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Gnagni L, Ruscito I, Zizzari IG, Nuti M, Napoletano C, Rughetti A. Precision oncology targeting FGFRs: A systematic review on pre-clinical activity and clinical outcomes of pemigatinib. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 202:104464. [PMID: 39094670 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFRs) are emerging as key factors involved in tumorigenesis, tumor microenvironment remodeling and acquired resistance to targeted therapies. Pemigatinib is a Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitor that selectively targets aberrant FGFR1, FGFR2 and FGFR3. Pemigatinib is now approved for advanced-stage cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) but data suggests that other tumor histotypes exhibit FGFR alterations, thus hypothesizing its potential efficacy in other cancer settings. The present systematic review, based on PRISMA guidelines, aims to synthetize and critically interpret the results of all available preclinical and clinical evidence regarding Pemigatinib use in cancer. In April 2024, an extensive search was performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases using the keyword "Pemigatinib". Twenty-seven studies finally met all inclusion criteria. The promising results emerging from Pemigatinib preclinical and clinical studies pave the way for Pemigatinib extension to multiple solid cancer settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Gnagni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, Rome 324 -00161, Italy
| | - Ilary Ruscito
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, Rome 324 -00161, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Grazia Zizzari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, Rome 324 -00161, Italy
| | - Marianna Nuti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, Rome 324 -00161, Italy
| | - Chiara Napoletano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, Rome 324 -00161, Italy.
| | - Aurelia Rughetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, Rome 324 -00161, Italy
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Pitts SC, Schlom J, Donahue RN. Soluble immune checkpoints: implications for cancer prognosis and response to immune checkpoint therapy and conventional therapies. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:155. [PMID: 38822401 PMCID: PMC11141022 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03074-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal sampling of tumor tissue from patients with solid cancers, aside from melanoma and a few other cases, is often unfeasible, and thus may not capture the plasticity of interactions between the tumor and immune system under selective pressure of a given therapy. Peripheral blood analyses provide salient information about the human peripheral immunome while offering technical and practical advantages over traditional tumor biopsies, and should be utilized where possible alongside interrogation of the tumor. Some common blood-based biomarkers used to study the immune response include immune cell subsets, circulating tumor DNA, and protein analytes such as cytokines. With the recent explosion of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) as a modality of treatment in multiple cancer types, soluble immune checkpoints have become a relevant area of investigation for peripheral immune-based biomarkers. However, the exact functions of soluble immune checkpoints and their roles in cancer for the most part remain unclear. This review discusses current literature on the production, function, and expression of nine soluble immune checkpoints - sPD-L1, sPD-1, sCTLA4, sCD80, sTIM3, sLAG3, sB7-H3, sBTLA, and sHVEM - in patients with solid tumors, and explores their role as biomarkers of response to ICI as well as to conventional therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgery) in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C Pitts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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3
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Gelibter A, Asquino A, Strigari L, Zizzari IG, Tuosto L, Scirocchi F, Pace A, Siringo M, Tramontano E, Bianchini S, Bellati F, Botticelli A, Paoli D, Santini D, Nuti M, Rughetti A, Napoletano C. CD137 + and regulatory T cells as independent prognostic factors of survival in advanced non-oncogene addicted NSCLC patients treated with immunotherapy as first-line. J Transl Med 2024; 22:329. [PMID: 38570798 PMCID: PMC10993529 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05142-6] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), administered alone or combined with chemotherapy, are the standard of care in advanced non-oncogene addicted Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Despite these treatments' success, most long-term survival benefit is restricted to approximately 20% of patients, highlighting the need to identify novel biomarkers to optimize treatment strategies. In several solid tumors, immune soluble factors, the activatory CD137+ Tcells, and the immunosuppressive cell subsets Tregs and MDSCs (PMN(Lox1+)-MDSC and M-MDSCs) correlated with responses to ICIs and clinical outcomes thus becoming appealing predictive and prognostic factors. This study investigated the role of distinct CD137+ Tcell subsets, Tregs, MDSCs, and immune-soluble factors in NSCLC patients as possible biomarkers. METHODS The levels of T cells, MDSCs and soluble factors were evaluated in 89 metastatic NSCLC patients who underwent ICIs as first- or second-line treatment. T cell analysis was performed by cytoflurimetry evaluating Tregs and different CD137+ Tcell subsets also combined with CD3+, CD8+, PD1+, and Ki67+ markers. Circulating cytokines and immune checkpoints were also evaluated by Luminex analysis. All these parameters were correlated with several clinical factors (age, sex, smoking status, PS and TPS), response to therapy, PFS , and OS . The analyses were conducted in the overall population and in patients treated with ICIs as first-line (naïve patients). RESULTS In both groups of patients, high levels of circulating CD137+ and CD137+PD1+ T cells (total, CD4 and CD8) and the soluble factor LAG3 positively correlated with response to therapy. In naïve patients, PMN(Lox1+)-MDSCs negatively correlated with clinical response, and a high percentage of Tregs was associated with favorable survival. Moreover, the balance between Treg/CD137+ Tcells or PMN(Lox1+)-MDSC/CD137+ Tcells was higher in non-responding patients and was associated with poor survival. CD137+ Tcells and Tregs resulted as two positive independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION High levels of CD137+, CD137+PD1+ Tcells and sLAG3 could predict the response to ICIs in NSCLC patients independently by previous therapy. Combining the evaluation of CD137+ Tcells and Tregs also as Treg/CD137+ T cells ratio it is possible to identify naive patients with longer survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Gelibter
- Division of Oncology, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Asquino
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Lidia Strigari
- Department of Medical Physics, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Di Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ilaria Grazia Zizzari
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Tuosto
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Scirocchi
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelica Pace
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Siringo
- Division of Oncology, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Tramontano
- Division of Oncology, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Bianchini
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Bellati
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Botticelli
- Division of Oncology, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Paoli
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Santini
- Division of Oncology, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Nuti
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Rughetti
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Napoletano
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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4
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Kam NW, Lo AWI, Hung DTY, Ko H, Wu KC, Kwong DLW, Lam KO, Leung TW, Che CM, Lee VHF. Shift in Tissue-Specific Immune Niches and CD137 Expression in Tuberculoma of Pembrolizumab-Treated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:268. [PMID: 38254759 PMCID: PMC10813936 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020268] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer treatment has shown promise but can also have unintended consequences, such as reactivating latent tuberculosis (TB). To develop treatments that address ICIs-related adverse events, it is essential to understand cellular heterogeneity across healthy and pathological tissues. We performed cross-tissue multiplexed staining analysis on samples from two patients with TB reactivation during pembrolizumab treatment for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. CD8+ T cells, rather than CD4+ T cells, accumulated preferentially in the tuberculoma and were associated with increased production of IFNγ and expression of CD137. Additionally, CD137 enrichment played a role in the spatial organization of the tuberculoma, with specific interaction limited to spatial proximal cells between IFNγ+ CD137+ CD8+ T cells and IL12+ CD137+ type-1 macrophages. This unique feature was not observed in non-tumoral or tumoral tissues. Our analysis of public transcriptomic datasets supported the notion that this cellular interaction was more prominent in patients with durable ICI responses compared to those with non-ICI-related TB. We suggest that shifts towards CD137-rich immune niches are correlated with both off-target immune-related adverse events and anti-tumor efficacy. Targeting the tumor microenvironment through conditional activation of anti-CD137 signaling in combination with ICIs can modulate the reactivity of T cells and macrophages for localized tumor killing without the potential off-target immune-related risks associated with ICIs alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngar Woon Kam
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (N.W.K.); (D.T.Y.H.); (K.C.W.); (D.L.W.K.); (K.O.L.); (T.W.L.)
- Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | | | - Desmond Tae Yang Hung
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (N.W.K.); (D.T.Y.H.); (K.C.W.); (D.L.W.K.); (K.O.L.); (T.W.L.)
| | - Ho Ko
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China;
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ka Chun Wu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (N.W.K.); (D.T.Y.H.); (K.C.W.); (D.L.W.K.); (K.O.L.); (T.W.L.)
- Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Dora Lai Wan Kwong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (N.W.K.); (D.T.Y.H.); (K.C.W.); (D.L.W.K.); (K.O.L.); (T.W.L.)
- Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Ka On Lam
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (N.W.K.); (D.T.Y.H.); (K.C.W.); (D.L.W.K.); (K.O.L.); (T.W.L.)
- Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - To Wai Leung
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (N.W.K.); (D.T.Y.H.); (K.C.W.); (D.L.W.K.); (K.O.L.); (T.W.L.)
| | - Chi Ming Che
- Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong 999077, China;
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Victor Ho Fun Lee
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (N.W.K.); (D.T.Y.H.); (K.C.W.); (D.L.W.K.); (K.O.L.); (T.W.L.)
- Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
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5
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Rossi E, Boldrini L, Maratta MG, Gatta R, Votta C, Tortora G, Schinzari G. Radiomics to predict immunotherapy efficacy in advanced renal cell carcinoma: A retrospective study. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2172926. [PMID: 36723981 PMCID: PMC10012916 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2172926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a cornerstone for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Nevertheless, some patients are resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The possibility to identify patients who cannot benefit from immunotherapy is a relevant clinical challenge. We analyzed the association between several radiomics features and response to immunotherapy in 53 patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors for advanced renal cell carcinoma. We found that the following features are associated with progression of disease as best tumor response: F_stat.range (p < .0004), F_stat.max (p < .0007), F_stat.var (p < .0016), F_stat.uniformity (p < .0020), F_stat.90thpercentile (p < .0050). Gross tumor volumes characterized by high values of F_stat.var and F_stat.max (greater than 60,000 and greater than 300, respectively) are most likely related to a high risk of progression. Further analyses are warranted to confirm these results. Radiomics, together with other potential predictive factors, such as gut microbiota, genetic features or circulating immune molecules, could allow a personalized treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Rossi
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Boldrini
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Maratta
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Gatta
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Universitá degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Votta
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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6
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Dani KA, Rich JM, Kumar SS, Cen H, Duddalwar VA, D’Souza A. Comprehensive Systematic Review of Biomarkers in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Predictors, Prognostics, and Therapeutic Monitoring. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4934. [PMID: 37894301 PMCID: PMC10605584 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15204934] [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: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Challenges remain in determining the most effective treatment strategies and identifying patients who would benefit from adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy in renal cell carcinoma. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of biomarkers in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and their utility in prediction of treatment response, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring in patients receiving systemic therapy for metastatic disease. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed database for relevant studies published between January 2017 and December 2022. The search focused on biomarkers associated with mRCC and their relationship to immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapy, and VEGF inhibitors in the adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and metastatic settings. RESULTS The review identified various biomarkers with predictive, prognostic, and therapeutic monitoring potential in mRCC. The review also discussed the challenges associated with anti-angiogenic and immune-checkpoint monotherapy trials and highlighted the need for personalized therapy based on molecular signatures. CONCLUSION This comprehensive review provides valuable insights into the landscape of biomarkers in mRCC and their potential applications in prediction of treatment response, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating biomarker assessment into clinical practice to guide treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes in mRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal A. Dani
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA;
| | - Joseph M. Rich
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA;
| | - Sean S. Kumar
- Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA;
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Harmony Cen
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA;
| | - Vinay A. Duddalwar
- Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA;
- Institute of Urology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Anishka D’Souza
- Department of Medical Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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7
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Pace A, Scirocchi F, Napoletano C, Zizzari IG, Po A, Megiorni F, Asquino A, Pontecorvi P, Rahimi H, Marchese C, Ferretti E, Nuti M, Rughetti A. Targeting FGFRs by pemigatinib induces G1 phase cell cycle arrest, cellular stress and upregulation of tumor suppressor microRNAs. J Transl Med 2023; 21:626. [PMID: 37715207 PMCID: PMC10504800 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04450-7] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) gene family alterations are found in several cancers, indicating their importance as potential therapeutic targets. The FGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) pemigatinib has been introduced in the treatment of advanced cholangiocarcinoma and more recently for relapsed or refractory myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with FGFR2 and FGFR1 rearrangements, respectively. Several clinical trials are currently investigating the possible combination of pemigatinib with immunotherapy. In this study, we analyzed the biological and molecular effects of pemigatinib on different cancer cell models (lung, bladder, and gastric), which are currently objective of clinical trial investigations. METHODS NCI-H1581 lung, KATO III gastric and RT-112 bladder cancer cell lines were evaluated for FGFR expression by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Cell lines were treated with Pem and then characterized for cell proliferation, apoptosis, production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and induction of senescence. The expression of microRNAs with tumor suppressor functions was analyzed by qRT-PCR, while modulation of the proteins coded by their target genes was evaluated by Western blot and mRNA. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the various data and student's t test to compare the analysis of two groups. RESULTS Pemigatinib exposure triggered distinct signaling pathways and reduced the proliferative ability of all cancer cells, inducing G1 phase cell cycle arrest and strong intracellular stress resulting in ROS production, senescence and apoptosis. Pemigatinib treatment also caused the upregulation of microRNAs (miR-133b, miR-139, miR-186, miR-195) with tumor suppressor functions, along with the downregulation of validated protein targets with oncogenic roles (c-Myc, c-MET, CDK6, EGFR). CONCLUSIONS These results contribute to clarifying the biological effects and molecular mechanisms mediated by the anti-FGFR TKI pemigatinib in distinct tumor settings and support its exploitation for combined therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Pace
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Scirocchi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Napoletano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Megiorni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Asquino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Pontecorvi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Hassan Rahimi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Marchese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Nuti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Rughetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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8
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Immune-related toxicity and soluble profile in patients affected by solid tumors: a network approach. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023:10.1007/s00262-023-03384-9. [PMID: 36869232 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03384-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have particular, immune-related adverse events (irAEs), as a consequence of interfering with self-tolerance mechanisms. The incidence of irAEs varies depending on ICI class, administered dose and treatment schedule. The aim of this study was to define a baseline (T0) immune profile (IP) predictive of irAE development. METHODS A prospective, multicenter study evaluating the immune profile (IP) of 79 patients with advanced cancer and treated with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) drugs as a first- or second-line setting was performed. The results were then correlated with irAEs onset. The IP was studied by means of multiplex assay, evaluating circulating concentration of 12 cytokines, 5 chemokines, 13 soluble immune checkpoints and 3 adhesion molecules. Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity was measured through a modified liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using the high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. A connectivity heatmap was obtained by calculating Spearman correlation coefficients. Two different networks of connectivity were constructed, based on the toxicity profile. RESULTS Toxicity was predominantly of low/moderate grade. High-grade irAEs were relatively rare, while cumulative toxicity was high (35%). Positive and statistically significant correlations between the cumulative toxicity and IP10 and IL8, sLAG3, sPD-L2, sHVEM, sCD137, sCD27 and sICAM-1 serum concentration were found. Moreover, patients who experienced irAEs had a markedly different connectivity pattern, characterized by disruption of most of the paired connections between cytokines, chemokines and connections of sCD137, sCD27 and sCD28, while sPDL-2 pair-wise connectivity values seemed to be intensified. Network connectivity analysis identified a total of 187 statistically significant interactions in patients without toxicity and a total of 126 statistically significant interactions in patients with toxicity. Ninety-eight interactions were common to both networks, while 29 were specifically observed in patients who experienced toxicity. CONCLUSIONS A particular, common pattern of immune dysregulation was defined in patients developing irAEs. This immune serological profile, if confirmed in a larger patient population, could lead to the design of a personalized therapeutic strategy in order to prevent, monitor and treat irAEs at an early stage.
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9
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Botticelli A, Pomati G, Cirillo A, Scagnoli S, Pisegna S, Chiavassa A, Rossi E, Schinzari G, Tortora G, Di Pietro FR, Cerbelli B, Di Filippo A, Amirhassankhani S, Scala A, Zizzari IG, Cortesi E, Tomao S, Nuti M, Mezi S, Marchetti P. The role of immune profile in predicting outcomes in cancer patients treated with immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:974087. [PMID: 36405727 PMCID: PMC9671166 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.974087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the efficacy of immunotherapy, only a small percentage of patients achieves a long-term benefit in terms of overall survival. The aim of this study was to define an immune profile predicting the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Methods Patients with advanced solid tumors, who underwent ICI treatment were enrolled in this prospective study. Blood samples were collected at the baseline. Thirteen soluble immune checkpoints, 3 soluble adhesion molecules, 5 chemokines and 11 cytokines were analyzed. The results were associated with oncological outcomes. Results Regardless of tumor type, patients with values of sTIM3, IFNα, IFNγ, IL1β, IL1α, IL12p70, MIP1β, IL13, sCD28, sGITR, sPDL1, IL10 and TNFα below the median had longer overall survival (p<0.05). By using cluster analysis and grouping the patients according to the trend of the molecules, two clusters were found. Cluster A had a significantly higher mean progression free survival (Cluster A=11.9 months vs Cluster B=3.5 months, p<0.01), a higher percentage of disease stability (Cluster A=34.5% vs. Cluster B=0%, p<0.05) and a lower percentage of disease progression (Cluster A=55.2% vs. Cluster B = 94.4%, p=0.04). Conclusion The combined evaluation of soluble molecules, rather than a single circulating factor, may be more suitable to represent the fitness of the immune system status in each patient and could allow to identify two different prognostic and predictive outcome profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Botticelli
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Pomati
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Cirillo
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessio Cirillo,
| | - Simone Scagnoli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Pisegna
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Chiavassa
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ernesto Rossi
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS), Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS), Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS), Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Bruna Cerbelli
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Polo Pontino, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Di Filippo
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Sasan Amirhassankhani
- Department of Urology, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital University of Bologna, Via Palagi, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Scala
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS), Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Grazia Zizzari
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Cortesi
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silverio Tomao
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Nuti
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Mezi
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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10
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Mezi S, Pomati G, Zizzari IG, Di Filippo A, Cerbelli B, Cirillo A, Fiscon G, Amirhassankhani S, Valentini V, De Vincentiis M, Corsi A, Di Gioia C, Tombolini V, Della Rocca C, Polimeni A, Nuti M, Marchetti P, Botticelli A. Genomic and Immune Approach in Platinum Refractory HPV-Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with Immunotherapy: A Novel Combined Profile. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112732. [PMID: 36359251 PMCID: PMC9687656 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Only a minority of patients with platinum refractory head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (PR/HNSCC) gain some lasting benefit from immunotherapy. Methods: The combined role of the comprehensive genomic (through the FoundationOne Cdx test) and immune profiles of 10 PR/HNSCC patients treated with the anti-PD-1 nivolumab was evaluated. The immune profiles were studied both at baseline and at the second cycle of immunotherapy, weighing 20 circulating cytokines/chemokines, adhesion molecules, and 14 soluble immune checkpoints dosed through a multiplex assay. A connectivity map was obtained by calculating the Spearman correlation between the expression profiles of circulating molecules. Results: Early progression occurred in five patients, each of them showing TP53 alteration and three of them showing a mutation/loss/amplification of genes involved in the cyclin-dependent kinase pathway. In addition, ERB2 amplification (1 patient), BRCA1 mutation (1 patient), and NOTCH1 genes alteration (3 patients) occurred. Five patients achieved either stable disease or partial response. Four of them carried mutations in PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathways. In the only two patients, with a long response to immunotherapy, the tumor mutational burden (TMB) was high. Moreover, a distinct signature, in terms of network connectivity of the circulating soluble molecules, characterizing responder and non-responder patients, was evidenced. Moreover, a strong negative and statistically significant (p-value ≤ 0.05) correlation with alive status was evidenced for sE-selectin at T1. Conclusions: Our results highlighted the complexity and heterogeneity of HNSCCs, even though it was in a small cohort. Molecular and immune approaches, combined in a single profile, could represent a promising strategy, in the context of precision immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Mezi
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Giulia Pomati
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Ilaria Grazia Zizzari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Di Filippo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruna Cerbelli
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Cirillo
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Fiscon
- Department of Computer, Control, and Management Engineering “Antonio Ruberti”, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Sasan Amirhassankhani
- Department of Urology, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital University of Bologna, Via Palagi 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentino Valentini
- Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Vincentiis
- Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Corsi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Cira Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Tombolini
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Della Rocca
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Polo Pontino, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Antonella Polimeni
- Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Nuti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- IDI-IRCCS Istituto Dermopatico Dell’Immacolata, 00167 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Botticelli
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
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11
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Tiako Meyo M, Chen J, Goldwasser F, Hirsch L, Huillard O. A Profile of Avelumab Plus Axitinib in the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2022; 18:683-698. [PMID: 35837579 PMCID: PMC9275425 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s263832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Until recently, the approved first-line treatment for metastatic RCC (mRCC) consisted of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) monotherapy. The landscape of first-line treatment has been transformed in the last few years with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) or VEGFR TKI plus ICI combinations. This article focuses on the profile of one of these ICI plus VEGFR TKI combination, avelumab plus axitinib. We detail the characteristics of each drug separately, and then we explore the rationale for their association, its efficacy and the resulting toxicity. Finally, we examine the factors associated with avelumab plus axitinib outcomes, and their impact on therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Tiako Meyo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.,Immunomodulatory Therapies Multidisciplinary Study Group (CERTIM), AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Jeanne Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.,Immunomodulatory Therapies Multidisciplinary Study Group (CERTIM), AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Francois Goldwasser
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.,Immunomodulatory Therapies Multidisciplinary Study Group (CERTIM), AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Laure Hirsch
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.,Immunomodulatory Therapies Multidisciplinary Study Group (CERTIM), AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Huillard
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.,Immunomodulatory Therapies Multidisciplinary Study Group (CERTIM), AP-HP, APHP.Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
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12
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Carril-Ajuria L, Desnoyer A, Meylan M, Dalban C, Naigeon M, Cassard L, Vano Y, Rioux-Leclercq N, Chouaib S, Beuselinck B, Chabaud S, Barros-Monteiro J, Bougoüin A, Lacroix G, Colina-Moreno I, Tantot F, Boselli L, De Oliveira C, Fridman WH, Escudier B, Sautes-Fridman C, Albiges L, Chaput-Gras N. Baseline circulating unswitched memory B cells and B-cell related soluble factors are associated with overall survival in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab within the NIVOREN GETUG-AFU 26 study. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-004885. [PMID: 35640928 PMCID: PMC9157347 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phase II NIVOREN GETUG-AFU 26 study reported safety and efficacy of nivolumab in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (m-ccRCC) in a 'real-world setting'. We conducted a translational-research program to determine whether specific circulating immune-cell populations and/or soluble factors at baseline were predictive of clinical outcomes in patients with m-ccRCC treated with nivolumab within the NIVOREN study. METHODS Absolute numbers of 106 circulating immune-cell populations were prospectively analyzed in patients treated at a single institution within the NIVOREN trial with available fresh-whole-blood, using dry formulation panels for multicolor flow cytometry. In addition, a panel of 14 predefined soluble factors was quantified for each baseline plasma sample using the Meso-Scale-Discovery immunoassay. The remaining patients with available plasma sample were used as a validation cohort for the soluble factor quantification analysis. Tumor immune microenvironment characterization of all patients included in the translational program of the study was available. The association of blood and tissue-based biomarkers, with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and response was analyzed. RESULTS Among the 44 patients, baseline unswitched memory B cells (NSwM B cells) were enriched in responders (p=0.006) and associated with improved OS (HR=0.08, p=0.002) and PFS (HR=0.54, p=0.048). Responders were enriched in circulating T follicular helper (Tfh) (p=0.027) and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) (p=0.043). Circulating NSwM B cells positively correlated with Tfh (r=0.70, p<0.001). Circulating NSwM B cells correlated positively with TLS and CD20 +B cells at the tumor center (r=0.59, p=0.044, and r=0.52, p=0.033) and inversely correlated with BCA-1/CXCL13 and BAFF (r=-0.55 and r=-0.42, p<0.001). Tfh cells also inversely correlated with BCA-1/CXCL13 (r=-0.61, p<0.001). IL-6, BCA-1/CXCL13 and BAFF significantly associated with worse OS in the discovery (n=40) and validation cohorts (n=313). CONCLUSION We report the first fresh blood immune-monitoring of patients with m-ccRCC treated with nivolumab. Baseline blood concentration of NSwM B cells was associated to response, PFS and OS in patients with m-ccRCC treated with nivolumab. BCA-1/CXCL13 and BAFF, inversely correlated to NSwM B cells, were both associated with worse OS in discovery and validation cohorts. Our data confirms a role for B cell subsets in the response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in patients with m-ccRCC. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Carril-Ajuria
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.,Laboratory for Immunomonitoring in Oncology, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Aude Desnoyer
- Laboratory for Immunomonitoring in Oncology, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.,Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris-Saclay, Chatenay-Malabray, France
| | - Maxime Meylan
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Inserm UMR S1138, Paris, France
| | - Cécile Dalban
- Department of Biostatistics, Centre Leon Bernard, Lyon, France
| | - Marie Naigeon
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris-Saclay, Chatenay-Malabray, France.,Laboratoire d'immunomonitoring En Oncologie, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France
| | - Lydie Cassard
- Laboratory for Immunomonitoring in Oncology, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Yann Vano
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Inserm UMR S1138, Paris, France.,Service d'Oncologie Medicale, Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Rioux-Leclercq
- Service Anatomie Etcytologie Pathologiques, CHU, Université de Rennes, Universite de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Department of Immunology, Gustave Roussy Institute, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Sylvie Chabaud
- Department of Biostatistics, Centre Leon Bernard, Lyon, France
| | | | - Antoine Bougoüin
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Inserm UMR S1138, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Boselli
- Laboratory for Immunomonitoring in Oncology, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Caroline De Oliveira
- Laboratory for Immunomonitoring in Oncology, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Bernard Escudier
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Laurence Albiges
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France
| | - Nathalie Chaput-Gras
- Laboratory for Immunomonitoring in Oncology, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France .,Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris-Saclay, Chatenay-Malabray, France
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13
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De Biasi S, Guida A, Lo Tartaro D, Fanelli M, Depenni R, Dominici M, Finak G, Porta C, Paolini A, Borella R, Bertoldi C, Cossarizza A, Sabbatini R, Gibellini L. Redistribution of CD8+ T cell subsets in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapy. Cytometry A 2022; 101:597-605. [PMID: 35507402 PMCID: PMC9542732 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.24562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Renal‐cell carcinoma (RCC) is responsible for the majority of tumors arising from the kidney parenchyma. Although a progressive improvement in median overall survival has been observed after the introduction of anti‐PD‐1 therapy, many patients do not benefit from this treatment. Therefore, we have investigated T cell dynamics to find immune modification induced by anti‐PD‐1 therapy. Here, we show that, after therapy, RCC patients (5 responders and 14 nonresponders) are characterized by a redistribution of different subsets across the memory T cell compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara De Biasi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna
| | - Annalisa Guida
- Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria, Terni, Italy.,Department of Oncology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Domenico Lo Tartaro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna.,Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Martina Fanelli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna.,Department of Oncology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Roberta Depenni
- Department of Oncology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Massimo Dominici
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna.,Department of Oncology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Greg Finak
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, USA
| | | | - Annamaria Paolini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna.,Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Rebecca Borella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna.,Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Carlo Bertoldi
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Andrea Cossarizza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna.,National Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Bologna
| | - Roberto Sabbatini
- Department of Oncology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Lara Gibellini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna
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14
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Scirocchi F, Scagnoli S, Botticelli A, Di Filippo A, Napoletano C, Zizzari IG, Strigari L, Tomao S, Cortesi E, Rughetti A, Marchetti P, Nuti M. Immune effects of CDK4/6 inhibitors in patients with HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer: Relief from immunosuppression is associated with clinical response. EBioMedicine 2022; 79:104010. [PMID: 35477069 PMCID: PMC9061627 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) are innovative small target molecules that, in combination with endocrine therapy, have recently been employed in the treatment of patients with HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer (mBC). In this prospective study, we investigate the impact of CDK4/6i on the immune profile of patients with HR+/HER2− mBC. Methods Immune cell subsets were analysed using flow cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from patients with HR+/HER2− mBC, both before and during treatment. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) were identified using the markers CD4, CD25, CTLA4, CD45RA, and intracellular FOXP3. Monocytic and polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs and PMN-MDSCs) and other immune populations were analysed using CD45, CD14, CD66b, CD11c, HLA-DR, CD3, CD8, CD28, CD137, PD1, CD45RA, CCR7, and Ki67. Findings The percentage of circulating Tregs and M/PMN-MDSCs was significantly downregulated from baseline during CDK4/6i-treatment (p<0.0001 and p<0.05, respectively). In particular, the effector Treg subset (CD4+CD25+FOXP3highCD45RA−) was strongly reduced (p<0.0001). The decrease in Treg levels was significantly greater in responder patients than in non-responder patients. Conversely, CDK4/6i treatment was associated with increased levels of CD4+ T cells and anti-tumour CD137+CD8+ T cells (p<0.05). Interpretation CDK4/6i treatment results in downregulation of Tregs, M-MDSCs, and PMN-MDSCs, thus weakening tumour immunosuppression. This decrease is associated with response to treatment, highlighting the importance of unleashing immunity in cancer treatment efficacy. These results suggest a novel mechanism of immunomodulation in mBC and provide valuable information for the future design of novel treatments combining CDK4/6i with immunotherapy in other cancer settings. Funding Sapienza University of Rome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Scirocchi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Simone Scagnoli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Andrea Botticelli
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Human Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Di Filippo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Chiara Napoletano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Ilaria Grazia Zizzari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Lidia Strigari
- Medical Physics Unit, "S. Orsola-Malpighi" Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Silverio Tomao
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Human Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Enrico Cortesi
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Human Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Aurelia Rughetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | | | - Marianna Nuti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
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15
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Rossi E, Zizzari IG, Di Filippo A, Acampora A, Pagliara MM, Sammarco MG, Simmaco M, Lionetto L, Botticelli A, Bria E, Marchetti P, Blasi MA, Tortora G, Schinzari G, Nuti M. Circulating immune profile can predict survival of metastatic uveal melanoma patients: results of an exploratory study. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2034377. [PMID: 35258435 PMCID: PMC9302506 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2034377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic uveal melanoma (UM) is a poor prognosis malignancy. Immunotherapy is commonly employed, despite the low activity, considering the lack of other effective systemic treatments. In this study, the prognostic and predictive role of soluble immune checkpoints and inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in 22 metastatic UM patients was evaluated. Baseline levels of these molecules were assessed, as well as their changes during anti-PD-1 therapy. The correlation between soluble immune checkpoints/cytokines/chemokines and survival was analyzed. A comparison between circulating immune profile of metastatic cutaneous melanoma (CM), for which immunotherapy is a mainstay of treatment, and UM during anti-PD-1 therapy was also performed. Three immune molecules resulted significantly higher in metastatic UM patients with survival <6 months versus patients with survival ≥6 months: IL-8, HVEM and IDO activity. Considering these three molecules, we obtained a baseline score able to predict patients’ survival. The same three molecules, together with soluble(s) CD137, sGITR and sCD27, resulted significantly lower in patients with survival >30 months. We also observed an increase of sCD137, sCD28, sPD-1, sPD-L2 sLAG3, sCD80 and sTim3 during anti-PD-1 treatment, as well as IDO activity, IP-10 and CCL2. Several of these molecules were significantly higher in UM compared to CM patients during anti-PD-1 therapy. The analysis of circulating immune molecules allows to identify patients with poor prognosis despite immunotherapy and patients with long survival treated with an anti-PD-1 agent. The different serum concentration of these molecules during anti-PD-1 therapy between UM and CM reflects the different efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Rossi
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Grazia Zizzari
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Di Filippo
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Acampora
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Maurizio Simmaco
- Spectrometry-Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Lionetto
- Spectrometry-Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Botticelli
- Medical Oncology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilio Bria
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- Medical Oncology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Nuti
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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16
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Zizzari IG, Di Filippo A, Botticelli A, Strigari L, Pernazza A, Rullo E, Pignataro MG, Ugolini A, Scirocchi F, Di Pietro FR, Rossi E, Gelibter A, Schinzari G, D'Amati G, Rughetti A, Marchetti P, Nuti M, Napoletano C. Circulating CD137+ T Cells Correlate with Improved Response to Anti-PD1 Immunotherapy in Patients with Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:1027-1037. [PMID: 34980602 PMCID: PMC9377756 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-2918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE CD137 molecule is expressed by activated lymphocytes, and in patients with cancer identifies the tumor-reactive T cells. In solid tumors, high levels of circulating CD137+ T cells are associated with the clinical response and the disease-free status. Here, we examined the role of the CD137+ T cells in the improvement of patients' selection for immunotherapy treatment. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from 109 patients with metastatic cancer (66 patients for the identification cohort and 43 for the validation cohort) were analyzed for the expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD137, and PD1 molecules before the beginning of anti-PD1 therapy. Twenty healthy donors were used as control. The soluble form of CD137 (sCD137) was also analyzed. The CD137+ T cell subsets and the sCD137 were correlated with the clinicopathologic characteristics. The distribution of CD137+ T cells was also examined in different tumor settings. RESULTS The percentage of CD137+ T cells was higher in healthy donors and in those patients with a better clinical status (performance status = 0-1, n°metastasis≤2) and these high levels were ascribed to the CD8+CD137+ T cell population. The high frequency of CD137+ and CD8+CD137+ T cells resulted as a prognostic factor of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), respectively, and were confirmed in the validation cohort. High levels of CD3+CD137+PD1+ lymphocytes were associated with a low number of metastasis and longer survival. Instead, the high concentration of the immunosuppressive sCD137 in the serum is associated with a lower PFS and OS. In tumor bed, patients with a complete response showed a high percentage of CD137+ and CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS We propose the CD137+ T subset as an immune biomarker to define the wellness status of the immune system for successful anticancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Grazia Zizzari
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Di Filippo
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Botticelli
- Division of Oncology, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lidia Strigari
- Medical Physics Unit, “S. Orsola-Malpighi” Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Angelina Pernazza
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Pathology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Emma Rullo
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Pathology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Gemma Pignataro
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Pathology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Ugolini
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Fabio Scirocchi
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Di Pietro
- Oncology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ernesto Rossi
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alain Gelibter
- Division of Oncology, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia D'Amati
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Pathology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Rughetti
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- Oncology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,AOU Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Nuti
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Napoletano
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapies, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Corresponding Author: Chiara Napoletano, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, Rome 00161, Italy. Phone: 3906-4997-3025; E-mail:
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17
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Iacovelli R, Ciccarese C, Procopio G, Astore S, Antonella Cannella M, Grazia Maratta M, Rizzo M, Verzoni E, Porta C, Tortora G. Current evidence for second-line treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma after progression to immune-based combinations. Cancer Treat Rev 2022; 105:102379. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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18
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Ju SA, Park SM, Joe Y, Chung HT, An WG, Kim BS. Anti-4-1BB antibody-based combination therapy augments antitumor immunity by enhancing CD11c +CD8 + T cells in renal cell carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2022; 23:43. [PMID: 34976155 PMCID: PMC8674882 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
To improve the potential treatment strategies of incurable renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the present study established a combination therapy with immunostimulatory factor (ISTF) and anti-4-1BB monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to augment the antitumor response in a murine RCC model. ISTF isolated from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans stimulates macrophages, dendritic cells and B cells to produce IL-6, TNF-α, nitric oxide and major histocompatibility complex class II expression. 4-1BB (CD137) is expressed in activated immune cells, including activated T cells, and is a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. The administration of anti-4-1BB mAbs promoted antitumor immunity via enhancing CD11c+CD8+ T cells. The CD11c+CD8+ T cells were characterized by high killing activity and IFN-γ-producing ability, representing a phenotype of active effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The present study showed that combination therapy with ISTF and anti-4-1BB mAbs promoted partial tumor regression with established RCC, but monotherapy with ISTF or anti-4-1BB mAbs did not. These effects were speculated to be caused by the increase in CD11c+CD8+ T cells in the spleen and tumor, and IFN-γ production. These insights into the effector mechanisms of the combination of ISTF and anti-4-1BB mAbs may be useful for targeting incurable RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-A Ju
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Yeonsoo Joe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, Republic of Korea
| | - Hun Taeg Chung
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, Republic of Korea
| | - Won G An
- Division of Pharmacology, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Sam Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, Republic of Korea
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19
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The Role of Circulating Biomarkers in the Oncological Management of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Where Do We Stand Now? Biomedicines 2021; 10:biomedicines10010090. [PMID: 35052770 PMCID: PMC8773056 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an increasingly common malignancy that can progress to metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in approximately one-third of RCC patients. The 5-year survival rate for mRCC is abysmally low, and, at the present time, there are sparingly few if any effective treatments. Current surgical and pharmacological treatments can have a long-lasting impact on renal function, as well. Thus, there is a compelling unmet need to discover novel biomarkers and surveillance methods to improve patient outcomes with more targeted therapies earlier in the course of the disease. Circulating biomarkers, such as circulating tumor DNA, noncoding RNA, proteins, extracellular vesicles, or cancer cells themselves potentially represent a minimally invasive tool to fill this gap and accelerate both diagnosis and treatment. Here, we discuss the clinical relevance of different circulating biomarkers in metastatic renal cell carcinoma by clarifying their potential role as novel biomarkers of response or resistance to treatments but also by guiding clinicians in novel therapeutic approaches.
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20
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Scirocchi F, Napoletano C, Pace A, Rahimi Koshkaki H, Di Filippo A, Zizzari IG, Nuti M, Rughetti A. Immunogenic Cell Death and Immunomodulatory Effects of Cabozantinib. Front Oncol 2021; 11:755433. [PMID: 34745989 PMCID: PMC8564482 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.755433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cabozantinib (XL-184) is a multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) involved in oncogenesis and angiogenesis. It is currently the standard therapy for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Combination of Cabozantinib with immunotherapy is now a standard treatment in metastatic renal cancer, and its efficacy is being tested in ongoing clinical trial in prostate cancer patients. Here, we report that Cabozantinib may exert an immunostimulatory role by inducing immunogenic stress of prostate cancer cells and directly modulating dendritic cells (DCs). Cabozantinib treatment arrested the cell cycle and triggered immunogenic cell death (ICD) in prostate cancer cells in vitro. Cabozantinib had a direct effect on DCs by the down-modulation of β-catenin and change in migratory and costimulatory phenotype of the DCs. These results may suggest possible immunomodulatory effects induced by Cabozantinib that could be exploited to optimize patient-tailored immunotherapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Napoletano
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Aurelia Rughetti
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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21
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Botticelli A, Zizzari IG, Scagnoli S, Pomati G, Strigari L, Cirillo A, Cerbelli B, Di Filippo A, Napoletano C, Scirocchi F, Rughetti A, Nuti M, Mezi S, Marchetti P. The Role of Soluble LAG3 and Soluble Immune Checkpoints Profile in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Pilot Study. J Pers Med 2021; 11:651. [PMID: 34357118 PMCID: PMC8304359 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11070651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Unresectable recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) has a very poor prognosis. Soluble immune checkpoints (sICs) are circulating proteins that result from the alternative splicing of membrane proteins and can modulate the immune response to cancer cells. The aim of our pilot study was to determine the possible role of a comprehensive evaluation of sICs in the classification of prognosis and response to treatment in patients with advanced disease. We evaluated several sICs (CD137, CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, TIM3, LAG3, GITR, HVEM, BTLA, IDO, CD80, CD27, and CD28) from peripheral blood at baseline and investigated the association with clinical characteristics and outcomes. A high baseline soluble LAG3 (sLAG3 > 377 pg/mL) resulted in an association with poor PFS and OS (p = 0.047 and p = 0.003, respectively). Moreover, sLAG3 emerged as an independent prognostic factor using an MVA (p = 0.005). The evaluation of sICs, in particular sLAG3, may be relevant for identifying patients with worse prognoses, or resistance to treatments, and may lead to the development of novel targeted strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Botticelli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Oncology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.B.); (P.M.)
| | - Ilaria Grazia Zizzari
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.G.Z.); (A.D.F.); (C.N.); (F.S.); (A.R.); (M.N.)
| | - Simone Scagnoli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Pomati
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Lidia Strigari
- Medical Physics Unit, “S. Orsola-Malpighi” Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Alessio Cirillo
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Science, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (B.C.); (S.M.)
| | - Bruna Cerbelli
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Science, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (B.C.); (S.M.)
| | - Alessandra Di Filippo
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.G.Z.); (A.D.F.); (C.N.); (F.S.); (A.R.); (M.N.)
| | - Chiara Napoletano
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.G.Z.); (A.D.F.); (C.N.); (F.S.); (A.R.); (M.N.)
| | - Fabio Scirocchi
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.G.Z.); (A.D.F.); (C.N.); (F.S.); (A.R.); (M.N.)
| | - Aurelia Rughetti
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.G.Z.); (A.D.F.); (C.N.); (F.S.); (A.R.); (M.N.)
| | - Marianna Nuti
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Cell Therapy, Department of Experimental Medicine, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.G.Z.); (A.D.F.); (C.N.); (F.S.); (A.R.); (M.N.)
| | - Silvia Mezi
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Science, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (B.C.); (S.M.)
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Oncology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.B.); (P.M.)
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22
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Chehrazi-Raffle A, Meza L, Alcantara M, Dizman N, Bergerot P, Salgia N, Hsu J, Ruel N, Salgia S, Malhotra J, Karczewska E, Kortylewski M, Pal S. Circulating cytokines associated with clinical response to systemic therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2020-002009. [PMID: 33688021 PMCID: PMC7944971 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-002009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Circulating cytokines and angiogenic factors have been associated with clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) receiving systemic therapy. However, none have yet examined cytokine concentrations in parallel cohorts receiving either immunotherapy or targeted therapy. Methods In this prospective correlative study, we enrolled 56 patients who were planned for treatment with either a vascular endothelial growth factor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGF-TKI) or immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Eligibility requirements permitted any RCC histologic subtype, International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma risk classification, and line of therapy. Immunologic profile was assessed at baseline and after 1 month on treatment using a Human Cytokine 30-plex protein assay (Invitrogen). Clinical benefit was defined as complete response, partial response, or stable disease ≥6 months per RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) V.1.1 criteria. Results Clinical benefit was similar between VEGF-TKI and ICI arms (65% vs 54%). Patients with clinical benefit from VEGF-TKIs had lower pretreatment levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p=0.02), IL-1RA (p=0.03), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (CSF) (p=0.02). At 1 month, patients with clinical benefit from ICIs had higher levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (p=0.04) and IL-12 (p=0.03). Among patients on VEGF-TKIs, those with clinical benefit had lower 1 month IL-13 (p=0.02) and granulocyte macrophage CSF (p=0.01) as well as higher 1 month VEGF (p=0.04) compared with patients with no clinical benefit. Conclusion For patients receiving VEGF-TKI or ICI therapy, distinct plasma cytokines were associated with clinical benefit. Our findings support additional investigation into plasma cytokines as biomarkers in metastatic RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Chehrazi-Raffle
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Luis Meza
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Marice Alcantara
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Nazli Dizman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Paulo Bergerot
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cettro Cancer Center, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Nicholas Salgia
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, Brazil
| | - JoAnn Hsu
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Nora Ruel
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Sabrina Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Jasnoor Malhotra
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Ewa Karczewska
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Marcin Kortylewski
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Sumanta Pal
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
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CD137 + T-Cells: Protagonists of the Immunotherapy Revolution. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030456. [PMID: 33530328 PMCID: PMC7866028 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The CD137 receptor is expressed by activated antigen-specific T-cells. CD137+ T-cells were identified inside TILs and PBMCs of different tumor types and have proven to be the naturally occurring antitumor effector cells, capable of expressing a wide variability in terms of TCR specificity against both shared and neoantigenic tumor-derived peptides. The aim of this review is thus summarizing and highlighting their role as drivers of patients’ immune responses in anticancer therapies as well as their potential role in future and current strategies of immunotherapy. Abstract The CD137 receptor (4-1BB, TNF RSF9) is an activation induced molecule expressed by antigen-specific T-cells. The engagement with its ligand, CD137L, is capable of increasing T-cell survival, proliferation, and cytokine production. This allowed to identify the CD137+ T-cells as the real tumor-specific activated T-cell population. In fact, these cells express various TCRs that are specific for a wide range of tumor-derived peptides, both shared and neoantigenic ones. Moreover, their prevalence in sites close to the tumor and their unicity in killing cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, raised particular interest in studying their potential role in different strategies of immunotherapy. They indeed showed to be a reliable marker able to predict patient’s outcome to immune-based therapies as well as monitor their response. In addition, the possibility of isolating and expanding this population, turned promising in order to generate effector antitumor T-cells in the context of adoptive T-cell therapies. CD137-targeting monoclonal antibodies have already shown their antitumor efficacy in cancer patients and a number of clinical trials are thus ongoing to test their possible introduction in different combination approaches of immunotherapy. Finally, the intracellular domain of the CD137 receptor was introduced in the anti-CD19 CAR-T cells that were approved by FDA for the treatment of pediatric B-cell leukemia and refractory B-cell lymphoma.
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