1
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Liu J, He C, Tan W, Zheng JH. Path to bacteriotherapy: From bacterial engineering to therapeutic perspectives. Life Sci 2024; 352:122897. [PMID: 38971366 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
The major reason for the failure of conventional therapies is the heterogeneity and complexity of tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Many malignant tumors reprogram their surface antigens to evade the immune surveillance, leading to reduced antigen-presenting cells and hindered T-cell activation. Bacteria-mediated cancer immunotherapy has been extensively investigated in recent years. Scientists have ingeniously modified bacteria using synthetic biology and nanotechnology to enhance their biosafety with high tumor specificity, resulting in robust anticancer immune responses. To enhance the antitumor efficacy, therapeutic proteins, cytokines, nanoparticles, and chemotherapeutic drugs have been efficiently delivered using engineered bacteria. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of oncolytic bacterial therapies, covering bacterial design and the intricate interactions within TMEs. Additionally, it offers an in-depth comparison of the current techniques used for bacterial modification, both internally and externally, to maximize their therapeutic effectiveness. Finally, we outlined the challenges and opportunities ahead in the clinical application of oncolytic bacterial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Liu
- The Affiliated Xiangtan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China; College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Chongsheng He
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Wenzhi Tan
- School of Food Science and Bioengineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410114, China.
| | - Jin Hai Zheng
- The Affiliated Xiangtan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
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2
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Kamaraj R, Ghosh S, Das S, Sen S, Kumar P, Majumdar M, Dasgupta R, Mukherjee S, Das S, Ghose I, Pavek P, Raja Karuppiah MP, Chuturgoon AA, Anand K. Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) for Immunotherapy: Understanding Proteolysis Targeting Chimera-Driven Ubiquitin-Proteasome Interactions. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:1089-1115. [PMID: 38990186 PMCID: PMC11342303 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation or TPD, is rapidly emerging as a treatment that utilizes small molecules to degrade proteins that cause diseases. TPD allows for the selective removal of disease-causing proteins, including proteasome-mediated degradation, lysosome-mediated degradation, and autophagy-mediated degradation. This approach has shown great promise in preclinical studies and is now being translated to treat numerous diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, and cancer. This review discusses the latest advances in TPD and its potential as a new chemical modality for immunotherapy, with a special focus on the innovative applications and cutting-edge research of PROTACs (Proteolysis TArgeting Chimeras) and their efficient translation from scientific discovery to technological achievements. Our review also addresses the significant obstacles and potential prospects in this domain, while also offering insights into the future of TPD for immunotherapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajamanikkam Kamaraj
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Prague, Heyrovskeho 1203, 50005 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Subhrojyoti Ghosh
- Department
of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology
Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Souvadra Das
- Department
of Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of
Technology, Kolkata 700107, India
| | - Shinjini Sen
- Department
of Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of
Technology, Kolkata 700107, India
| | - Priyanka Kumar
- Department
of Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of
Technology, Kolkata 700107, India
| | - Madhurima Majumdar
- Department
of Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of
Technology, Kolkata 700107, India
| | - Renesa Dasgupta
- Department
of Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of
Technology, Kolkata 700107, India
| | - Sampurna Mukherjee
- Department
of Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of
Technology, Kolkata 700107, India
| | - Shrimanti Das
- Department
of Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of
Technology, Kolkata 700107, India
| | - Indrilla Ghose
- Department
of Biotechnology, Heritage Institute of
Technology, Kolkata 700107, India
| | - Petr Pavek
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Prague, Heyrovskeho 1203, 50005 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Muruga Poopathi Raja Karuppiah
- Department
of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Tejaswini Hills, Periye, Kasaragod District, Kerala 671320, India
| | - Anil A. Chuturgoon
- Discipline
of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical
Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
| | - Krishnan Anand
- Department
of Chemical Pathology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Free State 9300, South Africa
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3
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Dvir K, Giordano S, Leone JP. Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7517. [PMID: 39062758 PMCID: PMC11276856 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147517] [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: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a disease encompassing a spectrum of molecular subtypes and clinical presentations, each with distinct prognostic implications and treatment responses. Breast cancer has traditionally been considered an immunologically "cold" tumor, unresponsive to immunotherapy. However, clinical trials in recent years have found immunotherapy to be an efficacious therapeutic option for select patients. Breast cancer is categorized into different subtypes ranging from the most common positive hormone receptor (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative type, to less frequent HER2- positive breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), highlighting the necessity for tailored treatment strategies aimed at maximizing patient outcomes. Despite notable progress in early detection and new therapeutic modalities, breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the USA. Moreover, in recent decades, breast cancer incidence rates have been increasing, especially in women younger than the age of 50. This has prompted the exploration of new therapeutic approaches to address this trend, offering new therapeutic prospects for breast cancer patients. Immunotherapy is a class of therapeutic agents that has revolutionized the treatment landscape of many cancers, namely melanoma, lung cancer, and gastroesophageal cancers, amongst others. Though belatedly, immunotherapy has entered the treatment armamentarium of breast cancer, with the approval of pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in the neoadjuvant and advanced settings, thereby paving the path for further research and integration of immune checkpoint inhibitors in other subtypes of breast cancer. Trials exploring various combination therapies to harness the power of immunotherapy in symbiosis with various chemotherapeutic agents are ongoing in hopes of improving response rates and prolonging survival for breast cancer patients. Biomarkers and precise patient selection for the utilization of immunotherapy remain cardinal and are currently under investigation, with some biomarkers showing promise, such as Program Death Lignat-1 (PDL-1) Combined Positive Score, Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs). This review will present the current landscape of immunotherapy, particularly checkpoint inhibitors, in different types of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Dvir
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (K.D.)
- St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Sara Giordano
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (K.D.)
- St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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4
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Garg P, Malhotra J, Kulkarni P, Horne D, Salgia R, Singhal SS. Emerging Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance in Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2478. [PMID: 39001539 PMCID: PMC11240358 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The rise of drug resistance in cancer cells presents a formidable challenge in modern oncology, necessitating the exploration of innovative therapeutic strategies. This review investigates the latest advancements in overcoming drug resistance mechanisms employed by cancer cells, focusing on emerging therapeutic modalities. The intricate molecular insights into drug resistance, including genetic mutations, efflux pumps, altered signaling pathways, and microenvironmental influences, are discussed. Furthermore, the promising avenues offered by targeted therapies, combination treatments, immunotherapies, and precision medicine approaches are highlighted. Specifically, the synergistic effects of combining traditional cytotoxic agents with molecularly targeted inhibitors to circumvent resistance pathways are examined. Additionally, the evolving landscape of immunotherapeutic interventions, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, is explored in terms of bolstering anti-tumor immune responses and overcoming immune evasion mechanisms. Moreover, the significance of biomarker-driven strategies for predicting and monitoring treatment responses is underscored, thereby optimizing therapeutic outcomes. For insights into the future direction of cancer treatment paradigms, the current review focused on prevailing drug resistance challenges and improving patient outcomes, through an integrative analysis of these emerging therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Garg
- Department of Chemistry, GLA University, Mathura 281406, India
| | - Jyoti Malhotra
- Departments of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Prakash Kulkarni
- Departments of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - David Horne
- Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Departments of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Sharad S. Singhal
- Departments of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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Xu MY, Zeng N, Liu CQ, Sun JX, An Y, Zhang SH, Xu JZ, Zhong XY, Ma SY, He HD, Hu J, Xia QD, Wang SG. Enhanced cellular therapy: revolutionizing adoptive cellular therapy. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:47. [PMID: 38664743 PMCID: PMC11046957 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00506-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhanced cellular therapy has emerged as a novel concept following the basis of cellular therapy. This treatment modality applied drugs or biotechnology to directly enhance or genetically modify cells to enhance the efficacy of adoptive cellular therapy (ACT). Drugs or biotechnology that enhance the killing ability of immune cells include immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) / antibody drugs, small molecule inhibitors, immunomodulatory factors, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), oncolytic virus (OV), etc. Firstly, overcoming the inhibitory tumor microenvironment (TME) can enhance the efficacy of ACT, which can be achieved by blocking the immune checkpoint. Secondly, cytokines or cytokine receptors can be expressed by genetic engineering or added directly to adoptive cells to enhance the migration and infiltration of adoptive cells to tumor cells. Moreover, multi-antigen chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) can be designed to enhance the specific recognition of tumor cell-related antigens, and OVs can also stimulate antigen release. In addition to inserting suicide genes into adoptive cells, PROTAC technology can be used as a safety switch or degradation agent of immunosuppressive factors to enhance the safety and efficacy of adoptive cells. This article comprehensively summarizes the mechanism, current situation, and clinical application of enhanced cellular therapy, describing potential improvements to adoptive cellular therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Yao Xu
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Na Zeng
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Chen-Qian Liu
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jian-Xuan Sun
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ye An
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Si-Han Zhang
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jin-Zhou Xu
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xing-Yu Zhong
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Si-Yang Ma
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hao-Dong He
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jia Hu
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qi-Dong Xia
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Shao-Gang Wang
- Department and Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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6
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Jo W, Won T, Daoud A, Čiháková D. Immune checkpoint inhibitors associated cardiovascular immune-related adverse events. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1340373. [PMID: 38375475 PMCID: PMC10875074 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1340373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are specialized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target immune checkpoints and their ligands, counteracting cancer cell-induced T-cell suppression. Approved ICIs like cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed death-1 (PD-1), its ligand PD-L1, and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) have improved cancer patient outcomes by enhancing anti-tumor responses. However, some patients are unresponsive, and others experience immune-related adverse events (irAEs), affecting organs like the lung, liver, intestine, skin and now the cardiovascular system. These cardiac irAEs include conditions like myocarditis, atherosclerosis, pericarditis, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy. Ongoing clinical trials investigate promising alternative co-inhibitory receptor targets, including T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (Tim-3) and T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT). This review delves into the mechanisms of approved ICIs (CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, and LAG-3) and upcoming options like Tim-3 and TIGIT. It explores the use of ICIs in cancer treatment, supported by both preclinical and clinical data. Additionally, it examines the mechanisms behind cardiac toxic irAEs, focusing on ICI-associated myocarditis and atherosclerosis. These insights are vital as ICIs continue to revolutionize cancer therapy, offering hope to patients, while also necessitating careful monitoring and management of potential side effects, including emerging cardiac complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonyoung Jo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Taejoon Won
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Abdel Daoud
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Daniela Čiháková
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Logghe T, van Zwol E, Immordino B, Van den Cruys K, Peeters M, Giovannetti E, Bogers J. Hyperthermia in Combination with Emerging Targeted and Immunotherapies as a New Approach in Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:505. [PMID: 38339258 PMCID: PMC10854776 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030505] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite significant advancements in the development of novel therapies, cancer continues to stand as a prominent global cause of death. In many cases, the cornerstone of standard-of-care therapy consists of chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), or a combination of both. Notably, hyperthermia (HT), which has been in clinical use in the last four decades, has proven to enhance the effectiveness of CT and RT, owing to its recognized potency as a sensitizer. Furthermore, HT exerts effects on all steps of the cancer-immunity cycle and exerts a significant impact on key oncogenic pathways. Most recently, there has been a noticeable expansion of cancer research related to treatment options involving immunotherapy (IT) and targeted therapy (TT), a trend also visible in the research and development pipelines of pharmaceutical companies. However, the potential results arising from the combination of these innovative therapeutic approaches with HT remain largely unexplored. Therefore, this review aims to explore the oncology pipelines of major pharmaceutical companies, with the primary objective of identifying the principal targets of forthcoming therapies that have the potential to be advantageous for patients by specifically targeting molecular pathways involved in HT. The ultimate goal of this review is to pave the way for future research initiatives and clinical trials that harness the synergy between emerging IT and TT medications when used in conjunction with HT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tine Logghe
- Elmedix NV, Dellingstraat 34/1, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Eke van Zwol
- Elmedix NV, Dellingstraat 34/1, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Benoît Immordino
- Cancer Pharmacology Lab, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano, 56017 Pisa, Italy
- Institute of Life Sciences, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Marc Peeters
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Cancer Pharmacology Lab, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano, 56017 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit, Cancer Center Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Bogers
- Elmedix NV, Dellingstraat 34/1, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
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Kikuta S, Abe Y, Shinozaki K, Seki N, Kusukawa J. Pulmonary Tuberculosis Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment for Recurrent Maxillary Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cureus 2024; 16:e53203. [PMID: 38425601 PMCID: PMC10902606 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53203] [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] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) like nivolumab and pembrolizumab are effective treatments for recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN). However, they can lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. We present a case of a 79-year-old male with recurrent maxillary squamous cell carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil. The patient developed a fever, and pulmonary TB development was confirmed. Prolonged TB treatment was required, and ICI treatment was discontinued. The patient ultimately opted for palliative care due to aggressive tumor growth. TB development during ICI treatment is a rare but important concern, especially in TB-endemic areas. Vigilant monitoring and screening might be essential to manage this risk in cancer patients with R/M SCCHN receiving ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shogo Kikuta
- Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, JPN
| | - Yushi Abe
- Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, JPN
| | - Katsumi Shinozaki
- Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, JPN
| | - Naoko Seki
- Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, JPN
| | - Jingo Kusukawa
- Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, JPN
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Pérez Del Río E, Román Alonso M, Rius I, Santos F, Castellote-Borrell M, Veciana J, Ratera I, Arribas J, Guasch J. Three-dimensional cell culture of chimeric antigen receptor T cells originated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells towards cellular therapies. Cytotherapy 2023; 25:1293-1299. [PMID: 37737764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.08.003] [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: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS With the objective of improving the ex vivo production of therapeutic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, we explored the addition of three-dimensional (3D) polystyrene scaffolds to standard suspension cell cultures. METHODS We aimed to mimic the structural support given by the lymph nodes during in vivo lymphocyte expansion. RESULTS We observed an increase in cell proliferation compared with standard suspension systems as well as an enhanced cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. Moreover, we directly obtained the CAR T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, thus minimizing the ex vivo manipulation of the therapeutic cells and opening the way to synergies among different cell populations. CONCLUSIONS We propose the use of commercially available 3D polystyrene systems to improve the current immune cell cultures and resulting cell products for emerging cellular (immuno)therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Pérez Del Río
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Bellaterra, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Macarena Román Alonso
- Preclinical and Translational Research Program, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Rius
- Preclinical and Translational Research Program, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabião Santos
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Bellaterra, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miquel Castellote-Borrell
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Bellaterra, Spain; Dynamic Biomaterials for Cancer Immunotherapy, Max Planck Partner Group (ICMAB-CSIC), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Jaume Veciana
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Bellaterra, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Imma Ratera
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Bellaterra, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Arribas
- Preclinical and Translational Research Program, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Judith Guasch
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Bellaterra, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain; Dynamic Biomaterials for Cancer Immunotherapy, Max Planck Partner Group (ICMAB-CSIC), Bellaterra, Spain.
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10
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Ritu, Chandra P, Das A. Immune checkpoint targeting antibodies hold promise for combinatorial cancer therapeutics. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:4297-4322. [PMID: 37804358 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01201-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Through improving the immune system's ability to recognize and combat tumor cells as well as its receptivity to changes in the tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy has emerged as a highly successful addition to the treatment of cancer. However, tumor heterogeneity poses a significant challenge in cancer therapy as it can undermine the anti-tumor immune response through the manipulation of the extracellular matrix. To address these challenges and improve targeted therapies and combination treatments, the food and drug administration has approved several immunomodulatory antibodies to suppress immunological checkpoints. Combinatorial therapies necessitate the identification of multiple targets that regulate the intricate communication between immune cells, cytokines, chemokines, and cellular responses within the tumor microenvironment. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the ongoing clinical trials involving immunomodulatory antibodies in various cancer types. It explores the potential of these antibodies to modulate the immune system and enhance anti-tumor responses. Additionally, it discusses the perspectives and prospects of immunomodulatory therapeutics in cancer treatment. Although immunotherapy shows great promise in cancer treatment, it is not exempt from side effects that can arise due to hyperactivity of the immune system. Therefore, understanding the intricate balance between immune activation and regulation is crucial for minimizing these adverse effects and optimizing treatment outcomes. This study aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge surrounding immunomodulatory antibodies and their potential as effective therapeutic options in cancer treatment, ultimately paving the way for improved patient outcomes and deepening our perception of the intricate interactivity between the immune system and tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Main Bawana Road, New Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Prakash Chandra
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Main Bawana Road, New Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Asmita Das
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Main Bawana Road, New Delhi, 110042, India.
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11
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Andrews CE, Zilberberg J, Perez-Olle R, Exley MA, Andrews DW. Targeted immunotherapy for glioblastoma involving whole tumor-derived autologous cells in the upfront setting after craniotomy. J Neurooncol 2023; 165:389-398. [PMID: 38017340 PMCID: PMC10942892 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04491-4] [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: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To date, immunotherapeutic approaches in glioblastoma (GBM) have had limited clinical efficacy as compared to other solid tumors. Here we explore autologous cell treatments that have the potential to circumvent treatment resistance to immunotherapy for GBM. METHODS We performed literature review and assessed clinical outcomes in phase 1 safety trials as well as phase 2 and 3 autologously-derived vaccines for the treatment of newly-diagnosed GBM. In one recent review of over 3,000 neuro-oncology phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials, most trials were nonblinded (92%), single group (65%), nonrandomized (51%) and almost half were GBM trials. Only 10% involved a biologic and only 2.2% involved a double-blind randomized trial design. RESULTS With this comparative literature review we conclude that our autologous cell product is uniquely antigen-inclusive and antigen-agnostic with a promising safety profile as well as unexpected clinical efficacy in our published phase 1b trial. We have since designed a rigorous double-blinded add-on placebo-controlled trial involving our implantable biologic drug device. We conclude that IGV-001 provides a novel immunotherapy platform for historically intransigent ndGBM in this ongoing phase 2b trial (NCT04485949).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie E Andrews
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | | | | | | | - David W Andrews
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
- Imvax, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, 19602, USA.
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12
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Castellote-Borrell M, Merlina F, Rodríguez AR, Guasch J. Biohybrid Hydrogels for Tumoroid Culture. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2300118. [PMID: 37505458 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Tumoroids are 3D in vitro models that recapitulate key features of in vivo tumors, such as their architecture - hypoxic center and oxygenated outer layer - in contrast with traditional 2D cell cultures. Moreover, they may be able to preserve the patient-specific signature in terms of cell heterogeneity and mutations. Tumoroids are, therefore, interesting tools for improving the understanding of cancer biology, developing new drugs, and potentially designing personalized therapeutic plans. Currently, tumoroids are most often established using basement membrane extracts (BME), which provide a multitude of biological cues. However, BME are characterized by a lack of well-defined composition, limited reproducibility, and potential immunogenicity as a consequence of their natural origin. Synthetic polymers can overcome these problems but lack structural and biochemical complexity, which can limit the functional capabilities of organoids. Biohybrid hydrogels consisting of both natural and synthetic components can combine their advantages and offer superior 3D culture systems. In this review, it is summarized efforts devoted to producing tumoroids using different types of biohybrid hydrogels, which are classified according to their crosslinking mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Castellote-Borrell
- Dynamic Biomimetics for Cancer Immunotherapy, Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Francesca Merlina
- Dynamic Biomimetics for Cancer Immunotherapy, Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Adrián R Rodríguez
- Dynamic Biomimetics for Cancer Immunotherapy, Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Judith Guasch
- Dynamic Biomimetics for Cancer Immunotherapy, Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, 28029, Spain
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13
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He S, Ji Z, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Chen J, Hu J, Wang R, Ding Y. Investigation of LGALS2 expression in the TCGA database reveals its clinical relevance in breast cancer immunotherapy and drug resistance. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17445. [PMID: 37838802 PMCID: PMC10576795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44777-1] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BRCA) is known as the leading cause of death in women worldwide and has a poor prognosis. Traditional therapeutic strategies such as surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause adverse reactions such as drug resistance. Immunotherapy, a new treatment approach with fewer side effects and stronger universality, can prolong the survival of BRCA patients and even achieve clinical cure. However, due to population heterogeneity and other reasons, there are still certain factors that limit the efficacy of immunotherapy. Therefore, the importance of finding new tumor immune biomarker cannot be emphasized enough. Studies have reported that LGALS2 was closely related to immunotherapy efficacy, however, it is unclear whether it can act as an immune checkpoint for BRCA immunotherapy. In the current study, changes in LGALS2 expression were analyzed in public datasets such as TCGA-BRCA. We found that LGALS2 expression was associated with immune infiltration, drug resistance and other characteristics of BRCA. Moreover, high LGALS2 expression was closely related to immunotherapy response, and was associated with methylation modifications and clinical resistance for the first time. These findings may help to elucidate the role of LGALS2 in BRCA for the development and clinical application of future immunotherapy strategies against BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song He
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhonghao Ji
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, 046000, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiwen Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinping Hu
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqing Wang
- The Eye Center in the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Ziqiang Street 218#, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, 130041, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu Ding
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China.
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14
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Guo Y, Gao F, Ahmed A, Rafiq M, Yu B, Cong H, Shen Y. Immunotherapy: cancer immunotherapy and its combination with nanomaterials and other therapies. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:8586-8604. [PMID: 37614168 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01358h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a new type of tumor treatment after surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and can be used to manage and destroy tumor cells through activating or strengthening the immune response. Immunotherapy has the benefits of a low recurrence rate and high specificity compared to traditional treatment methods. Immunotherapy has developed rapidly in recent years and has become a research hotspot. Currently, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors are the most effective tumor immunotherapies in clinical practice. While tumor immunotherapy brings hope to patients, it also faces some challenges and still requires continuous research and progress. Combination therapy is the future direction of anti-tumor treatment. In this review, the main focus is on an overview of the research progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors, cellular therapies, tumor vaccines, small molecule inhibitors and oncolytic virotherapy in tumor treatment, as well as the combination of immunotherapy with other treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Guo
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Fengyuan Gao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Adeel Ahmed
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Bing Yu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Hailin Cong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Youqing Shen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Center for Bionanoengineering, and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310027, China
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15
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Meng Y, Wang Y, Zhang S, Yang Y, Wu D, Cui W, Niu X, Chu C, Wang L, Qin M. Novel 4-Arylindolines Containing a Pyrido[3,2- d]pyrimidine Moiety as the Programmed Cell Death-1/Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 Interaction Inhibitors for Tumor Immunotherapy. J Med Chem 2023; 66:11815-11830. [PMID: 37596975 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00264] [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: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
A series of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine-containing 4-arylindolines were identified as potent inhibitors of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) interaction by structural optimization of a 4-arylindoline precursor reported previously. Among them, compound N11 was the most promising inhibitor, showing an IC50 value of 6.3 nM against the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction at the biochemical level. In in vitro T-cell tumor co-culture models, N11 significantly promoted T-cell proliferation, activation, and infiltration into tumor spheres, demonstrating that it possessed excellent immunomodulatory activity. In addition, N11 exhibited favorable in vivo antitumor activity in an LLC/PD-L1 tumor-bearing mouse model. Flow cytometry analysis verified that the in vivo antitumor efficacy of N11 was dependent on the activation of the immune microenvironment. These findings suggest that N11 can serve as a new starting point for the future development of small-molecule antitumor immunomodulators targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Meng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Yidong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Shaopeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Di Wu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Wei Cui
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Xinyu Niu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Cuiping Chu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Lihui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Mingze Qin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
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16
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Berckmans Y, Ceusters J, Vankerckhoven A, Wouters R, Riva M, Coosemans A. Preclinical studies performed in appropriate models could help identify optimal timing of combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1236965. [PMID: 37744323 PMCID: PMC10512939 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1236965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have been revolutionary in the field of cancer therapy. However, their success is limited to specific indications and cancer types. Recently, the combination treatment of ICI and chemotherapy has gained more attention to overcome this limitation. Unfortunately, many clinical trials testing these combinations have provided limited success. This can partly be attributed to an inadequate choice of preclinical models and the lack of scientific rationale to select the most effective immune-oncological combination. In this review, we have analyzed the existing preclinical evidence on this topic, which is only limitedly available. Furthermore, this preclinical data indicates that besides the selection of a specific drug and dose, also the sequence or order of the combination treatment influences the study outcome. Therefore, we conclude that the success of clinical combination trials could be enhanced by improving the preclinical set up, in order to identify the optimal treatment combination and schedule to enhance the anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yani Berckmans
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Ceusters
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ann Vankerckhoven
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roxanne Wouters
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Oncoinvent AS, Oslo, Norway
| | - Matteo Riva
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) UCLouvain Namur, University Hospital of Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - An Coosemans
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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17
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He Y, Hong C, Huang S, Kaskow JA, Covarrubias G, Pires IS, Sacane JC, Hammond PT, Belcher AM. STING Protein-Based In Situ Vaccine Synergizes CD4 + T, CD8 + T, and NK Cells for Tumor Eradication. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2300688. [PMID: 37015729 PMCID: PMC10964211 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling is a promising target in cancer immunotherapy, with many ongoing clinical studies in combination with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Existing STING-based therapies largely focus on activating CD8+ T cell or NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, while the role of CD4+ T cells in STING signaling has yet to be extensively studied in vivo. Here, a distinct CD4-mediated, protein-based combination therapy of STING and ICB as an in situ vaccine, is reported. The treatment eliminates subcutaneous MC38 and YUMM1.7 tumors in 70-100% of mice and protected all cured mice against rechallenge. Mechanistic studies reveal a robust TH 1 polarization and suppression of Treg of CD4+ T cells, followed by an effective collaboration of CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and NK cells to eliminate tumors. Finally, the potential to overcome host STING deficiency by significantly decreasing MC38 tumor burden in STING KO mice is demonstrated, addressing the translational challenge for the 19% of human population with loss-of-function STING variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanpu He
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Celestine Hong
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Shengnan Huang
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Justin A Kaskow
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Gil Covarrubias
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Ivan S Pires
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - James C Sacane
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Paula T Hammond
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Angela M Belcher
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
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18
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Zheng H, Wang G, Liu M, Cheng H. Traditional Chinese medicine inhibits PD-1/PD-L1 axis to sensitize cancer immunotherapy: a literature review. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1168226. [PMID: 37397393 PMCID: PMC10312112 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1168226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) comprise the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and maintain tumor immune evasion. Cancer immunotherapy based on anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies is the most promising anti-tumor treatment available but is currently facing the thorny problem of unsatisfactory outcomes. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its rich heritage of Chinese medicine monomers, herbal formulas, and physical therapies like acupuncture, moxibustion, and catgut implantation, is a multi-component and multi-target system of medicine known for enhancing immunity and preventing the spread of disease. TCM is often used as an adjuvant therapy for cancer in clinical practices, and recent studies have demonstrated the synergistic effects of combining TCM with cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we examined the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and its role in tumor immune escape while exploring how TCM therapies can modulate the PD-1/PD-L1 axis to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Our findings suggest that TCM therapy can enhance cancer immunotherapy by reducing the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, regulating T-cell function, improving the tumor immune microenvironment, and regulating intestinal flora. We hope this review may serve as a valuable resource for future studies on the sensitization of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilan Zheng
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Gang Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology/Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongbin Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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19
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Asseri AH, Bakhsh T, Abuzahrah SS, Ali S, Rather IA. The gut dysbiosis-cancer axis: illuminating novel insights and implications for clinical practice. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1208044. [PMID: 37361202 PMCID: PMC10288883 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1208044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The human intestinal microbiota, also known as the gut microbiota, comprises more than 100 trillion organisms, mainly bacteria. This number exceeds the host body cells by a factor of ten. The gastrointestinal tract, which houses 60%-80% of the host's immune cells, is one of the largest immune organs. It maintains systemic immune homeostasis in the face of constant bacterial challenges. The gut microbiota has evolved with the host, and its symbiotic state with the host's gut epithelium is a testament to this co-evolution. However, certain microbial subpopulations may expand during pathological interventions, disrupting the delicate species-level microbial equilibrium and triggering inflammation and tumorigenesis. This review highlights the impact of gut microbiota dysbiosis on the development and progression of certain types of cancers and discusses the potential for developing new therapeutic strategies against cancer by manipulating the gut microbiota. By interacting with the host microbiota, we may be able to enhance the effectiveness of anticancer therapies and open new avenues for improving patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amer H. Asseri
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Center for Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahani Bakhsh
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Sajad Ali
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Irfan A. Rather
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Excellence in Bionanoscience Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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20
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Chang R, Chu X, Zhang J, Fu R, Feng C, Jia D, Wang R, Yan H, Li G, Li J. Liposome-Based Co-Immunotherapy with TLR Agonist and CD47-SIRPα Checkpoint Blockade for Efficient Treatment of Colon Cancer. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28073147. [PMID: 37049910 PMCID: PMC10095745 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Antitumor immunity is an essential component of cancer therapy and is primarily mediated by the innate immune response, which plays a critical role in initiating and shaping the adaptive immune response. Emerging evidence has identified innate immune checkpoints and pattern recognition receptors, such as CD47 and Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), as promising therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. Based on the fusion protein Fc-CV1, which comprises a high-affinity SIRPα variant (CV1), and the Fc fragment of the human IgG1 antibody, we exploited a preparation which coupled Fc-CV1 to imiquimod (TLR7 agonist)-loaded liposomes (CILPs) to actively target CT26. WT syngeneic colon tumor models. In vitro studies revealed that CILPs exhibited superior sustained release properties and cell uptake efficiency compared to free imiquimod. In vivo assays proved that CILPs exhibited more efficient accumulation in tumors, and a more significant tumor suppression effect than the control groups. This immunotherapy preparation possessed the advantages of low doses and low toxicity. These results demonstrated that a combination of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy and innate immunity agonists, such as the Fc-CV1 and imiquimod-loaded liposome preparation utilized in this study, could represent a highly effective strategy for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Xiaohong Chu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Jibing Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Rongrong Fu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Changshun Feng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Dianlong Jia
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Hui Yan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Guangyong Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Jun Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
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21
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Colciago RR, Fischetti I, Giandini C, La Rocca E, Rancati T T, Rejas Mateo A, Colombo MP, Lozza L, Chiodoni C, Jachetti E, De Santis MC. Overview of the synergistic use of radiotherapy and immunotherapy in cancer treatment: current challenges and scopes of improvement. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2023; 23:135-145. [PMID: 36803369 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2023.2173175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oncological treatments are changing rapidly due to the advent of several targeted anticancer drugs and regimens. The primary new area of research in oncological medicine is the implementation of a combination of novel therapies and standard care. In this scenario, radioimmunotherapy is one of the most promising fields, as proven by the exponential growth of publications in this context during the last decade. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of the synergistic use of radiotherapy and immunotherapy and addresses questions like the importance of this subject, aspects clinicians look for in patients to administer this combined therapy, individuals who would benefit the most from this treatment, how to achieve abscopal effect and when does radio-immunotherapy become standard clinical practice. EXPERT OPINION Answers to these queries generate further issues that need to be addressed and solved. The abscopal and bystander effects are not utopia, rather physiological phenomena that occur in our bodies. Nevertheless, substantial evidence regarding the combination of radioimmunotherapy is lacking. In conclusion, joining forces and finding answers to all these open questions is of paramount importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Ray Colciago
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine and Surgery - University of Milan Bicocca, Milan Italy.,Radiation Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy
| | - Irene Fischetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy
| | - Carlotta Giandini
- Radiation Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Eliana La Rocca
- Radiation Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Rancati T
- Prostate Cancer Program, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Alicia Rejas Mateo
- Radiation Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Paolo Colombo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy
| | - Laura Lozza
- Radiation Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy
| | - Claudia Chiodoni
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy
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22
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Targeting Epigenetic Mechanisms: A Boon for Cancer Immunotherapy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11010169. [PMID: 36672677 PMCID: PMC9855697 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010169] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is rapidly emerging as a promising approach against cancer. In the last decade, various immunological mechanisms have been targeted to induce an increase in the immune response against cancer cells. However, despite promising results, many patients show partial response, resistance, or serious toxicities. A promising way to overcome this is the use of immunotherapeutic approaches, in combination with other potential therapeutic approaches. Aberrant epigenetic modifications play an important role in carcinogenesis and its progression, as well as in the functioning of immune cells. Thus, therapeutic approaches targeting aberrant epigenetic mechanisms and the immune response might provide an effective antitumor effect. Further, the recent development of potent epigenetic drugs and immunomodulators gives hope to this combinatorial approach. In this review, we summarize the synergy mechanism between epigenetic therapies and immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer, and discuss recent advancements in the translation of this approach.
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23
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Zhang Y, Li Y, Fu Q, Han Z, Wang D, Umar Shinge SA, Muluh TA, Lu X. Combined Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapies for Cancer Treatment: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2023; 23:251-264. [PMID: 36278447 DOI: 10.2174/1568009623666221020104603] [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: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The previous year's worldview for cancer treatment has advanced from general to more precise therapeutic approaches. Chemotherapies were first distinguished as the most reliable and brief therapy with promising outcomes in cancer patients. However, patients could also suffer from severe toxicities resulting from chemotherapeutic drug usage. An improved comprehension of cancer pathogenesis has led to new treatment choices, including tumor-targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Subsequently, cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapy give more hope to patients since their combination has tremendous therapeutic efficacy. The immune system responses are also initiated and modulated by targeted therapies and cytotoxic agents, which create the principal basis that when targeted therapies are combined with immunotherapy, the clinical outcomes are of excellent efficacy, as presented in this review. This review focuses on how immunotherapy and targeted therapy are applicable in cancer management and treatment. Also, it depicts promising therapeutic results with more extensive immunotherapy applications with targeted therapy. Further elaborate that immune system responses are also initiated and modulated by targeted therapies and cytotoxic agents, which create the principal basis that this combination therapy with immunotherapy can be of great outcome clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The People's Hospital of Luzhou, 646000 Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Yafei Li
- Department of Oncology, The People's Hospital of Luzhou, 646000 Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Qiuxia Fu
- Department of Oncology, The People's Hospital of Luzhou, 646000 Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Han
- Department of Oncology, The People's Hospital of Luzhou, 646000 Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Daijie Wang
- Department of Oncology, The People's Hospital of Luzhou, 646000 Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Shafiu A Umar Shinge
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Tobias Achu Muluh
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan, P.R. China.,School of Medicine, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohong Lu
- Department of Oncology, The People's Hospital of Luzhou, 646000 Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
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24
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Rosato F, Pasupuleti R, Tomisch J, Meléndez AV, Kolanovic D, Makshakova ON, Wiltschi B, Römer W. A bispecific, crosslinking lectibody activates cytotoxic T cells and induces cancer cell death. J Transl Med 2022; 20:578. [PMID: 36494671 PMCID: PMC9733292 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03794-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant glycosylation patterns play a crucial role in the development of cancer cells as they promote tumor growth and aggressiveness. Lectins recognize carbohydrate antigens attached to proteins and lipids on cell surfaces and represent potential tools for application in cancer diagnostics and therapy. Among the emerging cancer therapies, immunotherapy has become a promising treatment modality for various hematological and solid malignancies. Here we present an approach to redirect the immune system into fighting cancer by targeting altered glycans at the surface of malignant cells. We developed a so-called "lectibody", a bispecific construct composed of a lectin linked to an antibody fragment. This lectibody is inspired by bispecific T cell engager (BiTEs) antibodies that recruit cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) while simultaneously binding to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) on cancer cells. The tumor-related glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) represents the target of this proof-of-concept study. It is recognized with high selectivity by the B-subunit of the pathogen-derived Shiga toxin, presenting opportunities for clinical development. METHODS The lectibody was realized by conjugating an anti-CD3 single-chain antibody fragment to the B-subunit of Shiga toxin to target Gb3+ cancer cells. The reactive non-canonical amino acid azidolysine (AzK) was inserted at predefined single positions in both proteins. The azido groups were functionalized by bioorthogonal conjugation with individual linkers that facilitated selective coupling via an alternative bioorthogonal click chemistry reaction. In vitro cell-based assays were conducted to evaluate the antitumoral activity of the lectibody. CTLs, Burkitt´s lymphoma-derived cells and colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines were screened in flow cytometry and cytotoxicity assays for activation and lysis, respectively. RESULTS This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that the lectibody activates T cells for their cytotoxic signaling, redirecting CTLs´ cytotoxicity in a highly selective manner and resulting in nearly complete tumor cell lysis-up to 93%-of Gb3+ tumor cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS This research highlights the potential of lectins in targeting certain tumors, with an opportunity for new cancer treatments. When considering a combinatorial strategy, lectin-based platforms of this type offer the possibility to target glycan epitopes on tumor cells and boost the efficacy of current therapies, providing an additional strategy for tumor eradication and improving patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Rosato
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rajeev Pasupuleti
- grid.432147.70000 0004 0591 4434ACIB - The Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria ,grid.410413.30000 0001 2294 748XInstitute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Jana Tomisch
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ana Valeria Meléndez
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dajana Kolanovic
- grid.432147.70000 0004 0591 4434ACIB - The Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria ,grid.410413.30000 0001 2294 748XInstitute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Olga N. Makshakova
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.419733.b0000 0004 0487 3538Kazan Institute for Biochemistry and Biophysics, FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS, Kazan, Russian Federation
| | - Birgit Wiltschi
- grid.432147.70000 0004 0591 4434ACIB - The Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria ,grid.410413.30000 0001 2294 748XInstitute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria ,grid.5173.00000 0001 2298 5320Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Winfried Römer
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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25
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Anticancer natural products targeting immune checkpoint protein network. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:1008-1032. [PMID: 34838956 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Normal cells express surface proteins that bind to immune checkpoint proteins on immune cells to turn them off, whereby the immune system does not attack normal healthy cells. Cancer cells can also utilize this same protective mechanism by expressing surface proteins that can interact with checkpoint proteins on immune cells to overcome the immune surveillance. Immunotherapy is making the best use of the body's own immune system to reinforce anti-tumor responses. The most generally used immunotherapy is the control of immune checkpoints including the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated molecule 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell deathreceptor 1 (PD-1), or programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1). In spite of the clinical effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the overall response rate still remains low. Therefore, there have been considerable efforts in searching for alternative immune checkpoint proteins that may work as new therapeutic targets for treatment of cancer. Recent studies have identified several additional novel immune checkpoint targets, including lymphocyte activation gene-3, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3, T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif domain, V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation, B7 homolog 3 protein, B and T cell lymphocyte attenuator, and inducible T cell COStimulator. Natural compounds, especially those present in medicinal or dietary plants, have been investigated for their anti-tumor effects in various in vitro and in vivo models. Some phytochemicals exert anti-tumor activities based on immunoregulatioby blocking interaction between proteins involved in immune checkpoint signal transduction or regulating their expression/activity. Recently, synergistic anti-cancer effects of diverse phytochemicals with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 or anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody drugs have been continuously reported. Considering an increasing attention to noteworthy therapeutic effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the cancer therapy, this review focuses on regulatory effects of selected phytochemicals on immune checkpoint protein network and their combinational effectiveness with immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting tumor cells.
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26
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Santos F, Valderas-Gutiérrez J, Pérez Del Río E, Castellote-Borrell M, Rodriguez XR, Veciana J, Ratera I, Guasch J. Enhanced human T cell expansion with inverse opal hydrogels. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:3730-3738. [PMID: 35660816 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm00486k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Advanced personalized immunotherapies still have to overcome several biomedical and technical limitations before they become a routine cancer treatment in spite of recent achievements. In adoptive cell therapy (ACT), the capacity to obtain adequate numbers of therapeutic T cells in the patients following ex vivo treatment should be improved. Moreover, the time and costs to produce these T cells should be reduced. In this work, inverse opal (IOPAL) 3D hydrogels consisting of poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) covalently combined with heparin were engineered to resemble the environment of lymph nodes, where T cells get activated and proliferate. The introduction of an IOPAL strategy allowed a precise control on the porosity of the hydrogels, providing an increase in the proliferation of primary human CD4+ T cells, when compared with state-of-the-art expansion systems. Additionally, the IOPAL hydrogels also showed a superior expansion compared to hydrogels with the same composition, but without the predetermined pore structure. In summary, we have shown the beneficial effect of having an IOPAL architecture in our 3D hydrogels to help achieving large numbers of cells, while maintaining the desired selected phenotypes required for ACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabião Santos
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain. .,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | | | - Eduardo Pérez Del Río
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain. .,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Miquel Castellote-Borrell
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain. .,Dynamic Biomimetics for Cancer Immunotherapy, Max Planck Partner Group, ICMAB-CSIC, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Xavier Rodriguez Rodriguez
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain. .,Dynamic Biomimetics for Cancer Immunotherapy, Max Planck Partner Group, ICMAB-CSIC, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Jaume Veciana
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain. .,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Imma Ratera
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain. .,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Judith Guasch
- Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain. .,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain.,Dynamic Biomimetics for Cancer Immunotherapy, Max Planck Partner Group, ICMAB-CSIC, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
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27
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Abstract
Nivolumab plus relatlimab (nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw; Opdualag™) is a fixed-dose, combination immunotherapy treatment being developed by Bristol Myers Squibb for the treatment of multiple types of advanced cancers. Both drugs are immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) monoclonal antibodies developed to target immune checkpoints, with nivolumab targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) receptor and relatlimab being a newly developed, first-in-class drug targeting the lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) protein. In March 2022, nivolumab plus relatlimab received its first approval in the USA for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adult patients and paediatric patients aged ≥ 12 years who weigh ≥ 40 kg. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of this combination therapy leading to this first approval for unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
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28
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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:3044-3060. [PMID: 35621637 PMCID: PMC9139602 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29050247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 319] [Impact Index Per Article: 159.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of immune checkpoint proteins such as PD-1/PDL-1 and CTLA-4 represents a significant breakthrough in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, humanized monoclonal antibodies, targeting these immune checkpoint proteins have been utilized successfully in patients with metastatic melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, head and neck cancers and non-small lung cancer. The US FDA has successfully approved three different categories of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as PD-1 inhibitors (Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, and Cemiplimab), PDL-1 inhibitors (Atezolimumab, Durvalumab and Avelumab), and CTLA-4 inhibitor (Ipilimumab). Unfortunately, not all patients respond favourably to these drugs, highlighting the role of biomarkers such as Tumour mutation burden (TMB), PDL-1 expression, microbiome, hypoxia, interferon-γ, and ECM in predicting responses to ICIs-based immunotherapy. The current study aims to review the literature and updates on ICIs in cancer therapy.
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29
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Gao Y, Feng X, Song W, Li H, Shi C, Jin M, Li Z, Zhang L, Zhang M. The potential efficacy and mechanism of bendamustine in entra-nodal NK/T cell lymphoma. Hematol Oncol 2022; 40:678-688. [PMID: 35439335 DOI: 10.1002/hon.3007] [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: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Bendamustine has been shown to have anti-tumor activities in hematological malignancies, but the role of bendamustine in natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma (NKTCL) treatment is unclear. Our study has shown that bendamustine had potent growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects on NKTCL cells. Interestingly, we noticed that the combination of either gemcitabine or etoposide results in additive or synergistic cytotoxicity. Bendamustine induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in concentration- and time-dependent manners in NKTCL cells, shown as down-regulation of Bcl-2 and activation of cleavage of caspases 3, 7, 9 and poly adenosinediphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP). Bendamustine arrested NKTCL cells in G2/M phase, with downregulation of expression of cyclin B1 and upregulation of expression of p-cdc2, p-cdc25c and p-P53. Furthermore, we confirmed that bendamustine activated DNA damage response (DDR) directly or through Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Protein (ATM)/Chk2 and ATR/Chk1 pathway and increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in NKTCL cells, which caused G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Bendamustine also inhibited phosphorylation of transcriptional factor STAT3, contributing to cell apoptosis and proliferation inhibition. Finally, we verified the effect of bendamustine on NKTCL cells in vivo. It showed that bendamustine dramatically inhibited the growth of the subcutaneous tumor, with no obvious impact on mice weight. These findings demonstrate that bendamustine activates DDR pathway, induces the accumulation of intracellularROS level as well as inhibition of STAT3, leading to cell apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest in NKTCL cells, which indicates that bendamustine dramatically suppressed NKTCL both in vitro and in vivo and provides a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of NK/T lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyang Gao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Feng
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Wenting Song
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China.,Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hongwen Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Cunzhen Shi
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Mengyuan Jin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Zhaoming Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment and Henan Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Research, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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30
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Ciraolo E, Althoff S, Ruß J, Rosnev S, Butze M, Pühl M, Frentsch M, Bullinger L, Na IK. Simultaneous Genetic Ablation of PD-1, LAG-3, and TIM-3 in CD8 T Cells Delays Tumor Growth and Improves Survival Outcome. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063207. [PMID: 35328630 PMCID: PMC8955581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) represented a step forward in improving the outcome of patients with various refractory solid tumors and several therapeutic regimens incorporating ICI have already been approved for a variety of tumor entities. However, besides remarkable long-term responses, checkpoint inhibition can trigger severe immune-related adverse events in some patients. In order to improve safety of ICI as well as T cell therapy, we tested the feasibility of combining T cell-based immunotherapy with genetic disruption of checkpoint molecule expression. Therefore, we generated H-Y and ovalbumin antigen-specific CD8+ T cells with abolished PD-1, LAG-3, and TIM-3 expression through CRISPR/Cas9 technology. CD8+ T cells, subjected to PD-1, LAG-3, and TIM-3 genetic editing, showed a strong reduction in immune checkpoint molecule expression after in vitro activation, while no relevant reduction in responsiveness to in vitro stimulation was observed. At the same time, in B16-OVA tumor model, transferred genetically edited OT-1 CD8+ T cells promoted longer survival compared to control T cells and showed enhanced expansion without associated toxicity. Our study supports the notion that antigen-specific adoptive T cell therapy with concomitant genetic disruption of multiple checkpoint inhibitory receptors could represent an effective antitumor immunotherapy approach with improved tolerability profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ciraolo
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (E.C.); (S.A.); (J.R.); (M.B.); (M.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Stefanie Althoff
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (E.C.); (S.A.); (J.R.); (M.B.); (M.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Josefine Ruß
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (E.C.); (S.A.); (J.R.); (M.B.); (M.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Stanislav Rosnev
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (S.R.); (M.F.)
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Monique Butze
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (E.C.); (S.A.); (J.R.); (M.B.); (M.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Miriam Pühl
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (E.C.); (S.A.); (J.R.); (M.B.); (M.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Marco Frentsch
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (S.R.); (M.F.)
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Bullinger
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (E.C.); (S.A.); (J.R.); (M.B.); (M.P.); (L.B.)
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (S.R.); (M.F.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Il-Kang Na
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (E.C.); (S.A.); (J.R.); (M.B.); (M.P.); (L.B.)
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (S.R.); (M.F.)
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence:
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31
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Won JE, Byeon Y, Wi TI, Lee CM, Lee JH, Kang TH, Lee JW, Lee Y, Park YM, Han HD. Immune checkpoint silencing using RNAi-incorporated nanoparticles enhances antitumor immunity and therapeutic efficacy compared with antibody-based approaches. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003928. [PMID: 35228265 PMCID: PMC8886443 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cytotoxic CD8+ T cell-based cancer immunotherapy has been extensively studied and applied, however, tumor cells are known to evade immune responses through the expression of immune checkpoints, such as programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). To overcome these issues, antibody-based immune checkpoint blockades (eg, antiprogrammed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) and anti-PD-L1) have been revolutionized to improve immune responses. However, their therapeutic efficacy is limited to 15%-20% of the overall objective response rate. Moreover, PD-L1 is secreted from tumor cells, which can interrupt antibody-mediated immune reactions in the tumor microenvironment. METHODS We developed poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA-NPs) encapsulating PD-L1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and PD-1 siRNA, as a delivery platform to silence immune checkpoints. This study used the TC-1 and EG7 tumor models to determine the potential therapeutic efficacy of the PLGA (PD-L1 siRNA+PD-1 siRNA)-NPs, on administration twice per week for 4 weeks. Moreover, we observed combination effect of PLGA (PD-L1 siRNA+PD-1 siRNA)-NPs and PLGA (antigen+adjuvant)-NPs using TC-1 and EG7 tumor-bearing mouse models. RESULTS PLGA (PD-L1 siRNA+PD-1 siRNA)-NPs boosted the host immune reaction by restoring CD8+ T cell function and promoting cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses. We demonstrated that the combination of NP-based therapeutic vaccine and PLGA (siRNA)-NPs resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth compared with the control and antibody-based treatments (p<0.001). The proposed system significantly inhibited tumor growth compared with the antibody-based approaches. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest a potential combination approach for cancer immunotherapy using PLGA (PD-L1 siRNA+PD-1 siRNA)-NPs and PLGA (antigen+adjuvant)-NPs as novel immune checkpoint silencing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Eun Won
- Department of Immunology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, The Republic of Korea
| | - Youngseon Byeon
- Department of Immunology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, The Republic of Korea
| | - Tae In Wi
- Department of Immunology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, The Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Mi Lee
- Department of Immunology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, The Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hyeong Lee
- Department of Immunology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, The Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Heung Kang
- Department of Immunology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, The Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Won Lee
- Department of Obstertrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, The Republic of Korea
| | - YoungJoo Lee
- Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology, Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, The Republic of Korea
| | - Yeong-Min Park
- Department of Immunology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, The Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Dong Han
- Department of Immunology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, The Republic of Korea
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Abstract
Cancer therapy has undergone a drastic revolution in the past few decades with the introduction of several novel therapies, like immunotherapy (active and passive), stem cell-based therapies, and nanocarrier-based therapies. These therapies have addressed the issues of conventional cancer therapy (chemotherapy or radiotherapy), like specificity and off-target effects. Further, the introduction of such treatments has improved survival and converted a terminal disease into a more manageable condition. However, many clinical, ethical, and regulatory issues are raised with such novel additions. Several effective therapies are under research but could not come to market or are delayed due to regulatory concerns for marketing approval. The scope of this review encompasses the examination of these regulatory issues and discuss their possible solutions. A practical and flexible regulatory approach, harmonized globally, could help the patients suffering from a terminal illness to lead a quality life.
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Singh P, Yadav M, Niveria K, Verma AK. Nano-immunotherapeutics: targeting approach as strategic regulation at tumor microenvironment for cancer treatment. EXPLORATION OF MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.37349/emed.2022.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, which necessitates our consideration related to novel treatment approach. Tumor cells at the tumor microenvironment (TME), regulate a plethora of key mechanistic signaling pathways that obstruct antitumor immune responses by immune suppression, immune resistance or acquired immune tolerance. The present therapeutic regimes are provided independently or in combination, or as immunotherapies for cancer immune targeting. Immunotherapy has altered the arena of oncology and patient care. By using the host immune system, the immunostimulatory molecules can exert a robust, personalized response against the patient’s own tumors. Alternatively, tumors may exploit these strategies to escape immune recognition, and accordingly, such mechanisms represent chances for immunotherapy intervention. Nonetheless, despite promising outcomes from immunotherapies in recurrent and metastatic cancers, immune-therapeutics in clinics has been limited owing to unpredictability in the produced immune response and reported instances of immune-related adverse effects. The unrealized potential of immunotherapies in cancer management maybe due to the obstacles such as heterogeneous nature, multiple targets, patients’ immune response, specificity for cancer or variability in response generation in toxicity levels, delivery and cost related to therapeutics etc. Further revolutionary trends related to immunotherapies are noticeable with slower progress for cancer management. Recent advances in nanomedicine strategize to ameliorate the lacuna of immunotherapy as it relies on the inherent biophysical characteristics of nanocarriers: size, shape, surface charge and multifunctionality and exploiting them as first line therapy for delivery of biomolecules, single checkpoint inhibitors and for imaging of TME. Therefore, nano-assisted immunotherapies can boost the immunotherapeutic approach, overcoming factors that are with imminent potential risks related to it, thereby significantly improving the survival rate associated with it in cancer patients. Nanotechnology is anticipated to overcome the confines of existing cancer immunotherapy and to successfully combine various cancer treatment modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Singh
- Nano-Biotech Lab, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Monika Yadav
- Nano-Biotech Lab, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Karishma Niveria
- Nano-Biotech Lab, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Anita Kamra Verma
- Nano-Biotech Lab, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
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Bausart M, Préat V, Malfanti A. Immunotherapy for glioblastoma: the promise of combination strategies. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:35. [PMID: 35078492 PMCID: PMC8787896 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02251-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) treatment has remained almost unchanged for more than 20 years. The current standard of care involves surgical resection (if possible) followed by concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In recent years, immunotherapy strategies have revolutionized the treatment of many cancers, increasing the hope for GBM therapy. However, mostly due to the high, multifactorial immunosuppression occurring in the microenvironment, the poor knowledge of the neuroimmune system and the presence of the blood-brain barrier, the efficacy of immunotherapy in GBM is still low. Recently, new strategies for GBM treatments have employed immunotherapy combinations and have provided encouraging results in both preclinical and clinical studies. The lessons learned from clinical trials highlight the importance of tackling different arms of immunity. In this review, we aim to summarize the preclinical evidence regarding combination immunotherapy in terms of immune and survival benefits for GBM management. The outcomes of recent studies assessing the combination of different classes of immunotherapeutic agents (e.g., immune checkpoint blockade and vaccines) will be discussed. Finally, future strategies to ameliorate the efficacy of immunotherapy and facilitate clinical translation will be provided to address the unmet medical needs of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Bausart
- UCLouvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Avenue Mounier 73 B1.73.12, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Véronique Préat
- UCLouvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Avenue Mounier 73 B1.73.12, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Alessio Malfanti
- UCLouvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Avenue Mounier 73 B1.73.12, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
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Yu Y, Tang H, Franceschi D, Mujagond P, Acharya A, Deng Y, Lethaus B, Savkovic V, Zimmerer R, Ziebolz D, Li S, Schmalz G. Immune Checkpoint Gene Expression Profiling Identifies Programmed Cell Death Ligand-1 Centered Immunologic Subtypes of Oral and Squamous Cell Carcinoma With Favorable Survival. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 8:759605. [PMID: 35127742 PMCID: PMC8810827 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.759605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to identify the programmed death ligand-1 (PDL1, also termed as CD274) and its positively correlated immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) and to determine the immune subtypes of CD274-centered ICG combinations in oral and squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and Methods Firstly, the 95 ICGs obtained via literature reviews were identified in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database in relation to OSCC, and such 88 ICG expression profiles were extracted. ICGs positively correlated with CD274 were utilized for subsequent analysis. The relationship between ICGs positively correlated with CD274 and immunotherapy biomarkers (tumor mutation burden (TMB), and adaptive immune resistance pathway genes) was investigated, and the relationships of these genes with OSCC clinical features were explored. The prognostic values of CD274 and its positively correlated ICGs and also their associated gene pairs were revealed using the survival analysis. Results Eight ICGs, including CTLA4, ICOS, TNFRSF4, CD27, B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), ADORA2A, CD40LG, and CD28, were found to be positively correlated with CD274. Among the eight ICGs, seven ICGs (CTLA4, ICOS, TNFRSF4, CD27, BTLA, CD40LG, and CD28) were significantly negatively correlated with TMB. The majority of the adaptive immune resistance pathway genes were positively correlated with ICGs positively correlated with CD274. The survival analysis utilizing the TCGA-OSCC data showed that, although CD274 was not significantly associated with overall survival (OS), the majority of ICGs positively correlated with CD274 (BTLA, CD27, CTLA4, CD40LG, CD28, ICOS, and TNFRSF4) were significantly correlated with OS, whereby their low-expression predicted a favorable prognosis. The survival analysis based on the gene pair subtypes showed that the combination subtypes of CD274_low/BTLA_low, CD274_low/CD27_low, CD274_low/CTLA4_low, CD8A_high/BTLA_low, CD8A_high/CD27_low, and CD8A_high/CTLA4_low predicted favorable OS. Conclusion The results in this study provide a theoretical basis for prognostic immune subtyping of OSCC and highlight the importance of developing future immunotherapeutic strategies for treating oral cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yu
- Department of Stomatology, Qunli Branch, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Yu
| | - Huiwen Tang
- Department of Stomatology, Qunli Branch, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Debora Franceschi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Prabhakar Mujagond
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, 3rd Milestone Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway, Faridabad, India
| | - Aneesha Acharya
- Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, India
| | - Yupei Deng
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, China Tibetology Research Center, Beijing Tibetan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bernd Lethaus
- Department of Cranio Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinic Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Vuk Savkovic
- Department of Cranio Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinic Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Zimmerer
- Department of Cranio Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinic Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dirk Ziebolz
- Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Periodontology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simin Li
- Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gerhard Schmalz
- Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Periodontology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Kim J, Jang H, Lee GJ, Hur Y, Keum J, Jo JK, Yun SE, Park SJ, Park YJ, Choi MJ, Kim KS, Kim J. A Novel Kinase Inhibitor AX-0085 Inhibits Interferon-γ-Mediated Induction of PD-L1 Expression and Promotes Immune Reaction to Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells. Cells 2021; 11:19. [PMID: 35011581 PMCID: PMC8750969 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we describe a novel kinase inhibitor AX-0085 which can suppress the induction of PD-L1 expression by Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells. AX-0085 effectively blocks JAK2/STAT1 signaling initiated by IFN-γ treatment and prevents nuclear localization of STAT1. Importantly, we demonstrate that AX-0085 reverses the IFN-γ-mediated repression of T cell activation in vitro and enhances the anti-tumor activity of anti-PD-1 antibody in vivo when used in combination. Finally, transcriptomic analyses indicated that AX-0085 is highly specific in targeting the IFN-γ-pathway, thereby raising the possibility of applying this reagent in combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitor antibodies. It may be particularly relevant in cases in which PD-L1-mediated T cell exhaustion leads to immunoevasive phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jusong Kim
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (J.K.); (H.J.); (G.J.L.); (Y.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Haeyeon Jang
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (J.K.); (H.J.); (G.J.L.); (Y.H.); (J.K.)
- Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Gyu Jin Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (J.K.); (H.J.); (G.J.L.); (Y.H.); (J.K.)
- Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Yelim Hur
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (J.K.); (H.J.); (G.J.L.); (Y.H.); (J.K.)
- Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Juhee Keum
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (J.K.); (H.J.); (G.J.L.); (Y.H.); (J.K.)
- Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Jung Ki Jo
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea;
| | - Si-Eun Yun
- R&D Center, Axceso Biopharma Co., Ltd., Yongin 14056, Korea; (S.-E.Y.); (S.J.P.); (Y.J.P.); (M.J.C.)
| | - Sung Jun Park
- R&D Center, Axceso Biopharma Co., Ltd., Yongin 14056, Korea; (S.-E.Y.); (S.J.P.); (Y.J.P.); (M.J.C.)
| | - Young Jun Park
- R&D Center, Axceso Biopharma Co., Ltd., Yongin 14056, Korea; (S.-E.Y.); (S.J.P.); (Y.J.P.); (M.J.C.)
| | - Myeong Jun Choi
- R&D Center, Axceso Biopharma Co., Ltd., Yongin 14056, Korea; (S.-E.Y.); (S.J.P.); (Y.J.P.); (M.J.C.)
| | - Kye-Seong Kim
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea;
- Hanyang Biomedical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Jaesang Kim
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (J.K.); (H.J.); (G.J.L.); (Y.H.); (J.K.)
- Ewha Research Center for Systems Biology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
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Bata N, Cosford NDP. Cell Survival and Cell Death at the Intersection of Autophagy and Apoptosis: Implications for Current and Future Cancer Therapeutics. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:1728-1746. [PMID: 34927007 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy and apoptosis are functionally distinct mechanisms for cytoplasmic and cellular turnover. While these two pathways are distinct, they can also regulate each other, and central components of the apoptosis or autophagy pathway regulate both processes directly. Furthermore, several upstream stress-inducing signaling pathways can influence both autophagy and apoptosis. The crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis has an integral role in pathological processes, including those related to cancer, homeostasis, and aging. Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death, tightly regulated by various cellular and biochemical mechanisms, some of which have been the focus of drug discovery efforts targeting cancer therapeutics. Autophagy is a cellular degradation pathway whereby cells recycle macromolecules and organelles to generate energy when subjected to stress. Autophagy can act as either a prodeath or a prosurvival process and is both tissue and microenvironment specific. In this review we describe five groups of proteins that are integral to the apoptosis pathway and discuss their role in regulating autophagy. We highlight several apoptosis-inducing small molecules and biologics that have been developed and advanced into the clinic and discuss their effects on autophagy. For the most part, these apoptosis-inducing compounds appear to elevate autophagy activity. Under certain circumstances autophagy demonstrates cytoprotective functions and is overactivated in response to chemo- or radiotherapy which can lead to drug resistance, representing a clinical obstacle for successful cancer treatment. Thus, targeting the autophagy pathway in combination with apoptosis-inducing compounds may be a promising strategy for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Bata
- Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Nicholas D P Cosford
- Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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Sokolov AV, Dostdar SA, Attwood MM, Krasilnikova AA, Ilina AA, Nabieva AS, Lisitsyna AA, Chubarev VN, Tarasov VV, Schiöth HB. Brain Cancer Drug Discovery: Clinical Trials, Drug Classes, Targets, and Combinatorial Therapies. Pharmacol Rev 2021; 73:1-32. [PMID: 34663683 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain cancer is a formidable challenge for drug development, and drugs derived from many cutting-edge technologies are being tested in clinical trials. We manually characterized 981 clinical trials on brain tumors that were registered in ClinicalTrials.gov from 2010 to 2020. We identified 582 unique therapeutic entities targeting 581 unique drug targets and 557 unique treatment combinations involving drugs. We performed the classification of both the drugs and drug targets based on pharmacological and structural classifications. Our analysis demonstrates a large diversity of agents and targets. Currently, we identified 32 different pharmacological directions for therapies that are based on 42 structural classes of agents. Our analysis shows that kinase inhibitors, chemotherapeutic agents, and cancer vaccines are the three most common classes of agents identified in trials. Agents in clinical trials demonstrated uneven distribution in combination approaches; chemotherapy agents, proteasome inhibitors, and immune modulators frequently appeared in combinations, whereas kinase inhibitors, modified immune effector cells did not as was shown by combination networks and descriptive statistics. This analysis provides an extensive overview of the drug discovery field in brain cancer, shifts that have been happening in recent years, and challenges that are likely to come. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review provides comprehensive quantitative analysis and discussion of the brain cancer drug discovery field, including classification of drug, targets, and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandr V Sokolov
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Samira A Dostdar
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Misty M Attwood
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandra A Krasilnikova
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia A Ilina
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Amina Sh Nabieva
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Lisitsyna
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir N Chubarev
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vadim V Tarasov
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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Sancho-Araiz A, Zalba S, Garrido MJ, Berraondo P, Topp B, de Alwis D, Parra-Guillen ZP, Mangas-Sanjuan V, Trocóniz IF. Semi-Mechanistic Model for the Antitumor Response of a Combination Cocktail of Immuno-Modulators in Non-Inflamed (Cold) Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205049. [PMID: 34680196 PMCID: PMC8534053 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205049] [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: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The clinical efficacy of immunotherapies when treating cold tumors is still low, and different treatment combinations are needed when dealing with this challenging scenario. In this work, a middle-out strategy was followed to develop a model describing the antitumor efficacy of different immune-modulator combinations, including an antigen, a toll-like receptor-3 agonist, and an immune checkpoint inhibitor in mice treated with non-inflamed tumor cells. Our results support that clinical response requires antigen-presenting cell activation and also relies on the amount of CD8 T cells and tumor resistance mechanisms present. This mathematical model is a very useful platform to evaluate different immuno-oncology combinations in both preclinical and clinical settings. Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors, administered as single agents, have demonstrated clinical efficacy. However, when treating cold tumors, different combination strategies are needed. This work aims to develop a semi-mechanistic model describing the antitumor efficacy of immunotherapy combinations in cold tumors. Tumor size of mice treated with TC-1/A9 non-inflamed tumors and the drug effects of an antigen, a toll-like receptor-3 agonist (PIC), and an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-programmed cell death 1 antibody) were modeled using Monolix and following a middle-out strategy. Tumor growth was best characterized by an exponential model with an estimated initial tumor size of 19.5 mm3 and a doubling time of 3.6 days. In the treatment groups, contrary to the lack of response observed in monotherapy, combinations including the antigen were able to induce an antitumor response. The final model successfully captured the 23% increase in the probability of cure from bi-therapy to triple-therapy. Moreover, our work supports that CD8+ T lymphocytes and resistance mechanisms are strongly related to the clinical outcome. The activation of antigen-presenting cells might be needed to achieve an antitumor response in reduced immunogenic tumors when combined with other immunotherapies. These models can be used as a platform to evaluate different immuno-oncology combinations in preclinical and clinical scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymara Sancho-Araiz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.S.-A.); (S.Z.); (M.J.G.); (Z.P.P.-G.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Sara Zalba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.S.-A.); (S.Z.); (M.J.G.); (Z.P.P.-G.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - María J. Garrido
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.S.-A.); (S.Z.); (M.J.G.); (Z.P.P.-G.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Pedro Berraondo
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Brian Topp
- Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (B.T.); (D.d.A.)
| | - Dinesh de Alwis
- Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (B.T.); (D.d.A.)
| | - Zinnia P. Parra-Guillen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.S.-A.); (S.Z.); (M.J.G.); (Z.P.P.-G.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Víctor Mangas-Sanjuan
- Department of Pharmacy Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain;
- Interuniversity Institute of Recognition Research Molecular and Technological Development, Polytechnic University of Valencia-University of Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Iñaki F. Trocóniz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.S.-A.); (S.Z.); (M.J.G.); (Z.P.P.-G.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
- Correspondence:
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Mayer K, Briese W, Blieninger J, Brossart P, Bisht S, Feldmann G. Development of Skin Rash Predicts Outcome of Anti-PD-1- and Anti-CTLA4-Based Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer or Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: A Single-Center Analysis. Oncol Res Treat 2021; 44:538-546. [PMID: 34515189 DOI: 10.1159/000518449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We report the spectrum of immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) and outcome observed in a single-center cohort of 100 patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in a routine clinical setting. METHODS Tumor entities included non-small cell lung cancer (n = 28), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (n = 28), urothelial carcinoma (n = 7), and others (n = 37). RESULTS irAEs were documented in 49% of cases analyzed, and the most frequent manifestation consisted of immune-mediated skin rash (28%), colitis (9%), pneumonitis (8%), hypothyroidism (7%), or hepatitis (6%). Skin rash correlated with improved progression-free survival. CONCLUSION Development of immune-related skin rash was found to correlate with favorable outcome, suggesting its practical feasibility as a potential predictive surrogate marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Mayer
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Wibke Briese
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Johannes Blieninger
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Brossart
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Savita Bisht
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Georg Feldmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Center of Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Delfi M, Sartorius R, Ashrafizadeh M, Sharifi E, Zhang Y, De Berardinis P, Zarrabi A, Varma RS, Tay FR, Smith BR, Makvandi P. Self-assembled peptide and protein nanostructures for anti-cancer therapy: Targeted delivery, stimuli-responsive devices and immunotherapy. NANO TODAY 2021; 38:101119. [PMID: 34267794 PMCID: PMC8276870 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2021.101119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembled peptides and proteins possess tremendous potential as targeted drug delivery systems and key applications of these well-defined nanostructures reside in anti-cancer therapy. Peptides and proteins can self-assemble into nanostructures of diverse sizes and shapes in response to changing environmental conditions such as pH, temperature, ionic strength, as well as host and guest molecular interactions; their countless benefits include good biocompatibility and high loading capacity for hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. These self-assembled nanomaterials can be adorned with functional moieties to specifically target tumor cells. Stimuli-responsive features can also be incorporated with respect to the tumor microenvironment. This review sheds light on the growing interest in self-assembled peptides and proteins and their burgeoning applications in cancer treatment and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Delfi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Rossella Sartorius
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No. 27, Orhanlı, Tuzla, 34956 Istanbul, Turkey
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Esmaeel Sharifi
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, 6517838736, Hamadan, Iran
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, IPCB-CNR, Naples 80125, Italy
| | - Yapei Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - Ali Zarrabi
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Rajender S. Varma
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Franklin R Tay
- The Graduate School, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Bryan Ronain Smith
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Imaging Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Pooyan Makvandi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Centre for Micro-BioRobotics, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
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Lee JB, Ha SJ, Kim HR. Clinical Insights Into Novel Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:681320. [PMID: 34025438 PMCID: PMC8139127 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.681320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), notably anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) as well as inhibitors of CTLA-4, programmed death 1 (PD-1), and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), has revolutionized treatment options for solid tumors. However, the lack of response to treatment, in terms of de novo or acquired resistance, and immune related adverse events (IRAE) remain as hurdles. One mechanisms to overcome the limitations of ICIs is to target other immune checkpoints associated with tumor microenvironment. Immune checkpoints such as lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3), V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), B7 homolog 3 protein (B7-H3), inducible T cell costimulatory (ICOS), and B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) are feasible and promising options for treating solid tumors, and clinical trials are currently under active investigation. This review aims to summarize the clinical aspects of the immune checkpoints and introduce novel agents targeting these checkpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jii Bum Lee
- Division of Hemato-oncology, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.,Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang-Jun Ha
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science & Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hye Ryun Kim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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Zhang Z, Lu M, Qin Y, Gao W, Tao L, Su W, Zhong J. Neoantigen: A New Breakthrough in Tumor Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:672356. [PMID: 33936118 PMCID: PMC8085349 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.672356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy works by stimulating and strengthening the body’s anti-tumor immune response to eliminate cancer cells. Over the past few decades, immunotherapy has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of cancer, particularly the success of immune checkpoint blockade targeting CTLA-4, PD-1 and PDL1, which has led to a breakthrough in tumor immunotherapy. Tumor neoantigens, a new approach to tumor immunotherapy, include antigens produced by tumor viruses integrated into the genome and antigens produced by mutant proteins, which are abundantly expressed only in tumor cells and have strong immunogenicity and tumor heterogeneity. A growing number of studies have highlighted the relationship between neoantigens and T cells’ recognition of cancer cells. Vaccines developed against neoantigens are now being used in clinical trials in various solid tumors. In this review, we summarized the latest advances in the classification of immunotherapy and the process of classification, identification and synthesis of tumor-specific neoantigens, as well as their role in current cancer immunotherapy. Finally, the application prospects and existing problems of neoantigens were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheying Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Manman Lu
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yu Qin
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Wuji Gao
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Li Tao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Su
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jiateng Zhong
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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Merlano MC, Abbona A, Paccagnella M, Falletta A, Granetto C, Ricci V, Fea E, Denaro N, Ruatta F, Merlotti A, Bertetto O, Crosetto N, Galizia D, Basiricò M, Gammaitoni L, Sangiolo D, Aglietta M, Garrone O. Cytokine Profiling of End Stage Cancer Patients Treated with Immunotherapy. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030235. [PMID: 33800511 PMCID: PMC7999072 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Published data suggest that immunotherapy plays a role even in patients with very advanced tumours. We investigated the immune profile of end-stage cancer patients treated with immunotherapy to identify changes induced by treatment. Breast, colon, renal and prostate cancer patients were eligible. Treatment consisted of metronomic cyclophosphamide, low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) and a single radiation shot. A panel of 16 cytokines was assessed using automated ELISA before treatment (T0), after radiation (RT; T1), at cycle 2 (T2) and at disease progression (TPD). Receiving operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to identify cytokine cut-off related to overall survival (OS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the immune profile correlating better with OS and progression-free survival. Twenty-three patients were enrolled. High IL-2, low IL-8 and CCL-2 correlated with OS. The PCA identified a cluster of patients, with high IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-γ levels at T0 having longer PFS and OS. In all cohorts, IL-2 and IL-5 increased from T0 to T2; a higher CCL-4 level compared to T2 and a higher IL-8 level compared to T0 were found at TPD. The progressive increase of the IL-10 level during treatment negatively correlated with OS. Our data suggested that baseline cytokine levels may predict patients’ outcome and that the treatment may affect their kinetic even in end-stage patients. Cytokine profiling of end-stage patients might offer a tool for medical decisions (EUDRACT: 2016-000578-39).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Carlo Merlano
- Experimental Cell Therapy Lab, Department of Medical Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Turin, Italy; (L.G.); (D.S.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +39-0171-616342
| | - Andrea Abbona
- Translational Oncology, ARCO Foundation, 12100 Cuneo, Italy; (A.A.); (M.P.); (A.F.); (O.G.)
| | - Matteo Paccagnella
- Translational Oncology, ARCO Foundation, 12100 Cuneo, Italy; (A.A.); (M.P.); (A.F.); (O.G.)
| | - Antonella Falletta
- Translational Oncology, ARCO Foundation, 12100 Cuneo, Italy; (A.A.); (M.P.); (A.F.); (O.G.)
| | - Cristina Granetto
- Department of Medical Oncology, S. Croce e Carle Teaching Hospital, 12100 Cuneo, Italy; (C.G.); (V.R.); (E.F.); (N.D.); (F.R.)
| | - Vincenzo Ricci
- Department of Medical Oncology, S. Croce e Carle Teaching Hospital, 12100 Cuneo, Italy; (C.G.); (V.R.); (E.F.); (N.D.); (F.R.)
| | - Elena Fea
- Department of Medical Oncology, S. Croce e Carle Teaching Hospital, 12100 Cuneo, Italy; (C.G.); (V.R.); (E.F.); (N.D.); (F.R.)
| | - Nerina Denaro
- Department of Medical Oncology, S. Croce e Carle Teaching Hospital, 12100 Cuneo, Italy; (C.G.); (V.R.); (E.F.); (N.D.); (F.R.)
| | - Fiorella Ruatta
- Department of Medical Oncology, S. Croce e Carle Teaching Hospital, 12100 Cuneo, Italy; (C.G.); (V.R.); (E.F.); (N.D.); (F.R.)
| | - Anna Merlotti
- Department of Radiotherapy, S. Croce e Carle Teaching Hospital, 12100 Cuneo, Italy;
| | - Oscar Bertetto
- Rete Oncologica del Piemonte e Della Valle d’Aosta, 10125 Turin, Italy;
| | - Nicola Crosetto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysiscs, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Danilo Galizia
- Multidisciplinary Oncology Outpatient Clinic, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Turin, Italy;
| | - Marco Basiricò
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10043 Turin, Italy;
| | - Loretta Gammaitoni
- Experimental Cell Therapy Lab, Department of Medical Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Turin, Italy; (L.G.); (D.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Experimental Cell Therapy Lab, Department of Medical Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Turin, Italy; (L.G.); (D.S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10043 Turin, Italy;
| | - Massimo Aglietta
- Experimental Cell Therapy Lab, Department of Medical Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Turin, Italy; (L.G.); (D.S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10043 Turin, Italy;
| | - Ornella Garrone
- Translational Oncology, ARCO Foundation, 12100 Cuneo, Italy; (A.A.); (M.P.); (A.F.); (O.G.)
- Breast Unit, S. Croce e Carle Teaching Hospital, 12100 Cuneo, Italy
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Novel Immune Stimulant Amplifies Direct Tumoricidal Effect of Cancer Ablation Therapies and Their Systemic Antitumor Immune Efficacy. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030492. [PMID: 33668932 PMCID: PMC7996593 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ablation therapies have emerged as an effective tool for destroying cancerous tissue, but for advanced and disseminated tumors their application remains mainly a palliative measure. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that this limitation can be redressed by the use of intratumoral immune stimulating agents for amplifying potential antitumor immune responses that are induced by ablation therapies. A novel immune stimulating drug IP-001, a specific variant of the N-dihydrogalactochitosan (GC) family of molecules, has shown to be effective against metastatic tumors, when combined with different forms tumor ablation. It acts as a multi-function immune stimulant both by directly inhibiting cell membrane repair and recycling of ablation-damaged tumor cells, and indirectly by sequestering ablation-released tumor antigens, as well as recruiting and stimulating antigen presenting cells to induce a potent Th1 type T cell response against the cancer. In this review, we briefly discuss the current applications of local ablation for cancer treatment and the effects of GC in combination with other ablation therapies, a therapeutic approach that is pioneering the field of Interventional Immuno-Oncology (IIO).
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Zou SS, Qiao Y, Zhu S, Gao B, Yang N, Liu YJ, Chen J. Intrinsic strategies for the evasion of cGAS-STING signaling-mediated immune surveillance in human cancer: How therapy can overcome them. Pharmacol Res 2021; 166:105514. [PMID: 33631336 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) recognizes cytosolic DNA and catalyzes the formation of cyclic GMP-AMP, which upon activation triggers the induction of stimulator of interferon genes (STING), leading to type I interferons production; these events then promote the cross-priming of dendritic cells and the initiation of a tumor-specific CD8+ T cell response. However, cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment cannot trigger intrinsic cGAS-STING signaling, regardless of the expression of cGAS and STING. This dysfunctional cGAS-STING signaling enables cancer cells to evade immune surveillance, thereby promoting tumorigenesis. Here, we review recent advances in the current understanding of the activation of cGAS-STING signaling and immunotherapies based on this pathway and focus on the mechanisms for the inactivation of this pathway in tumor cells to promote the development of cancer immunotherapy. The discovery of inherent resistance and the selection of appropriate combination therapies are of great significance for tumor treatment development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Zou
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuan Qiao
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shan Zhu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bao Gao
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yong-Jun Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Jingtao Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
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Recent advance of peptide-based molecules and nonpeptidic small-molecules modulating PD-1/PD-L1 protein-protein interaction or targeting PD-L1 protein degradation. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 213:113170. [PMID: 33454550 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy has made great progress in recent years. In the tumor microenvironment, the binding of PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 can promote tumor immune escape and tumor survival. Clinical studies have indicated that antibodies blocking PD-1 and PD-L1 have reliable effects on many advanced malignant tumors. However, no small-molecule inhibitors have been approved so far, indicating that the development of marketable small-molecules PD-1/PD-L1 targeted therapy drugs is a challenging process. Small-molecule inhibitors can overcome the limitations of monoclonal antibodies, including poor oral bioavailability, high cost, poor tissue and tumor penetration and long half-life, which prompt researchers to turn their attention to the development of peptide molecules and small-molecule inhibitors modulating PD-1/PD-L1 to overcome some disadvantages of monoclonal antibodies or targeting PD-L1 protein degradation as potential alternatives or supplements. In this review, we will focus on the peptide-based and nonpeptidic molecules against PD-1/PD-L1 base on the structural classification. More importantly, we also focus on the latest research progress of small-molecules mediated PD-L1 degradation mechanism.
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Precision Tools in Immuno-Oncology: Synthetic Gene Circuits for Cancer Immunotherapy. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040732. [PMID: 33287392 PMCID: PMC7761833 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered mammalian cells for medical purposes are becoming a clinically relevant reality thanks to advances in synthetic biology that allow enhanced reliability and safety of cell-based therapies. However, their application is still hampered by challenges including time-consuming design-and-test cycle iterations and costs. For example, in the field of cancer immunotherapy, CAR-T cells targeting CD19 have already been clinically approved to treat several types of leukemia, but their use in the context of solid tumors is still quite inefficient, with additional issues related to the adequate quality control for clinical use. These limitations can be overtaken by innovative bioengineering approaches currently in development. Here we present an overview of recent synthetic biology strategies for mammalian cell therapies, with a special focus on the genetic engineering improvements on CAR-T cells, discussing scenarios for the next generation of genetic circuits for cancer immunotherapy.
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Plavc G, Jesenko T, Oražem M, Strojan P. Challenges in Combining Immunotherapy with Radiotherapy in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3197. [PMID: 33143094 PMCID: PMC7692120 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has recently become a standard part of the treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC), although the response rates are low. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have now illuminated several mechanisms by which radiotherapy (RT) enhances the effect of ICI. From RT-induced immunogenic cancer cell death to its effect on the tumor microenvironment and vasculature, the involved mechanisms are diverse and intertwined. Moreover, the research of these interactions is challenging because of the thin line between immunostimulatory and the immunosuppressive effect of RT. In the era of active research of immunoradiotherapy combinations, the significance of treatment and host-related factors that were previously seen as being less important is being revealed. The impact of dose and fractionation of RT is now well established, whereas selection of the number and location of the lesions to be irradiated in a multi-metastatic setting is something that is only now beginning to be understood. In addition to spatial factors, the timing of irradiation is as equally important and is heavily dependent on the type of ICI used. Interestingly, using smaller-than-conventional RT fields or even partial tumor volume RT could be beneficial in this setting. Among host-related factors, the role of the microbiome on immunotherapy efficacy must not be overlooked nor can we neglect the role of gut irradiation in a combined RT and ICI setting. In this review we elaborate on synergistic mechanisms of immunoradiotherapy combinations, in addition to important factors to consider in future immunoradiotherapy trial designs in R/M HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaber Plavc
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.O.); (P.S.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Tanja Jesenko
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Oražem
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.O.); (P.S.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Primož Strojan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.O.); (P.S.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
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50
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Ahmed S, Gordon L, Dueck DA, Souied O, Haider K. Current status of systemic therapy in hepatocellular cancer. Dig Liver Dis 2020; 53:S1590-8658(20)30933-6. [PMID: 34756361 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is a common cancer and an important cause of cancer-related death globally. Although surgery is the primary curative treatment, most patients at diagnosis are not surgical candidates and are treated with liver-directed therapy and or systemic therapy. Over the past decade, the systemic treatment options for patients with advanced HCC have evolved. This paper reviews recent progress in systemic therapy and the results of major clinical trials involving novel compounds in patients with HCC. A literature search was performed using keywords related to HCC and systemic therapy. The evidence shows that at the present time an effective adjuvant systemic therapy is not available for patients with early-stage HCC following surgery. In patients with advanced HCC, in addition to sorafenib at least four other targeted agents and several immune checkpoint inhibitors, alone or in combination have been shown to be associated with improved progression-free and overall survival. The optimal sequence of agents, is currently not known, and is determined by patient characteristics, toxicities profile, patients and physicians preference. The future identification of novel active agents and predictive biomarkers are vital to personalize systemic therapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Ahmed
- Saskatoon Cancer Center, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK Canada.
| | - Lexis Gordon
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK Canada
| | - Dorie-Anna Dueck
- Saskatoon Cancer Center, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK Canada
| | - Osama Souied
- Allan Blair Cancer Center, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK, Canada
| | - Kamal Haider
- Saskatoon Cancer Center, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK Canada
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