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Labuschagne Naidoo RB, Steel HC, Theron AJ, Anderson R, Tintinger GR, Rossouw TM. Persistently Elevated Expression of Systemic, Soluble Co-Inhibitory Immune Checkpoint Molecules in People Living with HIV before and One Year after Antiretroviral Therapy. Pathogens 2024; 13:540. [PMID: 39057767 PMCID: PMC11279922 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13070540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increasing drug resistance and the absence of a cure necessitates exploration of novel treatment strategies for people living with HIV (PLWH). Targeting of soluble co-inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules (sICMs) represents a novel, potentially effective strategy in the management of HIV. METHODS In this retrospective, longitudinal, observational study, the plasma levels of five prominent co-inhibitory sICMs-CTLA-4, LAG-3, PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1, as well as TIM-3-were quantified in 68 PLWH-before and one year after antiretroviral therapy (ART)-and compared with those of 15 healthy control participants. RESULTS Relative to control participants, PLWH had substantially elevated pre-treatment levels of all five co-inhibitory sICMs (p < 0.0001-p < 0.0657), which, over the 12-month period of ART, remained significantly higher than those of controls (p < 0.0367-p < 0.0001). PLWH with advanced disease, reflected by a CD4+ T cell count <200 cells/mm3 before ART, had the lowest levels of CTLA-4 and LAG-3, while participants with pre-treatment HIV viral loads ≥100,000 copies/mL had higher pre-treatment levels of TIM-3, which also persisted at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Plasma levels of CTLA-4, LAG-3, PD-1, PD-L1 and TIM-3 were significantly elevated in treatment-naïve PLWH and remained so following one year of virally-suppressive ART, possibly identifying LAG-3 and TIM-3 in particular as potential targets for adjuvant immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn-Brooke Labuschagne Naidoo
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (R.-B.L.N.); (G.R.T.)
| | - Helen C. Steel
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (H.C.S.); (A.J.T.); (R.A.)
| | - Annette J. Theron
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (H.C.S.); (A.J.T.); (R.A.)
| | - Ronald Anderson
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (H.C.S.); (A.J.T.); (R.A.)
| | - Gregory R. Tintinger
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (R.-B.L.N.); (G.R.T.)
| | - Theresa M. Rossouw
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (H.C.S.); (A.J.T.); (R.A.)
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Martinez DDAES, Lupi O, D'Ácri AM. The association between skin cancer and HIV infection. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2023; 89:725-728. [PMID: 37067140 DOI: 10.25259/ijdvl_902_2021] [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: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Background People affected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), are burdened by a higher risk of developing malignancies including non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and melanoma skin cancer. Objective To evaluate the association of HIV with melanoma and NMSC at a University Hospital. Methods This is a cross-sectional retrospective study of HIV-infected and a matched comparison group, analyzing the associations between skin cancer and HIV infection. Results Compared to the HIV-uninfected, HIV-infected had 80% association with skin cancer (CI 95%: 1.3-2.4, P = 0.001) The risk was 45-fold higher by patients" age (CI 95%: 3.3-15.9: P = 0.001). When adjusted for patient age, sex and race, the risk was 6.4 fold ligher of having cancer if compared to the others (CI 95%: 49-84, P = 0.001). Melanoma was not found in HIV-infected. Conclusion With this study, we have demonstrated that HIV-infected patients have an increased risk of BCC and SCC. Preventive dermatologic management is pivotal in the care of immunosuppressed patients. These patients must undergo the dermatological examination annually and should receive extensive counseling regarding sun avoidance, use of sunscreens,and sun-protective clothing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela de Abreu E Silva Martinez
- Department of Dermatology, Gaffree & Guinle University Hospital, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Omar Lupi
- Department of Dermatology, Gaffree & Guinle University Hospital, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Antônio Macedo D'Ácri
- Department of Dermatology, Gaffree & Guinle University Hospital, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Hatic H, Sampat D, Goyal G. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in lymphoma: challenges and opportunities. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1037. [PMID: 34277837 PMCID: PMC8267255 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-6833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are immunomodulatory antibodies that intensify the host immune response, thereby leading to cytotoxicity. The primary targets for checkpoint inhibition have included cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1). ICIs have resulted in a change in treatment landscape of various neoplasms. Among hematologic malignancies, ICIs have been most successful in certain subtypes of lymphomas such as classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). However, there have been several challenges in harnessing the host immune system through ICI use in other lymphomas. The underlying reasons for the low efficacy of ICI monotherapy in most lymphomas may include defects in antigen presentation, non-inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME), immunosuppressive metabolites, genetic factors, and an overall lack of predictive biomarkers of response. In this review, we outline the existing and ongoing studies utilizing ICI therapy in various lymphomas. We also describe the challenges leading to the lack of efficacy with ICI use and discuss potential strategies to overcome those challenges including: chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T therapy), bispecific T-cell therapy (BiTE), lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) inhibitors, T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) inhibitors, vaccines, promotion of inflammatory macrophages, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitors, DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi). Tumor mutational burden and interferon-gamma release assays are potential biomarkers of ICI treatment response beyond PD-L1 expression. Further collaborations between clinicians and scientists are vital to understand the immunopathology in ICI therapy in order to improve clinical outcomes.
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Immune checkpoint inhibitors and tuberculosis: an old disease in a new context. Lancet Oncol 2020; 21:e55-e65. [PMID: 31908308 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(19)30674-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis, the leading cause of infection-related death in developing regions, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Screening for, and treatment of, latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is routine before initiation of anti-tumour necrosis factor α (anti-TNFα) agents in the management of psoriasis, Crohn's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. By contrast, screening for latent tuberculosis before immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in cancer is not routine, despite the increasing number of reports of primary infection with M tuberculosis or reactivation of latent M tuberculosis infection during such treatment. We present our experience with M tuberculosis screening in 70 patients who underwent immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for metastatic skin cancer. Based on our understanding of the interaction between M tuberculosis and the immune system, we present the argument for tuberculosis screening before immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and its use when considering anti-TNFα treatment for severe immune-related adverse events. We call for increased vigilance during immune checkpoint inhibition until its effects on tuberculosis pathophysiology are fully ascertained.
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Antonuzzo A, Calabrò F, Quaglino P, Roila F, Sebastiani GD, Spina F, Pasqualetti G, Cortinovis D, Tagliaferri E, Peri A, Presotto EM, Egidi MF, Giacomelli L, Farroni F, Di Maio M, De Luca E, Danova M, Scottè F, Jordan K, Bossi P. Immunotherapy in Underrepresented Populations of Patients with Cancer: Do We Have Enough Evidence at Present? A Focus on Patients with Major Viral Infections and Autoimmune Disorders. Oncologist 2020; 25:e946-e954. [PMID: 32181960 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2020-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The safety and activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors have been characterized in interventional and observational studies. However, only small studies have specifically investigated these agents in patients who are excluded or underrepresented in clinical trials, frequently referred to as "special populations" or "underrepresented populations." These include older adults, those with dysregulated immune activation, patients with a compromised immune function, and those carrying major viral infections, lymphoproliferative diseases, and major organ dysfunctions. Therefore, there remains substantial uncertainty regarding the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in these specific settings. The Network of Italian Supportive Care in Oncology has carried out a multidisciplinary project, with the contribution of oncologists and other specialists, to retrieve the existing evidence on the use of immunotherapy in patients with solid and hematological cancers with the final aim to provide an expert guidance. The results of this effort are presented in this article, which is focused on patients with major viral infections or those with immune dysregulation/autoimmune diseases, and could be useful to guide decisions in clinical practice and to design prospective clinical trials focusing on the use of immunotherapy in these populations. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Substantial uncertainty remains regarding the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in "underrepresented" patients, such as older adults, those with dysregulated immune activation, and patients with a compromised immune function, major viral infections, lymphoproliferative diseases or major organ dysfunctions. The Network of Italian Supportive Care in Oncology has carried out a multidisciplinary project to retrieve the existing evidence on the use of immunotherapy in underrepresented patients with cancer in order provide an expert guidance. The results of this effort, with a focus on patients with major viral infections or those with immune dysregulation/autoimmune diseases, are presented in this article and could be useful to guide decisions both in clinical practice and to design clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Antonuzzo
- UO Oncologia 1 SSN Polo Oncologico, Ambulatorio Terapie di Supporto, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Quaglino
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, Turin, Italy
| | - Fausto Roila
- Department of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera, Universitaria Perugia, Italy
| | - Gian Domenico Sebastiani
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Reumatologia, Ospedale di Alta Specializzazione "San Camillo,", Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Spina
- Division of Hematology, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Alessandro Peri
- Sodium Unit, Endocrinology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Mario Serio, University of Florence, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Margherita Presotto
- Sodium Unit, Endocrinology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Mario Serio, University of Florence, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Luca Giacomelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Polistudium SRL, Milan, Italy
| | - Ferruccio Farroni
- Gastroenterology Department, Foligno Hospital, Unità Sanitaria Locale Umbria 2, Foligno, Italy
| | - Massimo Di Maio
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Division of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Emmanuele De Luca
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Division of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Danova
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, Vigevano Civic Hospital, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Florian Scottè
- Medical Oncology and Supportive Care Department, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, France
| | - Karin Jordan
- Leitende Oberärztin, Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Rheumatologie, Innere Medizin V, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paolo Bossi
- Medical Oncology, University of Brescia, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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Facciolà A, Venanzi Rullo E, Ceccarelli M, D'Andrea F, Coco M, Micali C, Cacopardo B, Marino A, Cannavò SP, Di Rosa M, Condorelli F, Pellicanò GF, Guarneri C, Nunnari G. Malignant melanoma in HIV: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management. Dermatol Ther 2019; 33:e13180. [PMID: 31770477 DOI: 10.1111/dth.13180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
People affected by immunodeficiency, and especially those infected by HIV, are burdened by a higher risk of developing malignancies. It has been estimated that the incidence of melanoma in HIV-infected people is 2.6-fold higher than in uninfected ones. In this group of patients, melanoma shows a more aggressive phenotype and poorer survival rates compared to HIV-negative people. Standard guidelines of diagnosis and care do not exist yet. Studies suggest high index of suspicion and a low threshold for biopsy in HIV-positive patients regardless of their CD4+ count and the use of standard surgical margins for re-excision procedures. In case of diagnosis of melanoma in HIV-positive patients, a thorough search for metastatic disease is recommended because of the more aggressive course of this cancer in HIV-positive patients. Moreover, to rapidly find out any recurrence or metastatic disease after treatment, these patients need a close follow-up, every 3 months, for the first 2 years and at least twice yearly thereafter. Although surgery remains the main therapeutic option, application of immune checkpoint-based immunotherapy is being studied and seems to be promising. The aim of this review is to present the current knowledge and future options for melanoma diagnosis and treatment in people living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Facciolà
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Emmanuele Venanzi Rullo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Manuela Ceccarelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Flavia D'Andrea
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Mariagiovanna Coco
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Cristina Micali
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Bruno Cacopardo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Marino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Serafinella P Cannavò
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Michelino Di Rosa
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Condorelli
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Oriental Piedmont "A. Avogadro", Novara, Italy
| | - Giovanni F Pellicanò
- Department of Human Pathology of the Adult and the Developmental Age "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Claudio Guarneri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Nunnari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Oral melanomas in HIV-positive patients: Report of two cases and review of the literature. Oral Oncol 2019; 101:104375. [PMID: 31371241 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2019.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Oral melanoma in HIV-positive patients is exceedingly rare, with only two cases reported in the literature published in English. Herein, we report two additional cases of oral melanomas which occurred as oral masses in the upper gingiva and hard palate in 35- and 27-year-old HIV-positive women. Significant thrombocytopenia, anemia, reduced CD4 cells, and high HIV load occurred in both patients. Microscopically, the lesions showed a variable proliferation of fusiform and epithelioid-pigmented cells, with cellular pleomorphism and high mitotic index. The diagnosis of melanoma was supported by positive immunoreactivity for S-100, MelanA, and HMB-45. Both cases had an unfavorable outcome, and the patients died a few months after the initial diagnosis. Because of its rarity, oral melanoma occurring in HIV-positive patients can pose problems in diagnosis and should be clinically distinguished from Kaposi's sarcoma, which is more common in the context of the immunodeficiency syndrome.
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Cohen EEW, Bell RB, Bifulco CB, Burtness B, Gillison ML, Harrington KJ, Le QT, Lee NY, Leidner R, Lewis RL, Licitra L, Mehanna H, Mell LK, Raben A, Sikora AG, Uppaluri R, Whitworth F, Zandberg DP, Ferris RL. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer consensus statement on immunotherapy for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:184. [PMID: 31307547 PMCID: PMC6632213 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0662-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 417] [Impact Index Per Article: 83.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancers, including those of the lip and oral cavity, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oropharynx, larynx and nasopharynx represent nearly 700,000 new cases and 380,000 deaths worldwide per annum, and account for over 10,000 annual deaths in the United States alone. Improvement in outcomes are needed for patients with recurrent and or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the first immunotherapeutic approvals - the anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab - for the treatment of patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) that is refractory to platinum-based regimens. The European Commission followed in 2017 with approval of nivolumab for treatment of the same patient population, and shortly thereafter with approval of pembrolizumab monotherapy for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic HNSCC in adults whose tumors express PD-L1 with a ≥ 50% tumor proportion score and have progressed on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Then in 2019, the FDA granted approval for PD-1 inhibition as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic or unresectable, recurrent HNSCC, approving pembrolizumab in combination with platinum and fluorouracil for all patients with HNSCC and pembrolizumab as a single agent for patients with HNSCC whose tumors express a PD-L1 combined positive score ≥ 1. These approvals marked the first new therapies for these patients since 2006, as well as the first immunotherapeutic approvals in this disease. In light of the introduction of these novel therapies for the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer, The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) formed an expert committee tasked with generating consensus recommendations for emerging immunotherapies, including appropriate patient selection, therapy sequence, response monitoring, adverse event management, and biomarker testing. These consensus guidelines serve as a foundation to assist clinicians' understanding of the role of immunotherapies in this disease setting, and to standardize utilization across the field for patient benefit. Due to country-specific variances in approvals, availability and regulations regarding the discussed agents, this panel focused solely on FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of patients in the U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezra E W Cohen
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - R Bryan Bell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute at the Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Carlo B Bifulco
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute at the Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Barbara Burtness
- Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Maura L Gillison
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Nancy Y Lee
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rom Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute at the Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Lisa Licitra
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori Milan and University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Hisham Mehanna
- Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Loren K Mell
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Adam Raben
- Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, Newark, DE, USA
| | | | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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Chowdhury FZ, Ouyang Z, Buzon M, Walker BD, Lichterfeld M, Yu XG. Metabolic pathway activation distinguishes transcriptional signatures of CD8+ T cells from HIV-1 elite controllers. AIDS 2018; 32:2669-2677. [PMID: 30289807 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Elite controllers, defined as persons maintaining undetectable levels of HIV-1 replication in the absence of antiretroviral therapy, represent living evidence that sustained, natural control of HIV-1 is possible, at least in relatively rare instances. Understanding the complex immunologic and virologic characteristics of these specific patients holds promise for inducing drug-free control of HIV-1 in broader populations of HIV-1 infected patients. DESIGN We used an unbiased transcriptional profiling approach to characterize CD8+ T cells, the strongest correlate of HIV-1 immune control identified thus far, in a large cohort of elite controllers (n = 51); highly active antiretrovial therapy (HAART)-treated patients (n = 32) and HIV-1 negative (n = 10) served as reference cohorts. METHODS We isolated mRNA from total CD8+ T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of each individual followed by microarray analysis of the transcriptional signatures. RESULTS We observed profound transcriptional differences [590 transcripts, false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted P < 0.05] between elite controller and HAART-treated patients. Interestingly, metabolic and signalling pathways governed by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and eIF2, known for their key roles in regulating cellular growth, proliferation and metabolism, were among the top functions enriched in the differentially expressed genes, suggesting a therapeutically actionable target as a distinguishing feature of spontaneous HIV-1 immune control. A subsequent bootstrapping approach distinguished five different subgroups of elite controller, each characterized by distinct transcriptional signatures. However, despite this marked heterogeneity, differential regulation of mTOR and eIF2 signalling remained the dominant functional pathway in three of these elite controller subgroups. CONCLUSION These studies suggest that mTOR and eIF2 signalling may play a remarkably universal role for regulating CD8 T-cell function from elite controllers.
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Sabbatino F, Marra A, Liguori L, Scognamiglio G, Fusciello C, Botti G, Ferrone S, Pepe S. Resistance to anti-PD-1-based immunotherapy in basal cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature. J Immunother Cancer 2018; 6:126. [PMID: 30458852 PMCID: PMC6247622 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-018-0439-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has radically changed the management of a broad spectrum of tumors. In contrast, only very limited information is available about the efficacy of these therapies in non-melanoma skin cancers, especially in basal cell carcinoma. The latter malignancy is often associated with both an impairment of the host immune response and a high mutation burden, suggesting that immune checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy may be effective in the treatment of this tumor. CASE PRESENTATION A 78-year-old woman was diagnosed with a metastatic non-small-cell-lung-cancer. Following the lack of response to two lines of systemic chemotherapy, she was treated with the anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody nivolumab, obtaining a prolonged stable disease. Under nivolumab treatment, the patient developed a basal cell carcinoma of the nose. The latter was surgically resected. Immunohistochemical staining of tumor tissue showed a PD-L1 expression < 1% and lack of human leukocyte antigen class I subunit (i.e. heavy and light chain) expression on tumor cells. In addition, a limited number of T cells (CD3+) was present in the tumor microenvironment, with a higher number of regulatory T cells (Foxp3+) and macrophages (Cd11b+) as compared to a low infiltration of activated cytotoxic T cells (CD8+/ Granzyme B+). Two months following the surgical removal of the tumor, while still on nivolumab treatment, the patient relapsed with a basal cell carcinoma in the same anatomic site of the previous surgical excision. The tumor displayed the same pathological characteristics. CONCLUSION Preclinical lines of evidence suggest a potential role of immune checkpoint inhibitors for basal cell carcinoma treatment. However, limited clinical data is available. In the patient we have described administration of the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab for the treatment of a responsive non-small cell carcinoma was associated with the development and relapse of a basal cell carcinoma tumor. This association is likely to reflect the resistance of basal cell carcinoma cells to anti-PD-1 based immunotherapy because of a "cold" tumor microenvironment characterized by lack of human leukocyte antigen class I expression, low PD-L1 expression and high number of immune regulatory cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Sabbatino
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Antonio Marra
- Medical Oncology Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Liguori
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Giosuè Scognamiglio
- Department of Pathology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori – IRCCS- Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | - Celeste Fusciello
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Gerardo Botti
- Department of Pathology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori – IRCCS- Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Stefano Pepe
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy
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