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Ferencz B, Török K, Pipek O, Fillinger J, Csende K, Lantos A, Černeková R, Mitták M, Škarda J, Delongová P, Megyesfalvi E, Schelch K, Lang C, Solta A, Boettiger K, Brcic L, Lindenmann J, Rényi-Vámos F, Aigner C, Berta J, Megyesfalvi Z, Döme B. Expression patterns of novel immunotherapy targets in intermediate- and high-grade lung neuroendocrine neoplasms. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:114. [PMID: 38693435 PMCID: PMC11063022 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03704-7] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advancements in immunotherapeutic approaches only had a modest impact on the therapy of lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (LNENs). Our multicenter study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of novel immunotherapy targets in intermediate- and high-grade LNENs. METHODS The expressions of V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), OX40L, Glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor (GITR), and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM3) proteins were measured by immunohistochemistry in surgically resected tumor samples of 26 atypical carcinoid (AC), 49 large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer (LCNEC), and 66 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Tumor and immune cells were separately scored. RESULTS Tumor cell TIM3 expression was the highest in ACs (p < 0.001), whereas elevated tumor cell GITR levels were characteristic for both ACs and SCLCs (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively). OX40L expression of tumor cells was considerably lower in ACs (vs. SCLCs; p < 0.001). Tumor cell VISTA expression was consistently low in LNENs, with no significant differences across histological subtypes. ACs were the least immunogenic tumors concerning immune cell abundance (p < 0.001). Immune cell VISTA and GITR expressions were also significantly lower in these intermediate-grade malignancies than in SCLCs or in LCNECs. Immune cell TIM3 and GITR expressions were associated with borderline prognostic significance in our multivariate model (p = 0.057 and p = 0.071, respectively). CONCLUSIONS LNEN subtypes have characteristic and widely divergent VISTA, OX40L, GITR, and TIM3 protein expressions. By shedding light on the different expression patterns of these immunotherapy targets, the current multicenter study provides support for the future implementation of novel immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bence Ferencz
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
- National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Klára Török
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
- National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Pipek
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Fillinger
- National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kristóf Csende
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Lantos
- National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Radoslava Černeková
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis, University Hospital Ostrava and Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Marcel Mitták
- Surgical Clinic, University Hospital Ostrava and Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Jozef Škarda
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Clinical and Molecular Pathology, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Ostrava and Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Patricie Delongová
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Ostrava and Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Evelyn Megyesfalvi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, National Institute of Oncology, Chest and Abdominal Tumors Chemotherapy "B", Budapest, Hungary
| | - Karin Schelch
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Lang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Solta
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kristiina Boettiger
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Luka Brcic
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Jörg Lindenmann
- Division of Thoracic and Hyperbaric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Ferenc Rényi-Vámos
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
- National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
- National Institute of Oncology and National Tumor Biology Laboratory, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Clemens Aigner
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judit Berta
- National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Zsolt Megyesfalvi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
- National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Balázs Döme
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.
- National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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Ferencz B, Megyesfalvi Z, Csende K, Fillinger J, Poór V, Lantos A, Pipek O, Sólyom-Tisza A, Rényi-Vámos F, Schelch K, Lang C, Schwendenwein A, Boettiger K, László V, Hoetzenecker K, Döme B, Berta J. Comparative expression analysis of immune-related markers in surgically resected lung neuroendocrine neoplasms. Lung Cancer 2023; 181:107263. [PMID: 37270937 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107263] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although immunotherapy has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of lung cancer, the therapeutic approaches for lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (LNENs) are still limited. Our aim was to explore the immunological landscape and the expression of immune checkpoint markers in LNENs. METHODS Surgically removed tumor samples of 26 atypical carcinoid (AC), 30 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and 29 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients were included. The immune phenotype of each tumor type was assessed by using a panel of 15 immune-related markers. As these markers are potentially expressed by immune cells and/or tumor cells, they might serve as putative targets for immunotherapy. Expression patterns were measured by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. RESULTS Unsupervised hierarchical clustering revealed distinct immunologic profiles across tumor types. Specifically, AC tumors were characterized by high tumor cell CD40 expression and low levels of immune infiltrates whereas SCLC samples had a high CD47 and Inducible T Cell Costimulator (ICOS) expression in tumor cells and immune cells, respectively. High CD70 and CD137 expression by tumor cells as well as elevated expression of CD27, Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 (LAG3), and CD40 by immune cells were characteristic for LCNEC samples. Overall, SCLC and LCNEC tumors had a more immunogenic phenotype than AC samples. High tumor cell CD47 and CD40 expressions were associated with impaired and improved survival outcomes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS By providing insights into the widely divergent immunologic profiles of LNENs, our results might serve as a basis for the development of novel immunotherapy-related approaches in these devastating malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bence Ferencz
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary; National Korányi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Megyesfalvi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary; National Korányi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Kristóf Csende
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Fillinger
- National Korányi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Valentin Poór
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Lantos
- National Korányi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Pipek
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Ferenc Rényi-Vámos
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary; National Korányi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Karin Schelch
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Lang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Schwendenwein
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kristiina Boettiger
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Viktória László
- National Korányi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Konrad Hoetzenecker
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Balázs Döme
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University and National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary; National Korányi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Judit Berta
- National Korányi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
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Liu C, Wang M, Zhang H, Li C, Zhang T, Liu H, Zhu S, Chen J. Tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of oral cancer. Eur J Med Res 2022; 27:198. [PMID: 36209263 PMCID: PMC9547678 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-022-00835-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the head and neck, not only affects the appearance, but also affects eating and even endangers life. The clinical treatments of oral cancer mainly include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, unsatisfactory therapeutic effect and toxic side effects are still the main problems in clinical treatment. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is not only closely related to the occurrence, growth, and metastasis of tumor but also works in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of tumor and prognosis. Future studies should continue to investigate the relationship of TME and oral cancer therapy. This purpose of this review was to analyze the characteristics of oral cancer microenvironment, summarize the traditional oral cancer therapy and immunotherapy strategies, and finally prospect the development prospects of oral cancer immunotherapy. Immunotherapy targeting tumor microenvironment is expected to provide a new strategy for clinical treatment of oral cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Wang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyang Zhang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyan Li
- Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianshou Zhang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Liu
- Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Song Zhu
- Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, People's Republic of China.
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Immunotherapy for Aggressive and Metastatic Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors (PitNETs): State-of-the Art. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174093. [PMID: 36077631 PMCID: PMC9454884 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174093] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Aggressive and metastatic PitNETs are challenging conditions. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are currently considered in cases resistant to temozolomide (TMZ). However, clinical experience is essentially limited to case reports, with variable outcomes. Material and Methods: The effects of ICIs on 12 aggressive/metastatic PitNETs from the literature were reviewed and analyzed according to tumor characteristics, with the additional description of a silent-Pit1 metastatic tumor responding to pembrolizumab. Results: Most cases were metastatic (10/13: 6 corticotroph, 3 lactotroph, 1 silent Pit1); 3 were aggressive (2 corticotroph, 1 lactotroph). ICIS was used either as monotherapy or in combination. At last follow-up on ICI, a complete response (CR) was present in 3 cases and a partial response (PR) in 2 cases (4/5 metastatic). One sustained stable disease (SD) was reported. Progressive disease (PD) was observed in 7 cases, 3 of them after initial SD (n = 1) or PR (n = 3), with 2 reported deaths. PDL1 expression was studied in 10 cases and was high (>95%) in 2 Pit1-derived metastatic PitNETs (1 CR and 1 remarkable PR) but absent/low (<1%) in the remaining cases (including 1 CP and 2 PR). Elevated tumor mutation burden could be informative in corticotroph PitNETs, especially in mismatch repair-deficient tumors. Conclusion: Significant benefits from ICIs were documented in about half of TMZ-resistant PitNETS. High PDL1 expression was associated with remarkable responses but may be dispensable. Based on their acceptable tolerance and awaiting recognized predictors of response, ICIs may be considered a valuable option for such patients.
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Fanciulli G, Modica R, La Salvia A, Campolo F, Florio T, Mikovic N, Plebani A, Di Vito V, Colao A, Faggiano A. Immunotherapy of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Any Role for the Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14163991. [PMID: 36010987 PMCID: PMC9406675 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14163991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors arising in different organs whose clinical course is variable according to histological differentiation and metastatic spread. Therapeutic options have recently expanded, but there is a need for new effective therapies, especially in less differentiated forms. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) have shown efficacy in several cancers, mainly hematological, but data on NENs are scattered. We aimed to analyze the available preclinical and clinical data about CAR-T in NENs, to highlight their potential role in clinical practice. A significant therapeutic effect of CAR-T cells in NENs emerges from preclinical studies. Results from clinical trials are expected in order to define their effective role in these cancers. Abstract Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors with variable clinical presentation and prognosis. Surgery, when feasible, is the most effective and often curative treatment. However, NENs are frequently locally advanced or already metastatic at diagnosis. Consequently, additional local or systemic therapeutic approaches are required. Immunotherapy, based on chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), is showing impressive results in several cancer treatments. The aim of this narrative review is to analyze the available data about the use of CAR-T in NENs, including studies in both preclinical and clinical settings. We performed an extensive search for relevant data sources, comprising full-published articles, abstracts from international meetings, and worldwide registered clinical trials. Preclinical studies performed on both cell lines and animal models indicate a significant therapeutic effect of CAR-T cells in NENs. Ongoing and future clinical trials will clarify the possible role of these drugs in patients with highly aggressive NENs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Fanciulli
- Neuroendocrine Tumour Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari—Endocrine Unit, AOU Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Roberta Modica
- Endocrinology, Diabetology and Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Anna La Salvia
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Campolo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Tullio Florio
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Healthcare Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Nevena Mikovic
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, ENETS Center of Excellence, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Alice Plebani
- Laboratory of Geriatric and Oncologic Neuroendocrinology Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Cusano Milanino, 20095 Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Di Vito
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Endocrinology, Diabetology and Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
- UNESCO Chair, Education for Health and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Antongiulio Faggiano
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, ENETS Center of Excellence, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
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Neuroendocrine Tumors: Challenges and Future Perspectives. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11154351. [PMID: 35955968 PMCID: PMC9369270 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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