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Morel VJ, Rössler J, Bernasconi M. Targeted immunotherapy and nanomedicine for rhabdomyosarcoma: The way of the future. Med Res Rev 2024. [PMID: 38885148 DOI: 10.1002/med.22059] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood. Histology separates two main subtypes: embryonal RMS (eRMS; 60%-70%) and alveolar RMS (aRMS; 20%-30%). The aggressive aRMS carry one of two characteristic chromosomal translocations that result in the expression of a PAX3::FOXO1 or PAX7::FOXO1 fusion transcription factor; therefore, aRMS are now classified as fusion-positive (FP) RMS. Embryonal RMS have a better prognosis and are clinically indistinguishable from fusion-negative (FN) RMS. Next to histology and molecular characteristics, RMS risk groupings are now available defining low risk tumors with excellent outcomes and advanced stage disease with poor prognosis, with an overall survival of about only 20% despite intensified multimodal treatment. Therefore, development of novel effective targeted strategies to increase survival and to decrease long-term side effects is urgently needed. Recently, immunotherapies and nanomedicine have been emerging for potent and effective tumor treatments with minimal side effects, raising hopes for effective and safe cures for RMS patients. This review aims to describe the most relevant preclinical and clinical studies in immunotherapy and targeted nanomedicine performed so far in RMS and to provide an insight in future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Judith Morel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jochen Rössler
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michele Bernasconi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Epperly R, Gottschalk S, DeRenzo C. CAR T cells redirected to B7-H3 for pediatric solid tumors: Current status and future perspectives. EJC PAEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY 2024; 3:100160. [PMID: 38957786 PMCID: PMC11218663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcped.2024.100160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Despite intensive therapies, pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors have poor outcomes and need novel treatments. Immune therapies offer an alternative to conventional treatment options but require the identification of differentially expressed antigens to direct antitumor activity to sites of disease. B7-H3 (CD276) is an immune regulatory protein that is expressed in a range of malignancies and has limited expression in normal tissues. B7-H3 is highly expressed in pediatric solid tumors including osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma, and many rare tumors. In this article we review B7-H3-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (B7-H3-CAR) T cell therapies for pediatric solid tumors, reporting preclinical development strategies and outlining the landscape of active pediatric clinical trials. We identify challenges to the success of CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors including localizing to and penetrating solid tumor sites, evading the hostile tumor microenvironment, supporting T cell expansion and persistence, and avoiding intrinsic tumor resistance. We highlight strategies to overcome these challenges and enhance the effect of B7-H3-CAR T cells, including advanced CAR T cell design and incorporation of combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Epperly
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Christopher DeRenzo
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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Girgis M, Petruncio G, Russo P, Peyton S, Paige M, Campos D, Sanda M. Analysis of N- and O-linked site-specific glycosylation by ion mobility mass spectrometry: State of the art and future directions. Proteomics 2024; 24:e2300281. [PMID: 38171879 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202300281] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Glycosylation, the major post-translational modification of proteins, significantly increases the diversity of proteoforms. Glycans are involved in a variety of pivotal structural and functional roles of proteins, and changes in glycosylation are profoundly connected to the progression of numerous diseases. Mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as the gold standard for glycan and glycopeptide analysis because of its high sensitivity and the wealth of fragmentation information that can be obtained. Various separation techniques have been employed to resolve glycan and glycopeptide isomers at the front end of the MS. However, differentiating structures of isobaric and isomeric glycopeptides constitutes a challenge in MS-based characterization. Many reports described the use of various ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) techniques for glycomic analyses. Nevertheless, very few studies have focused on N- and O-linked site-specific glycopeptidomic analysis. Unlike glycomics, glycoproteomics presents a multitude of inherent challenges in microheterogeneity, which are further exacerbated by the lack of dedicated bioinformatics tools. In this review, we cover recent advances made towards the growing field of site-specific glycosylation analysis using IM-MS with a specific emphasis on the MS techniques and capabilities in resolving isomeric peptidoglycan structures. Furthermore, we discuss commonly used software that supports IM-MS data analysis of glycopeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Girgis
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering & Computing, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
- Center for Molecular Engineering, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, USA
| | - Gregory Petruncio
- Center for Molecular Engineering, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, USA
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Paul Russo
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, USA
| | - Steven Peyton
- Center for Molecular Engineering, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, USA
| | - Mikell Paige
- Center for Molecular Engineering, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, USA
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Diana Campos
- Max-Planck-Institut fuer Herz- und Lungenforschung, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Miloslav Sanda
- Max-Planck-Institut fuer Herz- und Lungenforschung, Bad Nauheim, Germany
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Picher EA, Wahajuddin M, Barth S, Chisholm J, Shipley J, Pors K. The Capacity of Drug-Metabolising Enzymes in Modulating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Drugs to Treat Rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1012. [PMID: 38473371 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16051012] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma (STS) that predominantly affects children and teenagers. It is the most common STS in children (40%) and accounts for 5-8% of total childhood malignancies. Apart from surgery and radiotherapy in eligible patients, standard chemotherapy is the only therapeutic option clinically available for RMS patients. While survival rates for this childhood cancer have considerably improved over the last few decades for low-risk and intermediate-risk cases, the mortality rate remains exceptionally high in high-risk RMS patients with recurrent and/or metastatic disease. The intensification of chemotherapeutic protocols in advanced-stage RMS has historically induced aggravated toxicity with only very modest therapeutic gain. In this review, we critically analyse what has been achieved so far in RMS therapy and provide insight into how a diverse group of drug-metabolising enzymes (DMEs) possess the capacity to modify the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy. We provide suggestions for new therapeutic strategies that exploit the presence of DMEs for prodrug activation, targeted chemotherapy that does not rely on DMEs, and RMS-molecular-subtype-targeted therapies that have the potential to enter clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enric Arasanz Picher
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Muhammad Wahajuddin
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Stefan Barth
- Medical Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Julia Chisholm
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton SM2 5PR, UK
| | - Janet Shipley
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Group, Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Klaus Pors
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
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Dzhumashev D, Anton-Joseph S, Morel VJ, Timpanaro A, Bordon G, Piccand C, Aleandri S, Luciani P, Rössler J, Bernasconi M. Rapid liposomal formulation for nucleolin targeting to rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 194:49-61. [PMID: 38029941 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2023.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma. More effective and less toxic therapies are urgently needed for high-risk patients. Peptide-guided targeted drug delivery can increase the therapeutic index of encapsulated drugs and improve patients' well-being. To apply this strategy to RMS, we identified the peptide F3 in a screening for peptides binding to RMS cells surface. F3 binds to nucleolin, which is present on the surface of RMS cells and is abundantly expressed at the mRNA level in RMS patients' biopsies compared to healthy tissues. We developed a rapid microfluidic formulation of F3-decorated PEGylated liposomes and remote loading of the chemotherapeutic drug vincristine. Size, surface charge, drug loading and retention of targeted and control liposomes were studied. Enhanced cellular binding and uptake were observed in three different nucleolin-positive RMS cell lines. Importantly, F3-functionalized liposomes loaded with vincristine were up to 11 times more cytotoxic than non-targeted liposomes for RMS cell lines. These results demonstrate that F3-functionalized liposomes are promising for targeted drug delivery to RMS and warrant further in vivo investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dzhangar Dzhumashev
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stenija Anton-Joseph
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Victoria J Morel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Timpanaro
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gregor Bordon
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Piccand
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simone Aleandri
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paola Luciani
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jochen Rössler
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michele Bernasconi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland.
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Timpanaro A, Piccand C, Dzhumashev D, Anton-Joseph S, Robbi A, Moser J, Rössler J, Bernasconi M. CD276-CAR T cells and Dual-CAR T cells targeting CD276/FGFR4 promote rhabdomyosarcoma clearance in orthotopic mouse models. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:293. [PMID: 37924157 PMCID: PMC10625270 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02838-3] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in childhood, whose prognosis is still poor especially for metastatic, high-grade, and relapsed RMS. New treatments are urgently needed, especially systemic therapies. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR Ts) are very effective against hematological malignancies, but their efficacy against solid tumors needs to be improved. CD276 (B7-H3) is a target upregulated in RMS and detected at low levels in normal tissues. FGFR4 is a very specific target for RMS. Here, we optimized CAR Ts for these two targets, alone or in combination, and tested their anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Four different single-domain antibodies were used to select the most specific FGFR4-CAR construct. RMS cell killing and cytokine production by CD276- and FGFR4-CAR Ts expressing CD8α or CD28 HD/TM domains in combination with 4-1BB and/or CD28 co-stimulatory domains were tested in vitro. The most effective CD276- and FGFR4-CAR Ts were used to generate Dual-CAR Ts. Tumor killing was evaluated in vivo in three orthotopic RMS mouse models. RESULTS CD276.V-CAR Ts (276.MG.CD28HD/TM.CD28CSD.3ζ) showed the strongest killing of RMS cells, and the highest release of IFN-γ and Granzyme B in vitro. FGFR4.V-CAR Ts (F8-FR4.CD28HD/TM.CD28CSD.3ζ) showed the most specific killing. CD276-CAR Ts successfully eradicated RD- and Rh4-derived RMS tumors in vivo, achieving complete remission in 3/5 and 5/5 mice, respectively. In CD276low JR-tumors, however, they achieved complete remission in only 1/5 mice. FGFR4 CAR Ts instead delayed Rh4 tumor growth. Dual-CAR Ts promoted Rh4-tumors clearance in 5/5 mice. CONCLUSIONS CD276- and CD276/FGFR4-directed CAR Ts showed effective RMS cell killing in vitro and eradication of CD276high RMS tumors in vivo. CD276low tumors escaped the therapy highlighting a correlation between antigen density and effectiveness. FGFR4-CAR Ts showed specific killing in vitro but could only delay RMS growth in vivo. Our results demonstrate that combined expression of CD276-CAR with other CAR does not reduce its benefit. Introducing immunotherapy with CD276-CAR Ts in RMS seems to be feasible and promising, although CAR constructs design and target combinations have to be further improved to eradicate tumors with low target expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Timpanaro
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Cancer Research, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Piccand
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Cancer Research, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dzhangar Dzhumashev
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Cancer Research, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stenija Anton-Joseph
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Cancer Research, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Robbi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Cancer Research, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Janine Moser
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Cancer Research, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jochen Rössler
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Cancer Research, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michele Bernasconi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
- Translational Cancer Research, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008, Bern, Switzerland.
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