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Shin S, Kim CH, Son S, Lee JA, Kwon S, You DG, Lee J, Kim J, Jo DG, Ko H, Park JH. PEDF-Enriched Extracellular Vesicle for Vessel Normalization to Potentiate Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy. Biomater Res 2024; 28:0068. [PMID: 39355307 PMCID: PMC11443973 DOI: 10.34133/bmr.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The abnormal tumor vasculature acts as the physical and functional barrier to the infiltration and activity of effector T cells, leading to the low response rate of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Herein, antiangiogenic extracellular vesicles that enable normalization of the tumor-associated vasculature were prepared to potentiate the efficacy of ICIs. Small extracellular vesicles were exploited as the delivery platform to protect the antiangiogenic protein, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), from proteolytic degradation. Along with the physicochemical characteristics of the PEDF-enriched extracellular vesicles (P-EVs), their inhibitory effects on migration, proliferation, and tube formation of endothelial cells were investigated in vitro. In tumor-bearing mice, it was confirmed that, compared to bare PEDFs, P-EVs efficiently reduced vessel leakiness, improved blood perfusion, and attenuated hypoxia. Consequently, when combined with anti-PD-1 antibodies, P-EVs remarkably augmented the antitumor immunity, as evidenced by increased infiltration of CD8+ T cells and reduced regulatory T cells. These results suggest that P-EVs are promising therapeutics for tumors refractory to ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sol Shin
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST,
Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06355, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering,
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Ho Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering,
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyoung Son
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST,
Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06355, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering,
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Ah Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering,
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunglee Kwon
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering,
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Gil You
- Massachusetts General Hospital,
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jungmi Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering,
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongyun Kim
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST,
Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06355, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Gyu Jo
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS),
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- School of Pharmacy,
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- ExoStemTech Inc., 55 Hanyangdaehak-ro, Sangnok-gu, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyewon Ko
- School of Pharmacy,
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Bionanotechnology Research Center,
Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hyung Park
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST,
Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06355, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering,
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS),
Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- ExoStemTech Inc., 55 Hanyangdaehak-ro, Sangnok-gu, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
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2
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Pavelescu LA, Enache RM, Roşu OA, Profir M, Creţoiu SM, Gaspar BS. Predictive Biomarkers and Resistance Mechanisms of Checkpoint Inhibitors in Malignant Solid Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9659. [PMID: 39273605 PMCID: PMC11395316 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in solid tumors such as melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), colorectal cancer (CRC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), endometrial carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), or urothelial carcinoma (UC) include programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, tumor mutational burden (TMB), defective deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mismatch repair (dMMR), microsatellite instability (MSI), and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Over the past decade, several types of ICIs, including cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antibodies, anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies, and anti-lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) antibodies have been studied and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with ongoing research on others. Recent studies highlight the critical role of the gut microbiome in influencing a positive therapeutic response to ICIs, emphasizing the importance of modeling factors that can maintain a healthy microbiome. However, resistance mechanisms can emerge, such as increased expression of alternative immune checkpoints, T-cell immunoglobulin (Ig), mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3), LAG-3, impaired antigen presentation, and alterations in the TME. This review aims to synthesize the data regarding the interactions between microbiota and immunotherapy (IT). Understanding these mechanisms is essential for optimizing ICI therapy and developing effective combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Alexandra Pavelescu
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Cell and Molecular Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Robert Mihai Enache
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Fundeni Clinical Institute, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Oana Alexandra Roşu
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Cell and Molecular Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Oncology, Elias University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Monica Profir
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Cell and Molecular Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Oncology, Elias University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sanda Maria Creţoiu
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Cell and Molecular Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bogdan Severus Gaspar
- Department of Surgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Surgery Clinic, Bucharest Emergency Clinical Hospital, 014461 Bucharest, Romania
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3
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Kim H, Lee W, Kim Y, Lee SJ, Choi W, Lee GK, Park SJ, Ju S, Kim SY, Lee C, Han JY. Proteogenomic characterization identifies clinical subgroups in EGFR and ALK wild-type never-smoker lung adenocarcinoma. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:2082-2095. [PMID: 39300154 PMCID: PMC11446976 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01320-0] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with lung adenocarcinoma who have never smoked (NSLA) and lack key driver mutations, such as those in the EGFR and ALK genes, face limited options for targeted therapies. They also tend to have poorer outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibitors than lung cancer patients who have a history of smoking. The proteogenomic profile of nonsmoking lung adenocarcinoma patients without these oncogenic driver mutations is poorly understood, which complicates the precise molecular classification of these cancers and highlights a significant area of unmet clinical need. This study analyzed the genome, transcriptome, and LC‒MS/MS-TMT-driven proteome data of tumors obtained from 99 Korean never-smoker lung adenocarcinoma patients. NSLA tumors without EGFR or ALK driver oncogenes were classified into four proteogenomic subgroups: proliferation, angiogenesis, immune, and metabolism subgroups. These 4 molecular subgroups were strongly associated with distinct clinical outcomes. The proliferation and angiogenesis subtypes were associated with a poorer prognosis, while the immune subtype was associated with the most favorable outcome, which was validated in an external lung cancer dataset. Genomic-wide impacts were analyzed, and significant correlations were found between copy number alterations and both the transcriptome and proteome for several genes, with enrichment in the ERBB, neurotrophin, insulin, and MAPK signaling pathways. Proteogenomic analyses suggested several targetable genes and proteins, including CDKs and ATR, as potential therapeutic targets in the proliferation subgroup. Upregulated cytokines, such as CCL5 and CXCL13, in the immune subgroup may serve as potential targets for combination immunotherapy. Our comprehensive proteogenomic analysis revealed the molecular subtypes of EGFR- and ALK-wild-type NSLA with significant unmet clinical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyondeog Kim
- Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonyeop Lee
- Anticancer Resistance Branch, Research Institute of National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngwook Kim
- Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Cancer Data Science, Research Institute of National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang-Jin Lee
- Immuno-oncology Branch, Research Institute of National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonyoung Choi
- Cancer Molecular Biology Branch, Research Institute of National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Geon Kook Lee
- Cancer Diagnostics Branch, Research Institute of National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Jin Park
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioscience, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Shinyeong Ju
- Chemical & Biological Integrative Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Young Kim
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioscience, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Korea Bioinformation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolju Lee
- Chemical & Biological Integrative Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Youn Han
- Anticancer Resistance Branch, Research Institute of National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
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Ahmad I, Altameemi KKA, Hani MM, Ali AM, Shareef HK, Hassan ZF, Alubiady MHS, Al-Abdeen SHZ, Shakier HG, Redhee AH. Shifting cold to hot tumors by nanoparticle-loaded drugs and products. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03577-3. [PMID: 38922537 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03577-3] [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: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Cold tumors lack antitumor immunity and are resistant to therapy, representing a major challenge in cancer medicine. Because of the immunosuppressive spirit of the tumor microenvironment (TME), this form of tumor has a low response to immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and also chemotherapy. Cold tumors have low infiltration of immune cells and a high expression of co-inhibitory molecules, such as immune checkpoints and immunosuppressive molecules. Therefore, targeting TME and remodeling immunity in cold tumors can improve the chance of tumor repression after therapy. However, tumor stroma prevents the infiltration of inflammatory cells and hinders the penetration of diverse molecules and drugs. Nanoparticles are an intriguing tool for the delivery of immune modulatory agents and shifting cold to hot tumors. In this review article, we discuss the mechanisms underlying the ability of nanoparticles loaded with different drugs and products to modulate TME and enhance immune cell infiltration. We also focus on newest progresses in the design and development of nanoparticle-based strategies for changing cold to hot tumors. These include the use of nanoparticles for targeted delivery of immunomodulatory agents, such as cytokines, small molecules, and checkpoint inhibitors, and for co-delivery of chemotherapy drugs and immunomodulatory agents. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of nanoparticles for enhancing the efficacy of cancer vaccines and cell therapy for overcoming resistance to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irfan Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
| | | | - Mohaned Mohammed Hani
- Department of Medical Instrumentation Engineering Techniques, Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University, Al Muthanna, Iraq
| | - Afaq Mahdi Ali
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Al-Turath University College, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Hasanain Khaleel Shareef
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Science, Al-Mustaqbal University, Hilla, Iraq
- Biology Department, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Hilla, Iraq
| | | | | | | | | | - Ahmed Huseen Redhee
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
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5
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Abdelrahman DI, Elhasadi I, Anbaig A, Bakry A, Mandour D, Wasefy T, Yehia AM, Alorini M, Shalaby AM, Yahia AIO, Alabiad MA. Immunohistochemical Expression of Immune Checkpoints; CTLA-4, LAG3, and TIM-3 in Cancer Cells and Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) in Colorectal Carcinoma. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2024; 32:71-83. [PMID: 38108390 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000001181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is considered the third most prevalent cancer in both sexes. Immune checkpoint receptors that regulate T-cell response, stimulation, and development include lymphocyte activating gene 3 (LAG-3), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3). In addition, they are crucial for the advancement of cancer and tumor immune escape. OBJECTIVE This work's aim was to assess the immunohistochemistry expression of Tim-3, CTLA-4, and LAG-3 in cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the correlation between these markers and clinicopathological variables and survival data. METHODS This study involved 206 CRC specimens processed for CTLA-4, LAG3, and TIM-3 immunohistochemistry and correlated with the clinicopathological and survival parameters of the patients. RESULTS High CTLA-4 epithelial expression was highly related to the old age group, large tumor size, low tumor-stroma ratio (TSR), high grade, advanced stage, the presence of distant metastasis (DM), perineural invasion (PNI), necrosis, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), relapse, mortality, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS), while negative CTLA-4 TILs expression was highly linked with the presence of gross perforation, low TSR, high tumor budding (TB) score, high grade, advanced stage, the existence of lymph node (LN) metastasis, DM, necrosis, LVI, PNI, DFS, mortality, and OS. Positive LAG-3 TILs expression was highly correlated with large tumor size, gross perforation, low TSR, high TB score, high grade, advanced phase, the presence of LN, necrosis, LVI, PNI, relapse DFS, mortality, and OS. High Tim-3 epithelial expression was extremely linked with low TSR, advanced phase, the presence of LN, LVI, PNI, relapse, DFS, mortality, and OS, while positive Tim-3 TILs expression was related to gross perforation, low TSR, high TB score, advanced stage, the presence of LN, DM, necrosis, relapse, DFS, mortality, and OS. CONCLUSIONS The patients' poor prognosis may be related to the immunohistochemistry expression of LAG-3, Tim-3, and CTLA-4 in CRC cancer tissue and TILs. Poor patient consequences can result from the CTLA-4, Tim-3, and LAG-3 co-expression, but CTLA-4 TILs' expression of these proteins may inhibit the growth of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ibtesam Elhasadi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya
| | - Amal Anbaig
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya
| | | | | | - Tamer Wasefy
- General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig
| | - Ahmed M Yehia
- General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig
| | - Mohammed Alorini
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah
| | - Amany M Shalaby
- Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Amar Ibrahim Omer Yahia
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Kordofan, Elobeid, Sudan
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6
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Yu H, Zhu W, Lin C, Jia M, Tan X, Yuan Z, Feng S, Yan P. Stromal and tumor immune microenvironment reprogramming through multifunctional cisplatin-based liposomes boosts the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer. Biomater Sci 2023; 12:116-133. [PMID: 37921708 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm01118f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The dense stromal barrier in pancreatic cancer tissues blocks intratumoral delivery and distribution of chemotherapeutics and therapeutic antibodies, causing poor chemoimmunotherapy responses. We designed a multi-targeted pH-sensitive liposome which encapsulates cisplatin (Pt) in its water core (denoted as ATF@Pt Lps) and shows high affinity for uPAR receptors in pancreatic cancer cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Systemic administration of ATF@Pt Lps enabled overcoming the central stromal cellular barrier and effective drug delivery into tumor cells, resulting in a strong therapeutic response in a Panc02 cell derived transplanted tumor mouse model. More importantly, ATF@Pt Lps degradation of collagen contributes to the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into tumors as well as an enhanced accumulation of anti PD-1 monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, the killing of tumor cells by Pt also leads to the release of tumor antigens, which promote the proliferation of immune cells, especially CD83+ cells, Th1 CD4+ cells, and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, that converted an immunoscore "cold" pancreatic cancer into a pro-immune "hot" tumor. A further combination with an immune checkpoint agent, anti PD-1 antibodies that inhibit PD-1, can enhance tumor specific cytotoxic T cell response. Accordingly, ATF@Pt Lps displays multi-targeting, controlled drug release, stromal disruption, enhanced penetration, killing of cancer cells, modification of the immunosuppressive microenvironment, and enhancement of immunity. This study provides important mechanistic information for the further development of a combination of ATF@Pt Lps and anti PD-1 antibodies for the effective treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Wenting Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Caiyan Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Menglei Jia
- Department of Pharmacy, Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Xiaoxiao Tan
- Department of Pharmacy, Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Zhongwen Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy, Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Senglin Feng
- Department of Pharmacy, Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Pengke Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
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7
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Mohaghegh N, Ahari A, Zehtabi F, Buttles C, Davani S, Hoang H, Tseng K, Zamanian B, Khosravi S, Daniali A, Kouchehbaghi NH, Thomas I, Serati Nouri H, Khorsandi D, Abbasgholizadeh R, Akbari M, Patil R, Kang H, Jucaud V, Khademhosseini A, Hassani Najafabadi A. Injectable hydrogels for personalized cancer immunotherapies. Acta Biomater 2023; 172:67-91. [PMID: 37806376 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The field of cancer immunotherapy has shown significant growth, and researchers are now focusing on effective strategies to enhance and prolong local immunomodulation. Injectable hydrogels (IHs) have emerged as versatile platforms for encapsulating and controlling the release of small molecules and cells, drawing significant attention for their potential to enhance antitumor immune responses while inhibiting metastasis and recurrence. IHs delivering natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) offer a viable method for treating cancer. Indeed, it can bypass the extracellular matrix and gradually release small molecules or cells into the tumor microenvironment, thereby boosting immune responses against cancer cells. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy using IHs for delivering NK cells, T cells, APCs, chemoimmunotherapy, radio-immunotherapy, and photothermal-immunotherapy. First, we introduce IHs as a delivery matrix, then summarize their applications for the local delivery of small molecules and immune cells to elicit robust anticancer immune responses. Additionally, we discuss recent progress in IHs systems used for local combination therapy, including chemoimmunotherapy, radio-immunotherapy, photothermal-immunotherapy, photodynamic-immunotherapy, and gene-immunotherapy. By comprehensively examining the utilization of IHs in cancer immunotherapy, this review aims to highlight the potential of IHs as effective carriers for immunotherapy delivery, facilitating the development of innovative strategies for cancer treatment. In addition, we demonstrate that using hydrogel-based platforms for the targeted delivery of immune cells, such as NK cells, T cells, and dendritic cells (DCs), has remarkable potential in cancer therapy. These innovative approaches have yielded substantial reductions in tumor growth, showcasing the ability of hydrogels to enhance the efficacy of immune-based treatments. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: As cancer immunotherapy continues to expand, the mode of therapeutic agent delivery becomes increasingly critical. This review spotlights the forward-looking progress of IHs, emphasizing their potential to revolutionize localized immunotherapy delivery. By efficiently encapsulating and controlling the release of essential immune components such as T cells, NK cells, APCs, and various therapeutic agents, IHs offer a pioneering pathway to amplify immune reactions, moderate metastasis, and reduce recurrence. Their adaptability further shines when considering their role in emerging combination therapies, including chemoimmunotherapy, radio-immunotherapy, and photothermal-immunotherapy. Understanding IHs' significance in cancer therapy is essential, suggesting a shift in cancer treatment dynamics and heralding a novel period of focused, enduring, and powerful therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neda Mohaghegh
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
| | - Amir Ahari
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA; Department of Surgery, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Fatemeh Zehtabi
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
| | - Claire Buttles
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA; Indiana University Bloomington, Department of Biology, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Saya Davani
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
| | - Hanna Hoang
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Kaylee Tseng
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA
| | - Benjamin Zamanian
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
| | - Safoora Khosravi
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Ariella Daniali
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
| | - Negar Hosseinzadeh Kouchehbaghi
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA; Department of Textile Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Hafez Avenue, Tehran, Iran
| | - Isabel Thomas
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
| | - Hamed Serati Nouri
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA; Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Danial Khorsandi
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA; Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Mohsen Akbari
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA; Laboratory for Innovations in Microengineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Rameshwar Patil
- Department of Basic Science and Neurosurgery, Division of Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Heemin Kang
- Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Vadim Jucaud
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA.
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA.
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8
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Ren Q, Li Q, Shao C, Zhang P, Hu Z, Li J, Wang W, Yu Y. Establishing a prognostic model based on immune-related genes and identification of BIRC5 as a potential biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma patients. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:897. [PMID: 37741993 PMCID: PMC10517491 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is an extraordinarily malignant tumor, with rapidly increasing morbidity and poor prognosis. Immunotherapy has emerged as a hopeful therapeutic modality for lung adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, a prognostic model (based on immune genes) can fulfill the purpose of early diagnosis and accurate prognostic prediction. METHODS Immune-related mRNAs (IRmRNAs) were utilized to construct a prognostic model that sorted patients into high- and low-risk groups. Then, the prediction efficacy of our model was evaluated using a nomogram. The differences in overall survival (OS), the tumor mutation landscape, and the tumor microenvironment were further explored between different risk groups. In addition, the immune genes comprising the prognostic model were subjected to single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the expression of these immune genes in different cells. Finally, the functions of BIRC5 were validated through in vitro experiments. RESULTS Patients in different risk groups exhibited sharply significant variations in OS, pathway activity, immune cell infiltration, mutation patterns, and immune response. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that the expression level of BIRC5 was significantly high in T cells. Cell experiments further revealed that BIRC5 knockdown markedly reduced LUAD cell proliferation. CONCLUSION This model can function as an instrumental variable in the prognostic, molecular, and therapeutic prediction of LUAD, shedding new light on the optimal clinical practice guidelines for LUAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhe Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qifan Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chenye Shao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Pengpeng Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Hu
- Department of Urology, Shuyang First People's Hospital, Suqian, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yue Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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9
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Dadgar N, Edlukudige Keshava V, Raj MS, Wagner PL. The Influence of the Microbiome on Immunotherapy for Gastroesophageal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4426. [PMID: 37760397 PMCID: PMC10526145 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184426] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has shown promise as a treatment option for gastroesophageal cancer, but its effectiveness is limited in many patients due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) commonly found in gastrointestinal tumors. This paper explores the impact of the microbiome on the TME and immunotherapy outcomes in gastroesophageal cancer. The microbiome, comprising microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract, as well as within malignant tissue, plays a crucial role in modulating immune responses and tumor development. Dysbiosis and reduced microbial diversity are associated with poor response rates and treatment resistance, while specific microbial profiles correlate with improved outcomes. Understanding the complex interactions between the microbiome, tumor biology, and immunotherapy is crucial for developing targeted interventions. Microbiome-based biomarkers may enable personalized treatment approaches and prediction of patient response. Interventions targeting the microbiome, such as microbiota-based therapeutics and dietary modifications, offer the potential for reshaping the gut microbiota and creating a favorable TME that enhances immunotherapy efficacy. Further research is needed to reveal the underlying mechanisms, and large-scale clinical trials will be required to validate the efficacy of microbiome-targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neda Dadgar
- Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
| | | | - Moses S. Raj
- Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; (V.E.K.); (M.S.R.)
| | - Patrick L. Wagner
- Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; (V.E.K.); (M.S.R.)
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10
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Yu Y, Xu B, Xiang L, Ding T, Wang N, Yu R, Gu B, Gao L, Maswikiti EP, Wang Y, Li H, Bai Y, Zheng P, Ma C, Wang B, Wang X, Zhang T, Chen H. Photodynamic therapy improves the outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors via remodelling anti-tumour immunity in patients with gastric cancer. Gastric Cancer 2023; 26:798-813. [PMID: 37335366 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-023-01409-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Photodynamic therapy (PDT) plays an immunoregulatory role in tumours. Here, we conducted a retrospective patient analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of PDT plus immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in gastric cancer. Further, we performed a dynamic analysis of gastric cancer patients receiving PDT to clarify its effects on anti-tumour immunity. METHODS Forty ICI-treated patients that received PDT or not were retrospectively analysed. Five patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were enrolled for sample collection before and after PDT. Single-cell RNA/T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, flow cytometry and histological exanimation were used to analyse the collected specimens. RESULTS Patients in PDT group had a significantly better OS after ICI treatment than those in No PDT group. Single-cell analysis identified ten cell types in gastric cancer tissues and four sub-populations of T cells. Immune cell infiltration increased in the tumours after PDT and the circular immune cells showed consistent alterations. TCR analysis revealed a specific clonal expansion after PDT in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), but a constriction in Tregs. The B2M gene is upregulated in tumour cells after PDT and is associated with immune cell infiltration. Several pathways involving the positive regulation of immunity were enriched in tumour cells in the post-PDT group. The interactions following PDT were increased between tumour cells and effector cells but decreased between Tregs and other immune cells. Some co-stimulatory signaling emerged, whereas co-inhibitory signaling disappeared in intercellular communication after PDT. CONCLUSIONS PDT elicits an anti-tumour response through various mechanisms and is promising as an adjuvant to enhance ICI benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yu
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bo Xu
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lin Xiang
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tianlong Ding
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Na Wang
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Rong Yu
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Baohong Gu
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lei Gao
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ewetse Paul Maswikiti
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yunpeng Wang
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Haiyuan Li
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuping Bai
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Peng Zheng
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chenhui Ma
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bofang Wang
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xueyan Wang
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hao Chen
- The Department of Tumor Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
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11
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Banstola A, Pandit M, Duwa R, Chang J, Jeong J, Yook S. Reactive oxygen species-responsive dual-targeted nanosystem promoted immunogenic cell death against breast cancer. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10379. [PMID: 37693071 PMCID: PMC10487313 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10379] [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: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of an optimal treatment modality to improve the therapeutic outcome of breast cancer patients is still difficult. Poor antigen presentation to T cells is a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. In this study, a synergistic immunotherapy strategy for breast cancer incorporating immune cell infiltration, immunogenic cell death (ICD), and dendritic cell (DC) maturation through a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive dual-targeted smart nanosystem (anti-PD-L1-TKNP) for the simultaneous release of DOX, R848, and MIP-3α in the tumor microenvironment is reported. Following local injection, anti-PD-L1-DOX-R848-MIP-3α/thioketal nanoparticle (TKNP) converts tumor cells to a vaccine owing to the combinatorial effect of DOX-induced ICD, R848-mediated immunostimulatory properties, and MIP-3α-induced immune cell recruitment in the tumor microenvironment. Intratumoral injection of anti-PD-L1-DOX-R848-MIP-3α/TKNP caused significant regression of breast cancer. Mechanistic studies reveal that anti-PD-L1-DOX-R848-MIP-3α/TKNP specifically targets tumor tissue, resulting in maximum exposure of calreticulin (CRT) and HMGB1 in tumors, and significantly enhances intratumoral infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in tumors. Therefore, a combined strategy using dual-targeted ROS-responsive TKNP highlights the significant application of nanoparticles in modulating the tumor microenvironment and could be a clinical treatment strategy for effective breast cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmita Banstola
- College of PharmacyKeimyung UniversityDaeguSouth Korea
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical SchoolWellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Mahesh Pandit
- College of PharmacyYeungnam UniversityGyeongsanGyeongbukSouth Korea
| | - Ramesh Duwa
- College of PharmacyKeimyung UniversityDaeguSouth Korea
| | - Jae‐Hoon Chang
- College of PharmacyYeungnam UniversityGyeongsanGyeongbukSouth Korea
| | - Jee‐Heon Jeong
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of MedicineSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonSouth Korea
| | - Simmyung Yook
- College of PharmacyKeimyung UniversityDaeguSouth Korea
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12
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Limeta A, Gatto F, Herrgård MJ, Ji B, Nielsen J. Leveraging high-resolution omics data for predicting responses and adverse events to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:3912-3919. [PMID: 37602228 PMCID: PMC10432706 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.07.032] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A long-standing goal of personalized and precision medicine is to enable accurate prediction of the outcomes of a given treatment regimen for patients harboring a disease. Currently, many clinical trials fail to meet their endpoints due to underlying factors in the patient population that contribute to either poor responses to the drug of interest or to treatment-related adverse events. Identifying these factors beforehand and correcting for them can lead to an increased success of clinical trials. Comprehensive and large-scale data gathering efforts in biomedicine by omics profiling of the healthy and diseased individuals has led to a treasure-trove of host, disease and environmental factors that contribute to the effectiveness of drugs aiming to treat disease. With increasing omics data, artificial intelligence allows an in-depth analysis of big data and offers a wide range of applications for real-world clinical use, including improved patient selection and identification of actionable targets for companion therapeutics for improved translatability across more patients. As a blueprint for complex drug-disease-host interactions, we here discuss the challenges of utilizing omics data for predicting responses and adverse events in cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The omics-based methodologies for improving patient outcomes as in the ICI case have also been applied across a wide-range of complex disease settings, exemplifying the use of omics for in-depth disease profiling and clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Limeta
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Francesco Gatto
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Boyang Ji
- BioInnovation Institute, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jens Nielsen
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
- BioInnovation Institute, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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13
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Xu Z, Zhang X, Dong W, lv H, Zuo L, Zhu L, Wang R, Ma X. Self-assembling and pH-responsive protein nanoparticle as potential platform for targeted tumor therapy. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1172100. [PMID: 37234918 PMCID: PMC10206137 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1172100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Frequent injections at high concentrations are often required for many therapeutic proteins due to their short in vivo half-life, which usually leads to unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes, adverse side effects, high cost, and poor patient compliance. Herein we report a supramolecular strategy, self-assembling and pH regulated fusion protein to extend the in vivo half-life and tumor targeting ability of a therapeutically important protein trichosanthin (TCS). TCS was genetically fused to the N-terminus of a self-assembling protein, Sup35p prion domain (Sup35), to form a fusion protein of TCS-Sup35 that self-assembled into uniform spherical TCS-Sup35 nanoparticles (TCS-Sup35 NP) rather than classic nanofibrils. Importantly, due to the pH response ability, TCS-Sup35 NP well retained the bioactivity of TCS and possessed a 21.5-fold longer in vivo half-life than native TCS in a mouse model. As a result, in a tumor-bearing mouse model, TCS-Sup35 NP exhibited significantly improved tumor accumulation and antitumor activity without detectable systemic toxicity as compared with native TCS. These findings suggest that self-assembling and pH responding protein fusion may provide a new, simple, general, and effective solution to remarkably improve the pharmacological performance of therapeutic proteins with short circulation half-lives.
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14
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Feriz AM, Khosrojerdi A, Lotfollahi M, Shamsaki N, GhasemiGol M, HosseiniGol E, Fereidouni M, Rohban MH, Sebzari AR, Saghafi S, Leone P, Silvestris N, Safarpour H, Racanelli V. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovers heterogeneous transcriptional signatures in tumor-infiltrated dendritic cells in prostate cancer. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15694. [PMID: 37144199 PMCID: PMC10151421 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the two solid malignancies in which a higher T cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment (TME) corresponds with a worse prognosis for the tumor. The inability of T cells to eliminate tumor cells despite an increase in their number reinforces the possibility of impaired antigen presentation. In this study, we investigated the TME at single-cell resolution to understand the molecular function and communication of dendritic cells (DCs) (as professional antigen-presenting cells). According to our data, tumor cells stimulate the migration of immature DCs to the tumor site by inducing inflammatory chemokines. Many signaling pathways such as TNF-α/NF-κB, IL2/STAT5, and E2F up-regulated after DCs enter the tumor location. In addition, some molecules such as GPR34 and SLCO2B1 decreased on the surface of DCs. The analysis of molecular and signaling alterations in DCs revealed some suppression mechanisms of tumors, such as removing mature DCs, reducing the DC's survival, inducing anergy or exhaustion in the effector T cells, and enhancing the differentiation of T cells to Th2 and Tregs. In addition, we investigated the cellular and molecular communication between DCs and macrophages in the tumor site and found three molecular pairs including CCR5/CCL5, CD52/SIGLEC10, and HLA-DPB1/TNFSF13B. These molecular pairs are involved in the migration of immature DCs to the TME and disrupt the antigen-presenting function of DCs. Furthermore, we presented new therapeutic targets by the construction of a gene co-expression network. These data increase our knowledge of the heterogeneity and the role of DCs in PCa TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adib Miraki Feriz
- Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS), Birjand, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, BUMS, Birjand, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Lotfollahi
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, Germany
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Neusha Shamsaki
- Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS), Birjand, Iran
| | - Mohammad GhasemiGol
- College of Engineering & Mines, University of North Dakota, North Dakota, USA
| | - Edris HosseiniGol
- Department of Computer Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
| | | | | | - Ahmad Reza Sebzari
- Radiation Oncology, Clinical Research Development Unit (CRDU), ValiAsr Hospital, BUMS, Birjand, Iran
| | - Samira Saghafi
- Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS), Birjand, Iran
| | - Patrizia Leone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola Silvestris
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Hossein Safarpour
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, BUMS, Birjand, Iran
- Corresponding author.
| | - Vito Racanelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
- Corresponding author.
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15
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Melzer MK, Resheq Y, Navaee F, Kleger A. The application of pancreatic cancer organoids for novel drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:429-444. [PMID: 36945198 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2194627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma presents with a dismal prognosis. Personalized therapy is urgently warranted to overcome the treatment limitations of the "one-size-fits-all" scheme. Organoids have emerged as fundamental novel tools to study tumor biology and heterogeneity, hence overcoming limitations of other model systems by better-reflecting tissue heterogeneity and recapitulating in-vivo processes. Besides their crucial role in basic research, they have evolved as tools for translational drug discovery and patient stratification. AREAS COVERED This review highlights the achievements of an organoid-based drug investigation and discovery. The authors present an overview of studies using organoids for drug testing. Further, they pinpoint studies correlating the in vitro prediction of organoids to the actual patient`s response. Furthermore, the authors describe novel model systems and take a thorough overlook of microfluidic chips, synthetic matrices, multicellular systems, bioprinting, and stem cell-derived pancreatic organoid systems. EXPERT OPINION Organoid systems promise great potential for future clinical applications. Indeed, they may be implemented into informed decision-making for guiding therapies. However, validation by randomized trials is mandatory. Additionally, organoids in combination with other cellular compartments may be exploited for drug discovery by studying niche-tumor interaction. Yet, several precautions must be kept in mind, such as standardization and reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Karl Melzer
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Urology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Yazid Resheq
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Fatemeh Navaee
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexander Kleger
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
- Division of Interdisciplinary Pancreatology, Department of Internal Medicine 1, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
- Core Facility Organoids, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Abstract
Gene therapy is a powerful biological tool that is reshaping therapeutic landscapes for several diseases. Researchers are using both non-viral and viral-based gene therapy methods with success in the lab and the clinic. In the cancer biology field, gene therapies are expanding treatment options and the possibility of favorable outcomes for patients. While cellular immunotherapies and oncolytic virotherapies have paved the way in cancer treatments based on genetic engineering, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV), a viral-based module, is also emerging as a potential cancer therapeutic through its malleability, specificity, and broad application to common as well as rare tumor types, tumor microenvironments, and metastatic disease. A wide range of AAV serotypes, promoters, and transgenes have been successful at reducing tumor growth and burden in preclinical studies, suggesting more groundbreaking advances using rAAVs in cancer are on the horizon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L. Mulcrone
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Roland W. Herzog
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Weidong Xiao
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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17
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Lu H, Zhou L, Zhang B, Xie Y, Yang H, Wang Z. Cuproptosis key gene FDX1 is a prognostic biomarker and associated with immune infiltration in glioma. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:939776. [PMID: 36523779 PMCID: PMC9745336 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.939776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have found that the protein encoded by the FDX1 gene is involved in mediating Cuproptosis as a regulator of protein lipoylation and related to immune response process of tumors. However, the specific biological function of FDX1 in glioma is currently unclear. To explore the potential function of FDX1, this study explored the correlation between the expression of FDX1 in cancers and survival prognosis by analyzing the public databases of GEPIA and Cbioportal. Immune infiltration was analyzed by the TIMER2.0 database in tumors. The possible biological processes and functions of FDX1-related in glioma were annotated through gene enrichment. Relationship between Cuproptosis and autophagy was explored through gene co-expression studies. Summary and conclusions of this study: (1) FDX1 is highly expressed in gliomas and associated with poor prognosis in low-grade gliomas (LGG). (2) Gene annotation indicates that FDX1 is mainly involved in the tumor protein lipoylation and cell death. (3) FDX1 expression is positively correlated with the infiltration of immune cells. (4) LIPT2 and NNAT, two other genes involved in lipoylation, may be unidentified marker gene for Cuproptosis. And the Cuproptosis genes related to FDX1 were positively correlated with the expression of autophagy marker genes Atg5, Atg12, and BECN-1. This evidence suggests that there may be some interaction between FDX1 mediated Cuproptosis and autophagy. In summary, FDX1 may serve as a potential immunotherapy target and prognostic marker for Glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanwen Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Institute of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Liwei Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Bingchang Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Huiyin Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Institute of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhanxiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Institute of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Eskandari-Malayeri F, Rezaei M. Immune checkpoint inhibitors as mediators for immunosuppression by cancer-associated fibroblasts: A comprehensive review. Front Immunol 2022; 13:996145. [PMID: 36275750 PMCID: PMC9581325 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.996145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a significant contributor to cancer progression containing complex connections between cellular and chemical components and provides a suitable substrate for tumor growth and development. Growing evidence shows targeting tumor cells while ignoring the surrounding TME is not effective enough to overcome the cancer disease. Fibroblasts are essential sentinels of the stroma that due to certain conditions in TME, such as oxidative stress and local hypoxia, become activated, and play the prominent role in the physical support of tumor cells and the enhancement of tumorigenesis. Activated fibroblasts in TME, defined as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), play a crucial role in regulating the biological behavior of tumors, such as tumor metastasis and drug resistance. CAFs are highly heterogeneous populations that have different origins and, in addition to their role in supporting stromal cells, have multiple immunosuppressive functions via a membrane and secretory patterns. The secretion of different cytokines/chemokines, interactions that mediate the recruitment of regulatory immune cells and the reprogramming of an immunosuppressive function in immature myeloid cells are just a few examples of how CAFs contribute to the immune escape of tumors through various direct and indirect mechanisms on specific immune cell populations. Moreover, CAFs directly abolish the role of cytotoxic lymphocytes. The activation and overexpression of inhibitory immune checkpoints (iICPs) or their ligands in TME compartments are one of the main regulatory mechanisms that inactivate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in cancer lesions. CAFs are also essential players in the induction or expression of iICPs and the suppression of immune response in TME. Based on available studies, CAF subsets could modulate immune cell function in TME through iICPs in two ways; direct expression of iICPs by activated CAFs and indirect induction by production soluble and then upregulation of iICPs in TME. With a focus on CAFs’ direct and indirect roles in the induction of iICPs in TME as well as their use in immunotherapy and diagnostics, we present the evolving understanding of the immunosuppressive mechanism of CAFs in TME in this review. Understanding the complete picture of CAFs will help develop new strategies to improve precision cancer therapy.
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Chen JS, Hsieh YC, Chou CH, Wu YH, Yang MH, Chu SH, Chao YS, Chen CN. Chidamide plus Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Remodel the Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Reduce Tumor Progression When Combined with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Naïve and Anti-PD-1 Resistant CT26-Bearing Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:10677. [PMID: 36142591 PMCID: PMC9504159 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Combined inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathways has shown efficacy in multiple cancers; however, the clinical outcomes show limited benefits and the unmet clinical needs still remain and require improvement in efficacy. Using murine colon carcinoma (CT26) allograft models, we examined the efficacy and elucidated novel tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling mechanisms underlying the combination of chidamide (a benzamide-based class l histone deacetylase inhibitor; brand name in Taiwan, Kepida®) with VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs; cabozantinib/regorafenib, etc.) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs; anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1/anti-CTLA-4 antibodies). The TME was assessed using flow cytometry and RNA-sequencing to determine the novel mechanisms and their correlation with therapeutic effects in mice with significant treatment response. Compared with ICI alone or cabozantinib/regorafenib + ICI, combination of chidamide + cabozantinib/regorafenib + ICI increased the tumor response and survival benefits. In particular, treatment of CT26-bearing mice with chidamide + regorafenib + anti-PD-1 antibody showed a better objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS). Similar results were observed in anti-PD-1 treatment-resistant mice. After treatment with this optimal combination, in the TME, RNA-sequencing revealed that downregulated mRNAs were correlated with leukocyte migration, cell chemotaxis, and macrophage gene sets, and flow cytometry analysis showed that the cell numbers of myeloid-derived polymorphonuclear suppressor cells and tumor-associated macrophages were decreased. Accordingly, chidamide + regorafenib + anti-PD-1 antibody combination therapy could trigger a novel TME remodeling mechanism by attenuating immunosuppressive cells, and restoring T-cell activation to enhance ORR and OS. Our studies also showed that the addition of Chidamide to the regorafenib + anti-PD-1 Ab combination could induce a durable tumor-specific response by attenuating immune suppression in the TME. In addition, this result suggests that TME remodeling, mediated by epigenetic immunomodulator combined with TKI and ICI, would be more advantageous for achieving a high objective response rate, when compared to TKI plus ICI or ICI alone, and maintaining long-lasting antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Shiong Chen
- New Drug Research and Development Center, Great Novel Therapeutics Biotech & Medicals Corporation (GNTbm), Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | | | - Cheng-Han Chou
- Department of Biology, Great Novel Therapeutics Biotech & Medicals Corporation (GNTbm), Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hong Wu
- Department of Biology, Great Novel Therapeutics Biotech & Medicals Corporation (GNTbm), Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Mu-Hsuan Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Great Novel Therapeutics Biotech & Medicals Corporation (GNTbm), Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Sz-Hao Chu
- Department of Chemistry, Great Novel Therapeutics Biotech & Medicals Corporation (GNTbm), Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Ye-Su Chao
- New Drug Research and Development Center, Great Novel Therapeutics Biotech & Medicals Corporation (GNTbm), Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Nan Chen
- New Drug Research and Development Center, Great Novel Therapeutics Biotech & Medicals Corporation (GNTbm), Taipei 100, Taiwan
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20
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Sandström N, Carannante V, Olofsson K, Sandoz PA, Moussaud-Lamodière EL, Seashore-Ludlow B, Van Ooijen H, Verron Q, Frisk T, Takai M, Wiklund M, Östling P, Önfelt B. Miniaturized and multiplexed high-content screening of drug and immune sensitivity in a multichambered microwell chip. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2022; 2:100256. [PMID: 35880015 PMCID: PMC9308168 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Here, we present a methodology based on multiplexed fluorescence screening of two- or three-dimensional cell cultures in a newly designed multichambered microwell chip, allowing direct assessment of drug or immune cell cytotoxic efficacy. We establish a framework for cell culture, formation of tumor spheroids, fluorescence labeling, and imaging of fixed or live cells at various magnifications directly in the chip together with data analysis and interpretation. The methodology is demonstrated by drug cytotoxicity screening using ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer cells and by cellular cytotoxicity screening targeting tumor spheroids of renal carcinoma and ovarian carcinoma with natural killer cells from healthy donors. The miniaturized format allowing long-term cell culture, efficient screening, and high-quality imaging of small sample volumes makes this methodology promising for individualized cytotoxicity tests for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Sandström
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Valentina Carannante
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Karl Olofsson
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Patrick A. Sandoz
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | | | - Brinton Seashore-Ludlow
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Hanna Van Ooijen
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Quentin Verron
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Thomas Frisk
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Madoka Takai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Martin Wiklund
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Päivi Östling
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Björn Önfelt
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
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21
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Peters S, Paz-Ares L, Herbst RS, Reck M. Addressing CPI resistance in NSCLC: targeting TAM receptors to modulate the tumor microenvironment and future prospects. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-004863. [PMID: 35858709 PMCID: PMC9305809 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for the majority of cases. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs), including those targeting programmed cell death protein-1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1), have revolutionized the treatment landscape for various cancers. Notably, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-based regimens now form the standard first-line therapy for metastatic NSCLC, substantially improving patients' overall survival. Despite the progress made using CPI-based therapies in advanced NSCLC, most patients experience disease progression after an initial response due to resistance. Given the currently limited therapeutic options available for second-line and beyond settings in NSCLC, new treatment approaches are needed to improve long-term survival in these patients. Thus, CPI resistance is an emerging concept in cancer treatment and an active area of clinical research.Among the key mechanisms of CPI resistance is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Effective CPI therapy is based on shifting immune responses against cancer cells, therefore, manipulating the immunosuppressive TME comprises an important strategy to combat CPI resistance. Several aspects of the TME can contribute to treatment resistance in NSCLC, including through the activation of Tyro3, Axl, MerTK (TAM) receptors which are essential pleiotropic regulators of immune homeostasis. Their roles include negatively modulating the immune response, therefore ectopic expression of TAM receptors in the context of cancer can contribute to the immunosuppressive, protumorigenic TME. Furthermore, TAM receptors represent important candidates to simultaneously target both tumor cells and immune cells in the TME. Clinical development of TAM receptor inhibitors (TAM RIs) is increasingly focused on their ability to rescue the antitumor immune response, thereby shifting the immunosuppressive TME to an immunostimulatory TME. There is a strong biological rationale for combining TAM RIs with a CPI to overcome resistance and improve long-term clinical responses in NSCLC. Combinatorial clinical trials of TAM RIs with CPIs are underway with encouraging preliminary results. This review outlines the key mechanisms of CPI resistance, including the role of the immunosuppressive TME, and discusses the rationale for targeting TAM receptors as a novel, promising therapeutic strategy to overcome CPI resistance in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solange Peters
- Medical Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luis Paz-Ares
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre and CNIO-H12O Lung Cancer Unit, Universidad Complutense and Ciberonc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roy S Herbst
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Martin Reck
- Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North, Center for Lung Research, Grosshansdorf, Germany
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22
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Cao D, Song Q, Li J, Chard Dunmall LS, Jiang Y, Qin B, Wang J, Guo H, Cheng Z, Wang Z, Lemoine NR, Lu S, Wang Y. Redirecting anti-Vaccinia virus T cell immunity for cancer treatment by AAV-mediated delivery of the VV B8R gene. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 25:264-275. [PMID: 35615262 PMCID: PMC9114156 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cells, are only efficient in a small proportion of tumor patients. One of the major reasons for this is the lack of immune cell infiltration and activation in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent research reported that abundant bystander CD8+ T cells targeting viral antigens exist in tumor infiltrates and that virus-specific memory T cells could be recalled to kill tumor cells. Therefore, virus-specific memory T cells may be effective candidates for tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we established subcutaneous tumor mice models that were pre-immunized with Vaccinia virus (VV) and confirmed that tumor cells with ectopic expression of the viral B8R protein could be recognized and killed by memory T cells. To create a therapeutic delivery system, we designed a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) with a modified tumor-specific promoter and used it to deliver VV B8R to tumor cells. We observed that rAAV gene therapy can retard tumor growth in VV pre-immunized mice. In summary, our study demonstrates that rAAV containing a tumor-specific promoter to restrict VV B8R gene expression to tumor cells is a potential therapeutic agent for cancer treatment in VV pre-immunized or VV-treated mice bearing tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dujuan Cao
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Song
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junqi Li
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Louisa S. Chard Dunmall
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bin Qin
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jianyao Wang
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Haoran Guo
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenguo Cheng
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhimin Wang
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Nicholas R. Lemoine
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Shuangshuang Lu
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaohe Wang
- National Center for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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23
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Carideo Cunniff E, Sato Y, Mai D, Appleman VA, Iwasaki S, Kolev V, Matsuda A, Shi J, Mochizuki M, Yoshikawa M, Huang J, Shen L, Haridas S, Shinde V, Gemski C, Roberts ER, Ghasemi O, Bazzazi H, Menon S, Traore T, Shi P, Thelen TD, Conlon J, Abu-Yousif AO, Arendt C, Shaw MH, Okaniwa M. TAK-676: A Novel Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) Agonist Promoting Durable IFN-dependent Antitumor Immunity in Preclinical Studies. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:489-502. [PMID: 36923556 PMCID: PMC10010323 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-21-0161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Oncology therapies targeting the immune system have improved patient outcomes across a wide range of tumor types, but resistance due to an inadequate T-cell response in a suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) remains a significant problem. New therapies that activate an innate immune response and relieve this suppression may be beneficial to overcome this hurdle. TAK-676 is a synthetic novel stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist designed for intravenous administration. Here we demonstrate that TAK-676 dose-dependently triggers activation of the STING signaling pathway and activation of type I interferons. Furthermore, we show that TAK-676 is a highly potent modulator of both the innate and adaptive immune system and that it promotes the activation of dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and T cells in preclinical models. In syngeneic murine tumor models in vivo, TAK-676 induces dose-dependent cytokine responses and increases the activation and proliferation of immune cells within the TME and tumor-associated lymphoid tissue. We also demonstrate that TAK-676 dosing results in significant STING-dependent antitumor activity, including complete regressions and durable memory T-cell immunity. We show that TAK-676 is well tolerated, exhibits dose-proportional pharmacokinetics in plasma, and exhibits higher exposure in tumor. The intravenous administration of TAK-676 provides potential treatment benefit in a broad range of tumor types. Further study of TAK-676 in first-in-human phase I trials is ongoing. Significance TAK-676 is a novel systemic STING agonist demonstrating robust activation of innate and adaptive immune activity resulting in durable antitumor responses within multiple syngeneic tumor models. Clinical investigation of TAK-676 is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yosuke Sato
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Doanh Mai
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Vicky A Appleman
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Shinji Iwasaki
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Vihren Kolev
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Atsushi Matsuda
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Judy Shi
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Jian Huang
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Luhua Shen
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Satyajeet Haridas
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Vaishali Shinde
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Chris Gemski
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Emily R Roberts
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Omid Ghasemi
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Hojjat Bazzazi
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Saurabh Menon
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Tary Traore
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Pu Shi
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Tennille D Thelen
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph Conlon
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Adnan O Abu-Yousif
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Christopher Arendt
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Michael H Shaw
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Masanori Okaniwa
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. (TDCA), Lexington, Massachusetts
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24
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Dunn ZS, Li YR, Yu Y, Lee D, Gibbons A, Kim JJ, Zhou TY, Li M, Nguyen M, Cen X, Zhou Y, Wang P, Yang L. Minimally Invasive Preclinical Monitoring of the Peritoneal Cavity Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1775. [PMID: 35406547 PMCID: PMC8997523 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071775] [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: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraperitoneal (i.p.) experimental models in mice can recapitulate the process of i.p. dissemination in abdominal cancers and may help uncover critical information about future successful clinical treatments. i.p. cellular composition is studied in preclinical models addressing a wide spectrum of other pathophysiological states such as liver cirrhosis, infectious disease, autoimmunity, and aging. The peritoneal cavity is a multifaceted microenvironment that contains various immune cell populations, including T, B, NK, and various myeloid cells, such as macrophages. Analysis of the peritoneal cavity is often obtained by euthanizing mice and performing terminal peritoneal lavage. This procedure inhibits continuous monitoring of the peritoneal cavity in a single mouse and necessitates the usage of more mice to assess the cavity at multiple timepoints, increasing the cost, time, and variability of i.p. studies. Here, we present a simple, novel method termed in vivo intraperitoneal lavage (IVIPL) for the minimally invasive monitoring of cells in the peritoneal cavity of mice. In this proof-of-concept, IVIPL provided real-time insights into the i.p. tumor microenvironment for the development and study of ovarian cancer therapies. Specifically, we studied CAR-T cell therapy in a human high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) xenograft mouse model, and we studied the immune composition of the i.p. tumor microenvironment (TME) in a mouse HGSOC syngeneic model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Spencer Dunn
- Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (Z.S.D.); (P.W.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yan-Ruide Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yanqi Yu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Derek Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Alicia Gibbons
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - James Joon Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Tian Yang Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Mulin Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Mya Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Xinjian Cen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Pin Wang
- Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (Z.S.D.); (P.W.)
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Y.); (D.L.); (A.G.); (J.J.K.); (T.Y.Z.); (M.L.); (M.N.); (X.C.); (Y.Z.)
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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25
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Allam A, Yakou M, Pang L, Ernst M, Huynh J. Exploiting the STAT3 Nexus in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts to Improve Cancer Therapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:767939. [PMID: 34858425 PMCID: PMC8632218 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.767939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of a heterogenous population of cells that exist alongside the extracellular matrix and soluble components. These components can shape an environment that is conducive to tumor growth and metastatic spread. It is well-established that stromal cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the TME play a pivotal role in creating and maintaining a growth-permissive environment for tumor cells. A growing body of work has uncovered that tumor cells recruit and educate CAFs to remodel the TME, however, the mechanisms by which this occurs remain incompletely understood. Recent studies suggest that the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key transcription factor that regulates the function of CAFs, and their crosstalk with tumor and immune cells within the TME. CAF-intrinsic STAT3 activity within the TME correlates with tumor progression, immune suppression and eventually the establishment of metastases. In this review, we will focus on the roles of STAT3 in regulating CAF function and their crosstalk with other cells constituting the TME and discuss the utility of targeting STAT3 within the TME for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr Allam
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Marina Yakou
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Lokman Pang
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthias Ernst
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer Huynh
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
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26
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Liu M, Yang J, Xu B, Zhang X. Tumor metastasis: Mechanistic insights and therapeutic interventions. MedComm (Beijing) 2021; 2:587-617. [PMID: 34977870 PMCID: PMC8706758 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer metastasis is responsible for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In contrast to numerous discoveries that reveal the detailed mechanisms leading to the formation of the primary tumor, the biological underpinnings of the metastatic disease remain poorly understood. Cancer metastasis is a complex process in which cancer cells escape from the primary tumor, settle, and grow at other parts of the body. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and anoikis resistance of tumor cells are the main forces to promote metastasis, and multiple components in the tumor microenvironment and their complicated crosstalk with cancer cells are closely involved in distant metastasis. In addition to the three cornerstones of tumor treatment, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, novel treatment approaches including targeted therapy and immunotherapy have been established in patients with metastatic cancer. Although the cancer survival rate has been greatly improved over the years, it is still far from satisfactory. In this review, we provided an overview of the metastasis process, summarized the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the dissemination and distant metastasis of cancer cells, and reviewed the important advances in interventions for cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Liu
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology UnitState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
| | - Jing Yang
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology UnitState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
| | - Bushu Xu
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology UnitState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
| | - Xing Zhang
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology UnitState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
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Brindisi M, Frattaruolo L, Mancuso R, Palumbo Piccionello A, Ziccarelli I, Catto M, Nicolotti O, Altomare CD, Gabriele B, Cappello AR. Anticancer potential of novel α,β-unsaturated γ-lactam derivatives targeting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 190:114659. [PMID: 34147489 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Six recently synthesized alkyl (Z)-2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-3-ylidene)acetates were evaluated for their potential as cytotoxic and anticancer agents. All compounds were tested in the ERα positive MCF-7, triple negative MDA-MB-231, and Her2+ SKBR-3 breast cancer cell lines. The most lipophilic derivatives, bearing the 4-isopropylphenyl (2) or 4-tert-butylphenyl (3) group at the γ-lactam nitrogen, proved to be cytotoxic against all the cancer cell lines tested (IC50 values ranging from 18 to 63 μM), exerting their greatest activity in SKBR-3 cells, with IC50 values of 33 and 18 μM, respectively. Biological studies showed that the cytotoxic effects of 2 and 3 are accompanied by apoptotic death in breast cancer cells, and both compounds showed no significant toxicity on healthy cells (e.g., MCF-10A) and red blood cells. An in-depth mechanistic study based on molecular biology, immunoblotting analysis and in silico docking calculations suggested that α,β-unsaturated γ-lactam derivatives could interfere with the functioning of PI3K and PDK-1, two key enzymes in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, whose overactivation is related to the regulation of cell growth and survival in several malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Brindisi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Luca Frattaruolo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Raffaella Mancuso
- Laboratory of Industrial and Synthetic Organic Chemistry (LISOC), Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci 12/C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Antonio Palumbo Piccionello
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology-STEBICEF, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.17, Palermo 90128, Italy
| | - Ida Ziccarelli
- Laboratory of Industrial and Synthetic Organic Chemistry (LISOC), Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci 12/C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Marco Catto
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Cosimo D Altomare
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy.
| | - Bartolo Gabriele
- Laboratory of Industrial and Synthetic Organic Chemistry (LISOC), Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci 12/C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Anna Rita Cappello
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy.
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