1
|
Mazzoccoli L, Liu B. Dendritic Cells in Shaping Anti-Tumor T Cell Response. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2211. [PMID: 38927916 PMCID: PMC11201542 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122211] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Among professional antigen-presenting cells, dendritic cells (DCs) orchestrate innate and adaptive immunity and play a pivotal role in anti-tumor immunity. DCs are a heterogeneous population with varying functions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated DCs differentiate developmentally and functionally into three main subsets: conventional DCs (cDCs), plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), and monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs). There are two major subsets of cDCs in TME, cDC1 and cDC2. cDC1 is critical for cross-presenting tumor antigens to activate cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and is also required for priming earlier CD4+ T cells in certain solid tumors. cDC2 is vital for priming anti-tumor CD4+ T cells in multiple tumor models. pDC is a unique subset of DCs and produces type I IFN through TLR7 and TLR9. Studies have shown that pDCs are related to immunosuppression in the TME through the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines and by promoting regulatory T cells. MoDCs differentiate separately from monocytes in response to inflammatory cues and infection. Also, MoDCs can cross-prime CD8+ T cells. In this review, we summarize the subsets and functions of DCs. We also discuss the role of different DC subsets in shaping T cell immunity in TME and targeting DCs for potential immunotherapeutic benefits against cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Mazzoccoli
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Bei Liu
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xiong N, Wu H, Yu Z. Advancements and challenges in triple-negative breast cancer: a comprehensive review of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1405491. [PMID: 38863622 PMCID: PMC11165151 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1405491] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses significant challenges in oncology due to its aggressive nature, limited treatment options, and poorer prognosis compared to other breast cancer subtypes. This comprehensive review examines the therapeutic and diagnostic landscape of TNBC, highlighting current strategies, emerging therapies, and future directions. Targeted therapies, including PARP inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and EGFR inhibitors, hold promise for personalized treatment approaches. Challenges in identifying novel targets, exploring combination therapies, and developing predictive biomarkers must be addressed to optimize targeted therapy in TNBC. Immunotherapy represents a transformative approach in TNBC treatment, yet challenges in biomarker identification, combination strategies, and overcoming resistance persist. Precision medicine approaches offer opportunities for tailored treatment based on tumor biology, but integration of multi-omics data and clinical implementation present challenges requiring innovative solutions. Despite these challenges, ongoing research efforts and collaborative initiatives offer hope for improving outcomes and advancing treatment strategies in TNBC. By addressing the complexities of TNBC biology and developing effective therapeutic approaches, personalized treatments can be realized, ultimately enhancing the lives of TNBC patients. Continued research, clinical trials, and interdisciplinary collaborations are essential for realizing this vision and making meaningful progress in TNBC management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nating Xiong
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Meizhou People’s Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, China
| | - Heming Wu
- Meizhou Municipal Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Molecular Diagnostics of Major Genetic Disorders, Meizhou People’s Hospital, Meizhou, China
| | - Zhikang Yu
- Research Experiment Centre, Meizhou People’s Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technological Research Centre of Clinical Molecular Diagnosis and Antibody Drugs, Meizhou People’s Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ferreira N, Kulkarni A, Agorku D, Midelashvili T, Hardt O, Legler TJ, Ströbel P, Conradi LC, Alves F, Ramos-Gomes F, Markus MA. OrganoIDNet: a deep learning tool for identification of therapeutic effects in PDAC organoid-PBMC co-cultures from time-resolved imaging data. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2024:10.1007/s13402-024-00958-2. [PMID: 38805131 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-024-00958-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a challenging disease due to its complex biology and aggressive behavior with an urgent need for efficient therapeutic strategies. To assess therapy response, pre-clinical PDAC organoid-based models in combination with accurate real-time monitoring are required. METHODS We established stable live-imaging organoid/peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) co-cultures and introduced OrganoIDNet, a deep-learning-based algorithm, capable of analyzing bright-field images of murine and human patient-derived PDAC organoids acquired with live-cell imaging. We investigated the response to the chemotherapy gemcitabine in PDAC organoids and the PD-L1 inhibitor Atezolizumab, cultured with or without HLA-matched PBMCs over time. Results obtained with OrganoIDNet were validated with the endpoint proliferation assay CellTiter-Glo. RESULTS Live cell imaging in combination with OrganoIDNet accurately detected size-specific drug responses of organoids to gemcitabine over time, showing that large organoids were more prone to cytotoxic effects. This approach also allowed distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy status and measuring eccentricity as organoids' reaction to therapy. Furthermore, imaging of a new organoids/PBMCs sandwich-based co-culture enabled longitudinal analysis of organoid responses to Atezolizumab, showing an increased potency of PBMCs tumor-killing in an organoid-individual manner when Atezolizumab was added. CONCLUSION Optimized PDAC organoid imaging analyzed by OrganoIDNet represents a platform capable of accurately detecting organoid responses to standard PDAC chemotherapy over time. Moreover, organoid/immune cell co-cultures allow monitoring of organoid responses to immunotherapy, offering dynamic insights into treatment behavior within a co-culture setting with PBMCs. This setup holds promise for real-time assessment of immunotherapeutic effects in individual patient-derived PDAC organoids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia Ferreira
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ajinkya Kulkarni
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - David Agorku
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Teona Midelashvili
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Hardt
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Tobias J Legler
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lena-Christin Conradi
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Clinic of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fernanda Ramos-Gomes
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - M Andrea Markus
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhao X, Shao S, Hu L. The recent advancement of TCR-T cell therapies for cancer treatment. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024; 56:663-674. [PMID: 38557898 PMCID: PMC11187488 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024034] [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: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapies involve infusing engineered immune cells into cancer patients to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. Adoptive cell therapy, as a form of living drug, has undergone explosive growth over the past decade. The recognition of tumor antigens by the T-cell receptor (TCR) is one of the natural mechanisms that the immune system used to eliminate tumor cells. TCR-T cell therapy, which involves introducing exogenous TCRs into patients' T cells, is a novel cell therapy strategy. TCR-T cell therapy can target the entire proteome of cancer cells. Engineering T cells with exogenous TCRs to help patients combat cancer has achieved success in clinical trials, particularly in treating solid tumors. In this review, we examine the progress of TCR-T cell therapy over the past five years. This includes the discovery of new tumor antigens, protein engineering techniques for TCR, reprogramming strategies for TCR-T cell therapy, clinical studies on TCR-T cell therapy, and the advancement of TCR-T cell therapy in China. We also propose several potential directions for the future development of TCR-T cell therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhao
- />Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell SystemsShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Shuai Shao
- />Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell SystemsShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Lanxin Hu
- />Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell SystemsShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
De Wispelaere W, Annibali D, Tuyaerts S, Messiaen J, Antoranz A, Shankar G, Dubroja N, Herreros‐Pomares A, Baiden‐Amissah REM, Orban M, Delfini M, Berardi E, Van Brussel T, Schepers R, Philips G, Boeckx B, Baietti MF, Congedo L, HoWangYin KY, Bayon E, Van Rompuy A, Leucci E, Tabruyn SP, Bosisio F, Mazzone M, Lambrechts D, Amant F. PI3K/mTOR inhibition induces tumour microenvironment remodelling and sensitises pS6 high uterine leiomyosarcoma to PD-1 blockade. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1655. [PMID: 38711203 PMCID: PMC11074386 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1655] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uterine leiomyosarcomas (uLMS) are aggressive tumours with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Although immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has proven effective in some 'challenging-to-treat' cancers, clinical trials showed that uLMS do not respond to ICB. Emerging evidence suggests that aberrant PI3K/mTOR signalling can drive resistance to ICB. We therefore explored the relevance of the PI3K/mTOR pathway for ICB treatment in uLMS and explored pharmacological inhibition of this pathway to sensitise these tumours to ICB. METHODS We performed an integrated multiomics analysis based on TCGA data to explore the correlation between PI3K/mTOR dysregulation and immune infiltration in 101 LMS. We assessed response to PI3K/mTOR inhibitors in immunodeficient and humanized uLMS patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) by evaluating tumour microenvironment modulation using multiplex immunofluorescence. We explored response to single-agent and a combination of PI3K/mTOR inhibitors with PD-1 blockade in humanized uLMS PDXs. We mapped intratumoural dynamics using single-cell RNA/TCR sequencing of serially collected biopsies. RESULTS PI3K/mTOR over-activation (pS6high) associated with lymphocyte depletion and wound healing immune landscapes in (u)LMS, suggesting it contributes to immune evasion. In contrast, PI3K/mTOR inhibition induced profound tumour microenvironment remodelling in an ICB-resistant humanized uLMS PDX model, fostering adaptive anti-tumour immune responses. Indeed, PI3K/mTOR inhibition induced macrophage repolarisation towards an anti-tumourigenic phenotype and increased antigen presentation on dendritic and tumour cells, but also promoted infiltration of PD-1+ T cells displaying an exhausted phenotype. When combined with anti-PD-1, PI3K/mTOR inhibition led to partial or complete tumour responses, whereas no response to single-agent anti-PD-1 was observed. Combination therapy reinvigorated exhausted T cells and induced clonal hyper-expansion of a cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell population supported by a CD4+ Th1 niche. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that aberrant PI3K/mTOR pathway activation contributes to immune escape in uLMS and provides a rationale for combining PI3K/mTOR inhibition with ICB for the treatment of this patient population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wout De Wispelaere
- Department of OncologyLaboratory of Gynecological OncologyUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of Human GeneticsLaboratory for Translational GeneticsUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory for Translational GeneticsCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)LeuvenBelgium
| | - Daniela Annibali
- Department of OncologyLaboratory of Gynecological OncologyUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of Gynecological OncologyAntoni Van Leeuwenhoek – Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Sandra Tuyaerts
- Department of Medical OncologyLaboratory of Medical and Molecular Oncology (LMMO)Vrije Universiteit Brussel – UZ BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Julie Messiaen
- Department of Imaging and PathologyTranslational Cell and Tissue ResearchUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of PediatricsUniversity Hospitals LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Asier Antoranz
- Department of Imaging and PathologyTranslational Cell and Tissue ResearchUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Gautam Shankar
- Department of Imaging and PathologyTranslational Cell and Tissue ResearchUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Nikolina Dubroja
- Department of Imaging and PathologyTranslational Cell and Tissue ResearchUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Alejandro Herreros‐Pomares
- Department of OncologyLaboratory of Gynecological OncologyUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversitat Politècnica de ValenciaValenciaSpain
| | | | - Marie‐Pauline Orban
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and AngiogenesisCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)LeuvenBelgium
- Department of OncologyLaboratory of Tumor Inflammation and AngiogenesisCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)University of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Marcello Delfini
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and AngiogenesisCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)LeuvenBelgium
- Department of OncologyLaboratory of Tumor Inflammation and AngiogenesisCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)University of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Emanuele Berardi
- Department of Development and RegenerationLaboratory of Tissue EngineeringUniversity of LeuvenKortrijkBelgium
| | - Thomas Van Brussel
- Department of Human GeneticsLaboratory for Translational GeneticsUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory for Translational GeneticsCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)LeuvenBelgium
| | - Rogier Schepers
- Department of Human GeneticsLaboratory for Translational GeneticsUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory for Translational GeneticsCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)LeuvenBelgium
| | - Gino Philips
- Department of Human GeneticsLaboratory for Translational GeneticsUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory for Translational GeneticsCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)LeuvenBelgium
| | - Bram Boeckx
- Department of Human GeneticsLaboratory for Translational GeneticsUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory for Translational GeneticsCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)LeuvenBelgium
| | | | - Luigi Congedo
- Department of OncologyLaboratory of Gynecological OncologyUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | | | | | - Eleonora Leucci
- TRACE, Department of OncologyUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | - Francesca Bosisio
- Department of Imaging and PathologyTranslational Cell and Tissue ResearchUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Massimiliano Mazzone
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and AngiogenesisCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)LeuvenBelgium
- Department of OncologyLaboratory of Tumor Inflammation and AngiogenesisCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)University of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Department of Human GeneticsLaboratory for Translational GeneticsUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory for Translational GeneticsCenter for Cancer Biology (CCB)Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)LeuvenBelgium
| | - Frédéric Amant
- Department of OncologyLaboratory of Gynecological OncologyUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of Gynecological OncologyAntoni Van Leeuwenhoek – Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity Hospitals LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Budak B, Arga KY. Tumor Mutation Burden as a Cornerstone in Precision Oncology Landscapes: Effect of Panel Size and Uncertainty in Cutoffs. OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2024; 28:193-203. [PMID: 38657109 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2024.0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Tumor mutation burden (TMB) has profound implications for personalized cancer therapy, particularly immunotherapy. However, the size of the panel and the cutoff values for an accurate determination of TMB are still controversial. In this study, a pan-cancer analysis was performed on 22 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The efficiency of gene panels of different sizes and the effect of cutoff values in accurate TMB determination was assessed on a large cohort using Whole Exome Sequencing data (n = 9929 patients) as the gold standard. Gene panels of four different sizes (i.e., 0.44-2.54 Mb) were selected for comparative analyses. The heterogeneity of TMB within and between cancer types is observed to be very high, and it becomes possible to obtain the exact TMB value as the size of the panel increases. In panels with limited size, it is particularly difficult to recognize patients with low TMB. In addition, the use of a general TMB cutoff can be quite misleading. The optimal cutoff value varies between 5 and 20, depending on the TMB distribution of the different tumor types. The use of comprehensive gene panels and the optimization of TMB cutoff values for different cancer types can make TMB a robust biomarker in precision oncology. Moreover, optimization of TMB can help accelerate translational medicine research, and by extension, delivery of personalized cancer care in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betul Budak
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Kazim Yalcin Arga
- Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Genetic and Metabolic Diseases Research and Investigation Center, Marmara University, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Health Biotechnology Joint Research and Application Center of Excellence, Istanbul, Türkiye
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Davoudi F, Moradi A, Sadeghirad H, Kulasinghe A. Tissue biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Immunol Cell Biol 2024; 102:179-193. [PMID: 38228572 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12723] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has been rejuvenated by the growing understanding of the immune system's role in tumor activity over the past two decades. During cancer initiation and progression, tumor cells employ various mechanisms that resemble peripheral immune tolerance to evade the antitumor responses of the immune system. Immune checkpoint molecules are the major mechanism of immune resistance that are exploited by tumor cells to inhibit T-cell activation and suppress immune responses. The targeting of immune checkpoint pathways has led to substantial improvements in survival rates in a number of solid cancers. However, a lack of understanding of the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) has resulted in inefficient therapy responses. A greater understanding of the TME is needed to identify patients likely to respond, and those that will have resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Advancement in spatial single-cell technologies has allowed deeper insight into the phenotypic and functional diversities of cells in the TME. In this review, we provide an overview of ICI biomarkers and highlight how high-dimensional spatially resolved, single-cell approaches provide deep molecular insights into the TME and allow for the discovery of biomarkers of clinical benefit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Davoudi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Afshin Moradi
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Habib Sadeghirad
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rodriguez-Berriguete G, Puliyadi R, Machado N, Barberis A, Prevo R, McLaughlin M, Buffa FM, Harrington KJ, Higgins GS. Antitumour effect of the mitochondrial complex III inhibitor Atovaquone in combination with anti-PD-L1 therapy in mouse cancer models. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:32. [PMID: 38212297 PMCID: PMC10784292 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06405-8] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) provides effective and durable responses for several tumour types by unleashing an immune response directed against cancer cells. However, a substantial number of patients treated with ICB develop relapse or do not respond, which has been partly attributed to the immune-suppressive effect of tumour hypoxia. We have previously demonstrated that the mitochondrial complex III inhibitor atovaquone alleviates tumour hypoxia both in human xenografts and in cancer patients by decreasing oxygen consumption and consequently increasing oxygen availability in the tumour. Here, we show that atovaquone alleviates hypoxia and synergises with the ICB antibody anti-PD-L1, significantly improving the rates of tumour eradication in the syngeneic CT26 model of colorectal cancer. The synergistic effect between atovaquone and anti-PD-L1 relied on CD8+ T cells, resulted in the establishment of a tumour-specific memory immune response, and was not associated with any toxicity. We also tested atovaquone in combination with anti-PD-L1 in the LLC (lung) and MC38 (colorectal) cancer syngeneic models but, despite causing a considerable reduction in tumour hypoxia, atovaquone did not add any therapeutic benefit to ICB in these models. These results suggest that atovaquone has the potential to improve the outcomes of patients treated with ICB, but predictive biomarkers are required to identify individuals likely to benefit from this intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rathi Puliyadi
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicole Machado
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Remko Prevo
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Francesca M Buffa
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Computing Sciences, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang Y. Bacterial therapy: a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Biol Med 2023; 20:j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0292. [PMID: 37964508 PMCID: PMC10690880 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yinsong Wang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bicer F, Kure C, Ozluk AA, El-Rayes BF, Akce M. Advances in Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Curr Oncol 2023; 30:9789-9812. [PMID: 37999131 PMCID: PMC10670350 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30110711] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. More than half of patients with HCC present with advanced stage, and highly active systemic therapies are crucial for improving outcomes. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapies have emerged as novel therapy options for advanced HCC. Only one third of patients achieve an objective response with ICI-based therapies due to primary resistance or acquired resistance. The liver tumor microenvironment is naturally immunosuppressive, and specific mutations in cell signaling pathways allow the tumor to evade the immune response. Next, gene sequencing of the tumor tissue or circulating tumor DNA may delineate resistance mechanisms to ICI-based therapy and provide a rationale for novel combination therapies. In this review, we discuss the results of key clinical trials that have led to approval of ICI-based therapy options in advanced HCC and summarize the ongoing clinical trials. We review resistance mechanisms to ICIs and discuss how immunotherapies may be optimized based on the emerging research of tumor biomarkers and genomic alterations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fuat Bicer
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
| | - Catrina Kure
- Department of Medicine, Northside Hospital-Gwinnett, Lawrenceville, GA 30046, USA;
| | - Anil A. Ozluk
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.A.O.); (B.F.E.-R.)
| | - Bassel F. El-Rayes
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.A.O.); (B.F.E.-R.)
| | - Mehmet Akce
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.A.O.); (B.F.E.-R.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bucci-Muñoz M, Gola AM, Rigalli JP, Ceballos MP, Ruiz ML. Extracellular Vesicles and Cancer Multidrug Resistance: Undesirable Intercellular Messengers? Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1633. [PMID: 37629489 PMCID: PMC10455762 DOI: 10.3390/life13081633] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the main mechanisms contributing to therapy failure and mortality. Overexpression of drug transporters of the ABC family (ATP-binding cassette) is a major cause of MDR. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles released by most cells of the organism involved in cell-cell communication. Their cargo mainly comprises, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, which are transferred from a donor cell to a target cell and lead to phenotypical changes. In this article, we review the scientific evidence addressing the regulation of ABC transporters by EV-mediated cell-cell communication. MDR transfer from drug-resistant to drug-sensitive cells has been identified in several tumor entities. This was attributed, in some cases, to the direct shuttle of transporter molecules or its coding mRNA between cells. Also, EV-mediated transport of regulatory proteins (e.g., transcription factors) and noncoding RNAs have been indicated to induce MDR. Conversely, the transfer of a drug-sensitive phenotype via EVs has also been reported. Additionally, interactions between non-tumor cells and the tumor cells with an impact on MDR are presented. Finally, we highlight uninvestigated aspects and possible approaches to exploiting this knowledge toward the identification of druggable processes and molecules and, ultimately, the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Bucci-Muñoz
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas (UNR), Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (CONICET), Rosario 2000, Argentina; (M.B.-M.); (A.M.G.); (M.P.C.)
| | - Aldana Magalí Gola
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas (UNR), Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (CONICET), Rosario 2000, Argentina; (M.B.-M.); (A.M.G.); (M.P.C.)
| | - Juan Pablo Rigalli
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - María Paula Ceballos
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas (UNR), Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (CONICET), Rosario 2000, Argentina; (M.B.-M.); (A.M.G.); (M.P.C.)
| | - María Laura Ruiz
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas (UNR), Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (CONICET), Rosario 2000, Argentina; (M.B.-M.); (A.M.G.); (M.P.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Dutta S, Ganguly A, Chatterjee K, Spada S, Mukherjee S. Targets of Immune Escape Mechanisms in Cancer: Basis for Development and Evolution of Cancer Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020218. [PMID: 36829496 PMCID: PMC9952779 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has emerged as a novel therapeutic tool for cancer therapy in the last decade. Unfortunately, a small number of patients benefit from approved immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Therefore, multiple studies are being conducted to find new ICIs and combination strategies to improve the current ICIs. In this review, we discuss some approved immune checkpoints, such as PD-L1, PD-1, and CTLA-4, and also highlight newer emerging ICIs. For instance, HLA-E, overexpressed by tumor cells, represents an immune-suppressive feature by binding CD94/NKG2A, on NK and T cells. NKG2A blockade recruits CD8+ T cells and activates NK cells to decrease the tumor burden. NKG2D acts as an NK cell activating receptor that can also be a potential ICI. The adenosine A2A and A2B receptors, CD47-SIRPα, TIM-3, LAG-3, TIGIT, and VISTA are targets that also contribute to cancer immunoresistance and have been considered for clinical trials. Their antitumor immunosuppressive functions can be used to develop blocking antibodies. PARPs, mARTs, and B7-H3 are also other potential targets for immunosuppression. Additionally, miRNA, mRNA, and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated immunotherapeutic approaches are being investigated with great interest. Pre-clinical and clinical studies project these targets as potential immunotherapeutic candidates in different cancer types for their robust antitumor modulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shovan Dutta
- The Center for Immunotherapy & Precision Immuno-Oncology (CITI), Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Anirban Ganguly
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar 814152, India
| | | | - Sheila Spada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (S.M.)
| | - Sumit Mukherjee
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (S.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Jie C, Li R, Cheng Y, Wang Z, Wu Q, Xie C. Prospects and feasibility of synergistic therapy with radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1122352. [PMID: 36875059 PMCID: PMC9981667 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1122352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The morbidity and mortality of lung cancer are increasing, seriously threatening human health and life. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has an insidious onset and is not easy to be diagnosed in its early stage. Distant metastasis often occurs and the prognosis is poor. Radiotherapy (RT) combined with immunotherapy, especially with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has become the focus of research in NSCLC. The efficacy of immunoradiotherapy (iRT) is promising, but further optimization is necessary. DNA methylation has been involved in immune escape and radioresistance, and becomes a game changer in iRT. In this review, we focused on the regulation of DNA methylation on ICIs treatment resistance and radioresistance in NSCLC and elucidated the potential synergistic effects of DNA methyltransferases inhibitors (DNMTis) with iRT. Taken together, we outlined evidence suggesting that a combination of DNMTis, RT, and immunotherapy could be a promising treatment strategy to improve NSCLC outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Jie
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rumeng Li
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yajie Cheng
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhihao Wang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiuji Wu
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Conghua Xie
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Beckinger S, Daunke T, Aldag L, Krüger S, Heckl S, Wesch D, Schäfer H, Röcken C, Rahn S, Sebens S. Hepatic myofibroblasts exert immunosuppressive effects independent of the immune checkpoint regulator PD-L1 in liver metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1160824. [PMID: 37207152 PMCID: PMC10189124 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1160824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents the 4th most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. Most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, often already with metastases. The main site of metastasis is the liver and hepatic myofibroblasts (HMF) play a pivotal role in metastatic outgrowth. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) targeting programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) improved treatment of several cancers but not of PDAC. Therefore, this study aimed to better understand the impact of HMF on PD-L1 expression and immune evasion of PDAC cells during liver metastasis. Methods Formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded biopsy samples or diagnostic resection specimens from liver metastases of 15 PDAC patients were used for immunohistochemical analyses. Serial sections were stained with antibodies directed against Pan-Cytokeratin, αSMA, CD8, and PD-L1. To investigate whether the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and HMF contribute to immune escape of PDAC liver metastases, a stroma enriched 3D spheroid coculture model was established in vitro, using two different PDAC cell lines, HMF, and CD8+ T cells. Here, functional and flow cytometry analyses were conducted. Results Immunohistochemical analysis of liver tissue sections of PDAC patients revealed that HMF represent an abundant stroma population in liver metastases, with clear differences in the spatial distribution in small (1500 µm) and large (> 1500 μm) metastases. In the latter, PD-L1 expression was mainly located at the invasion front or evenly distributed, while small metastases either lacked PD-L1 expression or showed mostly weak expression in the center. Double stainings revealed that PD-L1 is predominantly expressed by stromal cells, especially HMF. Small liver metastases with no or low PD-L1 expression comprised more CD8+ T cells in the tumor center, while large metastases exhibiting stronger PD-L1 expression comprised less CD8+ T cells being mostly located at the invasion front. HMF-enriched spheroid cocultures with different ratios of PDAC cells and HMF well mimicking conditions of hepatic metastases in situ. Here, HMF impaired the release of effector molecules by CD8+ T cells and the induction of PDAC cell death, an effect that was dependent on the amount of HMF but also of PDAC cells. ICI treatment led to elevated secretion of distinct CD8+ T cell effector molecules but did not increase PDAC cell death under either spheroid condition. Conclusion Our findings indicate a spatial reorganization of HMF, CD8+ T cells, and PD-L1 expression during progression of PDAC liver metastases. Furthermore, HMF potently impair the effector phenotype of CD8+ T cells but the PD-L1/PD-1 axis apparently plays a minor role in this scenario suggesting that immune evasion of PDAC liver metastases relies on other immunosuppressive mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silje Beckinger
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tina Daunke
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Leon Aldag
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sandra Krüger
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Steffen Heckl
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniela Wesch
- Institute of Immunology, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Heiner Schäfer
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christoph Röcken
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sascha Rahn
- Institute of Biochemistry, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Susanne Sebens
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- *Correspondence: Susanne Sebens,
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
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.
Collapse
|