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Grant M, Ni Lee L, Chinnakannan S, Tong O, Kwok J, Cianci N, Tillman L, Saha A, Pereira Almeida V, Leung C. Unlocking cancer vaccine potential: What are the key factors? Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2331486. [PMID: 38564321 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2331486] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a global health challenge, with changing demographics and lifestyle factors producing an increasing burden worldwide. Screening advancements are enabling earlier diagnoses, but current cancer immunotherapies only induce remission in a small proportion of patients and come at a high cost. Cancer vaccines may offer a solution to these challenges, but they have been mired by poor results in past decades. Greater understanding of tumor biology, coupled with the success of vaccine technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic, has reinvigorated cancer vaccine development. With the first signs of efficacy being reported, cancer vaccines may be beginning to fulfill their potential. Solid tumors, however, present different hurdles than infectious diseases. Combining insights from previous cancer vaccine clinical development and contemporary knowledge of tumor immunology, we ask: who are the 'right' patients, what are the 'right' targets, and which are the 'right' modalities to maximize the chances of cancer vaccine success?
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Jeon D, Hill E, McNeel DG. Toll-like receptor agonists as cancer vaccine adjuvants. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2297453. [PMID: 38155525 PMCID: PMC10760790 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2297453] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy to treat cancer patients. Among the wide range of immunological approaches, cancer vaccines have been investigated to activate and expand tumor-reactive T cells. However, most cancer vaccines have not shown significant clinical benefit as monotherapies. This is likely due to the antigen targets of vaccines, "self" proteins to which there is tolerance, as well as to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To help circumvent immune tolerance and generate effective immune responses, adjuvants for cancer vaccines are necessary. One representative adjuvant family is Toll-Like receptor (TLR) agonists, synthetic molecules that stimulate TLRs. TLRs are the largest family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that serve as the sensors of pathogens or cellular damage. They recognize conserved foreign molecules from pathogens or internal molecules from cellular damage and propel innate immune responses. When used with vaccines, activation of TLRs signals an innate damage response that can facilitate the development of a strong adaptive immune response against the target antigen. The ability of TLR agonists to modulate innate immune responses has positioned them to serve as adjuvants for vaccines targeting infectious diseases and cancers. This review provides a summary of various TLRs, including their expression patterns, their functions in the immune system, as well as their ligands and synthetic molecules developed as TLR agonists. In addition, it presents a comprehensive overview of recent strategies employing different TLR agonists as adjuvants in cancer vaccine development, both in pre-clinical models and ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghwan Jeon
- Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ethan Hill
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Douglas G. McNeel
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
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3
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Rajendran R, Beck RC, Waskasi MM, Kelly BD, Bauer DR. Digital analysis of the prostate tumor microenvironment with high-order chromogenic multiplexing. J Pathol Inform 2024; 15:100352. [PMID: 38186745 PMCID: PMC10770522 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpi.2023.100352] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
As our understanding of the tumor microenvironment grows, the pathology field is increasingly utilizing multianalyte diagnostic assays to understand important characteristics of tumor growth. In clinical settings, brightfield chromogenic assays represent the gold-standard and have developed significant trust as the first-line diagnostic method. However, conventional brightfield tests have been limited to low-order assays that are visually interrogated. We have developed a hybrid method of brightfield chromogenic multiplexing that overcomes these limitations and enables high-order multiplex assays. However, how compatible high-order brightfield multiplexed images are with advanced analytical algorithms has not been extensively evaluated. In the present study, we address this gap by developing a novel 6-marker prostate cancer assay that targets diverse aspects of the tumor microenvironment such as prostate-specific biomarkers (PSMA and p504s), immune biomarkers (CD8 and PD-L1), a prognostic biomarker (Ki-67), as well as an adjunctive diagnostic biomarker (basal cell cocktail) and apply the assay to 143 differentially graded adenocarcinoma prostate tissues. The tissues were then imaged on our spectroscopic multiplexing imaging platform and mined for proteomic and spatial features that were correlated with cancer presence and disease grade. Extracted features were used to train a UMAP model that differentiated healthy from cancerous tissue with an accuracy of 89% and identified clusters of cells based on cancer grade. For spatial analysis, cell-to-cell distances were calculated for all biomarkers and differences between healthy and adenocarcinoma tissues were studied. We report that p504s positive cells were at least 2× closer to cells expressing PD-L1, CD8, Ki-67, and basal cell in adenocarcinoma tissues relative to the healthy control tissues. These findings offer a powerful insight to understand the fingerprint of the prostate tumor microenvironment and indicate that high-order chromogenic multiplexing is compatible with digital analysis. Thus, the presented chromogenic multiplexing system combines the clinical applicability of brightfield assays with the emerging diagnostic power of high-order multiplexing in a digital pathology friendly format that is well-suited for translational studies to better understand mechanisms of tumor development and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Rajendran
- Roche Diagnostics Solutions, (Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.), Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Rachel C. Beck
- Roche Diagnostics Solutions, (Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.), Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Morteza M. Waskasi
- Roche Diagnostics Solutions, (Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.), Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Brian D. Kelly
- Roche Diagnostics Solutions, (Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.), Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel R. Bauer
- Roche Diagnostics Solutions, (Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.), Tucson, AZ, USA
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Bührer E, Kicinski M, Mandala M, Pe M, Long GV, Atkinson V, Blank CU, Haydon A, Dalle S, Khattak A, Carlino MS, Meshcheryakov A, Sandhu S, Puig S, Schadendorf D, Jamal R, Rutkowski P, van den Eertwegh AJM, Coens C, Grebennik D, Krepler C, Robert C, Eggermont AMM. Adjuvant pembrolizumab versus placebo in resected stage III melanoma (EORTC 1325-MG/KEYNOTE-054): long-term, health-related quality-of-life results from a double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol 2024; 25:1202-1212. [PMID: 39146951 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(24)00338-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 1325-MG/KEYNOTE-054 study, adjuvant pembrolizumab improved recurrence-free survival and distant-metastasis-free survival in patients with resected stage III melanoma. Earlier results showed no effect of pembrolizumab on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Little is known about HRQOL after completion of treatment with pembrolizumab, an important research area concerning patients who are likely to become long-term survivors. This study reports long-term HRQOL results. METHODS This double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial compared adjuvant pembrolizumab with placebo in patients aged 18 years or older with previously untreated stage IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC resected cutaneous melanoma and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 1 or 0, recruited from 123 academic centres and community hospitals in 23 countries. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) with a minimisation technique stratified for stage and geographical region to receive 200 mg of intravenous pembrolizumab or placebo every 3 weeks for up to 18 doses. Investigators, patients, and those collecting or analysing data were masked to group assignment. The primary endpoint of the trial was recurrence-free survival (reported elsewhere). HRQOL was a prespecified exploratory endpoint, measured with the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30. All patients with a baseline HRQOL evaluation available who were alive 108 weeks from randomisation were included in this analysis of long-term HRQOL. Long-term HRQOL included assessments measured every 6 months between 108 weeks and 48 months after randomisation. The threshold of clinical relevance for all HRQOL scales used was an average change of 5 points. The trial is ongoing, recruitment is completed, and HRQOL data collection is finalised. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02362594, and EudraCT, 2014-004944-37. FINDINGS Between Aug 26, 2015, and Nov 14, 2016, 1019 patients were randomly assigned to pembrolizumab (n=514) or placebo (n=505). Completion of the HRQOL evaluation at baseline exceeded 90% (481 [94%] patients in the pembrolizumab group and 467 [92%] in the placebo group), and ranged between 60% and 90% for post-baseline timepoints. Among patients with a baseline HRQOL evaluation, 365 (39%) were female and 583 (61%) were male. The mean change from baseline to long-term HRQOL was -0·56 (95% CI -2·33 to 1·22) in the pembrolizumab group and 1·63 (-0·12 to 3·38) in the placebo group. The difference between the two groups was -2·19 (-4·65 to 0·27, p=0·081). Differences for all other scales were smaller than 5 and not statistically significant. INTERPRETATION Adjuvant pembrolizumab did not have a significant impact on long-term HRQOL compared with placebo in patients with resected stage III melanoma. These findings, together with earlier results on efficacy and HRQOL, support the use of pembrolizumab in this setting. FUNDING Merck Sharp & Dohme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel Bührer
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Michal Kicinski
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mario Mandala
- University of Perugia, Santa Maria Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Madeline Pe
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Georgina V Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Mater and Royal North Shore Hospitals, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Victoria Atkinson
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Andrew Haydon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stéphane Dalle
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre Bénite, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Adnan Khattak
- Fiona Stanley Hospital and Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Matteo S Carlino
- Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrey Meshcheryakov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Susana Puig
- Dermatology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, University of Barcelona and CIBERER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- University Hospital Essen, Essen and German Cancer Consortium, Essen, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT-West), Campus Essen and Research Alliance Ruhr, Research Center One Health, University Duisburg, Essen, Germany
| | - Rahima Jamal
- Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Piotr Rutkowski
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alfonsus J M van den Eertwegh
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Corneel Coens
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Caroline Robert
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus Grand Paris and University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Alexander M M Eggermont
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich of the Technical University Munich and the Ludwig Maximiliaan University, Munich, Germany; Princess Máxima Center and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Yuan P, Yan X, Zong X, Li X, Yang C, Chen X, Li Y, Wen Y, Zhu T, Xue W, Dai J. Modulating Elasticity of Liposome for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:23797-23811. [PMID: 39140567 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c09094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach to cancer treatment in recent years. The physical and chemical properties of nanocarriers are critical factors that regulate the immune activation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we extensively investigated the behavior of liposome nanoparticles (Lipo-NPs) with different elasticities, focusing on their interaction with immune cells and their transport mechanisms from tumors to tumor-draining lymph nodes (tdLNs). Successfully preparing Lipo-NPs with distinct elastic properties, their varied behaviors were observed, concerning immune cell interaction. Soft Lipo-NPs exhibited an affinity to cell membranes, while those with medium elasticity facilitated the cargo delivery to macrophages through membrane fusion. Conversely, hard Lipo-NPs enter macrophages via classical cellular uptake pathways. Additionally, it was noted that softer Lipo-NPs displayed superior transport to tdLNs in vivo, attributed to their deformable nature with lower elasticity. As a result, the medium elastic Lipo-NPs with agonists (cGAMP), by activating the STING pathway and enhancing transport to tdLNs, promoted abundant infiltration of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), leading to notable antitumor effects and extended survival in a melanoma mouse model. Furthermore, this study highlighted the potential synergistic effect of medium elasticity Lipo-NPs with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in preventing tumor immune evasion. These findings hold promise for guiding immune-targeted delivery systems in cancer immunotherapy, particularly in vaccine design for tdLNs targeting and eradicating metastasis within tdLNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaodie Yan
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaoqing Zong
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaodi Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Caiqi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xinjie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yuchao Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yaoqi Wen
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Tianci Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wei Xue
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jian Dai
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Murphy S. Principles of Tumor Biology. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2024:S0749-0739(24)00050-6. [PMID: 39183072 DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2024.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is disease of the genome. The Hallmarks of cancer are a way of thinking of cancer to help rationalize what occurs in this disease process. A solid tumor is a complex of normal and neoplastic cells, arising through an evolutionary process to survive and grow. By understanding how normal cellular mechanisms are subverted to promote cancer we can refine our approach to improve outcomes. It gives us opportunities to prevent some cancers and allowing earlier diagnosis. We can refine conventional diagnostic tools and give more accurate prognoses. It offers novel targets to improve treatment of cancers, allowing personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Murphy
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK.
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7
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Hosseini TM, Park SJ, Guo T. The Mutational and Microenvironmental Landscape of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2904. [PMID: 39199674 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16162904] [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: 07/16/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) manifests through the complex interactions of UV-induced DNA damage, genetic mutations, and alterations in the tumor microenvironment. A high mutational burden is present in cSCC, as well as both cSCC precursors and normal skin, making driver genes difficult to differentiate. Despite this, several key driver genes have been identified, including TP53, the NOTCH family, CDKN2A, PIK3CA, and EGFR. In addition to mutations, the tumor microenvironment and the manipulation and evasion of the immune system play a critical role in cSCC progression. Novel therapeutic approaches, such as immunotherapy and EGFR inhibitors, have been used to target these dysregulations, and have shown promise in treating advanced cSCC cases, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions considering both genetic and microenvironmental factors for improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara M Hosseini
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Soo J Park
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Theresa Guo
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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8
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Mundhara N, Sadhukhan P. Cracking the Codes behind Cancer Cells' Immune Evasion. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8899. [PMID: 39201585 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25168899] [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: 07/12/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune evasion is a key phenomenon in understanding tumor recurrence, metastasis, and other critical steps in tumor progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is in constant flux due to the tumor's ability to release signals that affect it, while immune cells within it can impact cancer cell behavior. Cancer cells undergo several changes, which can change the enrichment of different immune cells and modulate the activity of existing immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer cells can evade immune surveillance by downregulating antigen presentation or expressing immune checkpoint molecules. High levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) correlate with better outcomes, and robust immune responses can control tumor growth. On the contrary, increased enrichment of Tregs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and M2-like anti-inflammatory macrophages can hinder effective immune surveillance and predict poor prognosis. Overall, understanding these immune evasion mechanisms guides therapeutic strategies. Researchers aim to modulate the TME to enhance immune surveillance and improve patient outcomes. In this review article, we strive to summarize the composition of the tumor immune microenvironment, factors affecting the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and different therapeutic modalities targeting the immune cells. This review is a first-hand reference to understand the basics of immune surveillance and immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Mundhara
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Pritam Sadhukhan
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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9
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Hazra R, Chattopadhyay S, Mallick A, Gayen S, Roy S. Unravelling CD24-Siglec-10 pathway: Cancer immunotherapy from basic science to clinical studies. Immunology 2024. [PMID: 39129256 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13847] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape by harnessing the power of the immune system to combat malignancies. Two of the most promising players in this field are cluster of differentiation 24 (CD24) and sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 10 (Siglec-10), and both of them play pivotal roles in modulating immune responses. CD24, a cell surface glycoprotein, emerges as a convincing fundamental signal transducer for therapeutic intervention, given its significant implication in the processes related to tumour progression and immunogenic evasion. Additionally, the immunomodulatory functions of Siglec-10, a prominent member within the Siglec family of immune receptors, have recently become a crucial point of interest, particularly in the context of the tumour microenvironment. Hence, the intricate interplay of both CD24 and Siglec-10 assumes a critical role in fostering tumour growth, facilitating metastasis and also orchestrating immune evasion. Recent studies have found multiple evidences supporting the therapeutic potential of targeting CD24 in cancer treatment. Siglec-10, on the other hand, exhibits immunosuppressive properties that contribute to immune tolerance within the tumour microenvironment. Therefore, we delve into the complex mechanisms through which Siglec-10 modulates immune responses and facilitates immune escape in cancer. Siglec-10 also acts as a viable target for cancer immunotherapy and presents novel avenues for the development of therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, we examine the synergy between CD24 and Siglec-10 in shaping the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and discuss the implications for combination therapies. Therefore, understanding the roles of CD24 and Siglec-10 in cancer immunotherapy opens exciting possibilities for the development of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudradeep Hazra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, India
| | - Soumyadeep Chattopadhyay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, India
| | - Arijit Mallick
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, India
| | - Sakuntala Gayen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, India
| | - Souvik Roy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, India
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10
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Körner M, Spohn M, Schüller U, Bockmayr M. Transcriptomics-based characterization of the immuno-stromal microenvironment in pediatric low-grade glioma. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2386789. [PMID: 39135890 PMCID: PMC11318680 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2024.2386789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunologic treatment options are uncommon in low-grade gliomas, although such therapies might be beneficial for inoperable and aggressive cases. Knowledge of the immune and stromal cells in low-grade gliomas is highly relevant for such approaches but still needs to be improved. Published gene-expression data from 400 low-grade gliomas and 193 high-grade gliomas were gathered to quantify 10 microenvironment cell populations with a deconvolution method designed explicitly for brain tumors. First, we investigated general differences in the microenvironment of low- and high-grade gliomas. Lower-grade and high-grade tumors cluster together, respectively, and show a general similarity within and distinct differences between these groups, the main difference being a higher infiltration of fibroblasts and T cells in high-grade gliomas. Among the analyzed entities, gangliogliomas and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas presented the highest overall immune cell infiltration. Further analyses of the low-grade gliomas presented three distinct microenvironmental signatures of immune cell infiltration, which can be divided into T-cell/dendritic/natural killer cell-, neutrophilic/B lineage/natural killer cell-, and monocytic/vascular/stromal-cell-dominated immune clusters. These clusters correlated with tumor location, age, and histological diagnosis but not with sex or progression-free survival. A survival analysis showed that the prognosis can be predicted from gene expression, clinical data, and a combination of both with a support vector machine and revealed the negative prognostic relevance of vascular markers. Overall, our work shows that low- and high-grade gliomas can be characterized and differentiated by their immune cell infiltration. Low-grade gliomas cluster into three distinct immunologic tumor microenvironments, which may be of further interest for upcoming immunotherapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meik Körner
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Spohn
- Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Bioinformatics Core, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Bockmayr
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- bAIome - Center for Biomedical AI, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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11
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Wu KL, Montalvo MJ, Menon PS, Roysam B, Varadarajan N. PostFocus: automated selective post-acquisition high-throughput focus restoration using diffusion model for label-free time-lapse microscopy. BIOINFORMATICS (OXFORD, ENGLAND) 2024; 40:btae467. [PMID: 39042160 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
MOTIVATION High-throughput time-lapse imaging is a fundamental tool for efficient living cell profiling at single-cell resolution. Label-free phase-contrast video microscopy enables noninvasive, nontoxic, and long-term imaging. The tradeoff between speed and throughput, however, implies that despite the state-of-the-art autofocusing algorithms, out-of-focus cells are unavoidable due to the migratory nature of immune cells (velocities >10 μm/min). Here, we propose PostFocus to (i) identify out-of-focus images within time-lapse sequences with a classifier, and (ii) deploy a de-noising diffusion probabilistic model to yield reliable in-focus images. RESULTS De-noising diffusion probabilistic model outperformed deep discriminative models with a superior performance on the whole image and around cell boundaries. In addition, PostFocus improves the accuracy of image analysis (cell and contact detection) and the yield of usable videos. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Open-source code and sample data are available at: https://github.com/kwu14victor/PostFocus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwan-Ling Wu
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Melisa J Montalvo
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Prashant S Menon
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Badrinath Roysam
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
| | - Navin Varadarajan
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States
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Desai N, Chavda V, Singh TRR, Thorat ND, Vora LK. Cancer Nanovaccines: Nanomaterials and Clinical Perspectives. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2401631. [PMID: 38693099 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202401631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Cancer nanovaccines represent a promising frontier in cancer immunotherapy, utilizing nanotechnology to augment traditional vaccine efficacy. This review comprehensively examines the current state-of-the-art in cancer nanovaccine development, elucidating innovative strategies and technologies employed in their design. It explores both preclinical and clinical advancements, emphasizing key studies demonstrating their potential to elicit robust anti-tumor immune responses. The study encompasses various facets, including integrating biomaterial-based nanocarriers for antigen delivery, adjuvant selection, and the impact of nanoscale properties on vaccine performance. Detailed insights into the complex interplay between the tumor microenvironment and nanovaccine responses are provided, highlighting challenges and opportunities in optimizing therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, the study presents a thorough analysis of ongoing clinical trials, presenting a snapshot of the current clinical landscape. By curating the latest scientific findings and clinical developments, this study aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for researchers and clinicians engaged in advancing cancer immunotherapy. Integrating nanotechnology into vaccine design holds immense promise for revolutionizing cancer treatment paradigms, and this review provides a timely update on the evolving landscape of cancer nanovaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimeet Desai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, 502285, India
| | - Vivek Chavda
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, L M College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad, 380009, India
| | | | - Nanasaheb D Thorat
- Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre (LDCRC), University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, V94T9PX, Ireland
- Department of Physics, Bernal Institute, Castletroy, Limerick, V94T9PX, Ireland
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, Medical Science Division, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Lalitkumar K Vora
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
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Godakhindi V, Tarannum M, Dam SK, Vivero-Escoto JL. Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as an Ideal Platform for Cancer Immunotherapy: Recent Advances and Future Directions. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2400323. [PMID: 38653190 PMCID: PMC11305940 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400323] [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: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy recently transforms the traditional approaches against various cancer malignancies. Immunotherapy includes systemic and local treatments to enhance immune responses against cancer and involves strategies such as immune checkpoints, cancer vaccines, immune modulatory agents, mimetic antigen-presenting cells, and adoptive cell therapy. Despite promising results, these approaches still suffer from several limitations including lack of precise delivery of immune-modulatory agents to the target cells and off-target toxicity, among others, that can be overcome using nanotechnology. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are investigated to improve various aspects of cancer immunotherapy attributed to the advantageous structural features of this nanomaterial. MSNs can be engineered to alter their properties such as size, shape, porosity, surface functionality, and adjuvanticity. This review explores the immunological properties of MSNs and the use of MSNs as delivery vehicles for immune-adjuvants, vaccines, and mimetic antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The review also details the current strategies to remodel the tumor microenvironment to positively reciprocate toward the anti-tumor immune cells and the use of MSNs for immunotherapy in combination with other anti-tumor therapies including photodynamic/thermal therapies to enhance the therapeutic effect against cancer. Last, the present demands and future scenarios for the use of MSNs for cancer immunotherapy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Godakhindi
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
- Nanoscale Science Program, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Mubin Tarannum
- Division of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Sudip Kumar Dam
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
- Nanoscale Science Program, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Juan L Vivero-Escoto
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
- Nanoscale Science Program, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
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Yang L, Han M, Zhao X, Zheng L, Kong F, Zhang S, Jia L, Li X, Wang M. Comprehensive pan‑cancer analysis of MTDH for human tumor prognosis and as an immunological biomarker including breast and kidney cancer. Oncol Lett 2024; 28:349. [PMID: 38872862 PMCID: PMC11170258 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14482] [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: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Metadherin (MTDH), initially discovered in primary astrocytes of the human fetus through rapid subtraction hybridization and labeled as astrocyte elevated gene-1, represents a widely recognized oncogene present in multiple types of cancers. However, the role of MTDH in different types of cancer remains unclear. To address this, a comprehensive analysis of MTDH across various types of cancers was conducted by utilizing multiple databases such as The Cancer Genome Atlas. The present analysis discovered that MTDH exhibits differential expression in different types of cancer and is associated with important factors including tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability. These findings highlighted the significance of MTDH in the tumor microenvironment and its involvement in the development of immune cells in specific cancers. Furthermore, the results of the present study indicated that the expression of MTDH is strongly correlated with clinical prognosis, mutations and immune cell infiltration. MTDH could serve as a potential indicator of patient prognosis and potentially play a role in modulating the immune system. Given its potential as a novel immunological checkpoint, MTDH may be a viable target for tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixian Yang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
| | - Mingqiang Han
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoling Zhao
- Oncology Laboratory, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of Breast Surgery, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
| | - Fanting Kong
- Department of Breast Surgery, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
| | - Shiyu Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
| | - Lining Jia
- Department of Breast Surgery, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
| | - Xiaowei Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
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Rahman MM, Wells G, Rantala JK, Helleday T, Muthana M, Danson SJ. In-vitro assays for immuno-oncology drug efficacy assessment and screening for personalized cancer therapy: scopes and challenges. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2024; 20:821-838. [PMID: 38546609 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2024.2336583] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immunotherapies have revolutionized cancer treatment, but often fail to produce desirable therapeutic outcomes in all patients. Due to the inter-patient heterogeneity and complexity of the tumor microenvironment, personalized treatment approaches are gaining demand. Researchers have long been using a range of in-vitro assays including 2D models, organoid co-cultures, and cancer-on-a-chip platforms for cancer drug screening. A comparative analysis of these assays with their suitability, high-throughput capacity, and clinical translatability is required for optimal translational use. AREAS COVERED The review summarized in-vitro platforms with their comparative advantages and limitations including construction strategies, and translational potential for immuno-oncology drug efficacy assessment. We also discussed end-point analysis strategies so that researchers can contextualize their usefulness and optimally design experiments for personalized immunotherapy efficacy prediction. EXPERT OPINION Researchers developed several in-vitro platforms that can provide information on personalized immunotherapy efficacy from different angles. Image-based assays are undoubtedly more suitable to gather a wide range of information including cellular morphology and phenotypical behaviors but need significant improvement to overcome issues including background noise, sample preparation difficulty, and long duration of experiment. More studies and clinical trials are needed to resolve these issues and validate the assays before they can be used in real-life scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Marufur Rahman
- Sheffield Ex vivo Group, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine & Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Directorate General of Health Services, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Greg Wells
- Sheffield Ex vivo Group, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine & Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Juha K Rantala
- Sheffield Ex vivo Group, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine & Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Misvik Biology Ltd, Turku, Finland
| | - Thomas Helleday
- Sheffield Ex vivo Group, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine & Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Munitta Muthana
- Nanobug Oncology Sheffield, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine & Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Sarah J Danson
- Sheffield Ex vivo Group, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine & Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Li J, Lim JYS, Eu JQ, Chan AKMH, Goh BC, Wang L, Wong ALA. Reactive Oxygen Species Modulation in the Current Landscape of Anticancer Therapies. Antioxid Redox Signal 2024; 41:322-341. [PMID: 38445392 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2023.0445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Significance: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated during mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, and are tightly controlled through homeostatic mechanisms to maintain intracellular redox, regulating growth and proliferation in healthy cells. However, ROS production is perturbed in cancers where abnormal accumulation of ROS leads to oxidative stress and genomic instability, triggering oncogenic signaling pathways on one hand, while increasing oxidative damage and triggering ROS-dependent death signaling on the other. Recent Advances: Our review illuminates how critical interactions between ROS and oncogenic signaling, the tumor microenvironment, and DNA damage response (DDR) pathways have led to interest in ROS modulation as a means of enhancing existing anticancer strategies and developing new therapeutic opportunities. Critical Issues: ROS equilibrium exists via a delicate balance of pro-oxidant and antioxidant species within cells. "Antioxidant" approaches have been explored mainly in the form of chemoprevention, but there is insufficient evidence to advocate its routine application. More progress has been made via the "pro-oxidant" approach of targeting cancer vulnerabilities and inducing oxidative stress. Various therapeutic modalities have employed this approach, including direct ROS-inducing agents, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, DDR therapies, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Finally, emerging delivery systems such as "nanosensitizers" as radiotherapy enhancers are currently in development. Future Directions: While approaches designed to induce ROS have shown considerable promise in selectively targeting cancer cells and dealing with resistance to conventional therapies, most are still in early phases of development and challenges remain. Further research should endeavor to refine treatment strategies, optimize drug combinations, and identify predictive biomarkers of ROS-based cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jie Qing Eu
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Boon Cher Goh
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Li-Ann Wong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
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Kitano M, Honda T, Hikita E, Masuo M, Miyazaki Y, Kobayashi M. Delayed immune-related adverse events in long-responders of immunotherapy: a single-center experience. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2024; 20:463-471. [PMID: 38608154 DOI: 10.1111/ajco.14059] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) often cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The spectrum of irAEs and their managements has been partially clarified, however the knowledge on time-course of irAEs is not well understood. METHODS A retrospective study based on the medical record was performed. The study subjects were consisting of patients with various types of solid tumors for whom ICIs (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, atezolizumab, nivolumab plus ipilimumab) were used between April 2016 and October 2021. We focused on irAEs developed more than 1-year after commencement ICIs (delayed irAE group) and compared with irAEs developed within 1-year (non-delayed irAE group) in terms of types and severity of irAEs. RESULTS A total of 336 patients were enrolled in the study. Eighty-eight patients (26.2%) developed irAEs and 248 did not. Most of the patients developing irAEs were treated using PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors. Eighty-one patients (24.1%) in non-delayed irAE group and 7 patients (2.1%) in delayed irAE group developed irAEs. The median onset of irAEs in the delayed irAE group was 18.6 months (range: 13.5-24.3). The types of irAEs observed in delayed irAE group were dermatitis (2 cases), pneumonitis (2 cases), nephritis (1 case), arthritis (1 case), and gastritis (1 case). The severity of irAEs was almost mild (≤G2), but one patient (.3%) developed G3 nephritis. CONCLUSION PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors frequently caused various irAEs but their severities were mostly tolerable. Few patients developed delayed irAE with mild toxities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatake Kitano
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Honda
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eri Hikita
- Department of Pharmacy, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Masuo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasunari Miyazaki
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Kobayashi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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18
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Tsiverioti CA, Gottschlich A, Trefny M, Theurich S, Anders HJ, Kroiss M, Kobold S. Beyond CAR T cells: exploring alternative cell sources for CAR-like cellular therapies. Biol Chem 2024; 405:485-515. [PMID: 38766710 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0317] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has led to remarkable clinical outcomes in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, challenges remain, such as limited infiltration into solid tumors, inadequate persistence, systemic toxicities, and manufacturing insufficiencies. The use of alternative cell sources for CAR-based therapies, such as natural killer cells (NK), macrophages (MΦ), invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells, γδT cells, neutrophils, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), has emerged as a promising avenue. By harnessing these cells' inherent cytotoxic mechanisms and incorporating CAR technology, common CAR-T cell-related limitations can be effectively mitigated. We herein present an overview of the tumoricidal mechanisms, CAR designs, and manufacturing processes of CAR-NK cells, CAR-MΦ, CAR-iNKT cells, CAR-γδT cells, CAR-neutrophils, and iPSC-derived CAR-cells, outlining the advantages, limitations, and potential solutions of these therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adrian Gottschlich
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Lindwurmstr. 2a, 80337 Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninstr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), LMU Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Marcel Trefny
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Lindwurmstr. 2a, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Theurich
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninstr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), LMU Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336 Munich, Germany
- 74939 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, A Partnership Between DKFZ and University Hospital of the LMU , Marchioninstr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Cancer and Immunometabolism Research Group, 74939 Gene Center LMU , Feodor-Lynen Str. 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Hans-Joachim Anders
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Kroiss
- Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str, 9780 Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 6, 9780 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Lindwurmstr. 2a, 80337 Munich, Germany
- 74939 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, A Partnership Between DKFZ and University Hospital of the LMU , Marchioninstr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
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Wermke M, Holderried TAW, Luke JJ, Morris VK, Alsdorf WH, Wetzko K, Andersson BS, Wistuba II, Parra ER, Hossain MB, Grund-Gröschke S, Aslan K, Satelli A, Marisetty A, Satam S, Kalra M, Hukelmann J, Kursunel MA, Pozo K, Acs A, Backert L, Baumeister M, Bunk S, Wagner C, Schoor O, Mohamed AS, Mayer-Mokler A, Hilf N, Krishna D, Walter S, Tsimberidou AM, Britten CM. First-in-human dose escalation trial to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of an anti-MAGEA1 autologous TCR-transgenic T cell therapy in relapsed and refractory solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008668. [PMID: 39038917 PMCID: PMC11268062 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008668] [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] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE OF THE TRIAL Although the use of engineered T cells in cancer immunotherapy has greatly advanced the treatment of hematological malignancies, reaching meaningful clinical responses in the treatment of solid tumors is still challenging. We investigated the safety and tolerability of IMA202 in a first-in-human, dose escalation basket trial in human leucocyte antigen A*02:01 positive patients with melanoma-associated antigen A1 (MAGEA1)-positive advanced solid tumors. TRIAL DESIGN The 2+2 trial design was an algorithmic design based on a maximally acceptable dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) rate of 25% and the sample size was driven by the algorithmic design with a maximum of 16 patients. IMA202 consists of autologous genetically modified cytotoxic CD8+ T cells expressing a T cell receptor (TCR), which is specific for a nine amino acid peptide derived from MAGEA1. Eligible patients underwent leukapheresis, T cells were isolated, transduced with lentiviral vector carrying MAGEA1-specific TCR and following lymphodepletion (fludarabine/cyclophosphamide), infused with a median of 1.4×109 specific T cells (range, 0.086×109-2.57×109) followed by interleukin 2. SAFETY OF IMA202: No DLT was observed. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were cytopenias, that is, neutropenia (81.3%), lymphopenia (75.0%), anemia (50.0%), thrombocytopenia (50.0%) and leukopenia (25.0%). 13 patients experienced cytokine release syndrome, including one grade 3 event. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was observed in two patients and was grade 1 in both. EFFICACY OF IMA202: Of the 16 patients dosed, 11 (68.8%) patients had stable disease (SD) as their best overall response (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors V.1.1). Five patients had initial tumor shrinkage in target lesions and one patient with SD experienced continued shrinkage in target lesions for 3 months in total but had to be classified as progressive disease due to progressive non-target lesions. IMA202 T cells were persistent in peripheral blood for several weeks to months and were also detectable in tumor tissue. Peak persistence was higher in patients who received higher doses. CONCLUSION In conclusion, IMA202 had a manageable safety profile, and it was associated with biological and potential clinical activity of MAGEA1-targeting genetically engineered TCR-T cells in a poor prognosis, multi-indication solid tumor cohort. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS NCT04639245, NCT05430555.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Wermke
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tobias A W Holderried
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Immunooncology, Stem Cell Transplantation, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jason John Luke
- Cancer Immunotherapeutics Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Van K Morris
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Division of Cancer Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Winfried H Alsdorf
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section Pneumology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Wetzko
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Borje S Andersson
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ignacio I Wistuba
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Edwin R Parra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | - Katrin Aslan
- Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Swapna Satam
- Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Andreas Acs
- Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Norbert Hilf
- Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Apostolia M Tsimberidou
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Sancho-Araiz A, Parra-Guillen ZP, Troconiz IF, Freshwater T. Disentangling Anti-Tumor Response of Immunotherapy Combinations: A Physiologically Based Framework for V937 Oncolytic Virus and Pembrolizumab. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2024. [PMID: 39037559 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.3379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Immuno-oncology (IO) is a growing strategy in cancer treatment. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) can selectively infect cancer cells and lead to direct and/or immune-dependent tumor lysis. This approach represents an opportunity to potentiate the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), such as pembrolizumab. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive quantitative models for the aforementioned scenarios. In this work, we developed a mechanistic framework describing viral kinetics, viral dynamics, and tumor response after intratumoral (i.t.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration of V937 alone or in combination with pembrolizumab. The model accounts for tumor shrinkage, in both injected and non-injected lesions, induced by: viral-infected tumor cell death and activated CD8 cells. OV-infected tumor cells enhanced the expansion of CD8 cells, whereas pembrolizumab inhibits their exhaustion by competing with PD-L1 in their binding to PD-1. Circulating viral levels and treatment effects on tumor volume were adequately characterized in all the different scenarios. This mechanistic-based model has been developed by combining top-down and bottom-up approaches and provides individual estimates of viral and ICI responses. The robustness of the model is reflected by the description of the tumor size time profiles in a variety of clinical scenarios. Additionally, this platform allows us to investigate not only the contribution of processes related to the viral kinetics and dynamics on tumor response, but also the influence of its interaction with an ICI. Additionally, the model can be used to explore different scenarios aiming to optimize treatment combinations and support clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymara Sancho-Araiz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Zinnia P Parra-Guillen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Iñaki F Troconiz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, DATAI, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Tomoko Freshwater
- Oncology Early Development, Clinical Research, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
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Liu D, Fang L. Oxidative stress-related genes score predicts prognosis and immune cell infiltration landscape characterization in breast cancer. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34046. [PMID: 39071696 PMCID: PMC11283013 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34046] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The tumor microenvironment (TME) typically experiences oxidative stress (OS), marked by a high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can impact tumor advancement and prognosis by modulating the behavior of tumor cells and various immune cells. Oxidative stress-related genes (OSRG) encompass a range of genes involved in ROS pathways, and their specific roles in breast cancer (BC) necessitate further investigation. Methods Univariate Cox analysis was performed on genes linked to the OS pathway in the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) database, leading to the identification of 29 significant OSRG in BC. OSRG was divided into three distinct clusters according to the expression and the OSRG score based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was further calculated by principal component analysis (PCA). The correlation between OSRG score and BC clinical features, mutation characteristics, immune checkpoints and immune cell infiltration was analyzed. Establish a multiariable Cox regression model to predict OSRG score effects on clinical characteristics. Results Significant differences were observed in survival analysis, enriched pathways, and immune infiltration among the three OSRG clusters based on 29 genes. Gene clusters were identified through the final selected 395 DEGs, revealing three distinct OSRG expression patterns. An OSRG score model was constructed using DEGs, demonstrating a significant association between high OSRG score and poor prognosis. Significantly, immune checkpoint-related genes exhibited a notable upregulation in the high OSRG score cohort. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the OSRG score and tumor mutation burden (TMB) in BC. The OSRG score holds potential implications for clinical immunotherapy in BC patients, and a nomogram was constructed with robust predictive capability for evaluating patient prognosis. Conclusions This study elucidated the features of OSRG within BC TME and their possible prognostic significance, offering valuable insights for the development of more targeted immunotherapy approaches for individuals with BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diya Liu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Lin Fang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
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22
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Wachholz GE, Akbari P, Huijbers EJM, Jalan P, van Beijnum JR, Griffioen AW. Targeting endothelial cell anergy to improve CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189155. [PMID: 39019408 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189155] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy presents significant results, especially for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. However, there are limitations and challenges to be overcome to achieve similar success for the treatment of solid tumors. These challenges involve selection of the target, infiltration into the tumor microenvironment and maintenance of functionality. The tumor vasculature is a major barrier for leukocytes to enter the tumor parenchyma. Due to the exposure of the vasculature to angiogenic growth factors during tumor progression, the endothelial cells become anergic to inflammatory cytokines, resulting in reduced leukocyte adhesion molecule expression. As such adhesion molecules are a prerequisite for leukocyte extravasation, endothelial cell anergy allows tumors to escape from endogenous immunity, as well as from cellular immunotherapies such as CAR T cells. Hence, overcoming endothelial cell anergy, e.g. through the administration of angiogenesis inhibitors, is believed to restore anti-tumor immunity. Concomitantly, both endogenous immune cells as well as cellular therapeutics such as CAR T cells can permeate into the tumor parenchyma. Here, we discuss how prior or concomitant treatment with an antiangiogenic drug can improve CAR T cell therapy, to become an attractive strategy for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela E Wachholz
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Parvin Akbari
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth J M Huijbers
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Prachi Jalan
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Judy R van Beijnum
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Arjan W Griffioen
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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23
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Pukkanasut P, Jaskula-Sztul R, Gomora JC, Velu SE. Therapeutic targeting of voltage-gated sodium channel Na V1.7 for cancer metastasis. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1416705. [PMID: 39045054 PMCID: PMC11263763 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1416705] [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: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the expression and function of voltage-gated sodium channel subtype NaV1.7 in various cancers and explores its impact on the metastasis driving cell functions such as proliferation, migration, and invasiveness. An overview of its structural characteristics, drug binding sites, inhibitors and their likely mechanisms of action are presented. Despite the lack of clarity on the precise mechanism by which NaV1.7 contributes to cancer progression and metastasis; many studies have suggested a connection between NaV1.7 and proteins involved in multiple signaling pathways such as PKA and EGF/EGFR-ERK1/2. Moreover, the functional activity of NaV1.7 appears to elevate the expression levels of MACC1 and NHE-1, which are controlled by p38 MAPK activity, HGF/c-MET signaling and c-Jun activity. This cascade potentially enhances the secretion of extracellular matrix proteases, such as MMPs which play critical roles in cell migration and invasion activities. Furthermore, the NaV1.7 activity may indirectly upregulate Rho GTPases Rac activity, which is critical for cytoskeleton reorganization, cell adhesion, and actin polymerization. The relationship between NaV1.7 and cancer progression has prompted researchers to investigate the therapeutic potential of targeting NaV1.7 using inhibitors. The positive outcome of such studies resulted in the discovery of several inhibitors with the ability to reduce cancer cell migration, invasion, and tumor growth underscoring the significance of NaV1.7 as a promising pharmacological target for attenuating cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. The research findings summarized in this review suggest that the regulation of NaV1.7 expression and function by small molecules and/or by genetic engineering is a viable approach to discover novel therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of metastasis of cancers with elevated NaV1.7 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyasuda Pukkanasut
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Renata Jaskula-Sztul
- Department of Surgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Juan Carlos Gomora
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sadanandan E. Velu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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24
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Pires IS, Covarrubias G, Gomerdinger VF, Backlund C, Shanker A, Gordon E, Wu S, Pickering AJ, Melo MB, Suh H, Irvine DJ, Hammond PT. "Target-and-release" nanoparticles for effective immunotherapy of metastatic ovarian cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.05.602135. [PMID: 39005274 PMCID: PMC11245112 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.05.602135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) are effective in treating several advanced cancers, but these treatments have had limited success in metastatic ovarian cancer (OC). Here, we engineered liposomal nanoparticles (NPs) carrying a layer-by-layer (LbL) polymer coating that promotes their binding to the surface of OC cells. Covalent anchoring of the potent immunostimulatory cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12) to phospholipid headgroups of the liposome core enabled the LbL particles to concentrate IL-12 in disseminated OC tumors following intraperitoneal administration. Shedding of the LbL coating and serum protein-mediated extraction of IL-12-conjugated lipids from the liposomal core over time enabled IL-12 to disseminate in the tumor bed following rapid NP localization in tumor nodules. Optimized IL-12 LbL-NPs promoted robust T cell accumulation in ascites and tumors in mouse models, extending survival compared to free IL-12 and remarkedly sensitizing tumors to CPI, leading to curative treatments and immune memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan S Pires
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Gil Covarrubias
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Victoria F Gomerdinger
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Coralie Backlund
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Apoorv Shanker
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ezra Gordon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Shengwei Wu
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Andrew J Pickering
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mariane B Melo
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Heikyung Suh
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Darrell J Irvine
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Paula T Hammond
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139 USA
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25
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Chiodi D, Ishihara Y. The role of the methoxy group in approved drugs. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 273:116364. [PMID: 38781921 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The methoxy substituent is prevalent in natural products and, consequently, is present in many natural product-derived drugs. It has also been installed in modern drug molecules with no remnant of natural product features because medicinal chemists have been taking advantage of the benefits that this small functional group can bestow on ligand-target binding, physicochemical properties, and ADME parameters. Herein, over 230 methoxy-containing small-molecule drugs, as well as several fluoromethoxy-containing drugs, are presented from the vantage point of the methoxy group. Biochemical mechanisms of action, medicinal chemistry SAR studies, and numerous X-ray cocrystal structures are analyzed to identify the precise role of the methoxy group for many of the drugs and drug classes. Although the methoxy substituent can be considered as the hybridization of a hydroxy and a methyl group, the combination of these functionalities often results in unique effects that can amount to more than the sum of the individual parts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Chiodi
- Department of Chemistry, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, 9625 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Yoshihiro Ishihara
- Department of Chemistry, Vividion Therapeutics, 5820 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
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26
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Sangani PS, Yazdani S, Khalili-Tanha G, Ghorbani E, Al-Hayawi IS, Fiuji H, Khazaei M, Hassanian SM, Kiani M, Ghayour-Mobarhan M, Ferns GA, Nazari E, Avan A. The therapeutic impact of programmed death - 1 in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 259:155345. [PMID: 38805760 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common type of newly diagnosed cancer. Metastatic spread and multifactorial chemoresistance have limited the benefits of current therapies. Hence, it is imperative to identify new therapeutic agents to increase treatment efficacy. One of CRC's most promising immunotherapeutic targets is programmed death-1 (PD-1), a cell surface receptor that regulates immune responses. In this paper, we provide an overview of the therapeutic impact of PD-1 in the treatment of CRC. Cancer cells can exploit the PD-1 pathway by upregulating its programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) ligand to evade immune surveillance. The binding of PD-L1 to PD-1 inhibits T cell function, leading to tumor immune escape. PD-1 inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, block the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. Clinical trials evaluating PD-1 inhibitors in advanced CRC have shown promising results. In patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) tumors characterized by high mutation rates and increased immunogenicity, PD-1 blockade has demonstrated remarkable efficacy. As a result, pembrolizumab and nivolumab have received accelerated approval by regulatory authorities for the treatment of MSI-H/dMMR metastatic CRC. Additionally, combination approaches, such as combining PD-1 inhibitors with other immunotherapies or targeted agents, are being explored. Despite the success of PD-1 inhibitors in CRC, challenges still exist. Immune-related adverse events can occur and require close monitoring. In conclusion, PD-1 inhibitors have demonstrated significant therapeutic impact, particularly in patients with MSI-H/dMMR tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooria Salehi Sangani
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Soroush Yazdani
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ghazaleh Khalili-Tanha
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Elnaz Ghorbani
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Hamid Fiuji
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Khazaei
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Mahdi Hassanian
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - MohammadAli Kiani
- Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex BN1 9PH, UK
| | - Elham Nazari
- Proteomics Research Center, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Amir Avan
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; College of Medicine, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Karbala, Iraq; School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane City, QLD 4000, Australia; Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
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27
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Rolin C, Zimmer J, Seguin-Devaux C. Bridging the gap with multispecific immune cell engagers in cancer and infectious diseases. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:643-661. [PMID: 38789528 PMCID: PMC11214628 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01176-4] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
By binding to multiple antigens simultaneously, multispecific antibodies are expected to substantially improve both the activity and long-term efficacy of antibody-based immunotherapy. Immune cell engagers, a subclass of antibody-based constructs, consist of engineered structures designed to bridge immune effector cells to their target, thereby redirecting the immune response toward the tumor cells or infected cells. The increasing number of recent clinical trials evaluating immune cell engagers reflects the important role of these molecules in new therapeutic approaches for cancer and infections. In this review, we discuss how different immune cell types (T and natural killer lymphocytes, as well as myeloid cells) can be bound by immune cell engagers in immunotherapy for cancer and infectious diseases. Furthermore, we explore the preclinical and clinical advancements of these constructs, and we discuss the challenges in translating the current knowledge from cancer to the virology field. Finally, we speculate on the promising future directions that immune cell engagers may take in cancer treatment and antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Rolin
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
- University of Luxembourg, 2 Place de l'Université, L-4365, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Jacques Zimmer
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Carole Seguin-Devaux
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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28
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Sharkey C, White R, Finocchiaro M, Thomas J, Estevam J, Konry T. Advancing Point-of-Care Applications with Droplet Microfluidics: From Single-Cell to Multicellular Analysis. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2024; 26:119-139. [PMID: 38316063 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-110222-102142] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in single-cell and multicellular microfluidics technology have provided powerful tools for studying cancer biology and immunology. The ability to create controlled microenvironments, perform high-throughput screenings, and monitor cellular interactions at the single-cell level has significantly advanced our understanding of tumor biology and immune responses. We discuss cutting-edge multicellular and single-cell microfluidic technologies and methodologies utilized to investigate cancer-immune cell interactions and assess the effectiveness of immunotherapies. We explore the advantages and limitations of the wide range of 3D spheroid and single-cell microfluidic models recently developed, highlighting the various approaches in device generation and applications in immunotherapy screening for potential opportunities for point-of-care approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Sharkey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel White
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
| | - Michael Finocchiaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
| | - Judene Thomas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jose Estevam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
| | - Tania Konry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
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29
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Gauthier M, Pierson J, Moulin D, Mouginot M, Bourguignon V, Rhalloussi W, Vincourt JB, Dumas D, Bensoussan D, Chastagner P, Boura C, Decot V. Deciphering Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity Against Medulloblastoma in vitro and in vivo: Implications for Immunotherapy. Immunotargets Ther 2024; 13:319-333. [PMID: 38948503 PMCID: PMC11214763 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s458278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most prevalent paediatric brain tumour. Despite improvements in patient survival with current treatment strategies, the quality of life of these patients remains poor owing to the sequelae and relapse risk. An alternative, or, in addition to the current standard treatment, could be considered immunotherapy, such as Natural Killer cells (NK). NK cells are cytotoxic innate lymphoid cells that play a major role in cancer immunosurveillance. To date, the mechanism of cytotoxicity of NK cells, especially regarding the steps of adhesion, conjugation, cytotoxic granule polarisation in the cell contact area, perforin and granzyme release in two and three dimensions, and therapeutic efficacy in vivo have not been precisely described. Materials and Methods Each step of NK cytotoxicity against the three MB cell lines was explored using confocal microscopy for conjugation, Elispot for degranulation, flow cytometry, and luminescence assays for target cell necrosis and lysis and mediators released by cytokine array, and then confirmed in a 3D spheroid model. Medulloblastoma-xenografted mice were treated with NK cells. Their persistence was evaluated by flow cytometry, and their efficacy in tumour growth and survival was determined. In addition, their effects on the tumour transcriptome were evaluated. Results NK cells showed variable affinities for conjugation with MB target cells depending on their subgroup and cytokine activation. Chemokines secreted during NK and MB cell co-culture are mainly associated with angiogenesis and immune cell recruitment. NK cell cytotoxicity induces MB cell death in both 2D and 3D co-culture models. NK cells initiated an inflammatory response in a human MB murine model by modulating the MB cell transcriptome. Conclusion Our study confirmed that NK cells possess both in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activity against MB cells and are of interest for the development of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Gauthier
- CNRS UMR 7365 IMoPA, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
- Cell Therapy and Tissue Bank Unit, Nancy University Hospital, Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy, France
| | - Julien Pierson
- CNRS UMR7039 CRAN, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - David Moulin
- CNRS UMR 7365 IMoPA, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Manon Mouginot
- CNRS UMR 7365 IMoPA, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Danièle Bensoussan
- CNRS UMR 7365 IMoPA, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
- Cell Therapy and Tissue Bank Unit, Nancy University Hospital, Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy, France
| | - Pascal Chastagner
- CNRS UMR 7365 IMoPA, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Nancy University Hospital, Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy, France
| | - Cédric Boura
- CNRS UMR7039 CRAN, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Veronique Decot
- CNRS UMR 7365 IMoPA, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
- Cell Therapy and Tissue Bank Unit, Nancy University Hospital, Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy, France
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30
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Tragkola V, Anestopoulos I, Kyriakou S, Amery T, Franco R, Pappa A, Panayiotidis MI. Naturally-derived phenethyl isothiocyanate modulates apoptotic induction through regulation of the intrinsic cascade and resulting apoptosome formation in human malignant melanoma cells. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38919011 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2024.2369666] [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: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer with increasing incidence rates worldwide. On the other hand, watercress is a rich source of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), among others, which has been widely investigated for its anticancer properties against various cancers. In the present study, we evaluated the role of a watercress extract in modulating apoptotic induction in an in vitro model of human malignant melanoma consisting of melanoma (A375, COLO-679, COLO-800), non-melanoma epidermoid carcinoma (A431) and immortalized, non-tumorigenic keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. Moreover, the chemical composition of the watercress extract was characterized through UPLC MS/MS and other analytical methodologies. In addition, cytotoxicity was assessed by the alamar blue assay whereas apoptosis was determined, initially, by a multiplex activity assay kit (measuring levels of activated caspases -3, -8 and -9) as well as by qRT-PCR for the identification of major genes regulating apoptosis. In addition, protein expression levels were evaluated by western immunoblotting. Our data indicate that the extract contains various phytochemicals (e.g. phenolics, flavonoids, pigments, etc.) while isothiocyanates (ITCs; especially PEITC) were the most abundant. In addition, the extract was shown to exert a significant time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity against all malignant melanoma cell lines while non-melanoma and non-tumorigenic cells exhibited significant resistance. Finally, expression profiling revealed a number of genes (and corresponding proteins) being implicated in regulating apoptotic induction through activation of the intrinsic apoptotic cascade. Overall, our data indicate the potential of PEITC as a promising anti-cancer agent in the clinical management of human malignant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venetia Tragkola
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Therapeutics & Ultrastructural Pathology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Ioannis Anestopoulos
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Therapeutics & Ultrastructural Pathology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Sotiris Kyriakou
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Therapeutics & Ultrastructural Pathology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Rodrigo Franco
- School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Aglaia Pappa
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Mihalis I Panayiotidis
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Therapeutics & Ultrastructural Pathology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
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31
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Zheng J, Li X, Masci AM, Kahn H, Huffman A, Asfaw E, Pan Y, Guo J, He V, Song J, Seleznev AI, Lin AY, He Y. Empowering standardization of cancer vaccines through ontology: enhanced modeling and data analysis. J Biomed Semantics 2024; 15:12. [PMID: 38890666 PMCID: PMC11186274 DOI: 10.1186/s13326-024-00312-3] [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: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The exploration of cancer vaccines has yielded a multitude of studies, resulting in a diverse collection of information. The heterogeneity of cancer vaccine data significantly impedes effective integration and analysis. While CanVaxKB serves as a pioneering database for over 670 manually annotated cancer vaccines, it is important to distinguish that a database, on its own, does not offer the structured relationships and standardized definitions found in an ontology. Recognizing this, we expanded the Vaccine Ontology (VO) to include those cancer vaccines present in CanVaxKB that were not initially covered, enhancing VO's capacity to systematically define and interrelate cancer vaccines. RESULTS An ontology design pattern (ODP) was first developed and applied to semantically represent various cancer vaccines, capturing their associated entities and relations. By applying the ODP, we generated a cancer vaccine template in a tabular format and converted it into the RDF/OWL format for generation of cancer vaccine terms in the VO. '12MP vaccine' was used as an example of cancer vaccines to demonstrate the application of the ODP. VO also reuses reference ontology terms to represent entities such as cancer diseases and vaccine hosts. Description Logic (DL) and SPARQL query scripts were developed and used to query for cancer vaccines based on different vaccine's features and to demonstrate the versatility of the VO representation. Additionally, ontological modeling was applied to illustrate cancer vaccine related concepts and studies for in-depth cancer vaccine analysis. A cancer vaccine-specific VO view, referred to as "CVO," was generated, and it contains 928 classes including 704 cancer vaccines. The CVO OWL file is publicly available on: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/vo/cvo.owl , for sharing and applications. CONCLUSION To facilitate the standardization, integration, and analysis of cancer vaccine data, we expanded the Vaccine Ontology (VO) to systematically model and represent cancer vaccines. We also developed a pipeline to automate the inclusion of cancer vaccines and associated terms in the VO. This not only enriches the data's standardization and integration, but also leverages ontological modeling to deepen the analysis of cancer vaccine information, maximizing benefits for researchers and clinicians. AVAILABILITY The VO-cancer GitHub website is: https://github.com/vaccineontology/VO/tree/master/CVO .
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zheng
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Xingxian Li
- College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anna Maria Masci
- Data Impact and Governance, Technology Data and Innovation, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hayleigh Kahn
- College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anthony Huffman
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Eliyas Asfaw
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Yuanyi Pan
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jinjing Guo
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Virginia He
- The College of Brown University, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Justin Song
- College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Andrey I Seleznev
- Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Asiyah Yu Lin
- Axle Research and Technology, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Yongqun He
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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Curion F, Theis FJ. Machine learning integrative approaches to advance computational immunology. Genome Med 2024; 16:80. [PMID: 38862979 PMCID: PMC11165829 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-024-01350-3] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of immunology, traditionally reliant on proteomics to evaluate individual immune cells, has been revolutionized by single-cell RNA sequencing. Computational immunologists play a crucial role in analysing these datasets, moving beyond traditional protein marker identification to encompass a more detailed view of cellular phenotypes and their functional roles. Recent technological advancements allow the simultaneous measurements of multiple cellular components-transcriptome, proteome, chromatin, epigenetic modifications and metabolites-within single cells, including in spatial contexts within tissues. This has led to the generation of complex multiscale datasets that can include multimodal measurements from the same cells or a mix of paired and unpaired modalities. Modern machine learning (ML) techniques allow for the integration of multiple "omics" data without the need for extensive independent modelling of each modality. This review focuses on recent advancements in ML integrative approaches applied to immunological studies. We highlight the importance of these methods in creating a unified representation of multiscale data collections, particularly for single-cell and spatial profiling technologies. Finally, we discuss the challenges of these holistic approaches and how they will be instrumental in the development of a common coordinate framework for multiscale studies, thereby accelerating research and enabling discoveries in the computational immunology field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Curion
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Mathematics, School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabian J Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Mathematics, School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Efil SC, Bilgin B, Ceylan F, Karakaş H, Karahan İ, Özsan SN, Kosku H, Yaman Ş, Bülent Akıncı M, Dede DŞ, Yalçın B, Nahit Şendur MA. A current comprehensive role of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in resectable non-small cell lung cancer: A narrative review. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2024:10781552241260864. [PMID: 38860323 DOI: 10.1177/10781552241260864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this article is to review the efficacy, safety, and evidence for current use and potential future uses of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the management of resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). DATA SOURCES A literature review was carried out through PubMed to identify completed and ongoing clinical trials evaluating the use, efficacy, and safety of ICIs in the management of resectable NSCLC. DATA SUMMARY To date, four phase 3 trials have emerged that have changed our treatment practice concerning the utilization of ICIs during the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings. The IMpower010 and KEYNOTE-091 trials examined the application of adjuvant atezolizumab and pembrolizumab, respectively, following surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. In the CheckMate 816 trial, the combination of nivolumab and chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant therapy received approval for patients with resectable NSCLC. Also, for patients with resectable NSCLC, the use of a pembrolizumab and chemotherapy combination as a perioperative therapy received approval based on the results of the KEYNOTE-671 trial. Apart from these trials, there are numerous phase 2 and phase 3 trials, some of which have been published while others are still in progress. CONCLUSION Despite the promising outcomes from these trials there remain several unanswered questions. In this review, we will assess clinical trials involving adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and perioperative ICIs, aiming to address the unresolved questions related to these therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safa Can Efil
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
| | - Burak Bilgin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TR 06031, Turkey
| | - Furkan Ceylan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
| | - Hilal Karakaş
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
| | - İrfan Karahan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
| | - Sema Nur Özsan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
| | - Hakan Kosku
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
| | - Şebnem Yaman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TR 06031, Turkey
| | - Muhammed Bülent Akıncı
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TR 06031, Turkey
| | - Didem Şener Dede
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TR 06031, Turkey
| | - Bülent Yalçın
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TR 06031, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Ali Nahit Şendur
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, TR 06800, Turkey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, TR 06031, Turkey
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Duffy MJ, Crown J. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA): can it be used as a pan-cancer early detection test? Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2024; 61:241-253. [PMID: 37936529 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2023.2275150] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA, DNA shed by cancer cells) is emerging as one of the most transformative cancer biomarkers discovered to-date. Although potentially useful at all the phases of cancer detection and patient management, one of its most exciting possibilities is as a relatively noninvasive pan-cancer screening test. Preliminary findings with ctDNA tests such as Galleri or CancerSEEK suggest that they have high specificity (> 99.0%) for malignancy. Their sensitivity varies depending on the type of cancer and stage of disease but it is generally low in patients with stage I disease. A major advantage of ctDNA over existing screening strategies is the potential ability to detect multiple cancer types in a single test. A limitation of most studies published to-date is that they are predominantly case-control investigations that were carried out in patients with a previous diagnosis of malignancy and that used apparently healthy subjects as controls. Consequently, the reported sensitivities, specificities and positive predictive values might be lower if the tests are used for screening in asymptomatic populations, that is, in the population where these tests are likely be employed. To demonstrate clinical utility in an asymptomatic population, these tests must be shown to reduce cancer mortality without causing excessive overdiagnosis in a large randomized prospective randomized trial. Such trials are currently ongoing for Galleri and CancerSEEK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Duffy
- UCD School of Medicine, Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD Clinical Research Centre, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John Crown
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Santos L, Moreira JN, Abrunhosa A, Gomes C. Brain metastasis: An insight into novel molecular targets for theranostic approaches. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 198:104377. [PMID: 38710296 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104377] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain metastases (BrM) are common malignant lesions in the central nervous system, and pose a significant threat in advanced-stage malignancies due to delayed diagnosis and limited therapeutic options. Their distinct genomic profiles underscore the need for molecular profiling to tailor effective treatments. Recent advances in cancer biology have uncovered molecular drivers underlying tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. This, coupled with the advances in molecular imaging technology and radiotracer synthesis, has paved the way for the development of innovative radiopharmaceuticals with enhanced specificity and affinity for BrM specific targets. Despite the challenges posed by the blood-brain barrier to effective drug delivery, several radiolabeled compounds have shown promise in detecting and targeting BrM. This manuscript provides an overview of the recent advances in molecular biomarkers used in nuclear imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy in both clinical and preclinical settings. Additionally, it explores potential theranostic applications addressing the unique challenges posed by BrM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Santos
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS) and Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal
| | - João Nuno Moreira
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology Consortium (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal
| | - Antero Abrunhosa
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS) and Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal
| | - Célia Gomes
- Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal; Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology Consortium (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra 3000-075, Portugal.
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AlHariry NS, El Saftawy EA, Aboulhoda BE, Abozamel AH, Alghamdi MA, Hamoud AE, Khalil Ghanam WAE. Comparison of tissue biomarkers between non-schistosoma and schistosoma-associated urothelial carcinoma. Tissue Cell 2024; 88:102416. [PMID: 38796863 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102416] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-grade urothelial carcinoma either non-Schistosoma (NS-UBC) or Schistosoma (S-UBC)-associated is the tenth cause of death worldwide and represents a serious therapeutic problem. AIM Evaluation of the immmunohistochemical expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), programmed cell death protein-1 (PDL1), estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) and UroplakinIII, in the high-grade in NS-UBC and S-UBC as potential prognostic and therapeutic targets analyzed through estimation of area percentage, optical density and international pathological scoring system for each marker. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty high grade urothelial carcinoma cases were enrolled in the study (30 cases of NS-UBC and 30 cases of S-UBC). The cases were immunohistochemically-assessed for TNFα, EGFR, PDL1, ERα and Uroplakin III expression. In S-UBC, parasite load was also evaluated for correlation with the immunohistochemical markers' expression in S-UBC. RESULTS The area percentage of immune-expression of TNFα and EGFR was higher in S-UBC compared to NS-UBC. On the other hand, the NS-UBC displayed statistically-higher expression of PDL1 and uroplakinIII (p-value <0.001). ERα revealed higher, yet, non-significant expressions in S-UBC compared to NS-UBC (p-value =0.459). PDL1 expression showed the most superior record regarding area percentage (64.6± 34.5). Regarding optical density, TNF-α showed the highest transmittance expression (2.4 ± 0.9). EGFR positively correlated with PDL1 in S-UBC (r= 0.578, p-value =0.001) whereas in NS-UBC, TNFα and PDL1 (r=0.382, p-value=0.037) had positive correlation. Schistosoma eggs in tissues oppose uroplakin III expression and trigger immunomodulation via PDL1. CONCLUSION Due to lower UroplakinIII expression, S-UBC is supposed to have a poorer prognosis. Hormonal therapy is not hypothesized due to a very minimal ERα expression in both NS-UBC and S-UBC. Regarding immunotherapy, anti-TNF-α is suggested for S-UBC whilst in NS-UBC, blockading PDL1 might be useful. Targeted EGFR therapy seems to carry emphasized outcomes in S-UBC. Correlations encourage combined immune therapy in NS-UBC; nevertheless, in S-UBC, combined anti-EGFR and PDL1 seem to be of benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Enas A El Saftawy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt; Department of Medical Parasitology, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Basma Emad Aboulhoda
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed H Abozamel
- Department of Urology, Kasr Alainy Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mansour A Alghamdi
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia; Genomics and Personalized Medicine Unit, The Center for Medical and Health Research, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amany E Hamoud
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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Zhu T, Jin S, Tong D, Liu X, Liu Y, Zheng J. Enhancing the Anti-Tumor Efficacy of NK Cells on Canine Mammary Tumors through Resveratrol Activation. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1636. [PMID: 38891683 PMCID: PMC11171074 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111636] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In order to explore the therapeutic effect of Resveratrol (Res)-activated Natural Killer (NK) cells on canine mammary tumors, this study employed a range of assays, including wound healing, colony formation, Transwell, flow cytometry, and Western blot experiments, to investigate the impact of Res-pretreated NK cells on canine mammary tumor cells in vitro. Additionally, a tumor-bearing mouse model was utilized to further analyze the therapeutic effects of Res-pretreated NK cells in vivo. The results showed that Res enhances the capacity of NK cells to induce apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis in canine breast tumor cells, while also augmenting their influence on the migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of these cells. Furthermore, pretreatment of NK cells with Res significantly amplified their inhibitory effect on breast tumor growth in vivo and promoted tumor tissue apoptosis. Additionally, Res enhanced the recruitment of NK cells to other immune cells in the body. In summary, Res has been shown to enhance the anti-breast-tumor effect of NK cells both in vitro and in vivo, offering a new avenue for optimizing immunotherapy for canine breast tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (T.Z.); (S.J.); (D.T.); (X.L.)
| | - Shengzi Jin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (T.Z.); (S.J.); (D.T.); (X.L.)
| | - Danning Tong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (T.Z.); (S.J.); (D.T.); (X.L.)
| | - Xingyao Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (T.Z.); (S.J.); (D.T.); (X.L.)
| | - Yun Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (T.Z.); (S.J.); (D.T.); (X.L.)
| | - Jiasan Zheng
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163000, China
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Dai J, Jia J, Zhang F, Liu K, Xi Y, Yuan P, Mao L, Bai X, Wei X, Wang B, Li J, Xu Y, Liu T, Chang S, Shao Y, Guo J, Ying J, Si L. Comparative Epigenetic Profiling Reveals Distinct Features of Mucosal Melanomas Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration and Their Clinical Implications. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1351-1362. [PMID: 38695555 PMCID: PMC11131765 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Mucosal melanoma exhibits limited responsiveness to anti-PD-1 therapy. However, a subgroup of mucosal melanomas, particularly those situated at specific anatomic sites like primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME), display remarkable sensitivity to anti-PD-1 treatment. The underlying mechanisms driving this superior response and the DNA methylation patterns in mucosal melanoma have not been thoroughly investigated. We collected tumor samples from 50 patients with mucosal melanoma, including 31 PMME and 19 non-esophageal mucosal melanoma (NEMM). Targeted bisulfite sequencing was conducted to characterize the DNA methylation landscape of mucosal melanoma and explore the epigenetic profiling differences between PMME and NEMM. Bulk RNA sequencing and multiplex immunofluorescence staining were performed to confirm the impact of methylation on gene expression and immune microenvironment. Our analysis revealed distinct epigenetic signatures that distinguish mucosal melanomas of different origins. Notably, PMME exhibited distinct epigenetic profiling characterized by a global hypermethylation alteration compared with NEMM. The prognostic model based on the methylation scores of a 7-DMR panel could effectively predict the overall survival of patients with PMME and potentially serve as a prognostic factor. PMME displayed a substantial enrichment of immune-activating cells in contrast to NEMM. Furthermore, we observed hypermethylation of the TERT promoter in PMME, which correlated with heightened CD8+ T-cell infiltration, and patients with hypermethylated TERT were likely to have improved responses to immunotherapy. Our results indicated that PMME shows a distinct methylation landscape compared with NEMM, and the epigenetic status of TERT might be used to estimate prognosis and direct anti-PD-1 treatment for mucosal melanoma. SIGNIFICANCE This study investigated the intricate epigenetic factor of mucosal melanomas contributed to the differential immune checkpoint inhibitor response, and found that PMME exhibited a global hypermethylation pattern and lower gene expression in comparison to NEMM. TERT hypermethylation may contribute to the favorable responses observed in patients with mucosal melanoma undergoing immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Dai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jia Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Fanshuang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Kaihua Liu
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Yanfeng Xi
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital, Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, P.R. China
| | - Pei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lili Mao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xue Bai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoting Wei
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Bingning Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jiangtao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yang Xu
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Ting Liu
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Shuang Chang
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Yang Shao
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Jun Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jianming Ying
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lu Si
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
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Zhao X, Shao S, Hu L. The recent advancement of TCR-T cell therapies for cancer treatment. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024; 56:663-674. [PMID: 38557898 PMCID: PMC11187488 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024034] [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: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapies involve infusing engineered immune cells into cancer patients to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. Adoptive cell therapy, as a form of living drug, has undergone explosive growth over the past decade. The recognition of tumor antigens by the T-cell receptor (TCR) is one of the natural mechanisms that the immune system used to eliminate tumor cells. TCR-T cell therapy, which involves introducing exogenous TCRs into patients' T cells, is a novel cell therapy strategy. TCR-T cell therapy can target the entire proteome of cancer cells. Engineering T cells with exogenous TCRs to help patients combat cancer has achieved success in clinical trials, particularly in treating solid tumors. In this review, we examine the progress of TCR-T cell therapy over the past five years. This includes the discovery of new tumor antigens, protein engineering techniques for TCR, reprogramming strategies for TCR-T cell therapy, clinical studies on TCR-T cell therapy, and the advancement of TCR-T cell therapy in China. We also propose several potential directions for the future development of TCR-T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhao
- />Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell SystemsShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Shuai Shao
- />Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell SystemsShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Lanxin Hu
- />Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell SystemsShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
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Masucci M, Karlsson C, Blomqvist L, Ernberg I. Bridging the Divide: A Review on the Implementation of Personalized Cancer Medicine. J Pers Med 2024; 14:561. [PMID: 38929782 PMCID: PMC11204735 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060561] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The shift towards personalized cancer medicine (PCM) represents a significant transformation in cancer care, emphasizing tailored treatments based on the genetic understanding of cancer at the cellular level. This review draws on recent literature to explore key factors influencing PCM implementation, highlighting the role of innovative leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and coordinated funding and regulatory strategies. Success in PCM relies on overcoming challenges such as integrating diverse medical disciplines, securing sustainable investment for shared infrastructures, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Effective leadership is crucial for fostering a culture of innovation and teamwork, essential for translating complex biological insights into personalized treatment strategies. The transition to PCM necessitates not only organizational adaptation but also the development of new professional roles and training programs, underscoring the need for a multidisciplinary approach and the importance of team science in overcoming the limitations of traditional medical paradigms. The conclusion underscores that PCM's success hinges on creating collaborative environments that support innovation, adaptability, and shared vision among all stakeholders involved in cancer care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Masucci
- Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME), Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18B, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Claes Karlsson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology (Onc-Pat), Karolinska Institutet, Anna Steckséns gata 30A, D2:04, 171 65 Solna, Sweden;
| | - Lennart Blomqvist
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (MMK), Karolinska Institutet, Anna Steckséns gata 53, 171 65 Solna, Sweden;
| | - Ingemar Ernberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
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Mørk SK, Skadborg SK, Albieri B, Draghi A, Bol K, Kadivar M, Westergaard MCW, Stoltenborg Granhøj J, Borch A, Petersen NV, Thuesen N, Rasmussen IS, Andreasen LV, Dohn RB, Yde CW, Noergaard N, Lorentzen T, Soerensen AB, Kleine-Kohlbrecher D, Jespersen A, Christensen D, Kringelum J, Donia M, Hadrup SR, Marie Svane I. Dose escalation study of a personalized peptide-based neoantigen vaccine (EVX-01) in patients with metastatic melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008817. [PMID: 38782542 PMCID: PMC11116868 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-008817] [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] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neoantigens can serve as targets for T cell-mediated antitumor immunity via personalized neopeptide vaccines. Interim data from our clinical study NCT03715985 showed that the personalized peptide-based neoantigen vaccine EVX-01, formulated in the liposomal adjuvant, CAF09b, was safe and able to elicit EVX-01-specific T cell responses in patients with metastatic melanoma. Here, we present results from the dose-escalation part of the study, evaluating the feasibility, safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of EVX-01 in addition to anti-PD-1 therapy. METHODS Patients with metastatic melanoma on anti-PD-1 therapy were treated in three cohorts with increasing vaccine dosages (twofold and fourfold). Tumor-derived neoantigens were selected by the AI platform PIONEER and used in personalized therapeutic cancer peptide vaccines EVX-01. Vaccines were administered at 2-week intervals for a total of three intraperitoneal and three intramuscular injections. The study's primary endpoint was safety and tolerability. Additional endpoints were immunological responses, survival, and objective response rates. RESULTS Compared with the base dose level previously reported, no new vaccine-related serious adverse events were observed during dose escalation of EVX-01 in combination with an anti-PD-1 agent given according to local guidelines. Two patients at the third dose level (fourfold dose) developed grade 3 toxicity, most likely related to pembrolizumab. Overall, 8 out of the 12 patients had objective clinical responses (6 partial response (PR) and 2 CR), with all 4 patients at the highest dose level having a CR (1 CR, 3 PR). EVX-01 induced peptide-specific CD4+ and/or CD8+T cell responses in all treated patients, with CD4+T cells as the dominating responses. The magnitude of immune responses measured by IFN-γ ELISpot assay correlated with individual peptide doses. A significant correlation between the PIONEER quality score and induced T cell immunogenicity was detected, while better CRs correlated with both the number of immunogenic EVX-01 peptides and the PIONEER quality score. CONCLUSION Immunization with EVX-01-CAF09b in addition to anti-PD-1 therapy was shown to be safe and well tolerated and elicit vaccine neoantigen-specific CD4+and CD8+ T cell responses at all dose levels. In addition, objective tumor responses were observed in 67% of patients. The results encourage further assessment of the antitumor efficacy of EVX-01 in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Kirial Mørk
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | | | - Benedetta Albieri
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Arianna Draghi
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Kalijn Bol
- Medical Oncology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mohammad Kadivar
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Joachim Stoltenborg Granhøj
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Annie Borch
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | - Rebecca Bach Dohn
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Nis Noergaard
- Department of Urology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Torben Lorentzen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Dennis Christensen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Marco Donia
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Sine Reker Hadrup
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
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42
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Ghiyabi E, Arabameri A, Charmi M. Mathematical modeling of hypoxia and adenosine to explore tumor escape mechanisms in DC-based immunotherapy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11387. [PMID: 38762567 PMCID: PMC11102449 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62209-6] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Identifying and controlling tumor escape mechanisms is crucial for improving cancer treatment effectiveness. Experimental studies reveal tumor hypoxia and adenosine as significant contributors to such mechanisms. Hypoxia exacerbates adenosine levels in the tumor microenvironment. Combining inhibition of these factors with dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy promises improved clinical outcomes. However, challenges include understanding dynamics, optimal vaccine dosages, and timing. Mathematical models, including agent-based, diffusion, and ordinary differential equations, address these challenges. Here, we employ these models for the first time to elucidate how hypoxia and adenosine facilitate tumor escape in DC-based immunotherapy. After parameter estimation using experimental data, we optimize vaccination protocols to minimize tumor growth. Sensitivity analysis highlights adenosine's significant impact on immunotherapy efficacy. Its suppressive role impedes treatment success, but inhibiting adenosine could enhance therapy, as suggested by the model. Our findings shed light on hypoxia and adenosine-mediated tumor escape mechanisms, informing future treatment strategies. Additionally, identifiability analysis confirms accurate parameter determination using experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elahe Ghiyabi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Abazar Arabameri
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.
| | - Mostafa Charmi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
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Gach-Janczak K, Drogosz-Stachowicz J, Janecka A, Wtorek K, Mirowski M. Historical Perspective and Current Trends in Anticancer Drug Development. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1878. [PMID: 38791957 PMCID: PMC11120596 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101878] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of death in the 21st century. The intensive search for new anticancer drugs has been actively pursued by chemists and pharmacologists for decades, focusing either on the isolation of compounds with cytotoxic properties from plants or on screening thousands of synthetic molecules. Compounds that could potentially become candidates for new anticancer drugs must have the ability to inhibit proliferation and/or induce apoptosis in cancer cells without causing too much damage to normal cells. Some anticancer compounds were discovered by accident, others as a result of long-term research. In this review, we have presented a brief history of the development of the most important groups of anticancer drugs, pointing to the fact that they all have many side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Gach-Janczak
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (K.G.-J.); (A.J.); (K.W.)
| | | | - Anna Janecka
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (K.G.-J.); (A.J.); (K.W.)
| | - Karol Wtorek
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (K.G.-J.); (A.J.); (K.W.)
| | - Marek Mirowski
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Pharmacogenomics, Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
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Zhang Y, Liu B, Zhou Y. A novel disulfidptosis-related gene signature predicts overall survival of glioblastoma patients. Future Sci OA 2024; 10:FSO948. [PMID: 38817361 PMCID: PMC11137853 DOI: 10.2144/fsoa-2023-0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic relevance of disulfidptosis-related genes in glioblastoma using bioinformatic analysis in The Cancer Genome Atlas Program-Glioblastoma (TCGA-GBM) database and develop a gene signature model for predicting patient prognosis. Methods: We conducted a bioinformatic analysis using the TCGA-GBM database and employed weighted co-expression network analysis to identify disulfidptosis-related genes. Subsequently, we developed a predictive gene signature model based on these genes to stratify glioblastoma patients into high and low-risk groups. Results: Patients categorized into the high-risk group based on the disulfidptosis-related gene signature exhibited a significantly reduced survival rate in comparison to those in the low-risk group. Functional analysis also revealed notable differences in the immune status between the two risk groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, a new disulfidptosis-related gene signature can be utilised to predict prognosis in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxia Zhang
- Intensive Care Unit, Shandong Dongying People's Hospital, Dongying, 257091, China
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Dongying People's Hospital, Dongying, 257091, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Dongying People's Hospital, Dongying, 257091, China
| | - Yuelian Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Dongying People's Hospital, Dongying, 257091, China
- Department of Social & Medical Work, Shandong Dongying People's Hospital, Dongying, 257091, China
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45
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Dyikanov D, Zaitsev A, Vasileva T, Wang I, Sokolov AA, Bolshakov ES, Frank A, Turova P, Golubeva O, Gantseva A, Kamysheva A, Shpudeiko P, Krauz I, Abdou M, Chasse M, Conroy T, Merriam NR, Alesse JE, English N, Shpak B, Shchetsova A, Tikhonov E, Filatov I, Radko A, Bolshakova A, Kachalova A, Lugovykh N, Bulahov A, Kilina A, Asanbekov S, Zheleznyak I, Skoptsov P, Alekseeva E, Johnson JM, Curry JM, Linnenbach AJ, South AP, Yang E, Morozov K, Terenteva A, Nigmatullina L, Fastovetz D, Bobe A, Balabanian L, Nomie K, Yong ST, Davitt CJH, Ryabykh A, Kudryashova O, Tazearslan C, Bagaev A, Fowler N, Luginbuhl AJ, Ataullakhanov RI, Goldberg MF. Comprehensive peripheral blood immunoprofiling reveals five immunotypes with immunotherapy response characteristics in patients with cancer. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:759-779.e12. [PMID: 38744245 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The lack of comprehensive diagnostics and consensus analytical models for evaluating the status of a patient's immune system has hindered a wider adoption of immunoprofiling for treatment monitoring and response prediction in cancer patients. To address this unmet need, we developed an immunoprofiling platform that uses multiparameter flow cytometry to characterize immune cell heterogeneity in the peripheral blood of healthy donors and patients with advanced cancers. Using unsupervised clustering, we identified five immunotypes with unique distributions of different cell types and gene expression profiles. An independent analysis of 17,800 open-source transcriptomes with the same approach corroborated these findings. Continuous immunotype-based signature scores were developed to correlate systemic immunity with patient responses to different cancer treatments, including immunotherapy, prognostically and predictively. Our approach and findings illustrate the potential utility of a simple blood test as a flexible tool for stratifying cancer patients into therapy response groups based on systemic immunoprofiling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jennifer M Johnson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joseph M Curry
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alban J Linnenbach
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew P South
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - EnJun Yang
- The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Adam J Luginbuhl
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Wu C, Zhang H, Guo Y, Sun X, Hu Z, Teng L, Zeng Z. Porous Hydrogels for Immunomodulatory Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5152. [PMID: 38791191 PMCID: PMC11121438 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105152] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy relies on the insight that the immune system can be used to defend against malignant cells. The aim of cancer immunotherapy is to utilize, modulate, activate, and train the immune system to amplify antitumor T-cell immunity. In parallel, the immune system response to damaged tissue is also crucial in determining the success or failure of an implant. Due to their extracellular matrix mimetics and tunable chemical or physical performance, hydrogels are promising platforms for building immunomodulatory microenvironments for realizing cancer therapy and tissue regeneration. However, submicron or nanosized pore structures within hydrogels are not favorable for modulating immune cell function, such as cell invasion, migration, and immunophenotype. In contrast, hydrogels with a porous structure not only allow for nutrient transportation and metabolite discharge but also offer more space for realizing cell function. In this review, the design strategies and influencing factors of porous hydrogels for cancer therapy and tissue regeneration are first discussed. Second, the immunomodulatory effects and therapeutic outcomes of different porous hydrogels for cancer immunotherapy and tissue regeneration are highlighted. Beyond that, this review highlights the effects of pore size on immune function and potential signal transduction. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives of immunomodulatory porous hydrogels are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuifang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering in University of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences/School of Biology and Engineering (School of Modern Industry for Health and Medicine), Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (C.W.)
- Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center in University of Guizhou Province, Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Honghong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering in University of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences/School of Biology and Engineering (School of Modern Industry for Health and Medicine), Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (C.W.)
- Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center in University of Guizhou Province, Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yangyang Guo
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering in University of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences/School of Biology and Engineering (School of Modern Industry for Health and Medicine), Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (C.W.)
- Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center in University of Guizhou Province, Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xiaomin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering in University of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences/School of Biology and Engineering (School of Modern Industry for Health and Medicine), Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (C.W.)
- Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center in University of Guizhou Province, Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Zuquan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering in University of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences/School of Biology and Engineering (School of Modern Industry for Health and Medicine), Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (C.W.)
- Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center in University of Guizhou Province, Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Lijing Teng
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering in University of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences/School of Biology and Engineering (School of Modern Industry for Health and Medicine), Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (C.W.)
- Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center in University of Guizhou Province, Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Zhu Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering in University of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences/School of Biology and Engineering (School of Modern Industry for Health and Medicine), Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (C.W.)
- Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center in University of Guizhou Province, Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
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Martín-Antonio B, Blanco B, González-Murillo Á, Hidalgo L, Minguillón J, Pérez-Chacón G. Newer generations of multi-target CAR and STAb-T immunotherapeutics: NEXT CART Consortium as a cooperative effort to overcome current limitations. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1386856. [PMID: 38779672 PMCID: PMC11109416 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1386856] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cellular immunotherapies have emerged as relevant approaches for treating cancer patients who have relapsed or become refractory (R/R) to traditional cancer treatments. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has improved survival in various hematological malignancies. However, significant limitations still impede the widespread adoption of these therapies in most cancers. To advance in this field, six research groups have created the "NEXT Generation CART MAD Consortium" (NEXT CART) in Madrid's Community, which aims to develop novel cell-based immunotherapies for R/R and poor prognosis cancers. At NEXT CART, various basic and translational research groups and hospitals in Madrid concur to share and synergize their basic expertise in immunotherapy, gene therapy, and immunological synapse, and clinical expertise in pediatric and adult oncology. NEXT CART goal is to develop new cell engineering approaches and treatments for R/R adult and pediatric neoplasms to evaluate in multicenter clinical trials. Here, we discuss the current limitations of T cell-based therapies and introduce our perspective on future developments. Advancement opportunities include developing allogeneic products, optimizing CAR signaling domains, combining cellular immunotherapies, multi-targeting strategies, and improving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)/T cell receptor (TCR) therapy. Furthermore, basic studies aim to identify novel tumor targets, tumor molecules in the tumor microenvironment that impact CAR efficacy, and strategies to enhance the efficiency of the immunological synapse between immune and tumor cells. Our perspective of current cellular immunotherapy underscores the potential of these treatments while acknowledging the existing hurdles that demand innovative solutions to develop their potential for cancer treatment fully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Martín-Antonio
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Diaz (IIS-FJD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Blanco
- Cancer Immunotherapy Unit (UNICA), Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - África González-Murillo
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Advanced Therapies Unit, Fundación Investigación Biomédica Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Hidalgo
- Cellular Biotechnology Unit, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Minguillón
- La Paz Hospital Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), Hospital Universitario La Paz. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Pérez-Chacón
- Immunity, Immunopathology and Emergent Therapies Group. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Sols-Morreale. CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
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Zheng R, Liu X, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Wang Y, Guo S, Jin X, Zhang J, Guan Y, Liu Y. Frontiers and future of immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer: from molecular mechanisms to clinical application. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1383978. [PMID: 38756774 PMCID: PMC11096556 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383978] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignant tumor, that is becoming increasingly common in recent years. Despite advances in intensive treatment modalities including surgery, radiotherapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy, the overall survival rate has not significantly improved in patients with pancreatic cancer. This may be attributed to the insidious onset, unknown pathophysiology, and poor prognosis of the disease. It is therefore essential to identify and develop more effective and safer treatments for pancreatic cancer. Tumor immunotherapy is the new and fourth pillar of anti-tumor therapy after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Significant progress has made in the use of immunotherapy for a wide variety of malignant tumors in recent years; a breakthrough has also been made in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This review describes the advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, oncolytic virus, and matrix-depletion therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. At the same time, some new potential biomarkers and potential immunotherapy combinations for pancreatic cancer are discussed. The molecular mechanisms of various immunotherapies have also been elucidated, and their clinical applications have been highlighted. The current challenges associated with immunotherapy and proposed strategies that hold promise in overcoming these limitations have also been discussed, with the aim of offering new insights into immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zheng
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaobin Liu
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yufu Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Yan’an University, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yongxian Liu
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yaping Wang
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shutong Guo
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoyan Jin
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuehong Guan
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yusi Liu
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
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Oliveira C, Mainoli B, Duarte GS, Machado T, Tinoco RG, Esperança-Martins M, Ferreira JJ, Costa J. Immune-related serious adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2024; 80:677-684. [PMID: 38372756 PMCID: PMC11001692 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-024-03647-z] [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: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, though uncertainty exists regarding their immune-related safety. The objective of this study was to assess the comparative safety profile (odds ratio) of ICIs and estimate the absolute rate of immune-related serious adverse events (irSAEs) in cancer patients undergoing treatment with ICIs. METHODS We searched for randomized trials till February 2021, including all ICIs for all cancers. Primary outcome was overall irSAEs, and secondary outcomes were pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, hypophysitis, myocarditis, nephritis, and pancreatitis. We conducted Bayesian network meta-analyses, estimated absolute rates and ranked treatments according to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). RESULTS We included 96 trials (52,811 participants, median age 62 years). Risk of bias was high in most trials. Most cancers were non-small cell lung cancer (28 trials) and melanoma (15 trials). The worst-ranked ICI was ipilimumab (SUCRA 14%; event rate 848/10,000 patients) while the best-ranked ICI was atezolizumab (SUCRA 82%; event rate 119/10,000 patients). CONCLUSION Each ICI showed a unique safety profile, with certain events more frequently observed with specific ICIs, which should be considered when managing cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Oliveira
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Clínica e Terapêutica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Beatrice Mainoli
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Clínica e Terapêutica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Clinical Research Unit, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), Porto, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo S Duarte
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Clínica e Terapêutica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital da Luz Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Tiago Machado
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Clínica e Terapêutica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita G Tinoco
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Clínica e Terapêutica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Departamento Médico Grunenthal, SA, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Miguel Esperança-Martins
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joaquim J Ferreira
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Clínica e Terapêutica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- 7CNS-Campus Neurológico Sénior, Torres Vedras, Portugal
| | - João Costa
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Clínica e Terapêutica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Centro de Estudos de Medicina Baseada na Evidência, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Kürten CHL, Ferris RL. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngorhinootologie 2024; 103:S167-S187. [PMID: 38697147 DOI: 10.1055/a-2183-5802] [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: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
The neoadjuvant immunotherapy approach marks a significant shift in the treatment paradigm of potentially curable HNSCC. Here, current therapies, despite being highly individualized and advanced, often fall short in achieving satisfactory long-term survival rates and are frequently associated with substantial morbidity.The primary advantage of this approach lies in its potential to intensify and enhance treatment regimens, offering a distinct modality that complements the existing triad of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Checkpoint inhibitors have been at the forefront of this evolution. Demonstrating moderate yet significant survival benefits in the recurrent-metastatic setting with a relatively better safety profile compared to conventional treatments, these agents hold promise when considered for earlier stages of HNSCC.On the other hand, a significant potential benefit of introducing immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant phase is the possibility of treatment de-escalation. By reducing the tumor burden before surgery, this strategy could lead to less invasive surgical interventions. The prospect of organ-sparing protocols becomes a realistic and highly valued goal in this context. Further, the early application of immunotherapy might catalyze a more effective and durable immune response. The induction of an immune memory may potentially lead to a more effective surveillance of residual disease, decreasing the rates of local, regional, and distant recurrences, thereby enhancing overall and recurrence-free survival.However, neoadjuvant immunotherapy is not without its challenges. One of the primary concerns is the safety and adverse events profile. While data suggest that adverse events are relatively rare and manageable, the long-term safety profile in the neoadjuvant setting, especially in the context of curative intent, remains a subject for ongoing research. Another unsolved issue lies in the accurate assessment of treatment response. The discrepancy between radiographic assessment using RECIST criteria and histological findings has been noted, indicating a gap in current imaging techniques' ability to accurately reflect the true efficacy of immunotherapy. This gap underscores the necessity for improved imaging methodologies and the development of new radiologic and pathologic criteria tailored to evaluate the response to immunotherapy accurately.Treatment combinations and timing represent another layer of complexity. There is a vast array of possibilities in combining immunotherapy agents with conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, and other experimental treatments. Determining the optimal treatment regimen for individual patients becomes an intricate task, especially when comparing small, single-arm, non-randomized trials with varying regimens and outcome measures.Moreover, one needs to consider the importance of pre- and intraoperative decision-making in the context of neoadjuvant immunotherapy. As experience with this treatment paradigm grows, there is potential for more tailored surgical approaches based on the patient's remaining disease post-neoadjuvant treatment. This consideration is particularly relevant in extensive surgeries, where organ-sparing protocols could be evaluated.In practical terms, the multi-modal nature of this treatment strategy introduces complexities, especially outside clinical trial settings. Patients face challenges in navigating the treatment landscape, which involves coordination across multiple medical disciplines, highlighting the necessity for streamlined care pathways at specialized centers to facilitate effective treatment management if the neoadjuvant approach is introduced to the real-world.These potential harms and open questions underscore the critical need for meticulously designed clinical trials and correlational studies to ensure patient safety and efficacy. Only these can ensure that this new treatment approach is introduced in a safe way and fulfils the promise it theoretically holds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelius H L Kürten
- Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen
| | - Robert L Ferris
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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