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Shi T, Sun M, Tuerhong S, Li M, Wang J, Wang Y, Zheng Q, Zou L, Lu C, Sun Z, Zou Z, Shao J, Du J, Li R, Liu B, Meng F. Acidity-targeting transition-aided universal chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (ATT-CAR-T) therapy for the treatment of solid tumors. Biomaterials 2024; 309:122607. [PMID: 38759487 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122607] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The use of CAR-T cells in treating solid tumors frequently faces significant challenges, mainly due to the heterogeneity of tumor antigens. This study assessed the efficacy of an acidity-targeting transition-aided universal chimeric antigen receptor T (ATT-CAR-T) cell strategy, which is facilitated by an acidity-targeted transition. Specifically, the EGFRvIII peptide was attached to the N-terminus of a pH-low insertion peptide. Triggered by the acidic conditions of the tumor microenvironment, this peptide alters its structure and selectively integrates into the membrane of solid tumor cells. The acidity-targeted transition component effectively relocated the EGFRvIII peptide across various tumor cell membranes; thus, allowing the direct destruction of these cells by EGFRvIII-specific CAR-T cells. This method was efficient even when endogenous antigens were absent. In vivo tests showed marked antigen modification within the acidic tumor microenvironment using this component. Integrating this component with CAR-T cell therapy showed high effectiveness in combating solid tumors. These results highlight the capability of ATT-CAR-T cell therapy to address the challenges presented by tumor heterogeneity and expand the utility of CAR-T cell therapy in the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Shi
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Mengna Sun
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Subiyinuer Tuerhong
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Mengru Li
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Jiayu Wang
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yingxin Wang
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Qinghua Zheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Lu Zou
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Changchang Lu
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Zhichen Sun
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhengyun Zou
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Jie Shao
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Rutian Li
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Baorui Liu
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Fanyan Meng
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.
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Rehman M, Qaiser A, Khan HS, Manzoor S, Ashraf J. Enhancing CAR T cells function: role of immunomodulators in cancer immunotherapy. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:180. [PMID: 39105978 PMCID: PMC11303469 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01442-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
CAR T-cell therapy is a promising immunotherapy, providing successful results for cancer patients who are unresponsive to standard and traditional therapeutic approaches. However, there are limiting factors which create a hurdle in the therapy performing its role optimally. CAR T cells get exhausted, produce active antitumor responses, and might even produce toxic reactions. Specifically, in the case of solid tumors, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells fail to produce the desired outcomes. Then, the need to use supplementary agents such as immune system modifying immunomodulatory agents comes into play. A series of the literature was studied to evaluate the role of immunomodulators including a phytochemical, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved targeted drugs, and ILs in support of their achievements in boosting the efficiency of CAR-T cell therapy. Some of the most promising out of them are reported in this article. It is expected that by using the right combinations of immunotherapy, immunomodulators, and traditional cancer treatments, the best possible cancer defying results may be produced in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maheen Rehman
- Molecular Virology Lab, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Ariba Qaiser
- Molecular Virology Lab, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Hassan Sardar Khan
- Molecular Virology Lab, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sobia Manzoor
- Molecular Virology Lab, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Javed Ashraf
- Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Wu KL, Montalvo MJ, Menon PS, Roysam B, Varadarajan N. PostFocus: automated selective post-acquisition high-throughput focus restoration using diffusion model for label-free time-lapse microscopy. BIOINFORMATICS (OXFORD, ENGLAND) 2024; 40:btae467. [PMID: 39042160 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
MOTIVATION High-throughput time-lapse imaging is a fundamental tool for efficient living cell profiling at single-cell resolution. Label-free phase-contrast video microscopy enables noninvasive, nontoxic, and long-term imaging. The tradeoff between speed and throughput, however, implies that despite the state-of-the-art autofocusing algorithms, out-of-focus cells are unavoidable due to the migratory nature of immune cells (velocities >10 μm/min). Here, we propose PostFocus to (i) identify out-of-focus images within time-lapse sequences with a classifier, and (ii) deploy a de-noising diffusion probabilistic model to yield reliable in-focus images. RESULTS De-noising diffusion probabilistic model outperformed deep discriminative models with a superior performance on the whole image and around cell boundaries. In addition, PostFocus improves the accuracy of image analysis (cell and contact detection) and the yield of usable videos. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Open-source code and sample data are available at: https://github.com/kwu14victor/PostFocus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwan-Ling Wu
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Melisa J Montalvo
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Prashant S Menon
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Badrinath Roysam
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Navin Varadarajan
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
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Srivastava S, Singh S, Singh A. Augmenting the landscape of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2024; 24:755-773. [PMID: 38912754 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2024.2372330] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The inception of recombinant DNA technology and live cell genomic alteration have paved the path for the excellence of cell and gene therapies and often provided the first curative treatment for many indications. The approval of the first Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy was one of the breakthrough innovations that became the headline in 2017. Currently, the therapy is primarily restricted to a few nations, and the market is growing at a CAGR (current annual growth rate) of 11.6% (2022-2032), as opposed to the established bio-therapeutic market at a CAGR of 15.9% (2023-2030). The limited technology democratization is attributed to its autologous nature, lack of awareness, therapy inclusion criteria, high infrastructure cost, trained personnel, complex manufacturing processes, regulatory challenges, recurrence of the disease, and long-term follow-ups. AREAS COVERED This review discusses the vision and strategies focusing on the CAR T-cell therapy democratization with mitigation plans. Further, it also covers the strategies to leverage the mRNA-based CAR T platform for building an ecosystem to ensure availability, accessibility, and affordability to the community. EXPERT OPINION mRNA-guided CAR T cell therapy is a rapidly growing area wherein a collaborative approach among the stakeholders is needed for its success.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sanjay Singh
- mRNA Department, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. ITBT Park, Pune, India
| | - Ajay Singh
- mRNA Department, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. ITBT Park, Pune, India
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Martín-Antonio B, Blanco B, González-Murillo Á, Hidalgo L, Minguillón J, Pérez-Chacón G. Newer generations of multi-target CAR and STAb-T immunotherapeutics: NEXT CART Consortium as a cooperative effort to overcome current limitations. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1386856. [PMID: 38779672 PMCID: PMC11109416 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1386856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cellular immunotherapies have emerged as relevant approaches for treating cancer patients who have relapsed or become refractory (R/R) to traditional cancer treatments. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has improved survival in various hematological malignancies. However, significant limitations still impede the widespread adoption of these therapies in most cancers. To advance in this field, six research groups have created the "NEXT Generation CART MAD Consortium" (NEXT CART) in Madrid's Community, which aims to develop novel cell-based immunotherapies for R/R and poor prognosis cancers. At NEXT CART, various basic and translational research groups and hospitals in Madrid concur to share and synergize their basic expertise in immunotherapy, gene therapy, and immunological synapse, and clinical expertise in pediatric and adult oncology. NEXT CART goal is to develop new cell engineering approaches and treatments for R/R adult and pediatric neoplasms to evaluate in multicenter clinical trials. Here, we discuss the current limitations of T cell-based therapies and introduce our perspective on future developments. Advancement opportunities include developing allogeneic products, optimizing CAR signaling domains, combining cellular immunotherapies, multi-targeting strategies, and improving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)/T cell receptor (TCR) therapy. Furthermore, basic studies aim to identify novel tumor targets, tumor molecules in the tumor microenvironment that impact CAR efficacy, and strategies to enhance the efficiency of the immunological synapse between immune and tumor cells. Our perspective of current cellular immunotherapy underscores the potential of these treatments while acknowledging the existing hurdles that demand innovative solutions to develop their potential for cancer treatment fully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Martín-Antonio
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Diaz (IIS-FJD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Blanco
- Cancer Immunotherapy Unit (UNICA), Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - África González-Murillo
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Advanced Therapies Unit, Fundación Investigación Biomédica Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Hidalgo
- Cellular Biotechnology Unit, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Minguillón
- La Paz Hospital Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), Hospital Universitario La Paz. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Pérez-Chacón
- Immunity, Immunopathology and Emergent Therapies Group. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Sols-Morreale. CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
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Andreu-Saumell I, Rodriguez-Garcia A, Mühlgrabner V, Gimenez-Alejandre M, Marzal B, Castellsagué J, Brasó-Maristany F, Calderon H, Angelats L, Colell S, Nuding M, Soria-Castellano M, Barbao P, Prat A, Urbano-Ispizua A, Huppa JB, Guedan S. CAR affinity modulates the sensitivity of CAR-T cells to PD-1/PD-L1-mediated inhibition. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3552. [PMID: 38670972 PMCID: PMC11053011 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47799-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy for solid tumors faces significant hurdles, including T-cell inhibition mediated by the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. The effects of disrupting this pathway on T-cells are being actively explored and controversial outcomes have been reported. Here, we hypothesize that CAR-antigen affinity may be a key factor modulating T-cell susceptibility towards the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. We systematically interrogate CAR-T cells targeting HER2 with either low (LA) or high affinity (HA) in various preclinical models. Our results reveal an increased sensitivity of LA CAR-T cells to PD-L1-mediated inhibition when compared to their HA counterparts by using in vitro models of tumor cell lines and supported lipid bilayers modified to display varying PD-L1 densities. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout (KO) of PD-1 enhances LA CAR-T cell cytokine secretion and polyfunctionality in vitro and antitumor effect in vivo and results in the downregulation of gene signatures related to T-cell exhaustion. By contrast, HA CAR-T cell features remain unaffected following PD-1 KO. This behavior holds true for CD28 and ICOS but not 4-1BB co-stimulated CAR-T cells, which are less sensitive to PD-L1 inhibition albeit targeting the antigen with LA. Our findings may inform CAR-T therapies involving disruption of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway tailored in particular for effective treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Andreu-Saumell
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Rodriguez-Garcia
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Vanessa Mühlgrabner
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marta Gimenez-Alejandre
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Berta Marzal
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Castellsagué
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fara Brasó-Maristany
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hugo Calderon
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Angelats
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salut Colell
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mara Nuding
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Soria-Castellano
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Barbao
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aleix Prat
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Cancer and Blood Diseases, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alvaro Urbano-Ispizua
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Johannes B Huppa
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonia Guedan
- Oncology and Hematology Department, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomédica- IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
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Visentin A, Frazzetto S, Trentin L, Chiarenza A. Innovative Combinations, Cellular Therapies and Bispecific Antibodies for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Narrative Review. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1290. [PMID: 38610967 PMCID: PMC11011076 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last few years, several agents targeting molecules that sustain the survival and the proliferation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells have become clinically available. Most of these drugs target surface proteins, such as CD19 or CD20, via monoclonal or bispecific monoclonal antibodies (BsAbs), CAR T cells, intracellular proteins like BTK by using covalent or non-covalent inhibitors or BCL2 with first or second generation BH3-mimetics. Since the management of CLL is evolving quickly, in this review we highlighted the most important innovative treatments including novel double and triple combination therapies, CAR T cells and BsAbs for CLL. Recently, a large number of studies on novel combinations and newer strategic options for CLL therapy have been published or presented at international conferences, which were summarized and linked together. Although the management of treatment with a single continuous agent is easier, the emergence of protein mutations, long-term toxicities and costs are important concerns that favor the use of a fixed duration therapy. In the future, a measurable residual disease (MRD)-guided treatment cessation and MRD-based re-initiation of targeted therapy seems to be a more feasible approach, allowing identification of the patients who might benefit from continuous therapy or who might need a consolidation with BsAbs or CAR T cells to clear the neoplastic clone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Visentin
- Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
| | - Sara Frazzetto
- Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, A.O.U. Policlinico, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.F.); (A.C.)
| | - Livio Trentin
- Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
| | - Annalisa Chiarenza
- Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, A.O.U. Policlinico, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.F.); (A.C.)
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Li S, Zhang H, Shang G. Current status and future challenges of CAR-T cell therapy for osteosarcoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1290762. [PMID: 38187386 PMCID: PMC10766856 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1290762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma, the most common bone malignancy in children and adolescents, poses considerable challenges in terms of prognosis, especially for patients with metastatic or recurrent disease. While surgical intervention and adjuvant chemotherapy have improved survival rates, limitations such as impractical tumor removal or chemotherapy resistance hinder the treatment outcomes. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, an innovative immunotherapy approach that involves targeting tumor antigens and releasing immune factors, has shown significant advancements in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, its application in solid tumors, including osteosarcoma, is constrained by factors such as low antigen specificity, limited persistence, and the complex tumor microenvironment. Research on osteosarcoma is ongoing, and some targets have shown promising results in pre-clinical studies. This review summarizes the current status of research on CAR-T cell therapy for osteosarcoma by compiling recent literature. It also proposes future research directions to enhance the treatment of osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhe Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - He Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Guanning Shang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Zhou D, Gong Z, Wu D, Ma C, Hou L, Niu X, Xu T. Harnessing immunotherapy for brain metastases: insights into tumor-brain microenvironment interactions and emerging treatment modalities. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:121. [PMID: 38104104 PMCID: PMC10725587 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01518-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain metastases signify a deleterious milestone in the progression of several advanced cancers, predominantly originating from lung, breast and melanoma malignancies, with a median survival timeframe nearing six months. Existing therapeutic regimens yield suboptimal outcomes; however, burgeoning insights into the tumor microenvironment, particularly the immunosuppressive milieu engendered by tumor-brain interplay, posit immunotherapy as a promising avenue for ameliorating brain metastases. In this review, we meticulously delineate the research advancements concerning the microenvironment of brain metastases, striving to elucidate the panorama of their onset and evolution. We encapsulate three emergent immunotherapeutic strategies, namely immune checkpoint inhibition, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell transplantation and glial cell-targeted immunoenhancement. We underscore the imperative of aligning immunotherapy development with in-depth understanding of the tumor microenvironment and engendering innovative delivery platforms. Moreover, the integration with established or avant-garde physical methodologies and localized applications warrants consideration in the prevailing therapeutic schema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dairan Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200003, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenyu Gong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, 81675, Germany
| | - Dejun Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijun Hou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200003, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomin Niu
- Department of Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 241 Huaihai West Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200003, People's Republic of China.
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Liu L, Yoon CW, Yuan Z, Guo T, Qu Y, He P, Yu X, Zhu Z, Limsakul P, Wang Y. Cellular and molecular imaging of CAR-T cell-based immunotherapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 203:115135. [PMID: 37931847 PMCID: PMC11052581 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy has emerged as a transformative therapeutic strategy for hematological malignancies. However, its efficacy in treating solid tumors remains limited. An in-depth and comprehensive understanding of CAR-T cell signaling pathways and the ability to track CAR-T cell biodistribution and activation in real-time within the tumor microenvironment will be instrumental in designing the next generation of CAR-T cells for solid tumor therapy. This review summarizes the signaling network and the cellular and molecular imaging tools and platforms that are utilized in CAR-T cell-based immune therapies, covering both in vitro and in vivo studies. Firstly, we provide an overview of the existing understanding of the activation and cytotoxic mechanisms of CAR-T cells, compared to the mechanism of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathways. We further describe the commonly employed tools for live cell imaging, coupled with recent research progress, with a focus on genetically encoded fluorescent proteins (FPs) and biosensors. We then discuss the utility of diverse in vivo imaging modalities, including fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and photoacoustic (PA) imaging, for noninvasive monitoring of CAR-T cell dynamics within tumor tissues, thereby providing critical insights into therapy's strengths and weaknesses. Lastly, we discuss the current challenges and future directions of CAR-T cell therapy from the imaging perspective. We foresee that a comprehensive and integrative approach to CAR-T cell imaging will enable the development of more effective treatments for solid tumors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longwei Liu
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
| | - Chi Woo Yoon
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Zhou Yuan
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Tianze Guo
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Yunjia Qu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Peixiang He
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Xi Yu
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Ziyue Zhu
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Praopim Limsakul
- Division of Physical Science, Faculty of Science and Center of Excellence for Trace Analysis and Biosensor, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Zhang S, Xu Q, Sun W, Zhou J, Zhou J. Immunomodulatory effects of CDK4/6 inhibitors. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188912. [PMID: 37182667 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188912] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The dysregulation of the cell cycle is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and CDK6 play crucial roles in regulating cell cycle and other cellular functions. CDK4/6 inhibitors have achieved great success in treating breast cancers and are currently being tested extensively in other tumor types as well. Accumulating evidence suggests that CDK4/6 inhibitors exert antitumor effects through immunomodulation aside from cell cycle arrest. Here we outline the immunomodulatory activities of CDK4/6 inhibitors, discuss the immune mechanisms of drug resistance and explore avenues to harness their immunotherapeutic potential when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to improve the clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumeng Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiaomai Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjia Sun
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianya Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jianying Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Molecular Insights, Preclinical and Clinical Data, and Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315384. [PMID: 36499710 PMCID: PMC9738355 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of the programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) constitutes one of the main immune evasion mechanisms of cancer cells. The approval of drugs against the PD-1-PD-L1 axis has given new impetus to the chemo-therapy of many malignancies. We performed a literature review from 1992 to August 2022, summarizing evidence regarding molecular structures, physiological and pathological roles, mechanisms of PD-L1 overexpression, and immunotherapy evasion. Furthermore, we summarized the studies concerning head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) immunotherapy and the prospects for improving the associated outcomes, such as identifying treatment response biomarkers, new pharmacological combinations, and new molecules. PD-L1 overexpression can occur via four mechanisms: genetic modifications; inflammatory signaling; oncogenic pathways; microRNA or protein-level regulation. Four molecular mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy have been identified: tumor cell adaptation; changes in T-cell function or proliferation; alterations of the tumor microenvironment; alternative immunological checkpoints. Immunotherapy was indeed shown to be superior to traditional chemotherapy in locally advanced/recurrent/metastatic HNSCC treatments.
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