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D'Aniello A, Del Bene A, Mottola S, Mazzarella V, Cutolo R, Campagna E, Di Maro S, Messere A. The bright side of chemistry: Exploring synthetic peptide-based anticancer vaccines. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3596. [PMID: 38571326 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3596] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The present review focuses on synthetic peptide-based vaccine strategies in the context of anticancer intervention, paying attention to critical aspects such as peptide epitope selection, adjuvant integration, and nuanced classification of synthetic peptide cancer vaccines. Within this discussion, we delve into the diverse array of synthetic peptide-based anticancer vaccines, each derived from tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), including melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 (Melan-A or MART-1), mucin 1 (MUC1), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), tumor protein 53 (p53), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), survivin, folate receptor (FR), cancer-testis antigen 1 (NY-ESO-1), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). We also describe the synthetic peptide-based vaccines developed for cancers triggered by oncovirus, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Additionally, the potential synergy of peptide-based vaccines with common therapeutics in cancer was considered. The last part of our discussion deals with the realm of the peptide-based vaccines delivery, highlighting its role in translating the most promising candidates into effective clinical strategies. Although this discussion does not cover all the ongoing peptide vaccine investigations, it aims at offering valuable insights into the chemical modifications and the structural complexities of anticancer peptide-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia D'Aniello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Alessandra Del Bene
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mottola
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Mazzarella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Roberto Cutolo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Erica Campagna
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
- Interuniversity Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPEB), Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Messere
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
- Interuniversity Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPEB), Naples, Italy
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Viswanath DI, Liu HC, Huston DP, Chua CYX, Grattoni A. Emerging biomaterial-based strategies for personalized therapeutic in situ cancer vaccines. Biomaterials 2022; 280:121297. [PMID: 34902729 PMCID: PMC8725170 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Landmark successes in oncoimmunology have led to development of therapeutics boosting the host immune system to eradicate local and distant tumors with impactful tumor reduction in a subset of patients. However, current immunotherapy modalities often demonstrate limited success when involving immunologically cold tumors and solid tumors. Here, we describe the role of various biomaterials to formulate cancer vaccines as a form of cancer immunotherapy, seeking to utilize the host immune system to activate and expand tumor-specific T cells. Biomaterial-based cancer vaccines enhance the cancer-immunity cycle by harnessing cellular recruitment and activation against tumor-specific antigens. In this review, we discuss biomaterial-based vaccine strategies to induce lymphocytic responses necessary to mediate anti-tumor immunity. We focus on strategies that selectively attract dendritic cells via immunostimulatory gradients, activate them against presented tumor-specific antigens, and induce effective cross-presentation to T cells in secondary lymphoid organs, thereby generating immunity. We posit that personalized cancer vaccines are promising targets to generate long-term systemic immunity against patient- and tumor-specific antigens to ensure long-term cancer remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dixita Ishani Viswanath
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA; Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Bryan & Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hsuan-Chen Liu
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David P Huston
- Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Bryan & Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Alessandro Grattoni
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
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Belderbos RA, Vroman H, Aerts JGJV. Cellular Immunotherapy and Locoregional Administration of CAR T-Cells in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Front Oncol 2020; 10:777. [PMID: 32582537 PMCID: PMC7283907 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a treatment recalcitrant tumor with a poor overall survival (OS). Current approved treatment consists of first line chemotherapy that only modestly increases OS, illustrating the desperate need for other treatment options in MPM. Unfortunately, clinical studies that investigate the effectivity of checkpoint inhibitor (CI) treatment failed to improve clinical outcome over current applied therapies. In general, MPM is characterized as an immunological cold tumor with low T-cell infiltration, which could explain the disappointing results of clinical trials investigating CI treatment in MPM. Currently, many other therapeutic approaches, such as cellular therapies and cancer vaccines are investigated that could induce a tumor-specific immune response and increase of the number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. In this review we will discuss these novel treatment approaches for MPM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Belderbos
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Heleen Vroman
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joachim G J V Aerts
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Zhang R, Billingsley MM, Mitchell MJ. Biomaterials for vaccine-based cancer immunotherapy. J Control Release 2018; 292:256-276. [PMID: 30312721 PMCID: PMC6355332 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The development of therapeutic cancer vaccines as a means to generate immune reactivity against tumors has been explored since the early discovery of tumor-specific antigens by Georg Klein in the 1960s. However, challenges including weak immunogenicity, systemic toxicity, and off-target effects of cancer vaccines remain as barriers to their broad clinical translation. Advances in the design and implementation of biomaterials are now enabling enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity of cancer vaccines by controlling the presentation and release of vaccine components to immune cells and their microenvironment. Here, we discuss the rational design and clinical status of several classes of cancer vaccines (including DNA, mRNA, peptide/protein, and cell-based vaccines) along with novel biomaterial-based delivery technologies that improve their safety and efficacy. Further, strategies for designing new platforms for personalized cancer vaccines are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Margaret M Billingsley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Michael J Mitchell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
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Le QV, Choi J, Oh YK. Nano delivery systems and cancer immunotherapy. JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL INVESTIGATION 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40005-018-0399-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Muthusamy K, Gopinath K, Nandhini D. Computational prediction of immunodominant antigenic regions & potential protective epitopes for dengue vaccination. Indian J Med Res 2017; 144:587-591. [PMID: 28256468 PMCID: PMC5345306 DOI: 10.4103/0971-5916.200894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & objectives: Epitope-based vaccines (EVs) are specific, safe and easy to produce. However, vaccine failure has been frequently reported due to variation within epitopic regions. Therefore, development of vaccines based on conserved epitopes may prevent such vaccine failure. This study was undertaken to identify highly conserved antigenic regions in the four dengue serotypes to produce an epitope-based dengue vaccine. Methods: Polyprotein sequences of all four dengue serotypes were collected and aligned using MAFFT multiple sequence alignment plugin with Geneious Pro v6.1. Consensus sequences of the polyproteins for all four dengue serotypes were designed and screened against experimentally proven epitopes to predict potential antigenic regions that are conserved among all four dengue serotypes. Results: The antigenic region VDRGWGNGCGLFGKG was 100 per cent conserved in the consensus polyprotein sequences of all four dengue serotypes. Fifteen experimentally proven epitopes were identical to the immunodominant antigenic region. Interpretation & conclusions: Computationally predicted antigenic regions may be considered for use in the development of EVs for protection against dengue virus. Such vaccines would be expected to provide protection against dengue infections caused by all dengue serotypes because these would contain antigenic regions highly conserved across those serotypes. Therefore, the immunodominant antigenic region (VDRGWGNGCGLFGKG) and 15 potential epitopes may be considered for use in dengue vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Krishnasamy Gopinath
- Department of Bioinformatics, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
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Ramanathan P, Ganeshrajah S, Raghanvan RK, Singh SS, Thangarajan R. Development and clinical evaluation of dendritic cell vaccines for HPV related cervical cancer--a feasibility study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2015; 15:5909-16. [PMID: 25081721 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.14.5909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus infection (HPV) and HPV related immune perturbation play important roles in the development of cervical cancer. Since mature dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells (APC), they could be primed by HPV antigens against cervical cancers. In this study we were able to generate, maintain and characterize, both phenotypically and functionally, patient specific dendritic cells in vitro. A randomized Phase I trial with three arms--saline control (arm I), unprimed mature DC (arm II) and autologous tumor lysate primed mature DC (arm III) and fourteen patients was conducted. According to WHO criteria, grade 0 or grade one toxicity was observed in three patients. One patient who received tumor lysate primed dendritic cells and later cis-platin chemotherapy showed a complete clinical response of her large metastatic disease and remained disease free for more than 72 months. Our findings indicate that DC vaccines hold promise as adjuvants for cervical cancer treatment and further studies to improve their efficacy need to be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Ramanathan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA), Guindy, Chennai, India E-mail :
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Rasmussen S, Donskov F, Pedersen JW, Wandall HH, Buus S, Harndahl M, Braendstrup P, Claesson MH, Pedersen AE. Carbon anhydrase IX specific immune responses in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma potentially cured by interleukin-2 based immunotherapy. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2013; 35:487-96. [DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2013.802802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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