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Barisic S, Brahmbhatt EM, Cherkasova E, Spear TT, Savani U, Pierre S, Scurti GM, Chen L, Igboko M, Nadal R, Zeng G, Parry G, Stroncek DF, Highfill S, Dalheim AV, Reger R, Nishimura MI, Childs RW. Regression of renal cell carcinoma by T cell receptor-engineered T cells targeting a human endogenous retrovirus. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009147. [PMID: 39266213 PMCID: PMC11409391 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009147] [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] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We discovered a novel human endogenous retrovirus (CT-RCC HERV-E) that was selectively expressed in most clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) and served as a source of antigens for T cell-mediated killing. Here, we described the cloning of a novel T cell receptor (TCR) targeting a CT-RCC HERV-E-derived antigen specific to ccRCC and characterized antitumor activity of HERV-E TCR-transduced T cells (HERV-E T cells). METHODS We isolated a CD8+ T cell clone from a patient with immune-mediated regression of ccRCC post-allogeneic stem cell transplant that recognized the CT-RCC-1 HERV-E-derived peptide in an HLA-A11-restricted manner. We used 5'Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) to clone the full length HERV-E TCR and generated retrovirus encoding this TCR for transduction of T cells. We characterized HERV-E T cells for phenotype and function in vitro and in a murine xenograft model. Lastly, we implemented a good manufacturing practice-compliant method for scalable production of HERV-E T cells. RESULTS The HLA-A11-restricted HERV-E-reactive TCR exhibited a CD8-dependent phenotype and demonstrated specific recognition of the CT-RCC-1 peptide. CD8+ T cells modified to express HERV-E TCR displayed potent antitumor activity against HLA-A11+ ccRCC cells expressing CT-RCC HERV-E compared with unmodified T cells. Killing by HERV-E T cells was lost when cocultured against HERV-E knockout ccRCC cells. HERV-E T cells induced regression of established ccRCC tumors in a murine model and improved survival of tumor-bearing mice. Large-scale production of HERV-E T cells under good manufacturing practice conditions generated from healthy donors retained specific antigen recognition and cytotoxicity against ccRCC. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report showing that human ccRCC cells can be selectively recognized and killed by TCR-engineered T cells targeting a HERV-derived antigen. These preclinical findings provided the foundation for evaluating HERV-E TCR-transduced T cell infusions in patients with metastatic ccRCC in a clinical trial (NCT03354390).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Barisic
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Elena Cherkasova
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Timothy T Spear
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ujjawal Savani
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephanie Pierre
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Gina M Scurti
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Long Chen
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Muna Igboko
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Rosa Nadal
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Gang Zeng
- T-Cure BioScience, Sherman Oaks, California, USA
| | - Gordon Parry
- T-Cure BioScience, Sherman Oaks, California, USA
| | - David F Stroncek
- Center for Cellular Engineering, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven Highfill
- Center for Cellular Engineering, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Annika V Dalheim
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Robert Reger
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Richard W Childs
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunotherapy, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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2
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Wen X, Shen J, De Miglio MR, Zeng D, Sechi LA. Endogenous retrovirus group FRD member 1 is a potential biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy for kidney renal clear cell carcinoma. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1252905. [PMID: 37780849 PMCID: PMC10534008 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1252905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The activation of endogenous retroviral (ERV) genes in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) suggests the necessity for further research on their functions. Methods In this study, KIRC and healthy cohorts were obtained from TGGA and GEO datasets. Subsequently, differential analysis and functional annotation were conducted using GO, KEGG, and GSEA. Clinical outcomes were then observed and utilized in the development of a nomogram. Results We observed the general low expression of ERVFRD-1 in KIRC tumors compared to normal tissue (P < 0.001) across multiple cohorts. Differential analysis and functional annotation using GO, KEGG, GSEA analysis revealed significant involvement of ERVFRD-1 in tumor immunoregulation: a close relation to the infiltration levels of mast cells and Treg cell (P < 0.001) and occurrence with a variety of immune markers. Methylation status was then applied to uncover potential mechanisms of ERVFRD-1 in KIRC. Notably, higher expression levels of ERVFRD-1 were associated with extended overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival. Finally, based on Cox regression analysis, we constructed a nomogram incorporating ERVFRD-1, pathologic T, and age, which exhibited promising predictive power in assessing the survival outcomes of KIRC patients. Discussion To sum up, our study suggests that ERVFRD-1 plays a role in regulating immunological activity within the tumor microenvironment and is associated with overall survival in KIRC patients. ERVFRD-1 may therefore be a sensitive biomarker for diagnosis, immunotherapy, and prognosis assessment of KIRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofen Wen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaxin Shen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Maria Rosaria De Miglio
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - De Zeng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Leonardo A. Sechi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Struttura Complessa (SC) Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
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3
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Li Z, Wang Q, Lv N, Xu G, Yang X, Zhu B. Genome-wide identification of endogenous retrovirus elements and their active transcription in mink genome. MLIFE 2023; 2:201-208. [PMID: 38817617 PMCID: PMC10989824 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are ancient retroviruses that have been integrated into genomes. ERVs were believed to be inactive until the discovery of ERV transcription in the mouse genome. However, the transcription level and function of ERV elements in mammalian genomes are not well understood. In this study, we performed the first genome-wide scanning of ERV loci in the American mink (Neogale vison) genome (NeoERV) followed by transcriptomic analysis to detect actively transcribed NeoERV elements. A total of 365,791 NeoERV loci were identified, and161,205 (44%) of these loci were found to be actively transcribed based on transcriptomic data from three types of tissues (amygdala, trachea and lung). More than one third of the actively transcribed NeoERV loci were tissue-specific. Furthermore, some of the active loci were associated with host gene transcription, and the level of NeoERV transcription was positively correlated with that of host genes, specifically when active loci were located in overlapped gene regions. An in-depth analysis of the envelope protein coding env gene showed that, in general, its transcription level was higher than that of NeoERVs, which is believed to be associated with host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and ImmunologyInstitute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qing Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and ImmunologyInstitute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal UniversityNanchangChina
| | - Na Lv
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and ImmunologyInstitute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong LaboratoryJinanChina
| | - Guojin Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and ImmunologyInstitute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xuemei Yang
- Beijing Pediatric Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Baoli Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and ImmunologyInstitute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong LaboratoryJinanChina
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesSouthwest Medical UniversityLuzhouChina
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Abstract
Our defenses against infection rely on the ability of the immune system to distinguish invading pathogens from self. This task is exceptionally challenging, if not seemingly impossible, in the case of retroviruses that have integrated almost seamlessly into the host. This review examines the limits of innate and adaptive immune responses elicited by endogenous retroviruses and other retroelements, the targets of immune recognition, and the consequences for host health and disease. Contrary to theoretical expectation, endogenous retroelements retain substantial immunogenicity, which manifests most profoundly when their epigenetic repression is compromised, contributing to autoinflammatory and autoimmune disease and age-related inflammation. Nevertheless, recent evidence suggests that regulated immune reactivity to endogenous retroelements is integral to immune system development and function, underpinning cancer immunosurveillance, resistance to infection, and responses to the microbiota. Elucidation of the interaction points with endogenous retroelements will therefore deepen our understanding of immune system function and contribution to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Kassiotis
- Retroviral Immunology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom;
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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5
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Langbein LE, El Hajjar R, Kim WY, Yang H. The convergence of tumor suppressors on the type I interferon pathway in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and its therapeutic implications. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 323:C1417-C1429. [PMID: 36154696 PMCID: PMC9662805 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00255.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
In clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene/hypoxia inducible factor (VHL/HIF) axis lays the groundwork for tumorigenesis and is the target of many therapeutic agents. HIF activation alone, however, is largely insufficient for kidney tumor development, and secondary mutations in PBRM1, BAP1, SETD2, KDM5C, or other tumor suppressor genes are strong enablers of tumorigenesis. Interestingly, it has been discovered that VHL loss and subsequent HIF activation results in upregulation of a negative feedback loop mediated by ISGF3, a transcription factor activated by type I interferon (IFN). Secondary mutations in the aforementioned tumor suppressor genes all partially disable this negative feedback loop to facilitate tumor growth. The convergence of several cancer genes on this pathway suggests that it plays an important role in ccRCC development and maintenance. Tumors with secondary mutations that dampen the negative feedback loop may be exquisitely sensitive to its reactivation, and pharmacological activation of ISGF3 either alone or in combination with other therapies could be an effective method to treat patients with ccRCC. In this review, we examine the relevance of the type I IFN pathway to ccRCC, synthesize our current knowledge of the ccRCC tumor suppressors in its regulation, and explore how this may impact the future treatment of patients with ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Langbein
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, & Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Rayan El Hajjar
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, & Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - William Y Kim
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, & Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Haifeng Yang
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, & Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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6
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Zhou M, Leung JY, Gessner KH, Hepperla AJ, Simon JM, Davis IJ, Kim WY. PBRM1 inactivation promotes upregulation of human endogenous retroviruses in a HIF-dependent manner. Cancer Immunol Res 2022; 10:285-290. [PMID: 35013001 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-21-0480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is considered an immunotherapy-responsive disease; however, the reasons for this remain unclear. Studies have variably implicated PBRM1 mutations as a predictive biomarker of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response, and separate studies demonstrate that expression of human endogenous retroviruses (hERVs) might be an important class of tumor-associated antigens. We sought to understand if specific mutations were associated with hERV expression. Two large, annotated genomic datasets, TCGA KIRC and IMmotion150, were used to correlate mutations and hERV expression. PBRM1 mutations were consistently associated with increased hERV expression in primary tumors. In vitro silencing of PBRM1, HIF1A and HIF2A followed by RNA-seq was performed in UMRC2 cells, confirming that PBRM1 regulates hERVs in a HIF1α- and HIF2α- dependent manner and that hERVs of the HERVERI superfamily are enriched in PBRM1-regulated hERVs. Our results uncover a role of PBRM1 in the negative regulation of hERVs in ccRCC. Moreover, the HIF-dependent nature of hERV expression explains the previously reported ccRCC-specific clinical associations of PBRM1 mutant ccRCC with both a good prognosis as well as improved clinical outcomes to ICB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Zhou
- Medicine and Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Janet Y Leung
- Department of Medicine and Genetics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | | | - Austin J Hepperla
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- Department of Genetics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Ian J Davis
- Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - William Y Kim
- Medicine, Genetics, Pharmacology, and Urology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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7
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Weyerer V, Strissel PL, Stöhr C, Eckstein M, Wach S, Taubert H, Brandl L, Geppert CI, Wullich B, Cynis H, Beckmann MW, Seliger B, Hartmann A, Strick R. Endogenous Retroviral-K Envelope Is a Novel Tumor Antigen and Prognostic Indicator of Renal Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:657187. [PMID: 33968761 PMCID: PMC8100683 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.657187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the ten most common cancers for men and women with an approximate 75% overall 5-year survival. Sixteen histological tumor subtypes exist and the most common are papillary, chromophobe and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) representing 85% of all RCC. Although epigenetically silenced, endogenous retroviral (ERV) genes become activated in tumors and function to ignite immune responses. Research has intensified to understand ERV protein function and their role as tumor antigens and targets for cancer (immune) therapy. ERV-K env is overexpressed and implicated as a therapeutic target for breast cancer, however studies in RCC are limited. In this investigation a human RCC tissue microarray (TMA) (n=374) predominantly consisting of the most common histological tumor subtypes was hybridized with an ERV-K env antibody and correlated with patient clinical data. TMA results showed the highest amount of ERV-K env protein expression and the strongest significant membrane expression in ccRCC versus other RCC subtypes. High ERV-K env total protein expression of all tumor subtypes significantly correlated with low tumor grading and a longer disease specific survival using multivariable analyses. Cell proliferation and invasion were assayed using the kidney cell lines HEK293 with wild-type p53 and a ccRCC cell line MZ1257RC mutated for p53. Transfecting these cell lines with a codon optimized ERV-K113 env overexpressing CMV vector was performed with or without 5’-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine (Aza) treatment to sustain promoter de-methylation. MZ1257RC showed induction of ERV-K113 expression and significantly increased both proliferation and invasion in the presence or absence of Aza. HEK293 cells demonstrated a restriction of ERV-K113 env expression and invasion with no changes in proliferation in the absence of Aza. However, in the presence of Aza despite increased ERV-K113 env expression, an inhibition of HEK293 proliferation and a further restriction of invasion was found. This study supports ERV-K env as a single prognostic indicator for better survival of RCC, which we propose represents a new tumor antigen. In addition, ERV-K env significantly regulates proliferation and invasion depending on p53 status and Aza treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Weyerer
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pamela L Strissel
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center, European Metropolitan Area Erlangen-Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Adjunct Affiliation With Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Christine Stöhr
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Eckstein
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sven Wach
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Helge Taubert
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lisa Brandl
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carol I Geppert
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Wullich
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Holger Cynis
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle, Germany
| | - Matthias W Beckmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center, European Metropolitan Area Erlangen-Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Reiner Strick
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center, European Metropolitan Area Erlangen-Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Translational Research Centre (TRC), Erlangen, Germany
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8
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Golkaram M, Salmans ML, Kaplan S, Vijayaraghavan R, Martins M, Khan N, Garbutt C, Wise A, Yao J, Casimiro S, Abreu C, Macedo D, Costa AL, Alvim C, Mansinho A, Filipe P, Marques da Costa P, Fernandes A, Borralho P, Ferreira C, Aldeia F, Malaquias J, Godsey J, So A, Pawlowski T, Costa L, Zhang S, Liu L. HERVs establish a distinct molecular subtype in stage II/III colorectal cancer with poor outcome. NPJ Genom Med 2021; 6:13. [PMID: 33589643 PMCID: PMC7884730 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-021-00177-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal malignancies. The extreme heterogeneity in survival rate is driving the need for new prognostic biomarkers. Human endogenous retroviruses (hERVs) have been suggested to influence tumor progression, oncogenesis and elicit an immune response. We examined multiple next-generation sequencing (NGS)-derived biomarkers in 114 CRC patients with paired whole-exome and whole-transcriptome sequencing (WES and WTS, respectively). First, we demonstrate that the median expression of hERVs can serve as a potential biomarker for prognosis, relapse, and resistance to chemotherapy in stage II and III CRC. We show that hERV expression and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating T-lymphocytes (TILs) synergistically stratify overall and relapse-free survival (OS and RFS): the median OS of the CD8-/hERV+ subgroup was 29.8 months compared with 37.5 months for other subgroups (HR = 4.4, log-rank P < 0.001). Combing NGS-based biomarkers (hERV/CD8 status) with clinicopathological factors provided a better prediction of patient survival compared to clinicopathological factors alone. Moreover, we explored the association between genomic and transcriptomic features of tumors with high hERV expression and establish this subtype as distinct from previously described consensus molecular subtypes of CRC. Overall, our results underscore a previously unknown role for hERVs in leading to a more aggressive subtype of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Marta Martins
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | - Sandra Casimiro
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Catarina Abreu
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Macedo
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Lúcia Costa
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cecília Alvim
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - André Mansinho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Filipe
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Marques da Costa
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Afonso Fernandes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paula Borralho
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cristina Ferreira
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Fernando Aldeia
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Malaquias
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Alex So
- Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Luis Costa
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. .,Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | | | - Li Liu
- Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.
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9
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Nimmagadda S. Quantifying PD-L1 Expression to Monitor Immune Checkpoint Therapy: Opportunities and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113173. [PMID: 33137949 PMCID: PMC7692040 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Malignant cells hijack the regulatory roles of immune checkpoint proteins for immune evasion and survival. Therapeutics blocking those proteins can restore the balance of the immune system and lead to durable responses in cancer patients. Although a subset of patients derive benefit, there are few non-invasive technologies to guide and monitor those therapies to improve success rates. This is a review of the advancements in non-invasive methods for quantification of immune checkpoint protein programmed death ligand 1 expression, a biomarker detected by immunohistochemistry and widely used for guiding immune checkpoint therapy. Abstract Therapeutics targeting programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein and its receptor PD-1 are now dominant players in restoring anti-tumor immune responses. PD-L1 detection by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is emerging as a reproducible biomarker for guiding patient stratification for those therapies in some cancers. However, PD-L1 expression in the tumor microenvironment is highly complex. It is upregulated by aberrant genetic alterations, and is highly regulated at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and protein levels. Thus, PD-L1 IHC is inadequate to fully understand the relevance of PD-L1 levels in the whole body and their dynamics to improve therapeutic outcomes. Imaging technologies could potentially assist in meeting that need. Early clinical investigations show promising results in quantifying PD-L1 expression in the whole body by positron emission tomography (PET). Within this context, this review summarizes advancements in regulation of PD-L1 expression and imaging agents, and in PD-L1 PET for drug development, and discusses opportunities and challenges presented by these innovations for guiding immune checkpoint therapy (ICT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sridhar Nimmagadda
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; ; Tel.: +1-410-502-6244; Fax: +1-410-614-3147
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Bloomberg–Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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10
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Hegde PS, Chen DS. Top 10 Challenges in Cancer Immunotherapy. Immunity 2020; 52:17-35. [PMID: 31940268 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1095] [Impact Index Per Article: 273.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is a validated and critically important approach for treating patients with cancer. Given the vast research and clinical investigation efforts dedicated to advancing both endogenous and synthetic immunotherapy approaches, there is a need to focus on crucial questions and define roadblocks to the basic understanding and clinical progress. Here, we define ten key challenges facing cancer immunotherapy, which range from lack of confidence in translating pre-clinical findings to identifying optimal combinations of immune-based therapies for any given patient. Addressing these challenges will require the combined efforts of basic researchers and clinicians, and the focusing of resources to accelerate understanding of the complex interactions between cancer and the immune system and the development of improved treatment options for patients with cancer.
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Abstract
The adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of genetically engineered T cell receptor (TCR) T cells is one of the burgeoning fields of immunotherapy, with promising results in current clinical trials. Presently, clinicaltrials.gov has over 200 active trials involving adoptive cell therapy. The ACT of genetically engineered T cells not only allows the ability to select for TCRs with desired properties such as high-affinity receptors and tumor reactivity but to further enhance those receptors allowing for better targeting and killing of cancer cells in patients. Moreover, the addition of genetic material, including cytokines and cytokine receptors, can increase the survival and persistence of the T cell allowing for complete and sustained remission of cancer targets. The potential for improvement in adoptive cell therapy is limitless, with genetic modifications targeting to improve weaknesses of ACT and to thus enhance receptor affinity and functional avidity of the genetically engineered T cells.
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12
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Chen L, Qiao D, Wang J, Tian G, Wang M. Cancer immunotherapy with lymphocytes genetically engineered with T cell receptors for solid cancers. Immunol Lett 2019; 216:51-62. [PMID: 31597088 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T cells genetically engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T cells) have proven to be highly effective for treating CD19+ B cell-derived hematologic malignancies. However, due to the lack of ideal tumor surface antigens, CAR-T cell therapy has limited success in treating solid tumors. T cells genetically engineered with T cell receptors (TCR-T cells) recognize intracellular and cell-surface antigens in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) presentation and thus have the potential to access much more target antigens than CAR-T cells, providing great promise in treating solid tumors. There is an increasing interest in the application of TCR-T cell therapy for solid tumors, and fifty-six clinical trials are undergoing worldwide to confirm its validity. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in clinical studies of TCR-T cell therapy, describe strategies in the preparation and characterization of TCR-T cells, focusing on antigen selection, TCR isolation and methods to further enhance the potency of adoptively transferred cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chen
- Department of Research and Development, Shenzhen Institute for Innovation and Translational Medicine, Shenzhen International Biological Valley-Life Science Industrial Park, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dongjuan Qiao
- Department of Research and Development, Shenzhen Institute for Innovation and Translational Medicine, Shenzhen International Biological Valley-Life Science Industrial Park, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen, China
| | - Juntao Wang
- Department of Research and Development, Shenzhen Institute for Innovation and Translational Medicine, Shenzhen International Biological Valley-Life Science Industrial Park, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen, China
| | - Geng Tian
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518035, China
| | - Mingjun Wang
- Department of Research and Development, Shenzhen Institute for Innovation and Translational Medicine, Shenzhen International Biological Valley-Life Science Industrial Park, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen, China.
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13
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14
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Li W, Yang L, Harris RS, Lin L, Olson TL, Hamele CE, Feith DJ, Loughran TP, Poss M. Retrovirus insertion site analysis of LGL leukemia patient genomes. BMC Med Genomics 2019; 12:88. [PMID: 31208405 PMCID: PMC6580525 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-019-0549-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia is an uncommon cancer characterized by sustained clonal proliferation of LGL cells. Antibodies reactive to retroviruses have been documented in the serum of patients with LGL leukemia. Culture or molecular approaches have to date not been successful in identifying a retrovirus. Methods Because a retrovirus must integrate into the genome of an infected cell, we focused our efforts on detecting a novel retrovirus integration site in the clonally expanded LGL cells. We present a new computational tool that uses long-insert mate pair sequence data to search the genome of LGL leukemia cells for retrovirus integration sites. We also utilize recently published methods to interrogate the status of polymorphic human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV-K) provirus in patient genomes. Results Our data show that there are no new retrovirus insertions in LGL genomes of LGL leukemia patients. However, our insertion call tool did detect four HERV-K provirus integration sites that are polymorphic in the human population but absent from the human reference genome, hg19. To determine if the prevalence of these or other polymorphic proviral HERV-Ks differed between LGL leukemia patients and the general population, we used a recently developed tool that reports sites in the human genome occupied by a known proviral HERV-K. We report that there are significant differences in the number of polymorphic HERV-Ks in the genomes of LGL leukemia patients of European origin compared to individuals with European ancestry in the 1000 genomes (KGP) data. Conclusions Our study confirms that the clonal expansion of LGL cells in LGL leukemia is not driven by the integration of a new infectious or endogenous retrovirus, although we do not rule out that these cells are responding to retroviral antigens produced in other cell types. However, our computational analyses revealed that the genomes of LGL leukemia patients carry a higher burden of polymorphic HERV-K proviruses compare to individuals from KGP of European ancestry. Our research emphasizes the merits of comprehensive genomic assessment of HERV-K in cancer samples and suggests that further analyses to determine contributions of HERV-K to LGL leukemia are warranted. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12920-019-0549-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiling Li
- The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Robert S Harris
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Lin Lin
- Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Thomas L Olson
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
| | - Cait E Hamele
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
| | - David J Feith
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
| | - Mary Poss
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. .,Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. .,University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA.
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15
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Attermann A, Bjerregaard AM, Saini S, Grønbæk K, Hadrup S. Human endogenous retroviruses and their implication for immunotherapeutics of cancer. Ann Oncol 2018; 29:2183-2191. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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16
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Ottina E, Levy P, Eksmond U, Merkenschlager J, Young GR, Roels J, Stoye JP, Tüting T, Calado DP, Kassiotis G. Restoration of Endogenous Retrovirus Infectivity Impacts Mouse Cancer Models. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 6:1292-1300. [PMID: 30143537 PMCID: PMC6485373 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mouse models have been instrumental in establishing fundamental principles of cancer initiation and progression and continue to be invaluable in the discovery and further development of cancer therapies. Nevertheless, important aspects of human disease are imperfectly approximated in mouse models, notably the involvement of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Replication-defective ERVs, present in both humans and mice, may affect tumor development and antitumor immunity through mechanisms not involving infection. Here, we revealed an adverse effect of murine ERVs with restored infectivity on the behavior of mouse cancer models. In contrast to human cancer, where infectious ERVs have never been detected, we found that ERV infectivity was frequently restored in transplantable, as well as genetic, mouse cancer models. Such replication-competent, ERV-derived retroviruses were responsible for unusually high expression of retroviral nucleic acids and proteins in mouse cancers. Infectious ERV-derived retroviruses produced by mouse cancer cells could directly infect tumor-infiltrating host immune cells and fundamentally modified the host's immune defenses to cancer, as well as the outcome of immunotherapy. Therefore, infectious retroviruses, variably arising in mouse cancer models, but not in human cancer, have the potential to confound many immunologic studies and should be considered as a variable, if not altogether avoided. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(11); 1292-300. ©2018 AACR.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Endogenous Retroviruses/pathogenicity
- Female
- Leukemia Virus, Murine/genetics
- Leukemia Virus, Murine/pathogenicity
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/pathology
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred CBA
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/virology
- Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/genetics
- Retroviridae Infections/virology
- Viral Tropism/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Ottina
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Prisca Levy
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Urszula Eksmond
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - George R Young
- Retrovirus-Host Interactions, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Juliette Roels
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Jonathan P Stoye
- Retrovirus-Host Interactions, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Thomas Tüting
- Laboratory of Experimental Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dinis P Calado
- Immunity and Cancer Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - George Kassiotis
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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17
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Hammerl D, Rieder D, Martens JWM, Trajanoski Z, Debets R. Adoptive T Cell Therapy: New Avenues Leading to Safe Targets and Powerful Allies. Trends Immunol 2018; 39:921-936. [PMID: 30309702 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of TCR-engineered T cells is a potent therapy, able to induce clinical responses in different human malignancies. Nevertheless, treatment toxicities may occur and, in particular for solid tumors, responses may be variable and often not durable. To address these challenges, it is imperative to carefully select target antigens and to immunologically interrogate the corresponding tumors when designing optimal T cell therapies. Here, we review recent advances, covering both omics- and laboratory tools that can enable the selection of optimal T cell epitopes and TCRs as well as the identification of dominant immune evasive mechanisms within tumor tissues. Furthermore, we discuss how these techniques may aid in a rational design of effective combinatorial adoptive T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Hammerl
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Erasmus MC-Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dietmar Rieder
- Division of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - John W M Martens
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC-Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zlatko Trajanoski
- Division of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Reno Debets
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Erasmus MC-Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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18
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Kassiotis G, Stoye JP. Making a virtue of necessity: the pleiotropic role of human endogenous retroviruses in cancer. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0277. [PMID: 28893944 PMCID: PMC5597744 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Like all other mammals, humans harbour an astonishing number of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), as well as other retroelements, embedded in their genome. These remnants of ancestral germline infection with distinct exogenous retroviruses display various degrees of open reading frame integrity and replication capability. Modern day exogenous retroviruses, as well as the infectious predecessors of ERVs, are demonstrably oncogenic. Further, replication-competent ERVs continue to cause cancers in many other species of mammal. Moreover, human cancers are characterized by transcriptional activation of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). These observations conspire to incriminate HERVs as causative agents of human cancer. However, exhaustive investigation of cancer genomes suggests that HERVs have entirely lost the ability for re-infection and thus the potential for insertional mutagenic activity. Although there may be non-insertional mechanisms by which HERVs contribute to cancer development, recent evidence also uncovers potent anti-tumour activities exerted by HERV replication intermediates or protein products. On balance, it appears that HERVs, despite their oncogenic past, now represent potential targets for immune-mediated anti-tumour mechanisms. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Human oncogenic viruses’.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Kassiotis
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK .,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jonathan P Stoye
- Retrovirus-Host Interactions, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK .,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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19
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Li M, Radvanyi L, Yin B, Rycaj K, Li J, Chivukula R, Lin K, Lu Y, Shen J, Chang DZ, Li D, Johanning GL, Wang-Johanning F. Downregulation of Human Endogenous Retrovirus Type K (HERV-K) Viral env RNA in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Decreases Cell Proliferation and Tumor Growth. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:5892-5911. [PMID: 28679769 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: We investigated the role of the human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV-K) envelope (env) gene in pancreatic cancer.Experimental Design: shRNA was employed to knockdown (KD) the expression of HERV-K in pancreatic cancer cells.Results: HERV-K env expression was detected in seven pancreatic cancer cell lines and in 80% of pancreatic cancer patient biopsies, but not in two normal pancreatic cell lines or uninvolved normal tissues. A new HERV-K splice variant was discovered in several pancreatic cancer cell lines. Reverse transcriptase activity and virus-like particles were observed in culture media supernatant obtained from Panc-1 and Panc-2 cells. HERV-K viral RNA levels and anti-HERV-K antibody titers were significantly higher in pancreatic cancer patient sera (N = 106) than in normal donor sera (N = 40). Importantly, the in vitro and in vivo growth rates of three pancreatic cancer cell lines were significantly reduced after HERV-K KD by shRNA targeting HERV-K env, and there was reduced metastasis to lung after treatment. RNA-Seq results revealed changes in gene expression after HERV-K env KD, including RAS and TP53. Furthermore, downregulation of HERV-K Env protein expression by shRNA also resulted in decreased expression of RAS, p-ERK, p-RSK, and p-AKT in several pancreatic cancer cells or tumors.Conclusions: These results demonstrate that HERV-K influences signal transduction via the RAS-ERK-RSK pathway in pancreatic cancer. Our data highlight the potentially important role of HERV-K in tumorigenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer, and indicate that HERV-K viral proteins may be attractive biomarkers and/or tumor-associated antigens, as well as potentially useful targets for detection, diagnosis, and immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 23(19); 5892-911. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Viral Oncology Program, Center for Cancer and Metabolism, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Laszlo Radvanyi
- EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Billerica, Massachusetts
| | - Bingnan Yin
- Department of Inflammation and Epigenetics, Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Jia Li
- Viral Oncology Program, Center for Cancer and Metabolism, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Raghavender Chivukula
- Viral Oncology Program, Center for Cancer and Metabolism, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Kevin Lin
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas
| | - Yue Lu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas
| | - JianJun Shen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas
| | - David Z Chang
- Virginia Oncology Associates, Newport News, Virginia
| | - Donghui Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Gary L Johanning
- Viral Oncology Program, Center for Cancer and Metabolism, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Feng Wang-Johanning
- Viral Oncology Program, Center for Cancer and Metabolism, SRI International, Menlo Park, California.
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20
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Vyshenska D, Lam KC, Shulzhenko N, Morgun A. Interplay between viruses and bacterial microbiota in cancer development. Semin Immunol 2017; 32:14-24. [PMID: 28602713 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
During the last few decades we have become accustomed to the idea that viruses can cause tumors. It is much less considered and discussed, however, that most people infected with oncoviruses will never develop cancer. Therefore, the genetic and environmental factors that tip the scales from clearance of viral infection to development of cancer are currently an area of active investigation. Microbiota has recently emerged as a potentially critical factor that would affect this balance by increasing or decreasing the ability of viral infection to promote carcinogenesis. In this review, we provide a model of microbiome contribution to the development of oncogenic viral infections and viral associated cancers, give examples of this process in human tumors, and describe the challenges that prevent progress in the field as well as their potential solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariia Vyshenska
- College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 1601 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Khiem C Lam
- College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 1601 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Natalia Shulzhenko
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, 208 Dryden Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Andrey Morgun
- College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, 1601 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
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21
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Kassiotis G, Stoye JP. Immune responses to endogenous retroelements: taking the bad with the good. Nat Rev Immunol 2016; 16:207-19. [PMID: 27026073 DOI: 10.1038/nri.2016.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The ultimate form of parasitism and evasion of host immunity is for the parasite genome to enter the germ line of the host species. Retroviruses have invaded the host germ line on the grandest scale, and this is evident in the extraordinary abundance of endogenous retroelements in the genome of all vertebrate species that have been studied. Many of these endogenous retroelements have retained viral characteristics; some also the capacity to replicate and, consequently, the potential to trigger host innate and adaptive immune responses. However, although retroelements are mainly recognized for their pathogenic potential, recent evidence suggests that this 'enemy within' may also have beneficial roles in tuning host immune reactivity. In this Review, we discuss how the immune system recognizes and is shaped by endogenous retroelements.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Kassiotis
- Retroviral Immunology, the Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, London NW7 1AA, UK.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Jonathan P Stoye
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK.,Retrovirus-Host Interactions, the Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, London NW7 1AA, UK
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22
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Kozlov AP. Expression of evolutionarily novel genes in tumors. Infect Agent Cancer 2016; 11:34. [PMID: 27437030 PMCID: PMC4949931 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-016-0077-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolutionarily novel genes originated through different molecular mechanisms are expressed in tumors. Sometimes the expression of evolutionarily novel genes in tumors is highly specific. Moreover positive selection of many human tumor-related genes in primate lineage suggests their involvement in the origin of new functions beneficial to organisms. It is suggested to consider the expression of evolutionarily young or novel genes in tumors as a new biological phenomenon, a phenomenon of TSEEN (tumor specifically expressed, evolutionarily novel) genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. P. Kozlov
- The Biomedical Center and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
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23
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TCR-engineered T cells to treat tumors: Seeing but not touching? Semin Immunol 2016; 28:10-21. [PMID: 26997556 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T cells gene-engineered with T cell receptors (TCRs) has proven its feasibility and therapeutic potential in the treatment of malignant tumors. To ensure further clinical development of TCR gene therapy, it is necessary to accurately select TCRs that demonstrate antigen-selective responses that are restricted to tumor cells and, at the same time, include strategies that restore or enhance the entry, migration and local accumulation of T cells in tumor tissues. Here, we present the current standing of TCR-engineered T cell therapy, discuss and propose procedures to select TCRs as well as strategies to sensitize the tumor to T cell trafficking, and provide a rationale for combination therapies with TCR-engineered T cells.
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24
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Abstract
Over 40% of mammalian genomes comprise the products of reverse transcription. Among such retrotransposed sequences are those characterized by the presence of long terminal repeats (LTRs), including the endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which are inherited genetic elements closely resembling the proviruses formed following exogenous retrovirus infection. Sequences derived from ERVs make up at least 8 to 10% of the human and mouse genomes and range from ancient sequences that predate mammalian divergence to elements that are currently still active. In this chapter we describe the discovery, classification and origins of ERVs in mammals and consider cellular mechanisms that have evolved to control their expression. We also discuss the negative effects of ERVs as agents of genetic disease and cancer and review examples of ERV protein domestication to serve host functions, as in placental development. Finally, we address growing evidence that the gene regulatory potential of ERV LTRs has been exploited multiple times during evolution to regulate genes and gene networks. Thus, although recently endogenized retroviral elements are often pathogenic, those that survive the forces of negative selection become neutral components of the host genome or can be harnessed to serve beneficial roles.
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25
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Magiorkinis G, Blanco-Melo D, Belshaw R. The decline of human endogenous retroviruses: extinction and survival. Retrovirology 2015; 12:8. [PMID: 25640971 PMCID: PMC4335370 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-015-0136-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs) are retroviruses that over the course of evolution have integrated into germline cells and eventually become part of the host genome. They proliferate within the germline of their host, making up ~5% of the human and mouse genome sequences. Several lines of evidence have suggested a decline in the rate of ERV integration into the human genome in recent evolutionary history but this has not been investigated quantitatively or possible causes explored. Results By dating the integration of ERV loci in 40 mammal species, we show that the human genome and that of other hominoids (great apes and gibbons) have experienced an approximately four-fold decline in the ERV integration rate over the last 10 million years. A major cause is the recent extinction of one very large ERV lineage (HERV-H), which is responsible for most of the integrations over the last 30 million years. The decline however affects most other ERV lineages. Only about 10% of the decline might be attributed to an accompanying increase in body mass (a trait we have shown recently to be negatively correlated with ERV integration rate). Humans are unusual compared to related species – Old World monkeys, great apes and gibbons – in (a) having not acquired any new ERV lineages during the last 30 million years and (b) the possession of an old ERV lineage that has continued to replicate up until at least the last few hundred thousand years – the potentially medically significant HERVK(HML2). Conclusions The human genome shares with the genome of other great apes and gibbons a recent decline in ERV integration that is not typical of other primates and mammals. The human genome differs from that of related species both in maintaining up until at least recently a replicating old ERV lineage and in not having acquired any new lineages. We speculate that the decline in ERV integration in the human genome has been exacerbated by a relatively low burden of horizontally-transmitted retroviruses and subsequent reduced risk of endogenization. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-015-0136-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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26
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Abstract
One lineage of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), HERV-K(HML2), is upregulated in many cancers, some autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, and HIV-infected cells. Despite 3 decades of research, it is not known if these viruses play a causal role in disease, and there has been recent interest in whether they can be used as immunotherapy targets. Resolution of both these questions will be helped by an ability to distinguish between the effects of different integrated copies of the virus (loci). Research so far has concentrated on the 20 or so recently integrated loci that, with one exception, are in the human reference genome sequence. However, this viral lineage has been copying in the human population within the last million years, so some loci will inevitably be present in the human population but absent from the reference sequence. We therefore performed the first detailed search for such loci by mining whole-genome sequences generated by next-generation sequencing. We found a total of 17 loci, and the frequency of their presence ranged from only 2 of the 358 individuals examined to over 95% of them. On average, each individual had six loci that are not in the human reference genome sequence. Comparing the number of loci that we found to an expectation derived from a neutral population genetic model suggests that the lineage was copying until at least ∼250,000 years ago. IMPORTANCE About 5% of the human genome sequence is composed of the remains of retroviruses that over millions of years have integrated into the chromosomes of egg and/or sperm precursor cells. There are indications that protein expression of these viruses is higher in some diseases, and we need to know (i) whether these viruses have a role in causing disease and (ii) whether they can be used as immunotherapy targets in some of them. Answering both questions requires a better understanding of how individuals differ in the viruses that they carry. We carried out the first careful search for new viruses in some of the many human genome sequences that are now available thanks to advances in sequencing technology. We also compared the number that we found to a theoretical expectation to see if it is likely that these viruses are still replicating in the human population today.
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Katoh I. Impacts of endogenous retroviruses on tumorigenesis, immunity, stem cells, and research safety. Front Oncol 2014; 4:66. [PMID: 24744991 PMCID: PMC3978315 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Iyoko Katoh
- Molecular Biology, Center for Medical Education and Sciences, University of Yamanashi , Yamanashi , Japan
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