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Choudhury AD, Kwak L, Cheung A, Allaire KM, Marquez J, Yang DD, Tripathi A, Kilar JM, Flynn M, Maynard B, Reichel R, Pace AF, Chen BK, Van Allen EM, Kilbridge K, Wei XX, McGregor BA, Pomerantz MM, Bhatt RS, Sweeney CJ, Bubley GJ, Jacene HA, Taplin ME, Huang FW, Harshman LC, Fong L. Randomized Phase II Study Evaluating the Addition of Pembrolizumab to Radium-223 in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:704-718. [PMID: 38552171 PMCID: PMC11148544 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
The checkpoint immunotherapeutic pembrolizumab induces responses in a small minority of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Radium-223 (R223) may increase immunogenicity of bone metastases and increase pembrolizumab (P) activity. In a randomized phase II study, we assessed the effect of R223+P compared with R223 on tumor immune infiltration, safety, and clinical outcomes in patients with mCRPC. The primary endpoint was differences in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell infiltrate in 8-week versus baseline bone metastasis biopsies; secondary endpoints were safety, radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS), and overall survival (OS). Of the 42 treated patients (29 R223+P, 13 R223), 18 R223+P and 8 R223 patients had evaluable paired tumor biopsies. Median fold-change of CD4+ T cells was -0.7 (range: -9.3 to 4.7) with R223+P and 0.1 (-11.1 to 3.7) with R223 (P = 0.66); for CD8+ T cells, median fold-change was -0.6 (-7.4 to 5.3) with R223+P and -1.3 (-3.1 to 4.8) with R223 (P = 0.66). Median rPFS and OS was 6.1 (95% confidence interval: 2.7-11.0) and 16.9 months [12.7-not reached (NR)], respectively, with R223+P and 5.7 (2.6-NR) and 16.0 (9.0-NR), respectively, with R223. Although R223+P was well tolerated with no unexpected toxicity, the combination did not improve efficacy. High-dimensional flow cytometry demonstrated minimal immune modulation with R223, whereas R223+P induced CTLA-4 expression on circulating CD4+ T cells. Clinical responders possessed lower circulating frequencies of Ki67+ T and myeloid cells at baseline and higher circulating frequencies of TIM-3+ T and myeloid cells by week 9. Although R223+P did not induce T-cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment, exhaustion of induced peripheral T-cell immune responses may dampen the combination's clinical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atish D Choudhury
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lucia Kwak
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alexander Cheung
- University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Kathryn M Allaire
- University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Jaqueline Marquez
- University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California
| | - David D Yang
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | | | - Rebecca Reichel
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Brandon K Chen
- University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Eliezer M Van Allen
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kerry Kilbridge
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Xiao X Wei
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bradley A McGregor
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mark M Pomerantz
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rupal S Bhatt
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Glenn J Bubley
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Heather A Jacene
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mary-Ellen Taplin
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Franklin W Huang
- University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Lawrence Fong
- University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California
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Irianto T, Gaipl US, Rückert M. Immune modulation during anti-cancer radio(immuno)therapy. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 382:239-277. [PMID: 38225105 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Cancer can affect all human organs and tissues and ranks as a prominent cause of death as well as an obstruction to increasing life expectancy. A notable breakthrough in oncology has been the inclusion of the immune system in fighting cancer, potentially prolonging life and providing long-term benefits. The concept of "immunotherapy" has been discussed from the 19th and early 20th centuries by Wilhelm Busch, William B. Coley and Paul Ehrlich. This involves distinct approaches, including vaccines, non-specific cytokines and adoptive cell therapies. However, despite the advances made in recent years, questions on how to select the best therapeutic options or how to select the best combinations to improve clinical outcomes are still relevant for scientists and clinicians. More than half of cancer patients receive radiotherapy (RT) as part of their treatment. With the advances in RT and immunotherapy approaches, it is reasonable to consider how to enhance immunotherapy with radiation and vice versa, and to investigate whether combinations of these therapies would be beneficial. In this chapter, we will discuss how the immune system responds to cancer cells and different cancer therapies with a focus on combination of RT and immunotherapy (radioimmunotherapy, RIT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Irianto
- Translational Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Udo S Gaipl
- Translational Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Rückert
- Translational Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen, Germany.
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Razi S, Yaghmoorian Khojini J, Kargarijam F, Panahi S, Tahershamsi Z, Tajbakhsh A, Gheibihayat SM. Macrophage efferocytosis in health and disease. Cell Biochem Funct 2023; 41:152-165. [PMID: 36794573 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Creating cellular homeostasis within a defined tissue typically relates to the processes of apoptosis and efferocytosis. A great example here is cell debris that must be removed to prevent unwanted inflammatory responses and then reduce autoimmunity. In view of that, defective efferocytosis is often assumed to be responsible for the improper clearance of apoptotic cells (ACs). This predicament triggers off inflammation and even results in disease development. Any disruption of phagocytic receptors, molecules as bridging groups, or signaling routes can also inhibit macrophage efferocytosis and lead to the impaired clearance of the apoptotic body. In this line, macrophages as professional phagocytic cells take the lead in the efferocytosis process. As well, insufficiency in macrophage efferocytosis facilitates the spread of a wide variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, kidney problems, types of cancer, asthma, and the like. Establishing the functions of macrophages in this respect can be thus useful in the treatment of many diseases. Against this background, this review aimed to recapitulate the knowledge about the mechanisms related to macrophage polarization under physiological or pathological conditions, and shed light on its interaction with efferocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shokufeh Razi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Yaghmoorian Khojini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Fateme Kargarijam
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences and Advanced Technology in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Susan Panahi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Zahra Tahershamsi
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Tajbakhsh
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Gheibihayat
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Munich, Germany
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The Current and Future Promises of Combination Radiation and Immunotherapy for Genitourinary Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010127. [PMID: 36612124 PMCID: PMC9818005 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010127] [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: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
As the indications for the use of immunotherapy in genitourinary malignancies expand, its role in combination with standard or conventional therapies has become the subject of contemporary studies. Radiotherapy has multiple immunomodulating effects on anti-tumor immune response, which highlights potential synergistic role with immunotherapy agents. We sought to review the body of published data studying the combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy as well as the rationale for combination therapy. Trial information and primary articles were obtained using the following terms "immunotherapy", "radiotherapy", "prostate cancer", and "bladder cancer." All articles and trials were screened to ensure they included combination radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The effects of radiation on the immune system, including both immunogenic and immunosuppressive effects, have been reported. There is a potential for combinatorial or synergistic effects between radiation therapy and immunotherapy in treating bladder and prostate cancers. However, results from ongoing and future clinical trials are needed to best integrate immunotherapy into current standard of care treatments for GU cancers.
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Tajbakhsh A, Gheibi Hayat SM, Movahedpour A, Savardashtaki A, Loveless R, Barreto GE, Teng Y, Sahebkar A. The complex roles of efferocytosis in cancer development, metastasis, and treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 140:111776. [PMID: 34062411 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
When tumor cells are killed by targeted therapy, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, they trigger their primary tumor by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Microenvironmental interactions can also promote tumor heterogeneity and development. In this line, several immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, including macrophages, dendritic cells, regulatory T-cells, and CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, are involved in the clearance of apoptotic tumor cells through a process called efferocytosis. Although the efficiency of apoptotic tumor cell efferocytosis is positive under physiological conditions, there are controversies regarding its usefulness in treatment-induced apoptotic tumor cells (ATCs). Efferocytosis can show the limitation of cytotoxic treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Since cytotoxic treatments lead to extensive cell mortality, efferocytosis, and macrophage polarization toward an M2 phenotype, the immune response may get involved in tumor recurrence and metastasis. Tumor cells can use the anti-inflammatory effect of apoptotic tumor cell efferocytosis to induce an immunosuppressive condition that is tumor-tolerant. Since M2 polarization and efferocytosis are tumor-promoting processes, the receptors on macrophages act as potential targets for cancer therapy. Moreover, researchers have shown that efferocytosis-related molecules/pathways are potential targets for cancer therapy. These include phosphatidylserine and calreticulin, Tyro3, Axl, and Mer tyrosine kinase (MerTK), receptors of tyrosine kinase, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1, annexin V, CD47, TGF-β, IL-10, and macrophage phenotype switch are combined with conventional therapy, which can be more effective in cancer treatment. Thus, we set out to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of efferocytosis in treatment-induced apoptotic tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Tajbakhsh
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Gheibi Hayat
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Ahmad Movahedpour
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amir Savardashtaki
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Reid Loveless
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - George E Barreto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; Department of Medical Laboratory, Imaging and Radiologic Sciences, College of Allied Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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