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Santiago-Sánchez GS, Fabian KP, Hodge JW. A landscape of checkpoint blockade resistance in cancer: underlying mechanisms and current strategies to overcome resistance. Cancer Biol Ther 2024; 25:2308097. [PMID: 38306161 PMCID: PMC10841019 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2024.2308097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery of immune checkpoints and the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have achieved a durable response in advanced-stage cancer patients. However, there is still a high proportion of patients who do not benefit from ICI therapy due to a lack of response when first treated (primary resistance) or detection of disease progression months after objective response is observed (acquired resistance). Here, we review the current FDA-approved ICI for the treatment of certain solid malignancies, evaluate the contrasting responses to checkpoint blockade in different cancer types, explore the known mechanisms associated with checkpoint blockade resistance (CBR), and assess current strategies in the field that seek to overcome these mechanisms. In order to improve current therapies and develop new ones, the immunotherapy field still has an unmet need in identifying other molecules that act as immune checkpoints, and uncovering other mechanisms that promote CBR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginette S. Santiago-Sánchez
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kellsye P. Fabian
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James W. Hodge
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Miao L, Lu C, Zhang B, Li H, Zhao X, Chen H, Liu Y, Cui X. Advances in metabolic reprogramming of NK cells in the tumor microenvironment on the impact of NK therapy. J Transl Med 2024; 22:229. [PMID: 38433193 PMCID: PMC10909296 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05033-w] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are unique from other immune cells in that they can rapidly kill multiple neighboring cells without the need for antigenic pre-sensitization once the cells display surface markers associated with oncogenic transformation. Given the dynamic role of NK cells in tumor surveillance, NK cell-based immunotherapy is rapidly becoming a "new force" in tumor immunotherapy. However, challenges remain in the use of NK cell immunotherapy in the treatment of solid tumors. Many metabolic features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of solid tumors, including oxygen and nutrient (e.g., glucose, amino acids) deprivation, accumulation of specific metabolites (e.g., lactate, adenosine), and limited availability of signaling molecules that allow for metabolic reorganization, multifactorial shaping of the immune-suppressing TME impairs tumor-infiltrating NK cell function. This becomes a key barrier limiting the success of NK cell immunotherapy in solid tumors. Restoration of endogenous NK cells in the TME or overt transfer of functionally improved NK cells holds great promise in cancer therapy. In this paper, we summarize the metabolic biology of NK cells, discuss the effects of TME on NK cell metabolism and effector functions, and review emerging strategies for targeting metabolism-improved NK cell immunotherapy in the TME to circumvent these barriers to achieve superior efficacy of NK cell immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxuan Miao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People's Republic of China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenglin Lu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People's Republic of China
| | - Huili Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People's Republic of China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People's Republic of China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoran Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People's Republic of China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, 116001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaonan Cui
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, People's Republic of China.
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Vincenzi F, Pasquini S, Contri C, Cappello M, Nigro M, Travagli A, Merighi S, Gessi S, Borea PA, Varani K. Pharmacology of Adenosine Receptors: Recent Advancements. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1387. [PMID: 37759787 PMCID: PMC10527030 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenosine receptors (ARs) are widely acknowledged pharmacological targets yet are still underutilized in clinical practice. Their ubiquitous distribution in almost all cells and tissues of the body makes them, on the one hand, excellent candidates for numerous diseases, and on the other hand, intrinsically challenging to exploit selectively and in a site-specific manner. This review endeavors to comprehensively depict the substantial advancements witnessed in recent years concerning the development of drugs that modulate ARs. Through preclinical and clinical research, it has become evident that the modulation of ARs holds promise for the treatment of numerous diseases, including central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and cancer. The latest studies discussed herein shed light on novel mechanisms through which ARs exert control over pathophysiological states. They also introduce new ligands and innovative strategies for receptor activation, presenting compelling evidence of efficacy along with the implicated signaling pathways. Collectively, these emerging insights underscore a promising trajectory toward harnessing the therapeutic potential of these multifaceted targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Vincenzi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.C.); (M.C.); (M.N.); (A.T.); (S.M.); (S.G.); (K.V.)
| | - Silvia Pasquini
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Chiara Contri
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.C.); (M.C.); (M.N.); (A.T.); (S.M.); (S.G.); (K.V.)
| | - Martina Cappello
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.C.); (M.C.); (M.N.); (A.T.); (S.M.); (S.G.); (K.V.)
| | - Manuela Nigro
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.C.); (M.C.); (M.N.); (A.T.); (S.M.); (S.G.); (K.V.)
| | - Alessia Travagli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.C.); (M.C.); (M.N.); (A.T.); (S.M.); (S.G.); (K.V.)
| | - Stefania Merighi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.C.); (M.C.); (M.N.); (A.T.); (S.M.); (S.G.); (K.V.)
| | - Stefania Gessi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.C.); (M.C.); (M.N.); (A.T.); (S.M.); (S.G.); (K.V.)
| | | | - Katia Varani
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.C.); (M.C.); (M.N.); (A.T.); (S.M.); (S.G.); (K.V.)
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Wang B, Wang T, Yang C, Nan Z, Ai D, Wang X, Wang H, Qu X, Wei F. Co-inhibition of adenosine 2b receptor and programmed death-ligand 1 promotes the recruitment and cytotoxicity of natural killer cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15922. [PMID: 37663280 PMCID: PMC10474825 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15922] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenosine promotes anti-tumor immune responses by modulating the functions of T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells in the tumor microenvironment; however, the role of adenosine receptors in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its effects on immune checkpoint therapy remain unclear. In this study, we obtained the tumor tissues from 80 OSCC patients admitted at the Shandong University Qilu Hospital between February 2014 and December 2016. Thereafter, we detected the expression of adenosine 2b receptor (A2BR) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) using immunohistochemical staining and analyzed the association between their expression in different regions of the tumor tissues, such as tumor nest, border, and paracancer stroma. To determine the role of A2BR in PD-L1 expression, CAL-27 (an OSCC cell line) was treated with BAY60-6583 (an A2BR agonist), and PD-L1 expression was determined using western blot and flow cytometry. Furthermore, CAL-27 was treated with a nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κ B) inhibitor, PDTC, to determine whether A2BR regulates PD-L1 expression via the NF-κ B signaling pathway. Additionally, a transwell assay was performed to verify the effect of A2BR and PD-L1 on NK cell recruitment. The results of our study demonstrated that A2BR and PD-L1 are co-expressed in OSCC. Moreover, treatment with BAY60-6583 induced PD-L1 expression in the CAL-27 cells, which was partially reduced in cells pretreated with PDTC, suggesting that A2BR agonists induce PD-L1 expression via the induction of the NF-κ B signaling pathway. Furthermore, high A2BR expression in OSCC was associated with lower infiltration of NK cells. Additionally, our results demonstrated that treatment with MRS-1706 (an A2BR inverse agonist) and/or CD274 (a PD-L1-neutralizing antibody) promoted NK cell recruitment and cytotoxicity against OSCC cells. Altogether, our findings highlight the synergistic effect of co-inhibition of A2BR and PD-L1 in the treatment of OSCC via the modulation of NK cell recruitment and cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Institute of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Institute of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Chengzhe Yang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Institute of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhaodi Nan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Dan Ai
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Huayang Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xun Qu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fengcai Wei
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Institute of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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