenic inhibitors of innate immune sensing likely informs a novel and potent strategy for immune priming. This review discusses the recent advances on the identification of key HNSCC oncogenes that impair antitumor immunity and emerging immune-priming approaches that sensitize poorly immunogenic HNSCCs to checkpoint blockade. These approaches include but are not limited to cancer vaccine systems utilizing novel type I interferon agonists as immune adjuvants, radiation, DNA damage-inducing agents, and metabolic reprogramming. The goal of these multipronged approaches is to expand tumor-specific effector T-cells, break checkpoint receptor-mediated tolerance, and metabolically support sustained T-cell activation. The translation of therapeutics that reverses oncogenic inhibition of immune sensing requires thorough characterization of the HNSCC regulators of innate immune sensors, development of additional immunocompetent HNSCC mouse models, as well as engineering of more robust immune adjuvant delivery systems. Built on the success of checkpoint blockade, validation of novel immune-priming approaches holds key promises to expand the pool of responders to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- B R Heath
- 1 Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,2 Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - N L Michmerhuizen
- 3 Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,4 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - C R Donnelly
- 1 Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - K Sansanaphongpricha
- 5 The National Nanotechnology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - D Sun
- 6 University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,7 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - J C Brenner
- 3 Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,4 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,6 University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Y L Lei
- 1 Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,2 Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,4 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,6 University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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21
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Abstract
Aging, as a physiological process mediated by numerous regulatory pathways and transcription factors, is manifested by continuous progressive functional decline and increasing risk of chronic diseases. There is an increasing interest to identify pharmacological agents for treatment and prevention of age-related disease in humans. Animal models play an important role in identification and testing of anti-aging compounds; this step is crucial before the drug will enter human clinical trial or will be introduced to human medicine. One of the main goals of animal studies is better understanding of mechanistic targets, therapeutic implications and side-effects of the drug, which may be later translated into humans. In this chapter, we summarized the effects of different drugs reported to extend the lifespan in model organisms from round worms to rodents. Resveratrol, rapamycin, metformin and aspirin, showing effectiveness in model organism life- and healthspan extension mainly target the master regulators of aging such as mTOR, FOXO and PGC1α, affecting autophagy, inflammation and oxidative stress. In humans, these drugs were demonstrated to reduce inflammation, prevent CVD, and slow down the functional decline in certain organs. Additionally, potential anti-aging pharmacologic agents inhibit cancerogenesis, interfering with certain aspects of cell metabolism, proliferation, angioneogenesis and apoptosis.
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22
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Longo V, Brunetti O, Azzariti A, Galetta D, Nardulli P, Leonetti F, Silvestris N. Strategies to Improve Cancer Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Efficacy, Other Than Abscopal Effect: A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11040539. [PMID: 30991686 PMCID: PMC6521062 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11040539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite that the impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors on malignancies treatment is unprecedented, a lack of response to these molecules is observed in several cases. Differently from melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, where the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors results in a high efficacy, the response rate in other tumors, such as gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, sarcomas, and part of genitourinary cancers remains low. The first strategy evaluated to improve the response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors is the use of predictive factors for the response such as PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden, and clinical features. In addition to the identification of the patients with a higher expression of immune checkpoint molecules, another approach currently under intensive investigation is the use of therapeutics in a combinatory manner with immune checkpoint inhibitors in order to obtain an enhancement of efficacy through the modification of the tumor immune microenvironment. In addition to the abscopal effect induced by radiotherapy, a lot of studies are evaluating several drugs able to improve the response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors, including microbiota modifiers, drugs targeting co-inhibitory receptors, anti-angiogenic therapeutics, small molecules, and oncolytic viruses. In view of the rapid and extensive development of this research field, we conducted a systematic review of the literature identifying which of these drugs are closer to achieving validation in the clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Longo
- Medical Thoracic Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Oronzo Brunetti
- Medical Oncology Unit, Hospital of Barletta, Viale Ippocrate, 15, 70051 Barletta, Italy.
| | - Amalia Azzariti
- Experimental Pharmacology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Domenico Galetta
- Medical Thoracic Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Patrizia Nardulli
- Pharmacy Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Francesco Leonetti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, University of Bari, Piazza Umberto I, 1, 70121 Bari, Italy.
| | - Nicola Silvestris
- Scientific Guidance, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy.
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23
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Sun L, Clavijo PE, Robbins Y, Patel P, Friedman J, Greene S, Das R, Silvin C, Van Waes C, Horn LA, Schlom J, Palena C, Maeda D, Zebala J, Allen CT. Inhibiting myeloid-derived suppressor cell trafficking enhances T cell immunotherapy. JCI Insight 2019; 4:126853. [PMID: 30944253 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.126853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) into tumors induces local immunosuppression in carcinomas. Here, we assessed whether SX-682, an orally bioavailable small-molecule inhibitor of CXCR1 and CXCR2, could block tumor MDSC recruitment and enhance T cell activation and antitumor immunity following multiple forms of immunotherapy. CXCR2+ neutrophilic MDSCs (PMN-MDSCs) were the most abundant myeloid cell subset within oral and lung syngeneic carcinomas. PMN-MDSCs demonstrated greater suppression of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte killing of targets compared with macrophages. SX-682 significantly inhibited trafficking of PMN-MDSCs without altering CXCR2 ligand expression. Trafficking of CXCR1+ macrophages was unaltered, possibly due to coexpression of CSF1R. Reduced PMN-MDSC tumor infiltration correlated with enhanced accumulation of endogenous or adoptively transferred T cells. Accordingly, tumor growth inhibition or the rate of established tumor rejection following programed death-axis (PD-axis) immune checkpoint blockade or adoptive cell transfer of engineered T cells was enhanced in combination with SX-682. Despite CXCR1/2 expression on tumor cells, SX-682 appeared to have little direct antitumor effect on these carcinoma models. These data suggest that tumor-infiltrating CXCR2+ PMN-MDSCs may prevent optimal responses following both PD-axis immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T cell transfer therapy. Abrogation of PMN-MDSC trafficking with SX-682 enhances T cell-based immunotherapeutic efficacy and may be of benefit to patients with MDSC-infiltrated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Rita Das
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Chris Silvin
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lucas A Horn
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Dean Maeda
- Syntrix Pharmaceuticals, Auburn, Washington, USA
| | - John Zebala
- Syntrix Pharmaceuticals, Auburn, Washington, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translation Tumor Immunology Program and.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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24
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Day TA, Shirai K, O'Brien PE, Matheus MG, Godwin K, Sood AJ, Kompelli A, Vick JA, Martin D, Vitale-Cross L, Callejas-Varela JL, Wang Z, Wu X, Harismendy O, Molinolo AA, Lippman SM, Van Waes C, Szabo E, Gutkind JS. Inhibition of mTOR Signaling and Clinical Activity of Rapamycin in Head and Neck Cancer in a Window of Opportunity Trial. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:1156-1164. [PMID: 30420444 PMCID: PMC6377824 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 09/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We studied the impact of mTOR signaling inhibition with rapamycin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the neoadjuvant setting. The goals were to evaluate the mTOR pathway as a therapeutic target for patients with advanced HNSCC, and the clinical safety, antitumor, and molecular activity of rapamycin administration on HNSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with untreated stage II-IVA HNSCC received rapamycin for 21 days (day 1, 15 mg; days 2-12, 5 mg) prior to definitive treatment with surgery or chemoradiation. Treatment responses were assessed clinically and radiographically with CT and FDG-PET. Pre- and posttreatment biopsies and blood were obtained for toxicity, immune monitoring, and IHC assessment of mTOR signaling, as well as exome sequencing. RESULTS Sixteen patients (eight oral cavity, eight oropharyngeal) completed rapamycin and definitive treatment. Half of patients were p16 positive. One patient had a pathologic complete response and four (25%) patients met RECIST criteria for response (1 CR, 3 PR, 12 SD). Treatment was well tolerated with no grade 4 or unexpected toxicities. No significant immune suppression was observed. Downstream mTOR signaling was downregulated in tumor tissues as measured by phosphorylation of S6 (P < 0.0001), AKT (P < 0.0001), and 4EBP (P = 0.0361), with a significant compensatory increase in phosphorylated ERK in most patients (P < 0.001). Ki67 was reduced in tumor biopsies in all patients (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS Rapamycin treatment was well tolerated, reduced mTOR signaling and tumor growth, and resulted in significant clinical responses despite the brief treatment duration, thus supporting the potential role of mTOR inhibitors in treatment regimens for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry A Day
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Keisuke Shirai
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Paul E O'Brien
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | | | - Kristina Godwin
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Amit J Sood
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Anvesh Kompelli
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | | | - Daniel Martin
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda
| | - Lynn Vitale-Cross
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda
| | | | - Zhiyong Wang
- University of California San Diego (UCSD) Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, California
| | - Xingyu Wu
- University of California San Diego (UCSD) Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, California
| | - Olivier Harismendy
- University of California San Diego (UCSD) Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, California
| | - Alfredo A Molinolo
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda
- University of California San Diego (UCSD) Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, California
| | - Scott M Lippman
- University of California San Diego (UCSD) Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, California
| | - Carter Van Waes
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Eva Szabo
- National Cancer Institute, Potomac, Maryland
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda.
- University of California San Diego (UCSD) Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, California
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25
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Dharmaraj N, Piotrowski SL, Huang C, Newton JM, Golfman LS, Hanoteau A, Koshy ST, Li AW, Pulikkathara MX, Zhang B, Burks JK, Mooney DJ, Lei YL, Sikora AG, Young S. Anti-tumor immunity induced by ectopic expression of viral antigens is transient and limited by immune escape. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1568809. [PMID: 30906661 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1568809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapeutic treatments in head and neck cancer clinical trials include cancer vaccines targeting foreign viral antigens or mutational neoantigens derived from cancer-expressed proteins. Anti-tumor immune responses place cancer cells under selective pressure to lose or downregulate target antigens; therefore, vaccination against virus- or host- "driver" oncogenes are proposed as a strategy to overcome immune escape. Herein, we demonstrate the impact of immunogenic viral antigens on anti-tumor response and immune editing in MOC2-E6E7, a syngeneic murine oral cancer cell line expressing HPV-16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Using orthotopic syngeneic models, we observed in vivo tumor growth kinetics of MOC2-E6E7 is delayed in immunocompetent mice compared to parental MOC2 tumors. In contrast, tumor growth remained similar in Rag1-/- mice lacking adaptive immunity. MOC2-E6E7 tumors demonstrated an "inflamed" or immune-activated tumor microenvironment and greater infiltration of CD8+ T cells compared to MOC2. By real-time PCR, we detected downregulation of E6 and E7 genes in MOC2-E6E7 tumors only in immunocompetent mice, suggesting the loss of ectopic viral antigen expression due to immune editing. We then assessed the efficacy of a biomaterials-based mesoporous silica rod (MSR) cancer vaccine targeting HPV-16 E7 in our model. Vaccination induced robust infiltration of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells, which led to tumor growth delay and modestly prolonged survival in MOC2-E6E7 tumors. Increased efficacy was seen in a separate head and neck cancer tumor model, mEER, which obligately expresses E7 antigen. Collectively, our data highlight the need for both immunogenicity and 'driver' status of target antigens to be considered in cancer vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeraja Dharmaraj
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stacey L Piotrowski
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Chen Huang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jared M Newton
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leonard S Golfman
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Aurelie Hanoteau
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sandeep T Koshy
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Wyss Institute Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.,Exploratory Immuno-Oncology, Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aileen W Li
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Wyss Institute Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Bing Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jared K Burks
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David J Mooney
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Wyss Institute Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yu L Lei
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Andrew G Sikora
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Simon Young
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of BioEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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26
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Rossa C, D'Silva NJ. Immune-relevant aspects of murine models of head and neck cancer. Oncogene 2019; 38:3973-3988. [PMID: 30696955 PMCID: PMC6533118 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0686-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck cancers (HNCs) cause significant mortality and morbidity. There have been few advances in therapeutic management of HNC in the past 4 to 5 decades, which support the need for studies focusing on HNC biology. In recent years, increased recognition of the relevance of the host response in cancer progression has led to novel therapeutic strategies and putative biomarkers of tumor aggressiveness. However, tumor-immune interactions are highly complex and vary with cancer type. Pre-clinical, in vivo models represent an important and necessary step in understanding biological processes involved in development, progression and treatment of HNC. Rodents (mice, rats, hamsters) are the most frequently used animal models in HNC research. The relevance and utility of information generated by studies in murine models is unquestionable, but it is also limited in application to tumor-immune interactions. In this review, we present information regarding the immune-specific characteristics of the murine models most commonly used in HNC research, including immunocompromised and immunocompetent animals. The particular characteristics of xenograft, chemically induced, syngeneic, transgenic, and humanized models are discussed in order to provide context and insight for researchers interested in the in vivo study of tumor-immune interactions in HNC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Rossa
- Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, UNESP-State University of Sao Paulo, School of Dentistry at Araraquara, Araraquara - SP, Brazil. .,Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Nisha J D'Silva
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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27
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Clavijo PE, Friedman J, Robbins Y, Moore EC, Smith E, Zauderer M, Evans EE, Allen CT. Semaphorin4D Inhibition Improves Response to Immune-Checkpoint Blockade via Attenuation of MDSC Recruitment and Function. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 7:282-291. [PMID: 30514791 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Tumor infiltration by immunosuppressive myeloid cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), causes resistance to immunotherapy. Semaphorin4D, originally characterized for its axonal guidance properties, also contributes to endothelial cell migration and survival and modulates global immune cytokine profiles and myeloid cell polarization within the tumor microenvironment. Here, we show how a therapeutic murine Sema4D mAb improves responses to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) in two murine carcinoma models. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with Sema4D mAb abrogated Ly6Ghi PMN-MDSC recruitment through reducing MAPK-dependent chemokine production by tumor cells in Murine oral cancer-1 (MOC1) tumors. PMN-MDSC suppressive capacity was reduced through inhibition of Sema4D-driven arginase expression. These changes led to enhanced tumor infiltration by CD8+ TIL and activation of tumor-draining lymph node T lymphocytes in response to tumor antigen. Sema4D mAb in combination with either CTLA-4 or PD-1 blockade enhanced rejection of tumors or tumor growth delay, resulting in prolonged survival with either treatment. This function of Sema4D mAb provides a rationale for its evaluation in combination with ICB to treat tumors with immunosuppressive myeloid infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yvette Robbins
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ellen C Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland. .,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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28
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Zammit AP, Sinha R, Cooper CL, Perry CFL, Frazer IH, Tuong ZK. Examining the contribution of smoking and HPV towards the etiology of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma using high-throughput sequencing: A prospective observational study. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205406. [PMID: 30308005 PMCID: PMC6181346 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OCSCC) is a common form of head and neck cancer throughout the developed and developing world. However, the etiology of OCSCC is still unclear. Here, we explored the extent to which tobacco use, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and genetic and transcriptomic changes contributed to the oncogenesis of OCSCC. In a prospective observational study, we analysed fresh tissue biopsies from 45 OCSCC collected from 51 subjects presenting with OCSCC to the Brisbane Head and Neck Clinics between 2013 and 2015. Exploration of the genetic and transcriptomic landscape of the biopsies were performed using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and whole exome sequencing. HPV associated tumours were determined using p16 staining of histological sections and RNA sequencing. Patient demographics including tumor location within the oral cavity, and history of tobacco and alcohol use were correlated with genomic and transcriptomics analyses. About 4.5% of OCSCC were HPV associated. The most frequent mutations in the OCSCC samples were in the TP53 and CDKN2A genes, but no association of specific mutations with HPV or tobacco use was observed. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis to explore the RNA-seq data, tumors from participants with a history of tobacco use showed a significant trend towards increased mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and decreased mitochondrial respiration. In conclusion, HPV was shown to be an uncommon association with OCSCC and changes in TP53 transcriptional regulation, mTOR signaling and mitochondrial function were associated with a history of tobacco use. Larger data sets will be required to enable detection of differences which may help with development of personalized therapeutics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P. Zammit
- The University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Rohit Sinha
- The University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Caroline L. Cooper
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
- Southside Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Ian H. Frazer
- The University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Zewen K. Tuong
- The University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
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29
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Baird JR, Bell RB, Troesch V, Friedman D, Bambina S, Kramer G, Blair TC, Medler T, Wu Y, Sun Z, de Gruijl TD, van de Ven R, Leidner RS, Crittenden MR, Gough MJ. Evaluation of Explant Responses to STING Ligands: Personalized Immunosurgical Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Res 2018; 78:6308-6319. [PMID: 30224374 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Surgeons have unique in situ access to tumors enabling them to apply immunotherapies to resection margins as a means to prevent local recurrence. Here, we developed a surgical approach to deliver stimulator of interferon genes (STING) ligands to the site of a purposeful partial tumor resection using a gel-based biomaterial. In a range of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) murine tumor models, we demonstrate that although control-treated tumors recur locally, tumors treated with STING-loaded biomaterials are cured. The mechanism of tumor control required activation of STING and induction of type I IFN in host cells, not cancer cells, and resulted in CD8 T-cell-mediated cure of residual cancer cells. In addition, we used a novel tumor explant assay to screen individual murine and human HNSCC tumor responses to therapies ex vivo We then utilized this information to personalize the biomaterial and immunotherapy applied to previously unresponsive tumors in mice. These data demonstrate that explant assays identify the diversity of tumor-specific responses to STING ligands and establish the utility of the explant assay to personalize immunotherapies according to the local response.Significance: Delivery of immunotherapy directly to resection sites via a gel-based biomaterial prevents locoregional recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Res; 78(21); 6308-19. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Baird
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - R Bryan Bell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.,Head and Neck Institute, Portland, Oregon
| | - Victoria Troesch
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - David Friedman
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Shelly Bambina
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Gwen Kramer
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Tiffany C Blair
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Terry Medler
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Yaping Wu
- Pathology, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Zhaoyu Sun
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Tanja D de Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rieneke van de Ven
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rom S Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon
| | - Marka R Crittenden
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.,The Oregon Clinic, Portland, Oregon
| | - Michael J Gough
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.
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30
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Xiao R, Allen CT, Tran L, Patel P, Park SJ, Chen Z, Van Waes C, Schmitt NC. Antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP enhances anti-tumor immunity when combined with radiation and PD-1 blockade in a syngeneic model of head and neck cancer. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1471440. [PMID: 30393585 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1471440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) frequently harbor genomic mutations in cell death pathways. Nearly 30% of HNSCCs overexpress Fas-Associated Death Domain (FADD), with or without BIRC2/3 genes encoding cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins 1/2 (cIAP1/2), critical components of the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Receptor signaling pathways. ASTX660 is a novel non-peptidomimetic antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP under evaluation in a clinical trial for advanced solid tumors and lymphomas. Herein, we show that ASTX660, at nanomolar concentrations, sensitized Murine Oral Cancer (MOC1) cells to TNFα. Using syngeneic mouse models, ASTX660 showed additive anti-tumor activity with radiation therapy (XRT), cisplatin chemotherapy, and PD-1 blockade to significantly delay or eradicate MOC1 tumors. These combinations significantly increased CD8 + T cells and dendritic cells, as well as T cell activity. ASTX660 stimulated cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) killing of MOC1 cells expressing ovalbumin. Early stages of CTL killing were predominantly mediated by perforin/granzyme B, whereas later stages were mediated by death ligands TNFα, TRAIL, and FasL. Correspondingly, depletion of CD8 + T cells and NK cells in vivo revealed both types of immune cells to be important components of the complete anti-tumor response enhanced by ASTX660+XRT. These findings serve to inform future studies of IAP inhibitors and support the potential for future clinical trials investigating ASTX660 with XRT and immunotherapies like PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Xiao
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Medical Research Scholars Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Linda Tran
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Priya Patel
- Medical Research Scholars Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - So-Jin Park
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zhong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nicole C Schmitt
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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31
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Friedman J, Morisada M, Sun L, Moore EC, Padget M, Hodge JW, Schlom J, Gameiro SR, Allen CT. Inhibition of WEE1 kinase and cell cycle checkpoint activation sensitizes head and neck cancers to natural killer cell therapies. J Immunother Cancer 2018; 6:59. [PMID: 29925431 PMCID: PMC6011473 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-018-0374-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Natural killer (NK) cells recognize and lyse target tumor cells in an MHC-unrestricted fashion and complement antigen- and MHC-restricted killing by T-lymphocytes. NK cells and T-lymphocytes mediate early killing of targets through a common granzyme B-dependent mechanism. Tumor cell resistance to granzyme B and how this alters NK cell killing is not clearly defined. Methods Tumor cell sensitivity to cultured murine KIL and human high affinity NK (haNK) cells in the presence or absence of AZD1775, a small molecule inhibitor of WEE1 kinase, was assessed via real time impedance analysis. Mechanisms of enhanced sensitivity to NK lysis were determined and in vivo validation via adoptive transfer of KIL cells into syngeneic mice was performed. Results Cultured murine KIL cells lyse murine oral cancer 2 (MOC2) cell targets more efficiently than freshly isolated peripheral murine NK cells. MOC2 sensitivity to granzyme B-dependent KIL cell lysis was enhanced by inhibition of WEE1 kinase, reversing G2/M cell cycle checkpoint activation and resulting in enhanced DNA damage and apoptosis. Treatment of MOC2 tumor-bearing wild-type C57BL/6 mice with AZD1775 and adoptively transferred KIL cells resulted in enhanced tumor growth control and survival over controls or either treatment alone. Validating these findings in human models, WEE1 kinase inhibition sensitized two human head and neck cancer cell lines to direct lysis by haNK cells. Further, WEE1 kinase inhibition sensitized these cell lines to antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity when combined with the anti-PD-L1 IgG1 mAb Avelumab. Conclusions Tumor cell resistance to granzyme B-induced cell death can be reversed through inhibition of WEE1 kinase as AZD1775 sensitized both murine and human head and neck cancer cells to NK lysis. These data provide the pre-clinical rationale for the combination of small molecules that reverse cell cycle checkpoint activation and NK cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Megan Morisada
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Lillian Sun
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Ellen C Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michelle Padget
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sofia R Gameiro
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 7N240C, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA. .,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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32
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Moore EC, Sun L, Clavijo PE, Friedman J, Harford JB, Saleh AD, Van Waes C, Chang EH, Allen CT. Nanocomplex-based TP53 gene therapy promotes anti-tumor immunity through TP53- and STING-dependent mechanisms. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1404216. [PMID: 29900037 PMCID: PMC5993490 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1404216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss or mutation of TP53 has been linked to alterations in anti-tumor immunity as well as dysregulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. We explored immunologic effects and mechanisms following restoration of wild-type human TP53 cDNA in murine oral cancer cells using the therapeutic nanocomplex scL-53. We demonstrated scL-53 induces dose-dependent expression of TP53 and induction of apoptosis and immunogenic cell death. We further demonstrated both TP53-dependent and independent induction of tumor cell immunogenicity through the use of blocking mAbs, nanocomplex loaded with DNA plasmid with or without TP53 cDNA, empty nanocomplex and siRNA knockdown techniques. TP53-independent immune modulation was observed following treatment with nanocomplex loaded with DNA plasmid lacking TP53 cDNA and abrogated in STING-deficient tumor cells, supporting the presence of a cytoplasmic DNA sensing, STING-dependent type-I IFN response. Cooperatively, TP53- and STING-dependent alterations sensitized tumor cells to CTL-mediated lysis, which was further enhanced following reversal of adaptive immune resistance with PD-1 mAb. In vivo, combination scL-53 and PD-1 mAb resulted in growth control or rejection of established tumors that was abrogated in mice depleted of CD8+ cells or in STING deficient mice. Cumulatively, this work demonstrates 1) a direct anti-tumor effects of functional TP53; 2) non-redundant TP53- and STING-dependent induction of tumor cell immunogenicity following scL-53 treatment; and 3) that adaptive immune resistance following scL-53 treatment can be reversed with PD-based immune checkpoint blockade, resulting in the rejection or control of syngeneic murine tumors. These data strongly support the clinical combination of scL-53 and immune checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen C Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lillian Sun
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Anthony D Saleh
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Esther H Chang
- SynerGene Therapeutics, Potomac, MD, USA.,Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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33
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Rotundo MS, Galeano T, Tassone P, Tagliaferri P. mTOR inhibitors, a new era for metastatic luminal HER2-negative breast cancer? A systematic review and a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Oncotarget 2017; 7:27055-66. [PMID: 26895472 PMCID: PMC5053632 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated if standard hormonal therapy (HT) could be improved by the addition of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTOR-I) in metastatic luminal breast cancer. A meta-analysis on 4 phase II-III randomized clinical trials was performed. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) for progression free survival (PFS)/ time to progression (TTP) was 0.62 in favor of mTOR-I+HT arm (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.70; p<0.0001). There was significant heterogeneity for PFS/TTP (Cochran's Q 32, p<0.0001, I2 index 90.6%). Pooled HR for overall survival (OS) was 0.84 in favor of the combination arm (95% CI 0.71-0.99; p=0.04). Heterogeneity was not significant (Cochran's Q 4.47, p=0.1, I2 index 55.3%). Pooled risk ratio (RR) for objective response rate (ORR) was 0.88 in favor of experimental arm (95% CI 0.85-0.91; p<0.0001). Heterogeneity was not significant (Cochran's Q 2.11, p=0.3, I2 index 5.2%). Adverse events (AEs), in particular those of grade 3-4, mostly occurred in mTOR-I+HT arm. Combination therapy of HT plus mTOR-I improves the outcome of metastatic luminal breast cancer patients. Our results provide evidence of a class-effect of these targeting molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Saveria Rotundo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Medical Oncology, Magna Graecia University, Viale Europa, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Teresa Galeano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Medical Oncology, Magna Graecia University, Viale Europa, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Tassone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Translational Medical Oncology, Magna Graecia University, Viale Europa, Catanzaro, Italy.,Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | - Pierosandro Tagliaferri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Medical Oncology, Magna Graecia University, Viale Europa, Catanzaro, Italy
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Morisada M, Clavijo PE, Moore E, Sun L, Chamberlin M, Van Waes C, Hodge JW, Mitchell JB, Friedman J, Allen CT. PD-1 blockade reverses adaptive immune resistance induced by high-dose hypofractionated but not low-dose daily fractionated radiation. Oncoimmunology 2017; 7:e1395996. [PMID: 29399393 PMCID: PMC5790397 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1395996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Preclinical evidence suggests that high-dose hypofractionated ionizing radiation (IR) can enhance anti-tumor immunity and result in significant tumor control when combined with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, low-dose daily fractioned IR used for many tumor types including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma results in lymphopenia and may be immunosuppressive. We compared immune correlates, primary tumor and abscopal tumor control rates following the addition of PD-1 mAb to either high-dose hypofractioned (8Gyx2) or low-dose daily fractionated (2Gyx10) IR in syngeneic models of cancer. When compared to 2Gyx10 IR, 8Gyx2 IR preserved peripheral and tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-lymphocyte accumulation and activation and reduced peripheral and tumor gMDSC accumulation. Regulatory T-lymphocytes were largely unaltered. Type I and I IFN levels and expression of IFN-responsive MHC class I and PD-L1 was enhanced in tumors treated with 8Gyx2 compared to 2Gyx10 IR. Functionally, tumor-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte IFN responses within tumor draining lymph nodes were enhanced following 8Gyx2 IR but suppressed following 2Gyx10 IR. When combined with PD-1 mAb, reversal of adaptive immune resistance and subsequent enhancement of CD8+ cell dependent primary and abscopal tumor control was observed following 8Gyx2 but not 2Gyx10 IR. These data strongly support that compared to daily fractionated low-dose IR, high-dose hypofractionated IR preserves or enhances anti-tumor immunity and, when combined with PD-1 mAb to reverse adaptive immune resistance, promotes anti-tumor immunity to control primary and distant tumors. These data critically inform the rational design of trials combining IR and ICB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Morisada
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul E. Clavijo
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ellen Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lillian Sun
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michael Chamberlin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James W. Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James B. Mitchell
- Radiation Biology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Clint T. Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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35
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Tran L, Allen CT, Xiao R, Moore E, Davis R, Park SJ, Spielbauer K, Van Waes C, Schmitt NC. Cisplatin Alters Antitumor Immunity and Synergizes with PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibition in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Res 2017; 5:1141-1151. [PMID: 29097421 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been treated for decades with cisplatin chemotherapy, and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy has recently been approved for the treatment of this disease. However, preclinical studies of how antitumor immunity in HNSCC is affected by cisplatin alone or in combination with immunotherapies are lacking. Here, we show that sublethal doses of cisplatin may enhance antigen presentation and T-cell killing in vitro, though cisplatin also upregulates tumor cell expression of PD-L1 and may impair T-cell function at higher doses. In a syngeneic mouse model of HNSCC, concurrent use of cisplatin and anti-PD-L1/PD-1 delayed tumor growth and enhanced survival without significantly reducing the number or function of tumor-infiltrating immune cells or increasing cisplatin-induced toxicities. These results suggest that moderate doses of cisplatin may enhance antitumor immunity by mechanisms other than direct tumor cell killing, which may be further enhanced by anti-PD-L1/PD-1 therapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 5(12); 1141-51. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Tran
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Clint T Allen
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Roy Xiao
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,Medical Research Scholars Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Ellen Moore
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ruth Davis
- Medical Research Scholars Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - So-Jin Park
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Katie Spielbauer
- Medical Research Scholars Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.,Section on Sensory Cell Biology, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nicole C Schmitt
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. .,Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Bethesda, Maryland
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Van Waes C, Musbahi O. Genomics and advances towards precision medicine for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2017; 2:310-319. [PMID: 29094075 PMCID: PMC5655563 DOI: 10.1002/lio2.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To provide a review of emerging knowledge from genomics and related basic science, preclinical, and clinical precision medicine studies in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Data Sources The Cancer Genome Atlas Network (TCGA) publications, PubMed‐based literature review, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Review Methods TCGA publications, PubMed, and ClinicalTrials.gov were queried for genomics and related basic science, preclinical, and developmental clinical precision medicine studies in HNSCC. Results TCGA reported comprehensive genomic analyses of 279 HNSCC, defining the landscape and frequency of chromosomal copy number alterations, mutations, and expressed genes that contribute to pathogenesis, prognosis, and resistance to therapy. This provides a road map for basic science and preclinical studies to identify key pathways in cancer and cells of the tumor microenvironment affected by these alterations, and candidate targets for new small molecule and biologic therapies. Conclusion Recurrent chromosomal abnormalities, mutations, and expression of genes affecting HNSCC subsets are associated with differences in prognosis, and define molecules, pathways, and deregulated immune responses as candidates for therapy. Activity of molecularly targeted agents appears to be enhanced by rational combinations of these agents and standard therapies targeting the complex alterations that affect multiple pathways and mechanisms in HNSCC. Level of Evidence NA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carter Van Waes
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Bethesda Maryland U.S.A
| | - Omar Musbahi
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Bethesda Maryland U.S.A
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Morisada M, Moore EC, Hodge R, Friedman J, Cash HA, Hodge JW, Mitchell JB, Allen CT. Dose-dependent enhancement of T-lymphocyte priming and CTL lysis following ionizing radiation in an engineered model of oral cancer. Oral Oncol 2017; 71:87-94. [PMID: 28688697 PMCID: PMC5528171 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Determine if direct tumor cell cytotoxicity, antigen release, and susceptibility to T-lymphocyte killing following radiation treatment is dose-dependent. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mouse oral cancer cells were engineered to express full-length ovalbumin as a model antigen. Tumor antigen release with uptake and cross presentation of antigen by antigen presenting cells with subsequent priming and expansion of antigen-specific T-lymphocytes following radiation was modeled in vitro and in vivo. T-lymphocyte mediated killing was measured following radiation treatment using a novel impedance-based cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS Radiation treatment induced dose-dependent induction of executioner caspase activity and apoptosis in MOC1 cells. In vitro modeling of antigen release and T-lymphocyte priming demonstrated enhanced proliferation of OT-1 T-lymphocytes with 8Gy treatment of MOC1ova cells compared to 2Gy. This was validated in vivo following treatment of established MOC1ova tumors and adoptive transfer of antigen-specific T-lymphocytes. Using a novel impedance-based cytotoxicity assay, 8Gy enhanced tumor cell susceptibility to T-lymphocyte killing to a greater degree than 2Gy. CONCLUSION In the context of using clinically-relevant doses of radiation treatment as an adjuvant for immunotherapy, 8Gy is superior to 2Gy for induction of antigen-specific immune responses and enhancing tumor cell susceptibility to T-lymphocyte killing. These findings have significant implications for the design of trials combining radiation and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Morisada
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ellen C Moore
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Rachel Hodge
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jay Friedman
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Harrison A Cash
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - James B Mitchell
- Radiation Biology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Clint T Allen
- Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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Clavijo PE, Moore EC, Chen J, Davis RJ, Friedman J, Kim Y, Van Waes C, Chen Z, Allen CT. Resistance to CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibition reversed through selective elimination of granulocytic myeloid cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:55804-55820. [PMID: 28915554 PMCID: PMC5593525 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Local immunosuppression remains a critical problem that limits clinically meaningful response to checkpoint inhibition in patients with head and neck cancer. Here, we assessed the impact of MDSC elimination on responses to CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibition. Experimental Design Murine syngeneic carcinoma immune infiltrates were characterized by flow cytometry. Granulocytic MDSCs (gMDSCs) were depleted and T-lymphocyte antigen-specific responses were measured. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with MDSC depletion and CTLA-4 checkpoint blockade. Immune signatures within the human HNSCC datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed and differentially expressed genes from sorted human peripheral MDSCs were examined. Results gMDSCs accumulated with tumor progression and correlated with depletion of effector immune cells. Selective depletion of gMDSC restored tumor and draining lymph node antigen-specific T-lymphocyte responses lost with tumor progression. A subset of T-cell inflamed tumors responded to CTLA-4 mAb alone, but the addition of gMDSC depletion induced CD8 T-lymphocyte-dependent rejection of established tumors in all treated mice that resulted in immunologic memory. MDSCs differentially expressed chemokine receptors. Analysis of the head and neck cancer TCGA cohort revealed high CTLA-4 and MDSC-related chemokine and an MDSC-rich gene expression profile with a T-cell inflamed phenotype in > 60% of patients. CXCR2 and CSF1R expression was validated on sorted peripheral blood MDSCs from HNSCC patients. Conclusions MDSCs are a major contributor to local immunosuppression that limits responses to checkpoint inhibition in head and neck cancer. Limitation of MDSC recruitment or function represents a rational strategy to enhance responses to CTLA-4-based checkpoint inhibition in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Clavijo
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ellen C Moore
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jianhong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ruth J Davis
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jay Friedman
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Young Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zhong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Clint T Allen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Moore E, Clavijo PE, Davis R, Cash H, Van Waes C, Kim Y, Allen C. Established T Cell-Inflamed Tumors Rejected after Adaptive Resistance Was Reversed by Combination STING Activation and PD-1 Pathway Blockade. Cancer Immunol Res 2016; 4:1061-1071. [PMID: 27821498 PMCID: PMC5134907 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-16-0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma harbor T cell-inflamed and non-T cell-inflamed tumors. Despite this, only 20% of patients respond to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. Lack of induction of innate immunity through pattern-recognition receptors, such as the stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING) receptor, may represent a significant barrier to the development of effective antitumor immunity. Here, we demonstrate robust control of a T cell-inflamed (MOC1), but not non-T cell-inflamed (MOC2), model of head and neck cancer by activation of the STING pathway with the synthetic cyclic dinucleotide RP,RP dithio-c-di-GMP. Rejection or durable tumor control of MOC1 tumors was dependent upon a functional STING receptor and CD8 T lymphocytes. STING activation resulted in increased tumor microenvironment type 1 and type 2 IFN and greater expression of PD-1 pathway components in vivo Established MOC1 tumors were rejected and distant tumors abscopally controlled, after adaptive immune resistance had been reversed by the addition of PD-L1 mAb. These findings suggest that PD-1 pathway blockade may reverse adaptive immune resistance following cyclic dinucleotide treatment, enhancing both local and systemic antitumor immunity. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(12); 1061-71. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Moore
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ruth Davis
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Harrison Cash
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Young Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Clint Allen
- Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Davis RJ, Silvin C, Allen CT. Avoiding phagocytosis-related artifact in myeloid derived suppressor cell T-lymphocyte suppression assays. J Immunol Methods 2016; 440:12-18. [PMID: 27856191 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2016.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have garnered much attention in recent years as a potential target for altering the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in a variety of solid tumor types. The ability to accurately assess the immunosuppressive capacity of MDSCs is fundamental to the development of therapeutic approaches aimed at disabling these immunosuppressive functions. In this article we provide evidence that the use of CD3/28 coated microbeads leads to artefactual T-lymphocyte suppression due to sequestration of beads by MDSCs isolated from the spleens of wild-type mice bearing subcutaneous syngeneic, carcinogen-induced oral cavity carcinomas. Mechanisms of this finding may include early MDSC death and acquisition of phagocytic capacity. These artefactual findings were avoided by eliminating the use of microbeads and instead using plate bound CD3/28 antibody as the T-lymphocyte stimulus. We propose model-specific validation of microbead-based MDSC assays, or use of an alternative stimulation approach such as plate bound CD3/28 antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth J Davis
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Christopher Silvin
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Clint T Allen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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Moore EC, Cash HA, Caruso AM, Uppaluri R, Hodge JW, Van Waes C, Allen CT. Enhanced Tumor Control with Combination mTOR and PD-L1 Inhibition in Syngeneic Oral Cavity Cancers. Cancer Immunol Res 2016; 4:611-20. [PMID: 27076449 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-15-0252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Significant subsets of patients with oral cancer fail to respond to single-agent programmed death (PD) blockade. Syngeneic models of oral cancer were used to determine if blocking oncogenic signaling improved in vivo responses to PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Anti-PD-L1 enhanced durable primary tumor control and survival when combined with mTOR (rapamycin), but not in combination with MEK inhibition (PD901) in immunogenic MOC1 tumors. Conversely, PD-L1 mAb did not enhance tumor control in poorly immunogenic MOC2 tumors. Rapamycin enhanced expansion of peripheral antigen-specific CD8 T cells and IFNγ production following ex vivo antigen stimulation. More CD8 T cells infiltrated and were activated after PD-L1 mAb treatment in mice with immunogenic MOC1 tumors, which were stable or increased by the addition of rapamycin, but suppressed when PD901 was added. Rapamycin increased IFNγ production capacity in peripheral and tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells. In vivo antibody depletion revealed a CD8 T-cell-dependent, and not NK cell-dependent mechanism of tumor growth inhibition after treatment with rapamycin and PD-L1 mAb, ruling out significant effects from NK cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Rapamycin also enhanced IFNγ or PD-L1 mAb treatment-associated induction of MHC class I expression on MOC1 tumor cells, an effect abrogated by depleting infiltrating CD8 T cells from the tumor microenvironment. These data conflict with traditional views of rapamycin as a universal immunosuppressant, and when combined with evidence of enhanced antitumor activity with the combination of rapamycin and PD-L1 mAb, suggest that this treatment combination deserves careful evaluation in the clinical setting. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(7); 611-20. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen C Moore
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institutes of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Harrison A Cash
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institutes of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Andria M Caruso
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institutes of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institutes of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Clint T Allen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institutes of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
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