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Rix A, Heinrichs H, Porte C, Leenaars C, Bleich A, Kiessling F. Ultrasound-induced immune responses in tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Control Release 2024; 371:146-157. [PMID: 38777126 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Ultrasound is widely used in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer. Tumors can be treated by thermal or mechanical tissue ablation. Furthermore, tumors can be manipulated by hyperthermia, sonodynamic therapy and sonoporation, e.g., by increasing tumor perfusion or the permeability of biological barriers to enhance drug delivery. These treatments induce various immune responses in tumors. However, conflicting data and high heterogeneity between experimental settings make it difficult to generalize the effects of ultrasound on tumor immunity. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to answer the question: "Does ultrasound alter the immune reaction of peripheral solid tumors in humans and animals compared to control conditions without ultrasound?" A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science and 24,401 potentially relevant publications were identified. Of these, 96 publications were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. Experiments were performed in humans, rats, and mice and focused on different tumor types, primarily breast and melanoma. We collected data on thermal and non-thermal ultrasound settings, the use of sono-sensitizers or sono-enhancers, and anti-tumor therapies. Six meta-analyses were performed to quantify the effect of ultrasound on tumor infiltration by T cells (cytotoxic, helper, and regulatory T cells) and on blood cytokines (interleukin-6, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α). We provide robust scientific evidence that ultrasound alters T cell infiltration into tumors and increases blood cytokine concentrations. Furthermore, we identified significant differences in immune cell infiltration based on tumor type, ultrasound settings, and mouse age. Stronger effects were observed using hyperthermia in combination with sono-sensitizers and in young mice. The latter may impair the translational impact of study results as most cancer patients are older. Thus, our results may help refining ultrasound parameters to enhance anti-tumor immune responses for therapeutic use and to minimize immune effects in diagnostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Rix
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Helen Heinrichs
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Céline Porte
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Cathalijn Leenaars
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - André Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Fabian Kiessling
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Bremen, Germany.
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2
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Lin J, Wu Y, Liu G, Cui R, Xu Y. Advances of ultrasound in tumor immunotherapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 134:112233. [PMID: 38735256 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a revolutionary method for treating tumors, offering new hope to cancer patients worldwide. Immunotherapy strategies such as checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, and cancer vaccines have shown significant potential in clinical trials. Despite the promising results, there are still limitations that impede the overall effectiveness of immunotherapy; the response to immunotherapy is uneven, the response rate of patients is still low, and systemic immune toxicity accompanied with tumor cell immune evasion is common. Ultrasound technology has evolved rapidly in recent years and has become a significant player in tumor immunotherapy. The introductions of high intensity focused ultrasound and ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles have opened doors for new therapeutic strategies in the fight against tumor. This paper explores the revolutionary advancements of ultrasound combined with immunotherapy in this particular field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lin
- Department of Ultrasound, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine-Zhuhai Hospital, Zhuhai, PR China.
| | - Yuwei Wu
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao, PR China
| | - Guangde Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine-Zhuhai Hospital, Zhuhai, PR China
| | - Rui Cui
- Department of Ultrasonography, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, PR China; Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, PR China
| | - Youhua Xu
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao, PR China; Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute, Hengqin, Zhuhai, PR China.
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3
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Wang P, Chen J, Zhong R, Xia Y, Wu Z, Zhang C, Yao H. Recent advances of ultrasound-responsive nanosystems in tumor immunotherapy. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 198:114246. [PMID: 38479562 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by boosting the immune system and preventing disease escape mechanisms. Despite its potential, challenges like limited response rates and adverse immune effects impede its widespread clinical adoption. Ultrasound (US), known for its safety and effectiveness in tumor diagnosis and therapy, has been shown to significantly enhance immunotherapy when used with nanosystems. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can obliterate tumor cells and elicit immune reactions through the creation of immunogenic debris. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) bolsters tumor immunosuppression and mitigates metastasis risk by concentrating dendritic cells. Ultrasonic cavitation (UC) produces microbubbles that can transport immune enhancers directly, thus strengthening the immune response and therapeutic impact. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) merges nanotechnology with immunotherapy, using specialized sonosensitizers to kill cancer cells and stimulate immune responses, increasing treatment success. This review discusses the integration of ultrasound-responsive nanosystems in tumor immunotherapy, exploring future opportunities and current hurdles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Wang
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Rui'an people's Hospital (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University), Rui'an 325200, China
| | - Ji Chen
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Rui'an people's Hospital (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University), Rui'an 325200, China
| | - Runming Zhong
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Rui'an people's Hospital (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University), Rui'an 325200, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xia
- Center For Peak of Excellence on Biological Science and Food Engineering, National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou 215004, China
| | - Zhina Wu
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Rui'an people's Hospital (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University), Rui'an 325200, China
| | - Chunye Zhang
- Center For Peak of Excellence on Biological Science and Food Engineering, National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou 215004, China
| | - Hai Yao
- Center For Peak of Excellence on Biological Science and Food Engineering, National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou 215004, China.
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4
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Thim EA, Fox T, Deering T, Vass LR, Sheybani ND, Kester M, Price RJ. Solid tumor treatment via augmentation of bioactive C6 ceramide levels with thermally ablative focused ultrasound. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2023; 13:3145-3153. [PMID: 37335416 PMCID: PMC11423265 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01377-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] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Sparse scan partial thermal ablation (TA) with focused ultrasound (FUS) may be deployed to treat solid tumors and increase delivery of systemically administered therapeutics. Furthermore, C6-ceramide-loaded nanoliposomes (CNLs), which rely upon the enhanced-permeation and retention (EPR) effect for delivery, have shown promise for treating solid tumors and are being tested in clinical trials. Here, our objective was to determine whether CNLs synergize with TA in the control of 4T1 breast tumors. CNL monotherapy of 4T1 tumors yielded significant intratumoral bioactive C6 accumulation by the EPR effect, but tumor growth was not controlled. TA increased bioactive C6 accumulation by ~ 12.5-fold over the EPR effect. In addition, TA + CNL caused shifts in long-chain to very-long-chain ceramide ratios (i.e., C16/24 and C18/C24) that could potentially contribute to tumor control. Nonetheless, these changes in intratumoral ceramide levels were still insufficient to confer tumor growth control beyond that achieved when combining with TA with control "ghost" nanoliposomes (GNL). While this lack of synergy could be due to increased "pro-tumor" sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels, this is unlikely because S1P levels exhibited only a moderate and statistically insignificant increase with TA + CNL. In vitro studies showed that 4T1 cells are highly resistant to C6, offering the most likely explanation for the inability of TA to synergize with CNL. Thus, while our results show that sparse scan TA is a powerful approach for markedly enhancing CNL delivery and generating "anti-tumor" shifts in long-chain to very-long-chain ceramide ratios, resistance of the tumor to C6 can still be a rate-limiting factor for some solid tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Andrew Thim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Box 800759, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Todd Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Tye Deering
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Luke R Vass
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Natasha D Sheybani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Box 800759, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Box 800759, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Richard J Price
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Box 800759, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.
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5
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Shen K, Wang Q, Wang L, Yang Y, Ren M, Li Y, Gao Z, Zheng S, Ding Y, Ji J, Wei C, Zhang T, Zhu Y, Feng J, Qin F, Yang Y, Wei C, Gu J. Prediction of survival and immunotherapy response by the combined classifier of G protein-coupled receptors and tumor microenvironment in melanoma. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:352. [PMID: 37716991 PMCID: PMC10504724 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01346-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin tumor, and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play crucial roles in its carcinogenesis. Furthermore, the tumor microenvironment (TME) affects the overall survival (OS) and the response to immunotherapy. The combination of GPCRs and TME from a multi-omics perspective may help to predict the survival of the melanoma patients and their response to immunotherapy. METHODS Bulk-seq, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), gene mutations, immunotherapy responses, and clinicopathologic feature data were downloaded from public databases, and prognostic GPCRs and immune cells were screened using multiple machine learning algorithms. The expression levels of GPCRs were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in A375 and HaCaT cell lines. The GPCR-TME classifier was constructed and verified using different cohorts and multi-omics. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and tracking tumor immunophenotype (TIP) were used to identify the key biological pathways among the GPCR-TME subgroups. Then, tumor mutational burden (TMB), vital mutant genes, antigen presentation genes, and immune checkpoints were compared among the subgroups. Finally, the differences in immunotherapy response rates among the GPCR-TME subgroups were investigated. RESULTS A total of 12 GPCRs and five immune cell types were screened to establish the GPCR-TME classifier. No significant differences in the expression levels of the 12 GPCRs were found in the two cell lines. Patients with high GPCR score or low TME score had a poor OS; thus, the GPCRlow/TMEhigh subgroup had the most favorable OS. The scRNA-seq result revealed that immune cells had a higher GPCR score than tumor and stromal cells. The GPCR-TME classifier acted as an independent prognostic factor for melanoma. GSEA, WGCNA, and TIP demonstrated that the GPCRlow/TMEhigh subgroup was related to the activation and recruitment of anti-tumor immune cells and the positive regulation of the immune response. From a genomic perspective, the GPCRlow/TMEhigh subgroup had higher TMB, and different mutant genes. Ultimately, higher expression levels of antigen presentation genes and immune checkpoints were observed in the GPCRlow/TMEhigh subgroup, and the melanoma immunotherapy cohorts confirmed that the response rate was highest in the GPCRlow/TMEhigh cohort. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a GPCR-TME classifier that could predict the OS and immunotherapy response of patients with melanoma highly effectively based on multi-omics analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangjie Shen
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiangcheng Wang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Ren
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanlin Li
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Zixu Gao
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaoluan Zheng
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Cancer Therapy, Xiamen, China
| | - Yiteng Ding
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiani Ji
- The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chenlu Wei
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianyi Zhang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Feng
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Qin
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanwen Yang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuanyuan Wei
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jianying Gu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, China.
- Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Cancer Therapy, Xiamen, China.
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6
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Pelka S, Guha C. Enhancing Immunogenicity in Metastatic Melanoma: Adjuvant Therapies to Promote the Anti-Tumor Immune Response. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2245. [PMID: 37626741 PMCID: PMC10452223 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer characterized by low survival rates. Less than 50% of advanced melanoma patients respond to current therapies, and of those patients that do respond, many present with tumor recurrence due to resistance. The immunosuppressive tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) remains a major obstacle in melanoma therapy. Adjuvant treatment modalities that enhance anti-tumor immune cell function are associated with improved patient response. One potential mechanism to stimulate the anti-tumor immune response is by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumors. ICD leads to the release of damage-associated molecular patterns within the TIME, subsequently promoting antigen presentation and anti-tumor immunity. This review summarizes relevant concepts and mechanisms underlying ICD and introduces the potential of non-ablative low-intensity focused ultrasound (LOFU) as an immune-priming therapy that can be combined with ICD-inducing focal ablative therapies to promote an anti-melanoma immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pelka
- Department of Development and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
| | - Chandan Guha
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Institute of Onco-Physics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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7
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Maardalen M, Carlisle R, Coussios C. Cavitation-Mediated Immunomodulation and Its Use with Checkpoint Inhibitors. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2110. [PMID: 37631324 PMCID: PMC10458634 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The promotion of anti-tumour immune responses can be an effective route to the complete remission of primary and metastatic tumours in a small proportion of patients. Hence, researchers are currently investigating various methods to further characterise and enhance such responses to achieve a beneficial impact across a wider range of patients. Due to its non-invasive, non-ionising, and targetable nature, the application of ultrasound-mediated cavitation has proven to be a popular method to enhance the delivery and activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, to optimise this approach, it is important to understand the biological and physical mechanisms by which cavitation may promote anti-tumour immune responses. Here, the published literature relating to the role that cavitation may play in modulating anti-tumour immunity is therefore assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Maardalen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
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8
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Ashar H, Ranjan A. Immunomodulation and targeted drug delivery with high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU): Principles and mechanisms. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 244:108393. [PMID: 36965581 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive and non-ionizing sonic energy-based therapeutic technology for inducing thermal and non-thermal effects in tissues. Depending on the parameters, HIFU can ablate tissues by heating them to >55 °C to induce denaturation and coagulative necrosis, improve radio- and chemo-sensitizations and local drug delivery from nanoparticles at moderate hyperthermia (~41-43 °C), and mechanically fragment cells using acoustic cavitation (also known as histotripsy). HIFU has already emerged as an attractive modality for treating human prostate cancer, veterinary cancers, and neuromodulation. Herein, we comprehensively review the role of HIFU in enhancing drug delivery and immunotherapy in soft and calcified tissues. Specifically, the ability of HIFU to improve adjuvant treatments from various classes of drugs is described. These crucial insights highlight the opportunities and challenges of HIFU technology and its potential to support new clinical trials and translation to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshini Ashar
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States of America
| | - Ashish Ranjan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States of America.
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9
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Thim EA, Fox T, Deering T, Vass LR, Sheybani ND, Kester M, Price RJ. Solid Tumor Treatment via Augmentation of Bioactive C6 Ceramide Levels with Thermally Ablative Focused Ultrasound. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.23.532394. [PMID: 36993445 PMCID: PMC10055354 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.23.532394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Sparse scan partial thermal ablation (TA) with focused ultrasound (FUS) may be deployed to treat solid tumors and increase delivery of systemically administered therapeutics. Further, C6-ceramide-loaded nanoliposomes (CNLs), which rely upon the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect for delivery, have shown promise for treating solid tumors and are being tested in clinical trials. Here, our objective was to determine whether CNLs synergize with TA in the control of 4T1 breast tumors. CNL-monotherapy of 4T1 tumors yielded significant intratumoral bioactive C6 accumulation by the EPR effect, but tumor growth was not controlled. TA increased bioactive C6 accumulation by ∼12.5-fold over the EPR effect. In addition, TA+CNL caused shifts in long-chain to very-long-chain ceramide ratios (i.e., C16/24 and C18/C24) that could potentially contribute to tumor control. Nonetheless, these changes in intratumoral ceramide levels were still insufficient to confer tumor growth control beyond that achieved when combining with TA with control "ghost" nanoliposomes (GNL). While this lack of synergy could be due to increased "pro-tumor" sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels, this is unlikely because S1P levels exhibited only a moderate and statistically insignificant increase with TA+CNL. In vitro studies showed that 4T1 cells are highly resistant to C6, offering the most likely explanation for the inability of TA to synergize with CNL. Thus, while our results show that sparse scan TA is a powerful approach for markedly enhancing CNL delivery and generating "anti-tumor" shifts in long-chain to very-long-chain ceramide ratios, resistance of the tumor to C6 can still be a rate-limiting factor for some solid tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Andrew Thim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Todd Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Tye Deering
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Luke R. Vass
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Natasha D. Sheybani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Richard J. Price
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
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10
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The role of anti-tumor immunity of focused ultrasound for the malignancies: depended on the different ablation categories. Int J Clin Oncol 2022; 27:1543-1553. [PMID: 35943643 DOI: 10.1007/s10147-022-02219-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Improving anti-tumor immunity has promising outcomes in eradicating malignant tumors. Tumor cells can escape from immune surveillance and killing; therefore, various strategies are continuously developing to inhibit immune escape. Focused ultrasound (FUS) has recently emerged to play an important role in immune modulation. After FUS therapy, various tumor antigens and related signals are released. The non-thermal effect of FUS strengthens the blood and lymph circulation, increases cell permeability, and helps in crossing the physical barrier like the blood-brain barrier and blood-tumor barrier. However, the different ablation of FUS is proposed to have a different anti-tumor immune effect. Therefore, we categorized the FUS ablation into thermal and non-thermal ablation and summarized possible anti-tumor immunity mechanisms.
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11
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Zhang Z, Huang Q, Yu L, Zhu D, Li Y, Xue Z, Hua Z, Luo X, Song Z, Lu C, Zhao T, Liu Y. The Role of miRNA in Tumor Immune Escape and miRNA-Based Therapeutic Strategies. Front Immunol 2022; 12:807895. [PMID: 35116035 PMCID: PMC8803638 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.807895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor immune escape is a critical step in the malignant progression of tumors and one of the major barriers to immunotherapy, making immunotherapy the most promising therapeutic approach against tumors today. Tumor cells evade immune surveillance by altering the structure of their own, or by causing abnormal gene and protein expression, allowing for unrestricted development and invasion. These genetic or epigenetic changes have been linked to microRNAs (miRNAs), which are important determinants of post-transcriptional regulation. Tumor cells perform tumor immune escape by abnormally expressing related miRNAs, which reduce the killing effect of immune cells, disrupt the immune response, and disrupt apoptotic pathways. Consequently, there is a strong trend toward thoroughly investigating the role of miRNAs in tumor immune escape and utilizing them in tumor treatment. However, because of the properties of miRNAs, there is an urgent need for a safe, targeted and easily crossed biofilm vehicle to protect and deliver them in vivo, and exosomes, with their excellent biological properties, have successfully beaten traditional vehicles to provide strong support for miRNA therapy. This review summarizes the multiple roles of miRNAs in tumor immune escape and discusses their potential applications as an anti-tumor therapy. Also, this work proposes exosomes as a new opportunity for miRNA therapy, to provide novel ideas for the development of more effective tumor-fighting therapeutic approaches based on miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjia Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qingcai Huang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Liuchunyang Yu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Dongjie Zhu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zeyu Xue
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenglai Hua
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Luo
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqian Song
- Institute of Basic Theory, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Lu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yuanyan Liu, ; Cheng Lu, ; Ting Zhao,
| | - Ting Zhao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yuanyan Liu, ; Cheng Lu, ; Ting Zhao,
| | - Yuanyan Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yuanyan Liu, ; Cheng Lu, ; Ting Zhao,
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12
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Zafar A, Hasan M, Tariq T, Dai Z. Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapeutic Efficacy with Sonotheranostic Strategies. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 33:1011-1034. [PMID: 34793138 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized the modality for establishing a firm immune response and immunological memory. However, intrinsic limitations of conventional low responsive poor T cell infiltration and immune related adverse effects urge the coupling of cancer nanomedicines with immunotherapy for boosting antitumor response under ultrasound (US) sensitization to mimic dose-limiting toxicities for safe and effective therapy against advanced cancer. US is composed of high-frequency sound waves that mediate targeted spatiotemporal control over release and internalization of the drug. The unconventional US triggered immunogenic nanoengineered arena assists the limited immunogenic dose, limiting toxicities and efficacies. In this Review, we discuss current prospects of enhanced immunotherapy using nanomedicine under US. We highlight how nanotechnology designs and incorporates nanomedicines for the reprogramming of systematic immunity in the tumor microenvironment. We also emphasize the mechanical and biological potential of US, encompassing sonosensitizer activation for enhanced immunotherapeutic efficacies. Finally, the smartly converging combinational platform of US stimulated cancer nanomedicines for amending immunotherapy is summarized. This Review will widen scientists' ability to explore and understand the limiting factors for combating cancer in a precisely customized way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Zafar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Murtaza Hasan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Tuba Tariq
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Zhifei Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Xu J, Ying A, Shi T. Nuciferine Inhibits Skin Cutaneous Melanoma Cell Growth by Suppressing TLR4/NF-κB Signaling. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 20:2099-2105. [PMID: 32781974 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200811114607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma causes more than 80% of deaths from all dermatologic cancers. Hence, screening and identifying effective compounds to inhibit the growth of melanoma have crucial importance in basic and clinical treatment. METHODS High throughput screening was performed to screen and identify compounds that have anti-melanoma ability. Melanoma cell and mouse allograft models were used to examine the anti-tumor effects of Nuciferine (NCFR). Western blot, qPCR, and lentivirus overexpression were applied to detect the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. RESULTS NCFR administration significantly suppressed melanoma cell growth and tumor size by inhibiting the phosphorylation of p65. NCFR treatment also could suppress TNF-α-induced activation of NF-κB signaling. The anti-tumor effect of NCFR might be mediated by targeting Toll-like receptors 4. CONCLUSION NCFR inhibits melanoma cell growth and suppresses tumor size, which provides potential therapeutic strategies for melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxing Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, No.1. Jiaozhou Road, Qingdao 266011, Shandong, China
| | - Anxin Ying
- Department of Dermatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, No.1. Jiaozhou Road, Qingdao 266011, Shandong, China
| | - Tongxin Shi
- Department of Dermatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, No.1. Jiaozhou Road, Qingdao 266011, Shandong, China
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Adnan A, Muñoz NM, Prakash P, Habibollahi P, Cressman ENK, Sheth RA. Hyperthermia and Tumor Immunity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2507. [PMID: 34063752 PMCID: PMC8196672 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermal ablation is a cornerstone in the management of cancer patients. Typically, ablation procedures are performed for patients with a solitary or oligometastatic disease with the intention of eradicating all sites of the disease. Ablation has traditionally played a less prominent role for patients with a widely metastatic disease. For such patients, attempting to treat numerous sites of disease compounds potential risks without a clear clinical benefit and, as such, a compelling justification for performing an intervention that is unlikely to alter a patient's clinical trajectory is uncommon. However, the discovery of immune checkpoints and the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors have brought a new perspective to the relevance of local cancer therapies such as ablation for patients with a metastatic disease. It is becoming increasingly apparent that local cancer therapies can have systemic immune effects. Thus, in the new perspective of cancer care centered upon immunologic principles, there is a strong interest in exploring the utility of ablation for patients with a metastatic disease for its immunologic implications. In this review, we summarize the unmet clinical need for adjuvant interventions such as ablation to broaden the impact of systemic immunotherapies. We additionally highlight the extant preclinical and clinical data for the immunogenicity of common thermal ablation modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ather Adnan
- Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Nina M. Muñoz
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (N.M.M.); (P.H.); (E.N.K.C.)
| | - Punit Prakash
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;
| | - Peiman Habibollahi
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (N.M.M.); (P.H.); (E.N.K.C.)
| | - Erik N. K. Cressman
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (N.M.M.); (P.H.); (E.N.K.C.)
| | - Rahul A. Sheth
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (N.M.M.); (P.H.); (E.N.K.C.)
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15
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Joiner JB, Pylayeva-Gupta Y, Dayton PA. Focused Ultrasound for Immunomodulation of the Tumor Microenvironment. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 205:2327-2341. [PMID: 33077668 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) has recently emerged as a modulator of the tumor microenvironment, paving the way for FUS to become a safe yet formidable cancer treatment option. Several mechanisms have been proposed for the role of FUS in facilitating immune responses and overcoming drug delivery barriers. However, with the wide variety of FUS parameters used in diverse tumor types, it is challenging to pinpoint FUS specifications that may elicit the desired antitumor response. To clarify FUS bioeffects, we summarize four mechanisms of action, including thermal ablation, hyperthermia/thermal stress, mechanical perturbation, and histotripsy, each inducing unique vascular and immunological effects. Notable tumor responses to FUS include enhanced vascular permeability, increased T cell infiltration, and tumor growth suppression. In this review, we have categorized and reviewed recent methods of using therapeutic ultrasound to elicit an antitumor immune response with examples that reveal specific solutions and challenges in this new research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan B Joiner
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Yuliya Pylayeva-Gupta
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; .,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; and
| | - Paul A Dayton
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; .,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; and.,Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
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16
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Meng H, Pang Y, Liu G, Luo Z, Tan H, Liu X. Podocarpusflavone A inhibits cell growth of skin cutaneous melanoma by suppressing STAT3 signaling. J Dermatol Sci 2020; 100:201-208. [PMID: 33127205 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND JAK2/STAT3 pathway is involved in the development and progression of melanoma once DNA damage is caused by environment and genetic factors. OBJECTIVE Here, we aimed to identify novel inhibitor of JAK2/STAT3 pathway and reveal the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Eighty MedChemExpress compounds were screened by using STAT3-Luc reporter in A375 cells. Podocarpusflavone A (PCFA) was identified as an inhibitor of STAT3, which was further verified in four melanoma cell lines. The anti-melanoma effects and mechanism of PCFA were examined and explored in melanoma cells and mouse xenograft models by using Western blot and cell-counting kit-8 assay. RESULTS PCFA exhibited potent inhibitory effects on melanoma both in vitro and in vivo. PCFA inhibited the activation of STAT3 through suppressing the phosphorylation of JAK2, and then restrained cell cycle and induced apoptosis of melanoma cells. CONCLUSION PCFA inhibits melanoma growth via the inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 pathway, which provides a promising therapeutic strategies of melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Meng
- Department of Dermatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Yunyan Pang
- Department of Dermatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Guoyan Liu
- Department of Dermatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Zengxiang Luo
- Department of Dermatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Haiyang Tan
- Department of Pharmacy, the Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Xiangming Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Weifang Medical University, Shandong, China.
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17
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Sheybani ND, Witter AR, Thim EA, Yagita H, Bullock TNJ, Price RJ. Combination of thermally ablative focused ultrasound with gemcitabine controls breast cancer via adaptive immunity. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:jitc-2020-001008. [PMID: 32819975 PMCID: PMC7443308 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001008] [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] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains recalcitrant to most targeted therapy approaches. However, recent clinical studies suggest that inducing tumor damage can render TNBC responsive to immunotherapy. We therefore tested a strategy for immune sensitization of murine TNBC (4T1 tumors) through combination of focused ultrasound (FUS) thermal ablation and a chemotherapy, gemcitabine (GEM), known to attenuate myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Methods We applied a sparse-scan thermally ablative FUS regimen at the tumor site in combination with systemically administered GEM. We used flow cytometry analysis to investigate the roles of monotherapy and combinatorial therapy in mediating local and systemic immunity. We also tested this combination in Rag1−/− mice or T cell-depleted wild-type mice to determine the essentiality of adaptive immunity. Further, we layered Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade onto this combination to evaluate its impact on tumor outgrowth and survival. Results The immune-modulatory effect of FUS monotherapy was insufficient to promote a robust T cell response against 4T1, consistent with the dominant MDSC-driven immunosuppression evident in this model. The combination of FUS+GEM significantly constrained primary TNBC tumor outgrowth and extended overall survival of mice. Tumor control correlated with increased circulating antigen-experienced T cells and was entirely dependent on T cell-mediated immunity. The ability of FUS+GEM to control primary tumor outgrowth was moderately enhanced by either neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with anti-PD-1. Conclusion Thermally ablative FUS in combination with GEM restricts primary tumor outgrowth, improves survival and enhances immunogenicity in a murine metastatic TNBC model. This treatment strategy promises a novel option for potentiating the role of FUS in immunotherapy of metastatic TNBC and is worthy of future clinical evaluation. Trial registration numbers NCT03237572 and NCT04116320.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha D Sheybani
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Eric A Thim
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Hideo Yagita
- Department of Immunology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Richard J Price
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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18
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Ho YJ, Li JP, Fan CH, Liu HL, Yeh CK. Ultrasound in tumor immunotherapy: Current status and future developments. J Control Release 2020; 323:12-23. [PMID: 32302759 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has considerable potential in eliminating cancers by activating the host's own immune system, while the thermal and mechanical effects of ultrasound have various applications in tumor therapy. Hyperthermia, ablation, histotripsy, and microbubble stable/inertial cavitation can alter the tumor microenvironment to enhance immunoactivation to inhibit tumor growth. Microbubble cavitation can increase vessel permeability and thereby improve the delivery of immune cells, cytokines, antigens, and antibodies to tumors. Violent microbubble cavitation can disrupt tumor cells and efficiently expose them to numerous antigens so as to promote the maturity of antigen-presenting cells and subsequent adaptive immune-cell activation. This review provides an overview and compares the mechanisms of ultrasound-induced immune modulation for peripheral and brain tumor therapy, even degenerative brain diseases therapy. The possibility of reversing tumors to an immunoactive microenvironment by utilizing the cavitation of microbubbles loaded with therapeutic gases is also proposed as another potential pathway for immunotherapy. Finally, we disuss the challenges and opportunities of ultrasound in immunotherapy for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ju Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Pi Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hsiang Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Li Liu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
| | - Chih-Kuang Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
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19
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Zamarian V, Catozzi C, Ressel L, Finotello R, Ceciliani F, Vilafranca M, Altimira J, Lecchi C. MicroRNA Expression in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Samples of Canine Cutaneous and Oral Melanoma by RT-qPCR. Vet Pathol 2019; 56:848-855. [PMID: 31526125 DOI: 10.1177/0300985819868646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, noncoding RNA that post-transcriptionally regulate protein expression. miRNAs are emerging as clinical biomarkers of many diseases, including tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate whether miRNA expression could vary in melanoma samples derived from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. The study included 4 groups: (1) 9 samples of oral canine malignant melanoma, (2) 10 samples of cutaneous malignant melanoma, (3) 5 samples of healthy oral mucosa, and (4) 7 samples of healthy skin. The expression levels of 6 miRNAs-miR-145, miR-146a, miR-425-5p, miR-223, miR-365, and miR-134-were detected and assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) using TaqMan probes. Cutaneous canine malignant melanoma showed a decrease of the expression level of miR-145 and miR-365 and an increase of miR-146a and miR-425-5p compared to control samples. MiR-145 was also downregulated in oral canine malignant melanoma. The miRNAs with decreased expression may regulate genes involved in RAS, Rap1, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathways, as well as upregulated genes associated with phosphatidylinositol signaling system, adherens junction, and RAS signaling pathways. In conclusion, miR-145, miR-365, miR-146a, and miR-425-5p were differentially expressed in canine malignant melanoma and healthy FFPE samples, suggesting that they may play a role in canine malignant melanoma pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Zamarian
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Carlotta Catozzi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ressel
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Public Health Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
| | - Riccardo Finotello
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Science, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
| | - Fabrizio Ceciliani
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Jaume Altimira
- HISTOVET Veterinary Diagnostic Service, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Lecchi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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20
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Gastrodin, a traditional Chinese medicine monomer compound, can be used as adjuvant to enhance the immunogenicity of melanoma vaccines. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 74:105699. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.105699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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21
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Yang L, Cai Y, Zhang D, Sun J, Xu C, Zhao W, Jiang W, Pan C. miR-195/miR-497 Regulate CD274 Expression of Immune Regulatory Ligands in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Breast Cancer 2018; 21:371-381. [PMID: 30607158 PMCID: PMC6310715 DOI: 10.4048/jbc.2018.21.e60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Immune suppression is common in patients with advanced breast cancer but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been sufficiently studied. In this study, we aimed to identify B7 family members that were able to predict the immune status of patients, and which may serve as potential targets for the treatment of breast cancer. We also aimed to identify microRNAs that may regulate the expression of B7 family members. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas data from 1,092 patients with breast cancer, including gene expression, microRNA expression and survival data, were used for statistical and survival analyses. Polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure messenger RNA and protein expression, respectively. Luciferase assay was used to investigate direct microRNA target. Results Bioinformatic analysis predicted that microRNA (miR)-93, miR-195, miR-497, and miR-340 are potential regulators of the immune evasion of breast cancer cells, and that they exert this function by targeting CD274, PDCD1LG2, and NCR3LG1. We chose CD274 for further investigations. We found that miR-195, miR-497, and CD274 expression levels were inversely correlated in MDA-MB-231 cells, and miR-195 and miR-497 expressions mimic inhibited CD274 expression in vitro. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that miR-195 and miR-497 directly target CD274 3′ untranslated region. Conclusion Our data indicated that the level of B7 family members can predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients, and miR-195/miR-497 regulate CD274 expression in triple negative breast cancer. This regulation may further influence tumor progression and the immune tolerance mechanism in breast cancer and may be able to predict the effect of immunotherapy on patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianzhou Yang
- The 1st Ward of the Medical Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Radiotherapy Department, Central Hospital of Guangdong Nongken, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yuchen Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chenyu Xu
- The 1st Ward of the Medical Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenli Zhao
- The 1st Ward of the Medical Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenqi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunhua Pan
- The 1st Ward of the Medical Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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22
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Yang Q, Cao W, Wang Z, Zhang B, Liu J. Regulation of cancer immune escape: The roles of miRNAs in immune checkpoint proteins. Cancer Lett 2018; 431:73-84. [PMID: 29800685 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs) are regulators of immune system. The ICP dysregulation silences the host immune response to cancer-specific antigens, contributing to the occurrence and progress of various cancers. MiRNAs are regulatory molecules and function in mRNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. MiRNAs that modulate the immunity via ICPs have received increasing attention. Many studies have shown that the expressions of ICPs are directly or indirectly repressed by miRNAs in multiple types of cancers. MiRNAs are also subject to regulation by ICPs. In this review, recent studies of the relationship between miRNAs and ICPs (including the PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, ICOS, B7-1, B7-2, B7-H2, B7-H3, CD27, CD70, CD40, and CD40L) in cancer immune escape are comprehensively discussed, which provide critical detailed mechanistic insights into the functions of the miRNA-ICP axes and their effects on immune escape, and will be beneficial for the potential applications of immune checkpoint therapy and miRNA-based guidance for personalized medicine as well as for predicting the prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Yang
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China; School of Medical Laboratory, Shao Yang University, Hunan Province, 422000, China
| | - Wenjie Cao
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China; Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Zi Wang
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China; Key Laboratory of Nanobiological Technology of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
| | - Jing Liu
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
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Romano G, Kwong LN. miRNAs, Melanoma and Microenvironment: An Intricate Network. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18112354. [PMID: 29112174 PMCID: PMC5713323 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18112354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
miRNAs are central players in cancer biology and they play a pivotal role in mediating the network communication between tumor cells and their microenvironment. In melanoma, miRNAs can impair or facilitate a wide array of processes, and here we will focus on: the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), the immune milieu, and metabolism. Multiple miRNAs can affect the EMT process, even at a distance, for example through exosome-mediated mechanisms. miRNAs also strongly act on some components of the immune system, regulating the activity of key elements such as antigen presenting cells, and can facilitate an immune evasive/suppressive phenotype. miRNAs are also involved in the regulation of metabolic processes, specifically in response to hypoxic stimuli where they can mediate the metabolic switch from an oxidative to a glycolytic metabolism. Overall, this review discusses and summarizes recent findings on miRNA regulation in the melanoma tumor microenvironment, analyzing their potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Romano
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Lawrence N Kwong
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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24
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Curley CT, Sheybani ND, Bullock TN, Price RJ. Focused Ultrasound Immunotherapy for Central Nervous System Pathologies: Challenges and Opportunities. Theranostics 2017; 7:3608-3623. [PMID: 29109764 PMCID: PMC5667336 DOI: 10.7150/thno.21225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is rapidly emerging as the cornerstone for the treatment of several forms of metastatic cancer, as well as for a host of other pathologies. Meanwhile, several new high-profile studies have uncovered remarkable linkages between the central nervous and immune systems. With these recent developments, harnessing the immune system for the treatment of brain pathologies is a promising strategy. Here, we contend that MR image-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) represents a noninvasive approach that will allow for favorable therapeutic immunomodulation in the setting of the central nervous system. One obstacle to effective immunotherapeutic drug delivery to the brain is the blood brain barrier (BBB), which refers to the specialized structure of brain capillaries that prevents transport of most therapeutics from the blood into brain tissue. When applied in the presence of circulating microbubbles, FUS can safely and transiently open the BBB to facilitate the delivery of immunotherapeutic agents into the brain parenchyma. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that physical perturbations of the tissue microenvironment via FUS can modulate immune response in both normal and diseased tissue. In this review article, we provide an overview of FUS energy regimens and corresponding tissue bioeffects, followed by a review of the literature pertaining to FUS for therapeutic antibody delivery in normal brain and preclinical models of brain disease. We provide an overview of studies that demonstrate FUS-mediated immune modulation in both the brain and peripheral settings. Finally, we provide remarks on challenges facing FUS immunotherapy and opportunities for future expansion in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen T. Curley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Natasha D. Sheybani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | | | - Richard J. Price
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
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Sun CC, Li SJ, Li DJ. Hsa-miR-134 suppresses non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development through down-regulation of CCND1. Oncotarget 2016; 7:35960-35978. [PMID: 27166267 PMCID: PMC5094975 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hsa-miRNA-134 (miR-134) has recently been discovered to have anticancer efficacy in different organs. However, the role of miR-134 on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still ambiguous. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-134 on the development of NSCLC. The results indicated that miR-134 was significantly down-regulated in primary tumor tissues and very low levels were found in NSCLC cell lines. Ectopic expression of miR-134 in NSCLC cell lines significantly suppressed cell growth as evidenced by cell viability assay, colony formation assay and BrdU staining, through inhibition of cyclin D1, cyclin D2, CDK4 and up-regulation of p57(Kip2) and p21(Waf1/Cip1). In addition, miR-134 induced apoptosis, as indicated by concomitantly with up-regulation of key apoptosis protein cleaved caspase-3, and down-regulation of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl2. Moreover, miR-134 inhibited cellular migration and invasiveness through inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-7 and MMP-9. Further, oncogene CCND1 was revealed to be a putative target of miR-134, which was inversely correlated with miR-134 expression in NSCLC. Taken together, our results demonstrated that miR-134 played a pivotal role on NSCLC through inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoting apoptosis by targeting oncogenic CCND1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Cao Sun
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Shu-Jun Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
- Wuhan Hospital for The Prevention and Treatment of Occupational Diseases, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - De-Jia Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
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