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Hosseinalizadeh H, Rahmati M, Ebrahimi A, O’Connor RS. Current Status and Challenges of Vaccination Therapy for Glioblastoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:435-446. [PMID: 36779991 PMCID: PMC10155120 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), also known as grade IV astrocytoma, is the most common and deadly type of central nervous system malignancy in adults. Despite significant breakthroughs in current GBM treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the prognosis for late-stage glioblastoma remains bleak due to tumor recurrence following surgical resection. The poor prognosis highlights the evident and pressing need for more efficient and targeted treatment. Vaccination has successfully treated patients with advanced colorectal and lung cancer. Therefore, the potential value of using tumor vaccines in treating glioblastoma is increasingly discussed as a monotherapy or in combination with other cellular immunotherapies. Cancer vaccination includes both passive administration of monoclonal antibodies and active vaccination procedures to activate, boost, or bias antitumor immunity against cancer cells. This article focuses on active immunotherapy with peptide, genetic (DNA, mRNA), and cell-based vaccines in treating GBM and reviews the various treatment approaches currently being tested. Although the ease of synthesis, relative safety, and ability to elicit tumor-specific immune responses have made these vaccines an invaluable tool for cancer treatment, more extensive cohort studies and better guidelines are needed to improve the efficacy of these vaccines in anti-GBM therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Hosseinalizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, 41376, Rasht, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rahmati
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, 41376, Rasht, Iran
| | - Ammar Ebrahimi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Rue Du Bugnon 7, 1005, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roddy S O’Connor
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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2
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Verdugo E, Puerto I, Medina MÁ. An update on the molecular biology of glioblastoma, with clinical implications and progress in its treatment. CANCER COMMUNICATIONS (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 42:1083-1111. [PMID: 36129048 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and common malignant primary brain tumor. Patients with GBM often have poor prognoses, with a median survival of ∼15 months. Enhanced understanding of the molecular biology of central nervous system tumors has led to modifications in their classifications, the most recent of which classified these tumors into new categories and made some changes in their nomenclature and grading system. This review aims to give a panoramic view of the last 3 years' findings in glioblastoma characterization, its heterogeneity, and current advances in its treatment. Several molecular parameters have been used to achieve an accurate and personalized characterization of glioblastoma in patients, including epigenetic, genetic, transcriptomic and metabolic features, as well as age- and sex-related patterns and the involvement of several noncoding RNAs in glioblastoma progression. Astrocyte-like neural stem cells and outer radial glial-like cells from the subventricular zone have been proposed as agents involved in GBM of IDH-wildtype origin, but this remains controversial. Glioblastoma metabolism is characterized by upregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, promotion of the glycolytic flux, maintenance of lipid storage, and other features. This metabolism also contributes to glioblastoma's resistance to conventional therapies. Tumor heterogeneity, a hallmark of GBM, has been shown to affect the genetic expression, modulation of metabolic pathways, and immune system evasion. GBM's aggressive invasion potential is modulated by cell-to-cell crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment and altered expressions of specific genes, such as ANXA2, GBP2, FN1, PHIP, and GLUT3. Nevertheless, the rising number of active clinical trials illustrates the efforts to identify new targets and drugs to treat this malignancy. Immunotherapy is still relevant for research purposes, given the amount of ongoing clinical trials based on this strategy to treat GBM, and neoantigen and nucleic acid-based vaccines are gaining importance due to their antitumoral activity by inducing the immune response. Furthermore, there are clinical trials focused on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis, angiogenesis, and tumor heterogeneity for developing molecular-targeted therapies against GBM. Other strategies, such as nanodelivery and computational models, may improve the drug pharmacokinetics and the prognosis of patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Verdugo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Málaga, Málaga, Málaga, E-29071, Spain
| | - Iker Puerto
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Málaga, Málaga, Málaga, E-29071, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Medina
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Málaga, Málaga, Málaga, E-29071, Spain.,Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga (IBIMA-Plataforma Bionand), Málaga, Málaga, E-29071, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Network Center for Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Spanish Health Institute Carlos III (ISCIII), Málaga, Málaga, E-29071, Spain
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3
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Hosseinalizadeh H, Mahmoodpour M, Samadani AA, Roudkenar MH. The immunosuppressive role of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase in glioblastoma: mechanism of action and immunotherapeutic strategies. Med Oncol 2022; 39:130. [PMID: 35716323 PMCID: PMC9206138 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01724-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a fatal brain tumor in adults with a bleak diagnosis. Expansion of immunosuppressive and malignant CD4 + FoxP3 + GITR + regulatory T cells is one of the hallmarks of GBM. Importantly, most of the patients with GBM expresses the tryptophan-degrading enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). While IDO1 is generally not expressed at appreciable levels in the adult central nervous system, it is rapidly stimulated and highly expressed in response to ongoing immune surveillance in cancer. Increased levels of immune surveillance in cancer are thus related to higher intratumoral IDO expression levels and, as a result, a worse OS in GBM patients. Conversion of the important amino acid tryptophan into downstream catabolite known as kynurenines is the major function of IDO. Decreasing tryptophan and increasing the concentration of immunomodulatory tryptophan metabolites has been shown to induce T-cell apoptosis, increase immunosuppressive programming, and death of tumor antigen-presenting dendritic cells. This observation supported the immunotherapeutic strategy, and the targeted molecular therapy that suppresses IDO1 activity. We review the current understanding of the role of IDO1 in tumor immunological escape in brain tumors, the immunomodulatory effects of its primary catabolites, preclinical research targeting this enzymatic pathway, and various issues that need to be overcome to increase the prospective immunotherapeutic relevance in the treatment of GBM malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Hosseinalizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Mahmoodpour
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Samadani
- Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Mehryar Habibi Roudkenar
- Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Velayat Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Parastar St., 41887-94755, Rasht, Iran.
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4
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Khan M, Li X, Yan M, Li Z, Yang H, Liao G. Efficacy and Safety of Actively Personalized Neoantigen Vaccination in the Management of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: A Systematic Review. Int J Gen Med 2021; 14:5209-5220. [PMID: 34512004 PMCID: PMC8427683 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s323576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Glioblastoma (GBM) shows frequent relapse and is highly resistant to treatment; therefore, it is considered fatal. Various vaccination protocols that have been tested in patients with GBM, which is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, have indicated safety and efficacy, to some extent, when used alone or in combination with standard of care. Recently, neoantigen-based personalized vaccines have shown tremendous immunogenicity and safety in GBM. We aimed to systematically review the medical literature for clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoantigen-based personalized vaccines for newly diagnosed GBM. Methods We conducted a literature search for clinical trials on PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and ClinicalTrials.gov until March 20, 2021. The primary outcomes of interest were immunogenicity and safety of the therapy. Efficacy outcomes, such as progression-free survival and overall survival, were secondary outcomes of interest. Results Two clinical trials involving 24 patients were included in this review. High immunogenicity was observed in both studies. The GAPVAC-101 trial reported 50% APVAC1-induced and 84.7% APVAC2-induced immunogenicity with CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses in 92% (12/13) and 80% (8/10) immune responders, respectively. Two out of five patients showed CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in the study by Keskin et al. Dexamethasone use had limited immunogenicity in a trial by Keskin et al (6/8). No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported. Conclusion Actively personalized vaccines aimed at unmutated peptides and neoantigens for patients with GBM are safe and highly immunogenic, particularly when administered in combination. Larger studies are warranted to investigate the role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Khan
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianming Li
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, People's Republic of China
| | - Maosheng Yan
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, People's Republic of China
| | - Zihuang Li
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongli Yang
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, People's Republic of China
| | - Guixiang Liao
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, People's Republic of China
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Quintarelli C, Camera A, Ciccone R, Alessi I, Del Bufalo F, Carai A, Del Baldo G, Mastronuzzi A, De Angelis B. Innovative and Promising Strategies to Enhance Effectiveness of Immunotherapy for CNS Tumors: Where Are We? Front Immunol 2021; 12:634031. [PMID: 34163465 PMCID: PMC8216238 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.634031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there are several immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors under evaluation, currently none of these approaches have received approval from the regulatory agencies. CNS tumors, especially glioblastomas, are tumors characterized by highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, limiting the possibility of effectively eliciting an immune response. Moreover, the peculiar anatomic location of these tumors poses relevant challenges in terms of safety, since uncontrolled hyper inflammation could lead to cerebral edema and cranial hypertension. The most promising strategies of immunotherapy in neuro-oncology consist of the use of autologous T cells redirected against tumor cells through chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) constructs or genetically modified T-cell receptors. Trials based on native or genetically engineered oncolytic viruses and on vaccination with tumor-associated antigen peptides are also under evaluation. Despite some sporadic complete remissions achieved in clinical trials, the outcome of patients with CNS tumors treated with different immunotherapeutic approaches remains poor. Based on the lessons learned from these unsatisfactory experiences, novel immune-therapy approaches aimed at overcoming the profound immunosuppressive microenvironment of these diseases are bringing new hope to reach the cure for CNS tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Quintarelli
- Department Onco-Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.,Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Camera
- Department Onco-Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Roselia Ciccone
- Department Onco-Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Iside Alessi
- Department Onco-Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Del Bufalo
- Department Onco-Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Carai
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Del Baldo
- Department Onco-Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department Onco-Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Biagio De Angelis
- Department Onco-Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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Frederico SC, Hancock JC, Brettschneider EES, Ratnam NM, Gilbert MR, Terabe M. Making a Cold Tumor Hot: The Role of Vaccines in the Treatment of Glioblastoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:672508. [PMID: 34041034 PMCID: PMC8141615 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.672508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of immunotherapies for the treatment of brain tumors is a topic that has garnered considerable excitement in recent years. Discoveries such as the presence of a glymphatic system and immune surveillance in the central nervous system (CNS) have shattered the theory of immune privilege and opened up the possibility of treating CNS malignancies with immunotherapies. However, despite many immunotherapy clinical trials aimed at treating glioblastoma (GBM), very few have demonstrated a significant survival benefit. Several factors for this have been identified, one of which is that GBMs are immunologically "cold," implying that the cancer does not induce a strong T cell response. It is postulated that this is why clinical trials using an immune checkpoint inhibitor alone have not demonstrated efficacy. While it is well established that anti-cancer T cell responses can be facilitated by the presentation of tumor-specific antigens to the immune system, treatment-related death of GBM cells and subsequent release of molecules have not been shown to be sufficient to evoke an anti-tumor immune response effective enough to have a significant impact. To overcome this limitation, vaccines can be used to introduce exogenous antigens at higher concentrations to the immune system to induce strong tumor antigen-specific T cell responses. In this review, we will describe vaccination strategies that are under investigation to treat GBM; categorizing them based on their target antigens, form of antigens, vehicles used, and pairing with specific adjuvants. We will review the concept of vaccine therapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, as it is hypothesized that this approach may be more effective in overcoming the immunosuppressive milieu of GBM. Clinical trial design and the need for incorporating robust immune monitoring into future studies will also be discussed here. We believe that the integration of evolving technologies of vaccine development, delivery, and immune monitoring will further enhance the role of these therapies and will likely remain an important area of investigation for future treatment strategies for GBM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C Frederico
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, CCR, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - John C Hancock
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, CCR, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Emily E S Brettschneider
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, CCR, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nivedita M Ratnam
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, CCR, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Mark R Gilbert
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, CCR, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Masaki Terabe
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, CCR, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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7
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Crotty EE, Downey KM, Ferrerosa LM, Flores CT, Hegde B, Raskin S, Hwang EI, Vitanza NA, Okada H. Considerations when treating high-grade pediatric glioma patients with immunotherapy. Expert Rev Neurother 2021; 21:205-219. [PMID: 33225764 PMCID: PMC7880880 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2020.1855144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Children with high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) represent a clinical population in substantial need of new therapeutic options given the inefficacy and toxicity of current standard-of-care modalities. Although immunotherapy has emerged as a promising modality, it has yet to elicit a significant survival benefit for pHGG patients. While preclinical studies address a variety of underlying challenges, translational clinical trial design and management also need to reflect the most updated progress and lessons from the field. AREAS COVERED The authors will focus our discussion on the design of clinical trials, the management of potential toxicities, immune monitoring, and novel biomarkers. Clinical trial design should integrate appropriate patient populations, novel, and preclinically optimized trial design, and logical treatment combinations, particularly those which synergize with standard of care modalities. However, there are caveats due to the nature of immunotherapy trials, such as patient selection bias, evidenced by the frequent exclusion of patients on high-dose corticosteroids. Robust immune-modulating effects of modern immunotherapy can have toxicities. As such, it is important to understand and manage these, especially in pHGG patients. EXPERT OPINION Adequate integration of these considerations should allow us to effectively gain insights on biological activity, safety, and biomarkers associated with benefits for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E. Crotty
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kira M. Downey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lauren M. Ferrerosa
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland, 747 52nd Street, Oakland, CA, USA
| | | | - Bindu Hegde
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Scott Raskin
- Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Nicholas A. Vitanza
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hideho Okada
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cancer Immunotherapy Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Looking for A Place for Dose-Dense TMZ Regimens in GBM Patients: An Experience with MGMT Exploratory Evaluation. Bioengineering (Basel) 2019; 6:bioengineering6010011. [PMID: 30678211 PMCID: PMC6466220 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering6010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Prolonged exposure to temozolomide (TMZ) could improve clinical outcomes in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. We previously developed a dose-dense regimen of TMZ in a phase II study (180 mg/m2 from days 1 to 5 every two weeks). A retrospective analysis of patients with macroscopic residual GBM treated with “post-induction” dose-dense TMZ was conducted, adding an explorative subgroup analyses among patients with different O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) expressions (negative vs positive, < vs ≥ of 50 % of cells stained, < vs ≥ 70% of cells stained). Thirty-six patients were evaluated; after a median follow-up of 36 weeks, median Progression Free Survival (PFS) and median Overall Survival (OS) were 19 and 34 weeks, respectively. MGMT expression (70% cut-off) and sex were confirmed as independent predictors for disease control rate (DCR) at multivariate analysis. At univariate analysis ECOG-PS, Sex (female), extensive tumor resection was shown to be related to a longer PFS, while MGMT expression (cut-off 70%) to a shorter PFS. Multivariate analysis with Cox hazard regression confirmed only ECOG-PS as an independent predictor for PFS. ECOG-PS showed to be significant related to a longer OS. Our analysis showed that dose-dense TMZ regimens are still an option for patients with recurrent GBM, but should be used for re-challenge treatments. MGMT immunohistochemistry high expression might be used as a “surrogate” negative predictor for DCR for dd-TMZ treatments.
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Khansur E, Shah AH, Lacy K, Komotar RJ. Novel Immunotherapeutics for Treatment of Glioblastoma: The Last Decade of Research. Cancer Invest 2019; 37:1-7. [PMID: 30632816 DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2018.1479414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Despite surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation, survival for glioblastoma remains poor. Because of the dismal prognosis, attention has shifted to alternative adjuvant treatment modalities. Although traditionally limited to systemic malignancies (melanoma, lung and colon cancer), the field of immunotherapy has recently identified glioblastoma as a potential target for new treatments. Anti-tumor vaccines (dendritic cell/heat shock), checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric T-cell receptors, and virotherapy all have been preliminarily trialed in glioblastoma patients with reasonable success and safety. Although there are certainly limitations due to autoimmune reactions and immune escape, immunotherapeutics hold much promise in the future treatment paradigms for malignant glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emaad Khansur
- a School of Medicine , University of Mississippi , Jackson , MS , USA
| | - Ashish H Shah
- b Department of Neurosurgery , University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital , Miami , FL , USA
| | - Kyle Lacy
- c Department of Hematology/Oncology , University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital , Miami , FL , USA
| | - Ricardo J Komotar
- b Department of Neurosurgery , University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital , Miami , FL , USA
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10
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Harnessing the immune system in glioblastoma. Br J Cancer 2018; 119:1171-1181. [PMID: 30393372 PMCID: PMC6251037 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0258-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant brain tumour. Survival is poor and improved treatment options are urgently needed. Although immunotherapies have emerged as effective treatments for a number of cancers, translation of these through to brain tumours is a distinct challenge, particularly due to the blood-brain barrier and the unique immune tumour microenvironment afforded by CNS-specific cells. This review discusses the immune system within the CNS, mechanisms of immune escape employed by glioblastoma, and the immunological effects of conventional glioblastoma treatments. Novel therapies for glioblastoma that harness the immune system and their current clinical progress are outlined, including cancer vaccines, T-cell therapies and immune checkpoint modulators.
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11
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Zhenjiang L, Rao M, Luo X, Valentini D, von Landenberg A, Meng Q, Sinclair G, Hoffmann N, Karbach J, Altmannsberger HM, Jäger E, Peredo IH, Dodoo E, Maeurer M. Cytokine Networks and Survivin Peptide-Specific Cellular Immune Responses Predict Improved Survival in Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme. EBioMedicine 2018; 33:49-56. [PMID: 30049387 PMCID: PMC6085502 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We investigated serum cytokine and T-cell responses directed against tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) in association with survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). PATIENTS AND METHODS Peripheral blood from 205 treatment-naïve patients with glioma (GBM = 145; non-GBM = 60) was obtained on the day of surgery to measure (i) circulating T-cells reacting to viral antigens and TAAs, in the presence or absence of cytokine conditioning with IL-2/IL-15/IL-21 or IL-2/IL-7, and (ii) serum cytokine levels (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17A). Patients were followed-up for at least 1000 days post-surgery. Survivin protein and gene expression in resected GBM tumour tissue were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Antigen-specific T-cell responses were gauged by ICS (intracellular cytokine production). Associations between patient survival and immunological reactivity patterns were analysed using univariate and multivariate statistics. RESULTS Approximately 2% of patients with GBM and 18% of patients with non-GBM glioma, were alive beyond 1000 days of surgery. Univariate analysis indicated that the combination of three cytokines (IL-4/IL-5/IL-6, p = .0022; IFN-γ/TNF-α/IL-17A, p = .0083) but not a 'partial' combination of these cytokines, the IFN-γ immune response to EBV-EBNA-1 (p < .0001) as well as T-cell responses to the survivin97-111 peptide (p = .0152) correlated with longer survival among patients with GBM. Multivariate analysis identified survivin97-111-directed IFN-γ production with IL-2/IL-15/IL-21 conditioning (p = .024), and the combined presence of serum IFN-γ/TNF-α/IL-17a (p = .003) as independent predictors of survival. CONCLUSION Serum cytokine patterns and lymphocyte reactivity to survivin97-111, particularly with IL-2, IL-15 and IL-21 conditioning may be instrumental in predicting survival among patients with GBM. This has implications for clinical follow-up of patients with GBM and the targeted development of immunotherapy for patients with CNS tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Zhenjiang
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Rao
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiaohua Luo
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Davide Valentini
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (CAST), Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna von Landenberg
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Qingda Meng
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georges Sinclair
- Department of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section for Neurosurgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nina Hoffmann
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julia Karbach
- Department of Oncology and Haematology, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | | | - Elke Jäger
- Department of Oncology and Haematology, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Inti Harvey Peredo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section for Neurosurgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ernest Dodoo
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section for Neurosurgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Markus Maeurer
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (CAST), Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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12
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Survivin-Based Treatment Strategies for Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19040971. [PMID: 29587347 PMCID: PMC5979467 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19040971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Survivin, an anti-apoptotic molecule abundantly expressed in most human neoplasms, has been reported to contribute to cancer initiation and drug resistance in a wide variety of human tumors. Efficient downregulation of survivin can sensitize tumor cells to various therapeutic interventions, generating considerable efforts in its validation as a new target in cancer therapy. This review thoroughly analyzes up-to-date information on the potential of survivin as a therapeutic target for new anticancer treatments. The literature dealing with the therapeutic targeting of survivin will be reviewed, discussing specifically squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), and with emphasis on the last clinical trials. This review gives insight into the recent developments undertaken in validating various treatment strategies that target survivin in SCCs and analyze the translational possibility, identifying those strategies that seem to be the closest to being incorporated into clinical practice. The most recent developments, such as dominant-negative survivin mutants, RNA interference, anti-sense oligonucleotides, small-molecule inhibitors, and peptide-based immunotherapy, seem to be helpful for effectively downregulating survivin expression and reducing tumor growth potential, increasing the apoptotic rate, and sensitizing tumor cells to chemo- and radiotherapy. However, selective and efficient targeting of survivin in clinical trials still poses a major challenge.
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Khansur EM, Shah AH, Lacy K, Kuchakulla M, Komotar RJ. Novel Immunotherapeutics for the Treatment of Glioblastoma: The Last Decade of Research. Cureus 2018; 10:e2130. [PMID: 29692957 PMCID: PMC5910011 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.2130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation, survival for glioblastoma remains poor. Because of the dismal prognosis, attention has shifted to alternative adjuvant treatment modalities. Although traditionally limited to systemic malignancies (melanoma, lung and colon cancer), the field of immunotherapy has recently identified glioblastoma as a potential target for new treatments. Anti-tumor vaccines (dendritic cell/heat shock), checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric T-cell receptors, and virotherapy all have been preliminarily trialed in glioblastoma patients with reasonable success and safety. Although there are limitations due to autoimmune reactions and immune escape, immunotherapeutics hold much promise in the future treatment paradigms for malignant glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emaad M Khansur
- School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center
| | - Ashish H Shah
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
| | - Kyle Lacy
- School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center
| | - Manish Kuchakulla
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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14
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Paolillo M, Boselli C, Schinelli S. Glioblastoma under Siege: An Overview of Current Therapeutic Strategies. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8010015. [PMID: 29337870 PMCID: PMC5789346 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is known to be one of the most lethal and untreatable human tumors. Surgery and radiotherapy in combination with classical alkylating agents such as temozolomide offer little hope to escape a poor prognosis. For these reasons, enormous efforts are currently devoted to refine in vivo and in vitro models with the specific goal of finding new molecular aberrant pathways, suitable to be targeted by a variety of therapeutic approaches, including novel pharmaceutical formulations and immunotherapy strategies. In this review, we will first discuss current molecular classification based on genomic and transcriptomic criteria. Also, the state of the art in current clinical practice for glioblastoma therapy in the light of the recent molecular classification, together with ongoing phases II and III clinical trials, will be described. Finally, new pharmaceutical formulations such as nanoparticles and viral vectors, together with new strategies entailing the use of monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and immunotherapy agents, such as checkpoint inhibitors, will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra Paolillo
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Boselli
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Sergio Schinelli
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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15
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Rao M, Zhenjiang L, Meng Q, Sinclair G, Dodoo E, Maeurer M. Mutant Epitopes in Cancer. Oncoimmunology 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-62431-0_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Mannan
- Future Science Group, Unitec House, 2 Albert Place, London, N3 1QB, UK
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