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Pitts SC, Schlom J, Donahue RN. Soluble immune checkpoints: implications for cancer prognosis and response to immune checkpoint therapy and conventional therapies. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:155. [PMID: 38822401 PMCID: PMC11141022 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03074-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: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal sampling of tumor tissue from patients with solid cancers, aside from melanoma and a few other cases, is often unfeasible, and thus may not capture the plasticity of interactions between the tumor and immune system under selective pressure of a given therapy. Peripheral blood analyses provide salient information about the human peripheral immunome while offering technical and practical advantages over traditional tumor biopsies, and should be utilized where possible alongside interrogation of the tumor. Some common blood-based biomarkers used to study the immune response include immune cell subsets, circulating tumor DNA, and protein analytes such as cytokines. With the recent explosion of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) as a modality of treatment in multiple cancer types, soluble immune checkpoints have become a relevant area of investigation for peripheral immune-based biomarkers. However, the exact functions of soluble immune checkpoints and their roles in cancer for the most part remain unclear. This review discusses current literature on the production, function, and expression of nine soluble immune checkpoints - sPD-L1, sPD-1, sCTLA4, sCD80, sTIM3, sLAG3, sB7-H3, sBTLA, and sHVEM - in patients with solid tumors, and explores their role as biomarkers of response to ICI as well as to conventional therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgery) in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C Pitts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Shang Q, Yu X, Sun Q, Li H, Sun C, Liu L. Polysaccharides regulate Th1/Th2 balance: A new strategy for tumor immunotherapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:115976. [PMID: 38043444 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
T helper (Th) cells have received extensive attention owing to their indispensable roles in anti-tumor immune responses. Th1 and Th2 cells are two key subsets of Th cells that exist in relative equilibrium through the secretion of cytokines that suppress their respective immune response. When the type of cytokine in the tumor microenvironment is altered, this equilibrium may be disrupted, leading to a shift from Th1 to Th2 immune response. Th1/Th2 imbalance is one of the decisive factors in the development of malignant tumors. Therefore, focusing on the balance of Th1/Th2 anti-tumor immune responses may enable future breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy. Polysaccharides can regulate the imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cells and their characteristic cytokine profiles, thereby improving the tumor immune microenvironment. To our knowledge, this study is the most comprehensive assessment of the regulation of the tumor Th1/Th2 balance by polysaccharides. Herein, we systematically summarized the intrinsic molecular mechanisms of polysaccharides in the regulation of Th1 and Th2 cells to provide a new perspective and potential target drugs for improved anti-tumor immunity and delayed tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihang Shang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Xiaoyun Yu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Qi Sun
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Huayao Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China; Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
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van den Ende T, Ezdoglian A, Baas LM, Bakker J, Lougheed SM, Harrasser M, Waasdorp C, van Berge Henegouwen MI, Hulshof MC, Haj Mohammad N, van Hillegersberg R, Mook S, van der Laken CJ, van Grieken NC, Derks S, Bijlsma MF, van Laarhoven HW, de Gruijl TD. Longitudinal immune monitoring of patients with resectable esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with Neoadjuvant PD-L1 checkpoint inhibition. Oncoimmunology 2023; 12:2233403. [PMID: 37470057 PMCID: PMC10353329 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2233403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by flow cytometry holds promise as a platform for immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) biomarker identification. Our aim was to characterize the systemic immune compartment in resectable esophageal adenocarcinoma patients treated with neoadjuvant ICI therapy. In total, 24 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and anti-PD-L1 (atezolizumab) from the PERFECT study (NCT03087864) were included and 26 patients from a previously published nCRT cohort. Blood samples were collected at baseline, on-treatment, before and after surgery. Response groups for comparison were defined as pathological complete responders (pCR) or patients with pathological residual disease (non-pCR). Based on multicolor flow cytometry of PBMCs, an immunosuppressive phenotype was observed in the non-pCR group of the PERFECT cohort, characterized by a higher percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs), intermediate monocytes, and a lower percentage of type-2 conventional dendritic cells. A further increase in activated Tregs was observed in non-pCR patients on-treatment. These findings were not associated with a poor response in the nCRT cohort. At baseline, immunosuppressive cytokines were elevated in the non-pCR group of the PERFECT study. The suppressive subsets correlated at baseline with a Wnt/β-Catenin gene expression signature and on-treatment with epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis signatures from tumor biopsies. After surgery monocyte activation (CD40), low CD8+Ki67+ T cell rates, and the enrichment of CD206+ monocytes were related to early recurrence. These findings highlight systemic barriers to effective ICI and the need for optimized treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom van den Ende
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Imaging and Biomarkers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aiarpi Ezdoglian
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lisanne M. Baas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joyce Bakker
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sinéad M. Lougheed
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Micaela Harrasser
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cynthia Waasdorp
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark I. van Berge Henegouwen
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam Umc, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten C.C.M. Hulshof
- Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiotherapy, Amsterdam Umc, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nadia Haj Mohammad
- Department of Medical Oncology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Stella Mook
- Department of Radiotherapy, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Conny J. van der Laken
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole C.T. van Grieken
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Derks
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten F. Bijlsma
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hanneke W.M. van Laarhoven
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Imaging and Biomarkers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tanja D. de Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Davern M, Donlon NE. The future of combination immunotherapy in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1217132. [PMID: 37520544 PMCID: PMC10375285 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1217132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Davern
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Noel E. Donlon
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Upper GI Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Davern M, Gaughan C, O’ Connell F, Moran B, Mylod E, Sheppard AD, Ramjit S, Yun-Tong Kung J, Phelan JJ, Davey MG, Ryan EJ, Butler C, Quinn L, Howard C, Tone E, Phoenix E, Butt WT, Lynam-Lennon N, Maher SG, Ravi N, Donohoe CL, Reynolds JV, Lysaght J, Donlon NE. PD-1 blockade attenuates surgery-mediated immunosuppression and boosts Th1 immunity perioperatively in oesophagogastric junctional adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1150754. [PMID: 37359545 PMCID: PMC10288841 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1150754] [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: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This timely study assesses the immunosuppressive effects of surgery on cytotoxic Th1-like immunity and investigates if immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) can boost Th1-like immunity in the perioperative window in upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGI) patients. Methods PBMCs were isolated from 11 UGI patients undergoing tumour resection on post-operative days (POD) 0, 1, 7 and 42 and expanded ex vivo using anti-CD3/28 and IL-2 for 5 days in the absence/presence of nivolumab or ipilimumab. T cells were subsequently immunophenotyped via flow cytometry to determine the frequency of T helper (Th)1-like, Th1/17-like, Th17-like and regulatory T cell (Tregs) subsets and their immune checkpoint expression profile. Lymphocyte secretions were also assessed via multiplex ELISA (IFN-γ, granzyme B, IL-17 and IL-10). The 48h cytotoxic ability of vehicle-, nivolumab- and ipilimumab-expanded PBMCs isolated on POD 0, 1, 7 and 42 against radiosensitive and radioresistant oesophageal adenocarcinoma tumour cells (OE33 P and OE33 R) was also examined using a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay to determine if surgery affected the killing ability of lymphocytes and whether the use of ICB could enhance cytotoxicity. Results Th1-like immunity was suppressed in expanded PBMCs in the immediate post-operative setting. The frequency of expanded circulating Th1-like cells was significantly decreased post-operatively accompanied by a decrease in IFN-γ production and a concomitant increase in the frequency of expanded regulatory T cells with an increase in circulating levels of IL-10. Interestingly, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint proteins were also upregulated on expanded Th1-like cells post-operatively. Additionally, the cytotoxic ability of expanded lymphocytes against oesophageal adenocarcinoma tumour cells was abrogated post-surgery. Of note, the addition of nivolumab or ipilimumab attenuated the surgery-mediated suppression of lymphocyte cytotoxicity, demonstrated by a significant increase in tumour cell killing and an increase in the frequency of Th1-like cells and Th1 cytokine production. Conclusion These findings support the hypothesis of a surgery-mediated suppression in Th1-like cytotoxic immunity and highlights a rationale for the use of ICB within the perioperative setting to abrogate tumour-promoting effects of surgery and ameliorate the risk of recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Davern
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Caoimhe Gaughan
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona O’ Connell
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Brendan Moran
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eimear Mylod
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Andrew D. Sheppard
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sinead Ramjit
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jasmine Yun-Tong Kung
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - James J. Phelan
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Matthew G. Davey
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eanna J. Ryan
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Christine Butler
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Laura Quinn
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Claudine Howard
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emily Tone
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eimear Phoenix
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Waqas T. Butt
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh Lynam-Lennon
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stephen G. Maher
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Narayanasamy Ravi
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Claire L. Donohoe
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John V. Reynolds
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joanne Lysaght
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Noel E. Donlon
- Department of Surgery, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Jiang M, Hu Y, Lin G, Chen C, Li H. Radiotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in locally advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: clinical trials, efficacy and future directions. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1177085. [PMID: 37325652 PMCID: PMC10261849 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1177085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy worldwide and often diagnosed at advanced stages with poor prognosis. Combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy seems to be a promising approach for treating ESCC. This comprehensive review article summarizes the current state of combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy in locally advanced/metastatic ESCC, delineates the clinical trials that merit attention, and outlines unresolved issues and future research directions in this field. The clinical trial findings suggest that radio-immunotherapy combination may improve tumor response and overall survival with manageable side effects, highlighting the importance of patient selection and the necessity for further research to optimize treatment strategies. Issues such as irradiation dosage, fractionation regimen, irradiation site and technique of radiotherapy, as well as the timing, sequence and duration of combination therapy will all affect treatment outcomes, justifying further in-depth investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Jiang
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China
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