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Schlom J, Donahue RN, Palena C, Gameiro SR, Hodge JW, Hamilton DH, Gulley JL. Hypothesis: the generation of T cells directed against neoepitopes employing immune-mediating agents other than neoepitope vaccines. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009595. [PMID: 38977329 PMCID: PMC11256020 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009595] [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: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of vaccines, especially RNA-based, directed against patient-specific tumor neoepitopes is an active and productive area of cancer immunotherapy. Promising clinical results in melanoma and other solid tumor types are emerging. As with all cancer therapy modalities, neoepitope vaccine development and delivery also has some drawbacks, including the level of effort to develop a patient-specific product, accuracy of algorithms to predict neoepitopes, and with the exception of melanoma and some other tumor types, biopsies of metastatic lesions of solid tumors are often not available. We hypothesize that in some circumstances the use of rationally designed combinations of "off-the-shelf" agents may prove an additional path to enable the patient to produce his/her own "neoepitope vaccine" in situ. These combination therapies may consist of agents to activate a tumor-associated T-cell response, potentiate that response, reduce or eliminate immunosuppressive entities in the tumor microenvironment, and/or alter the phenotype of tumor cells to render them more susceptible to immune-mediated lysis. Examples are provided in both preclinical and clinical studies in which combinations of "off-the-shelf" agents lead to the generation of T cells directed against tumor-derived neoepitopes with consequent antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Schlom
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Claudia Palena
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sofia R Gameiro
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James W Hodge
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Duane H Hamilton
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Aljassabi A, Zieneldien T, Kim J, Regmi D, Cao C. Alzheimer's Disease Immunotherapy: Current Strategies and Future Prospects. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 98:755-772. [PMID: 38489183 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231163] [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] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an extremely complex and heterogeneous pathology influenced by many factors contributing to its onset and progression, including aging, amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, tau fibril accumulation, inflammation, etc. Despite promising advances in drug development, there is no cure for AD. Although there have been substantial advancements in understanding the pathogenesis of AD, there have been over 200 unsuccessful clinical trials in the past decade. In recent years, immunotherapies have been at the forefront of these efforts. Immunotherapy alludes to the immunological field that strives to identify disease treatments via the enhancement, suppression, or induction of immune responses. Interestingly, immunotherapy in AD is a relatively new approach for non-infectious disease. At present, antibody therapy (passive immunotherapy) that targets anti-Aβ aimed to prevent the fibrillization of Aβ peptides and disrupt pre-existing fibrils is a predominant AD immunotherapy due to the continuous failure of active immunotherapy for AD. The most rational and safe strategies will be those targeting the toxic molecule without triggering an abnormal immune response, offering therapeutic advantages, thus making clinical trial design more efficient. This review offers a concise overview of immunotherapeutic strategies, including active and passive immunotherapy for AD. Our review encompasses approved methods and those presently under investigation in clinical trials, while elucidating the recent challenges, complications, successes, and potential treatments. Thus, immunotherapies targeting Aβ throughout the disease progression using a mutant oligomer-Aβ stimulated dendritic cell vaccine may offer a promising therapy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Aljassabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Tarek Zieneldien
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Janice Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Deepika Regmi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Chuanhai Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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Nahar S, Huang Y, Nagy BA, Zebala JA, Maeda DY, Rudloff U, Oppenheim JJ, Yang D. Regression and Eradication of Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma in 4T1 Mouse Model by Combination Immunotherapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082366. [PMID: 37190294 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive types of solid-organ cancers. While immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has significantly improved outcomes in certain types of solid-organ cancers, patients with immunologically cold TNBC are afforded only a modest gain in survival by the addition of ICB to systemic chemotherapy. Thus, it is urgently needed to develop novel effective therapeutic approaches for TNBC. Utilizing the 4T1 murine model of TNBC, we developed a novel combination immunotherapeutic regimen consisting of intratumoral delivery of high-mobility group nucleosome binding protein 1 (HMGN1), TLR2/6 ligand fibroblast-stimulating lipopeptide (FSL-1), TLR7/8 agonist (R848/resiquimod), and CTLA-4 blockade. We also investigated the effect of adding SX682, a small-molecule inhibitor of CXCR1/2 known to reduce MDSC trafficking to tumor microenvironment, to our therapeutic approach. 4T1-bearing mice responded with significant tumor regression and tumor elimination to our therapeutic combination regimen. Mice with complete tumor regressions did not recur and became long-term survivors. Treatment with HMGN1, FSL-1, R848, and anti-CTLA4 antibody increased the number of infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ effector/memory T cells in both tumors and draining lymph nodes and triggered the generation of 4T1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the draining lymph nodes. Thus, we developed a potentially curative immunotherapeutic regimen consisting of HMGN1, FSL-1, R848, plus a checkpoint inhibitor for TNBC, which does not rely on the administration of chemotherapy, radiation, or exogenous tumor-associated antigen(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Saifun Nahar
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Rare Tumor Initiative, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yue Huang
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Bethany A Nagy
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | | | | | - Udo Rudloff
- Rare Tumor Initiative, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Joost J Oppenheim
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - De Yang
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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Vavolizza RD, Petroni GR, Mauldin IS, Chianese-Bullock KA, Olson WC, Smith KT, Dengel LT, Haden K, Grosh WW, Kaur V, Varhegyi N, Gaughan EM, Slingluff CL. Phase I/II clinical trial of a helper peptide vaccine plus PD-1 blockade in PD-1 antibody-naïve and PD-1 antibody-experienced patients with melanoma (MEL64). J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e005424. [PMID: 36100309 PMCID: PMC9472210 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A vaccine containing 6 melanoma-associated peptides to stimulate helper T cells (6MHP) is safe, immunogenic, and clinically active. A phase I/II trial was designed to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of 6MHP vaccines plus programmed death 1 (PD-1) blockade. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Participants with advanced melanoma received 6MHP vaccines in an incomplete Freund's adjuvant (6 vaccines over 12 weeks). Pembrolizumab was administered intravenously every 3 weeks. Tumor biopsies at baseline and day 22 were analyzed by multiplex immunohistochemistry. Primary end points were safety (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events V.4.03) and immunogenicity (ex vivo interferon-γ ELISpot assay). Additional end points included changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and clinical outcomes. RESULTS Twenty-two eligible participants were treated: 6 naïve to PD-1 antibody (Ab) and 16 PD-1 Ab-experienced. Median follow-up was 24.4 months. Most common treatment-related adverse events (any grade) included injection site reactions, fatigue, anemia, lymphopenia, fever, elevated aspartate aminotransferase, pruritus, and rash. Treatment-related dose-limiting toxicities were observed in 3 (14%) participants, which did not cross the study safety bound. A high durable T cell response (Rsp) to 6MHP was detected in only one participant, but twofold T cell Rsps to 6MHP were detected in 7/22 (32%; 90% CI (16% to 52%)) by week 13. Objective clinical responses were observed in 23% (1 complete response, 4 partial responses), including 4/6 PD-1 Ab-naïve (67%) and 1/16 PD-1 Ab-experienced (6%). Overall survival (OS) was longer for PD-1 Ab-naïve than Ab-experienced participants (HR 6.3 (90% CI (2.1 to 28.7)). In landmark analyses at 13 weeks, OS was also longer for those with T cell Rsps (HR 6.5 (90% CI (2.1 to 29.2)) and for those with objective clinical responses. TME evaluation revealed increased densities of CD8+ T cells, CD20+ B cells, and Tbet+ cells by day 22. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with the 6MHP vaccine plus pembrolizumab was safe, increased intratumoral lymphocytes, and induced T cell Rsps associated with prolonged OS. The low T cell Rsp rate in PD-1 Ab-experienced participants corroborates prior murine studies that caution against delaying cancer vaccines until after PD-1 blockade. The promising objective response rate and OS in PD-1 Ab-naïve participants support consideration of a larger study in that setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick Daniel Vavolizza
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Gina R Petroni
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Ileana S Mauldin
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Walter C Olson
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Kelly T Smith
- Cancer Center and Office of Research Core Administration, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Lynn T Dengel
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Kathleen Haden
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - William W Grosh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Varinder Kaur
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Nikole Varhegyi
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Gaughan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Craig L Slingluff
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapies: Mechanisms That Affect Antitumor Immune Response and Treatment Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13225655. [PMID: 34830808 PMCID: PMC8616397 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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Huang F, Pan N, Wei Y, Zhao J, Aldarouish M, Wang X, Sun X, Wen Z, Chen Y, Wang L. Effects of Combinatorial Ubiquitinated Protein-Based Nanovaccine and STING Agonist in Mice With Drug-Resistant and Metastatic Breast Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:707298. [PMID: 34589084 PMCID: PMC8475273 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.707298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that enriched ubiquitinated proteins (UPs) from tumor cells have the potential to be used as immunotherapy vaccine against cancer. Here we enriched UPs from epirubicin (EPB)-induced multi-drug-resistant cancer stem-like breast cancer cell line (4T1/EPB) and tested the efficacy of α-Al2O3-UPs-4T1/EPB (short for UPs-4T1/EPB) as therapeutic vaccine alone and in combination with the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist in mice with drug-resistant and metastatic breast cancer. Vaccination with UPs-4T1/EPB exerted profound anti-tumor effects through augmented specific CD8+ T cell responses and amplified T cell receptor diversity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Importantly, the combination with STING agonist further facilitated the migration of mature CD8α+ dendritic cells to the lymph nodes and the infiltration of TILs within tumors, resulting in primary tumor regression and pulmonary metastasis eradication in mice. Moreover, the cured mice were completely resistant against a subsequent rechallenge with the same tumor. Our study indicates that this novel combinatorial immunotherapy with UPs-4T1/EPB vaccine and STING agonist is effective in mice with drug-resistant and metastatic breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Huang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ning Pan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yiting Wei
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinjin Zhao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mohanad Aldarouish
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuru Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaotong Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhifa Wen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongqiang Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lixin Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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Kim M, Min YK, Jang J, Park H, Lee S, Lee CH. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals distinct cellular factors for response to immunotherapy targeting CD73 and PD-1 in colorectal cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002503. [PMID: 34253638 PMCID: PMC8276303 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although cancer immunotherapy is one of the most effective advanced-stage cancer therapies, no clinically approved cancer immunotherapies currently exist for colorectal cancer (CRC). Recently, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade has exhibited clinical benefits according to ongoing clinical trials. However, ongoing clinical trials for cancer immunotherapies are focused on PD-1 signaling inhibitors such as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and atezolizumab. In this study, we focused on revealing the distinct response mechanism for the potent CD73 ectoenzyme selective inhibitor AB680 as a promising drug candidate that functions by blocking tumorigenic ATP/adenosine signaling in comparison to current therapeutics that block PD-1 to assess the value of this drug as a novel immunotherapy for CRC. METHODS To understand the distinct mechanism of AB680 in comparison to that of a neutralizing antibody against murine PD-1 used as a PD-1 blocker, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of CD45+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from untreated controls (n=3) and from AB680-treated (n=3) and PD-1-blockade-treated murine CRC in vivo models. We also used flow cytometry, Azoxymethane (AOM)/Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) models, and in vitro functional assays to validate our new findings. RESULTS We initially observed that the expressions of Nt5e (a gene for CD73) and Entpd1 (a gene for CD39) affect T cell receptor (TCR) diversity and transcriptional profiles of T cells, thus suggesting their critical roles in T cell exhaustion within tumor. Importantly, PD-1 blockade significantly increased the TCR diversity of Entpd1-negative T cells and Pdcd1-positive T cells. Additionally, we determined that AB680 improved the anticancer functions of immunosuppressed cells such as Treg and exhausted T cells, while the PD-1 blocker quantitatively reduced Malat1high Treg and M2 macrophages. We also verified that PD-1 blockade induced Treg depletion in AOM/DSS CRC in vivo models, and we confirmed that AB680 treatment caused increased activation of CD8+ T cells using an in vitro T cell assay. CONCLUSIONS The intratumoral immunomodulation of CD73 inhibition is distinct from PD-1 inhibition and exhibits potential as a novel anticancer immunotherapy for CRC, possibly through a synergistic effect when combined with PD-1 blocker treatments. This study may contribute to the ongoing development of anticancer immunotherapies targeting refractory CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miok Kim
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Drug Discovery Platform Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Ki Min
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Drug Discovery Platform Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinho Jang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea.,Korean Genomics Center, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejin Park
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Drug Discovery Platform Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Semin Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea .,Korean Genomics Center, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Hoon Lee
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Drug Discovery Platform Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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