Expanding the targets available to therapeutic antibodies via novel disease-specific markers

The possible role of the tumour necrosis factor polymorphisms and human leucocyte antigens in the development of prostate cancer

The cause of prostate cancer (PC), one of the most common cancers found among ageing men, remains unclear, but genetic predisposition is believed to play a major role in its aetiology. The aim of the study was to examine HLA genes polymorphism and TNF polymorphisms in PC development. Patients diagnosed with PC (N = 113) and 150 healthy individuals were tested for HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRB1 genes and for TNFa, TNFb and TNFd microsatellites. The comparison of patients and controls revealed a positive association of HLA-DRB1*12, TNFa2 and TNFb5, and a negative association of HLA-DRB1*13 and TNFb4 with PC. A division of patients into groups according to age, pre-operative PSA level, Gleason score (GS) and involvement of prostatic capsule, seminal vesicles or bladder neck and perineural invasion of PC demonstrated the following: a positive correlation of HLA-DRB1*12 and a negative correlation of HLA-DRB1*13 with younger patients (<65 years), GS > 7 and the positive association of prostatic capsule, seminal vesicles, bladder neck and perineural invasion of PC; TNFb4 allele's negative association with older patients displaying higher PSA levels, higher GS and positive surrounding tissue involvement; positive association of TNFb5 allele for both older and younger patients. Investigation of HLA genes and TNF microsatellites demonstrated a possible role of HLA-DRB1 and TNF regions in PC aetiology.

Retargeting NK-92 for anti-melanoma activity by a TCR-like single-domain antibody

The efficacy of immunotherapy based on natural killer (NK) cells is hampered by intrinsic non-specific cytotoxicity and insufficient activation of NK cells. Here, we confer the T-cell receptor-like (TCR-like) specificity on NK cells, taking advantage of both the innate and adaptive immune arms of the immune response to generate enhanced anti-melanoma activity. The TCR-like antibody (Ab) GPA7 was selected against melanoma-associated gp100/human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 complex and then fused to intracellular domain of CD3-ζ chain. This fusion construct was incorporated into NK-92MI cell line and expressed as a chimeric antigen receptor on the surface of the cell. The anti-tumour activity of the transgenic NK-92MI-GPA7-ζ cell line was assessed against melanoma in vitro and in vivo. The engineered NK-92MI-GPA7-ζ cells could recognize melanoma cells in the context of HLA-A2 and showed enhanced killing of both melanoma cell lines and primary melanoma. Furthermore, adoptively transferred NK-92MI-GPA7-ζ cells significantly suppressed the growth of human melanoma in a xenograft model in mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the TCR-like Ab, GPA7, could redirect NK cells to target the intracellular antigen gp100 and enhance anti-melanoma activity, providing a promising immunotherapeutic strategy to prevent and treat melanoma.

Infection-related cancers in sub-saharan Africa: a paradigm for cancer prevention and control

There is much commonality between chronic noncommunicable and communicable diseases which is best exemplified by cancers of infectious origin. It provides the perfect opportunity for harnessing the advances that have been made in the control of communicable diseases to attempt the control of noncommunicable diseases. There are possibilities at various levels of intervention, at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, which fit well within a well-planned national cancer control strategy. Prevention should proceed through steps of disruption of transmission, improvement in disease recognition and diagnosis, as well as through prompt effective treatment. This principle should work for both infection and the resultant cancer. Research is very important in understanding how best to use the available knowledge and how best to sequentially implement strategies. Finally, policies that acknowledge infection-related cancers as a major problem in the region should be in place.