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Cheng L, Yu J, Hao T, Wang W, Wei M, Li G. Advances in Polymeric Micelles: Responsive and Targeting Approaches for Cancer Immunotherapy in the Tumor Microenvironment. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2622. [PMID: 38004600 PMCID: PMC10675796 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15112622] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, to treat a diverse array of cancer forms, considerable advancements have been achieved in the field of cancer immunotherapies. However, these therapies encounter multiple challenges in clinical practice, such as high immune-mediated toxicity, insufficient accumulation in cancer tissues, and undesired off-target reactions. To tackle these limitations and enhance bioavailability, polymer micelles present potential solutions by enabling precise drug delivery to the target site, thus amplifying the effectiveness of immunotherapy. This review article offers an extensive survey of recent progress in cancer immunotherapy strategies utilizing micelles. These strategies include responsive and remodeling approaches to the tumor microenvironment (TME), modulation of immunosuppressive cells within the TME, enhancement of immune checkpoint inhibitors, utilization of cancer vaccine platforms, modulation of antigen presentation, manipulation of engineered T cells, and targeting other components of the TME. Subsequently, we delve into the present state and constraints linked to the clinical utilization of polymeric micelles. Collectively, polymer micelles demonstrate excellent prospects in tumor immunotherapy by effectively addressing the challenges associated with conventional cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichun Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116027, China; (L.C.); (T.H.); (W.W.)
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
| | - Jiankun Yu
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
| | - Tangna Hao
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116027, China; (L.C.); (T.H.); (W.W.)
| | - Wenshuo Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116027, China; (L.C.); (T.H.); (W.W.)
| | - Minjie Wei
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
| | - Guiru Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116027, China; (L.C.); (T.H.); (W.W.)
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2
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Jiang J, Chen J, Liao C, Duan Y, Wang Y, Shang K, Huang Y, Tang Y, Gao X, Gu Y, Sun J. Inserting EF1α-driven CD7-specific CAR at CD7 locus reduces fratricide and enhances tumor rejection. Leukemia 2023; 37:1660-1670. [PMID: 37391486 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-01948-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
CAR-T therapies to treat T-cell malignancies face unique hurdles. Normal and malignant T cells usually express the same target for CAR, leading to fratricide. CAR-T cells targeting CD7, which is expressed in various malignant T cells, have limited expansion due to fratricide. Using CRISPR/Cas9 to knockout CD7 can reduce the fratricide. Here we developed a 2-in-1 strategy to insert EF1α-driven CD7-specific CAR at the disrupted CD7 locus and compared it to two other known strategies: one was random integration of CAR by a retrovirus and the other was site-specific integration at T-cell receptor alpha constant (TRAC) locus, both in the context of CD7 disruption. All three types of CD7 CAR-T cells with reduced fratricide could expand well and displayed potent cytotoxicity to both CD7+ tumor cell lines and patient-derived primary tumors. Moreover, EF1α-driven CAR expressed at the CD7 locus enhances tumor rejection in a mouse xenograft model of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), suggesting great clinical application potential. Additionally, this 2-in-1 strategy was adopted to generate CD7-specific CAR-NK cells as NK also expresses CD7, which would prevent contamination from malignant cells. Thus, our synchronized antigen-knockout CAR-knockin strategy could reduce the fratricide and enhance anti-tumor activity, advancing clinical CAR-T treatment of T-cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Jiang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University & Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunotherapy, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiangqing Chen
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University & Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunotherapy, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chan Liao
- Department of Hematology-oncology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanting Duan
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University & Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunotherapy, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yajie Wang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University & Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunotherapy, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kai Shang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University & Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunotherapy, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanjie Huang
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yongming Tang
- Department of Hematology-oncology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaofei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ying Gu
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China.
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Genetics, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Genetic and Developmental Disorder, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
| | - Jie Sun
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital and Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University & Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunotherapy, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
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Kheyrolahzadeh K, Tohidkia MR, Tarighatnia A, Shahabi P, Nader ND, Aghanejad A. Theranostic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells: Insight into recent trends and challenges in solid tumors. Life Sci 2023; 328:121917. [PMID: 37422069 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121917] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Cell therapy has reached significant milestones in various life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Cell therapy using fluorescent and radiolabeled chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell is a successful strategy for diagnosing or treating malignancies. Since cell therapy approaches have different results in cancers, the success of hematological cancers has yet to transfer to solid tumor therapy, leading to more casualties. Therefore, there are many areas for improvement in the cell therapy platform. Understanding the therapeutic barriers associated with solid cancers through cell tracking and molecular imaging may provide a platform for effectively delivering CAR-T cells into solid tumors. This review describes CAR-T cells' role in treating solid and non-solid tumors and recent advances. Furthermore, we discuss the main obstacles, mechanism of action, novel strategies and solutions to overcome the challenges from molecular imaging and cell tracking perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyvan Kheyrolahzadeh
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Reza General Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Tohidkia
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Tarighatnia
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Parviz Shahabi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nader D Nader
- Department of Anesthesiology, University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, United States of America
| | - Ayuob Aghanejad
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Reza General Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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4
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Mayer KE, Gaa J, Biedermann T, Posch C. Bildgestützte Beurteilung des Ansprechens auf Immuntherapien bei Hauttumoren. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2023; 21:107-115. [PMID: 36808450 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14941_g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristine E Mayer
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Technische Universität München
| | - Jochen Gaa
- Institut für diagnostische und interventionelle Radiologie, Technische Universität München
| | - Tilo Biedermann
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Technische Universität München
| | - Christian Posch
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Technische Universität München.,Medizinische Fakultät, Sigmund Freud Universität Wien
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5
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Mayer KE, Gaa J, Biedermann T, Posch C. Image-based response assessment during immunotherapy in skin cancer. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2023; 21:107-114. [PMID: 36748647 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors and further immunotherapeutic treatment strategies have significantly extended therapy options for melanoma and other skin cancer entities over the last decade. In the context of a broader application of immunotherapeutic approaches, sufficient ways to monitor the course of the disease during therapy are required. Immunotherapies are based on different ways of modulating the immune system. This leads to complex clinical response patterns including pseudoprogression and others, requiring an adaptation of conventional diagnostic imaging tools or the introduction of novel technologies. In this review, current non-invasive imaging approaches for response assessment during immunotherapies in skin cancers as well as their limitations are discussed. To overcome present hurdles, promising alternatives to better address novel imaging features during immunotherapy are depicted giving an outlook on what can be expected in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine E Mayer
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology and Allergology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Gaa
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tilo Biedermann
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology and Allergology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Posch
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology and Allergology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Austria
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6
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Lauri C, Varani M, Bentivoglio V, Capriotti G, Signore A. Present status and future trends in molecular imaging of lymphocytes. Semin Nucl Med 2023; 53:125-134. [PMID: 36150910 PMCID: PMC9489269 DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2022.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Immune system is emerging as a crucial protagonist in a huge variety of oncologic and non-oncologic conditions including response to vaccines and viral infections (such as SARS-CoV-2). The increasing knowledge of molecular biology underlying these diseases allowed the identification of specific targets and the possibility to use tailored therapies against them. Immunotherapies and vaccines are, indeed, more and more used nowadays for treating infections, cancer and autoimmune diseases and, therefore, there is the need to identify, quantify and monitor immune cell trafficking before and after treatment. This approach will provide crucial information for therapy decision-making. Imaging of B and T-lymphocytes trafficking by using tailored radiopharmaceuticals proved to be a successful nuclear medicine tool. In this review, we will provide an overview of the state of art and future trends for "in vivo" imaging of lymphocyte trafficking and homing by mean of specific receptor-tailored radiopharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lauri
- Nuclear Medicine Unit Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Kol A, Fan X, Wazynska MA, van Duijnhoven SM, Giesen D, Plat A, Van Eenennaam H, Elsinga PH, Nijman HW, de Bruyn M. Development of 89Zr-anti-CD103 PET imaging for non-invasive assessment of cancer reactive T cell infiltration. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-004877. [PMID: 36600560 PMCID: PMC9723959 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE CD103, an integrin specifically expressed on the surface of cancer-reactive T cells, is significantly increased during successful immunotherapy across human malignancies. In this study, we describe the generation and zirconium-89 (89Zr) radiolabeling of monoclonal antibody (mAb) clones that specifically recognize human CD103 for non-invasive immune positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging of T cell infiltration as potential biomarker for effective anticancer immune responses. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN First, to determine the feasibility of anti-CD103 immuno-PET to visualize CD103-positive cells at physiologically and clinically relevant target densities, we developed an 89Zr-anti-murine CD103 PET tracer. Healthy, non-tumor bearing C57BL/6 mice underwent serial PET imaging after intravenous injection, followed by ex vivo biodistribution. Tracer specificity and macroscopic tissue distribution were studied using autoradiography combined with CD103 immunohistochemistry. Next, we generated and screened six unique mAbs that specifically target human CD103 positive cells. Optimal candidates were selected for 89Zr-anti-human CD103 PET development. Nude mice (BALB/cOlaHsd-Foxn1nu) with established CD103 expressing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) or CHO wild-type xenografts were injected with 89Zr-anti-human CD103 mAbs and underwent serial PET imaging, followed by ex vivo biodistribution. RESULTS 89Zr-anti-murine CD103 PET imaging identified CD103-positive tissues at clinically relevant target densities. For human anti-human CD103 PET development two clones were selected based on strong binding to the CD103+ CD8+ T cell subpopulation in ovarian cancer tumor digests, non-overlapping binding epitopes and differential CD103 blocking properties. In vivo, both 89Zr-anti-human CD103 tracers showed high target-to-background ratios, high target site selectivity and a high sensitivity in human CD103 positive xenografts. CONCLUSION CD103 immuno-PET tracers visualize CD103 T cells at relevant densities and are suitable for future non-invasive assessment of cancer reactive T cell infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjan Kol
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Xiaoyu Fan
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marta A. Wazynska
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Danique Giesen
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Annechien Plat
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Philip H. Elsinga
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans W. Nijman
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marco de Bruyn
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Ning J, Wang J, Zheng H, Peng S, Mao T, Wang L, Yu G, Liu J, Liu S, Zhang T, Ding S, Lu F, Chen X. Solely HBsAg intrauterine exposure accelerates HBV clearance by promoting HBs-specific immune response in the mouse pups. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:1356-1370. [PMID: 35538876 PMCID: PMC9132461 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2071172] [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] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection due to perinatal mother-to-infant transmission (MTIT) remains a serious global public health problem. It has been shown that intrauterine exposure to HBV antigens might account for the MTIT-related chronic infection. However, whether hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) intrauterine exposure affected the offspring’s immune response against HBV and MTIT of HBV has not been fully clarified. In this study, we investigated the effects and the potential mechanisms of the HBsAg intrauterine exposure on the persistence of HBV replication using a solely HBsAg intrauterine exposure mice model. Our results revealed that solely HBsAg intrauterine exposure significantly accelerated the clearance of HBV when these mice were hydrodynamically injected with pBB4.5-HBV1.2 plasmids after birth, which may be due to the increased number of HBs-specific CD8+ T cells and interferon-gamma secretion in the liver of mice. Mechanismly, HBsAg intrauterine exposure activated antigen-presenting dendritic cells, which led to the generation of antigen-specific cellular immunological memory. Our data provide an important experimental evidence for the activation of neonatal immune response by HBsAg intrauterine exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ning
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianwen Wang
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiling Zheng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Siwen Peng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianhao Mao
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangxin Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Beijing Artificial Liver Treatment & Training Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shigang Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengmin Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Pancancer Analysis of Revealed TDO2 as a Biomarker of Prognosis and Immunotherapy. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:5447017. [PMID: 36118672 PMCID: PMC9481368 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5447017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) encoded by TDO2, a rate-limiting enzyme in the kynurenine pathway, catabolizes tryptophan to kynurenine, evades immune surveillance, and promotes tumor growth. Although accumulating evidence suggests a crucial role of TDO2 during tumor formation and development, systematic evaluation of TDO2 across human cancers has rarely been reported. Methods To shed more light on the role of TDO2 in human cancer, we explored the expression profiles of TDO2 and identified its prognostic value in pancancer analysis through TCGA, CCLE, and GTEx databases. We further utilized TCGA data to evaluate the association between TDO2 and tumor immunological features, such as mismatch repair (MMR), tumor immune infiltration, immune checkpoint-related genes, tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT). Results TDO2 exhibited different expression levels in various cancer cell lines. Frequently, TDO2 was detected to be highly expressed in the majority of cancers. In addition, high TDO2 expression was correlated with an unfavorable prognosis for patients in KIRP, LGG, TGCT, and UVM. Moreover, high TDO2 expression level positively correlated with higher immune infiltration, especially dendritic cells. Additionally, there is a close relationship between TDO2 and immune checkpoint-related gene markers, such as LAIR1, CD276, NRP1, CD80, and CD86. Finally, correlation analysis has demonstrated a high-correlation between TDO2 and TMB, MSI, MMR, and DNMT of multiple cancer types. Conclusion Therefore, our results suggest that TDO2 can function as a potential prognostic biomarker due to its role in tumor immunity regulation.
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Gosmann D, Russelli L, Weber WA, Schwaiger M, Krackhardt AM, D'Alessandria C. Promise and challenges of clinical non-invasive T-cell tracking in the era of cancer immunotherapy. EJNMMI Res 2022; 12:5. [PMID: 35099641 PMCID: PMC8804060 DOI: 10.1186/s13550-022-00877-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, our understanding of the role of the immune system in cancer has significantly improved and led to the discovery of new immunotherapeutic targets and tools, which boosted the advances in cancer immunotherapy to fight a growing number of malignancies. Approved immunotherapeutic approaches are currently mainly based on immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibody-derived targeted therapies, or cell-based immunotherapies. In essence, these therapies induce or enhance the infiltration and function of tumor-reactive T cells within the tumors, ideally resulting in complete tumor eradication. While the clinical application of immunotherapies has shown great promise, these therapies are often accompanied either by a variety of side effects as well as partial or complete unresponsiveness of a number of patients. Since different stages of disease progression elicit different local and systemic immune responses, the ability to longitudinally interrogate the migration and expansion of immune cells, especially T cells, throughout the whole body might greatly facilitate disease characterization and understanding. Furthermore, it can serve as a tool to guide development as well as selection of appropriate treatment regiments. This review provides an overview about a variety of immune-imaging tools available to characterize and study T-cell responses induced by anti-cancer immunotherapy. Moreover, challenges are discussed that must be taken into account and overcome to use immune-imaging tools as predictive and surrogate markers to enhance assessment and successful application of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Gosmann
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin III, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Russelli
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang A Weber
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Schwaiger
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Angela M Krackhardt
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin III, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner-Site Munich and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Calogero D'Alessandria
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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11
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Shalaby N, Dubois VP, Ronald J. Molecular imaging of cellular immunotherapies in experimental and therapeutic settings. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 71:1281-1294. [PMID: 34657195 PMCID: PMC9122865 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-03073-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based cancer immunotherapies are becoming a routine part of the armamentarium against cancer. While remarkable successes have been seen, including durable remissions, not all patients will benefit from these therapies and many can suffer from life-threatening side effects. These differences in efficacy and safety across patients and across tumor types (e.g., blood vs. solid), are thought to be due to differences in how well the immune cells traffic to their target tissue (e.g., tumor, lymph nodes, etc.) whilst avoiding non-target tissues. Across patient variability can also stem from whether the cells interact with (i.e., communicate with) their intended target cells (e.g., cancer cells), as well as if they proliferate and survive long enough to yield potent and long-lasting therapeutic effects. However, many cell-based therapies are monitored by relatively simple blood tests that lack any spatial information and do not reflect how many immune cells have ended up at particular tissues. The ex vivo labeling and imaging of infused therapeutic immune cells can provide a more precise and dynamic understanding of whole-body immune cell biodistribution, expansion, viability, and activation status in individual patients. In recent years numerous cellular imaging technologies have been developed that may provide this much-needed information on immune cell fate. For this review, we summarize various ex vivo labeling and imaging approaches that allow for tracking of cellular immunotherapies for cancer. Our focus is on clinical imaging modalities and summarize the progression from experimental to therapeutic settings. The imaging information provided by these technologies can potentially be used for many purposes including improved real-time understanding of therapeutic efficacy and potential side effects in individual patients after cell infusion; the ability to more readily compare new therapeutic cell designs to current designs for various parameters such as improved trafficking to target tissues and avoidance of non-target tissues; and the long-term ability to identify patient populations that are likely to be positive responders and at low-risk of side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nourhan Shalaby
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Veronica Phyllis Dubois
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - John Ronald
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada. .,Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. .,Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
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12
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Ellingson BM, Wen PY, Cloughesy TF. Therapeutic Response Assessment of High-Grade Gliomas During Early-Phase Drug Development in the Era of Molecular and Immunotherapies. Cancer J 2021; 27:395-403. [PMID: 34570454 PMCID: PMC8480435 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Several new therapeutic strategies have emerged over the past decades to address unmet clinical needs in high-grade gliomas, including targeted molecular agents and various forms of immunotherapy. Each of these strategies requires addressing fundamental questions, depending on the stage of drug development, including ensuring drug penetration into the brain, engagement of the drug with the desired target, biologic effects downstream from the target including metabolic and/or physiologic changes, and identifying evidence of clinical activity that could be expanded upon to increase the likelihood of a meaningful survival benefit. The current review article highlights these strategies and outlines how imaging technology can be used for therapeutic response evaluation in both targeted and immunotherapies in early phases of drug development in high-grade gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M. Ellingson
- UCLA Brain Tumor Imaging Laboratory (BTIL), Center for Computer Vision and Imaging Biomarkers, Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Patrick Y. Wen
- Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA
| | - Timothy F. Cloughesy
- UCLA Neuro Oncology Program, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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13
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Preclinical models and technologies to advance nanovaccine development. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 172:148-182. [PMID: 33711401 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The remarkable success of targeted immunotherapies is revolutionizing cancer treatment. However, tumor heterogeneity and low immunogenicity, in addition to several tumor-associated immunosuppression mechanisms are among the major factors that have precluded the success of cancer vaccines as targeted cancer immunotherapies. The exciting outcomes obtained in patients upon the injection of tumor-specific antigens and adjuvants intratumorally, reinvigorated interest in the use of nanotechnology to foster the delivery of vaccines to address cancer unmet needs. Thus, bridging nano-based vaccine platform development and predicted clinical outcomes the selection of the proper preclinical model will be fundamental. Preclinical models have revealed promising outcomes for cancer vaccines. However, only few cases were associated with clinical responses. This review addresses the major challenges related to the translation of cancer nano-based vaccines to the clinic, discussing the requirements for ex vivo and in vivo models of cancer to ensure the translation of preclinical success to patients.
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Simonetta F, Alam IS, Lohmeyer JK, Sahaf B, Good Z, Chen W, Xiao Z, Hirai T, Scheller L, Engels P, Vermesh O, Robinson E, Haywood T, Sathirachinda A, Baker J, Malipatlolla MB, Schultz LM, Spiegel JY, Lee JT, Miklos DB, Mackall CL, Gambhir SS, Negrin RS. Molecular Imaging of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells by ICOS-ImmunoPET. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:1058-1068. [PMID: 33087332 PMCID: PMC7887027 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-2770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Immunomonitoring of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells relies primarily on their quantification in the peripheral blood, which inadequately quantifies their biodistribution and activation status in the tissues. Noninvasive molecular imaging of CAR T cells by PET is a promising approach with the ability to provide spatial, temporal, and functional information. Reported strategies rely on the incorporation of reporter transgenes or ex vivo biolabeling, significantly limiting the application of CAR T-cell molecular imaging. In this study, we assessed the ability of antibody-based PET (immunoPET) to noninvasively visualize CAR T cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN After analyzing human CAR T cells in vitro and ex vivo from patient samples to identify candidate targets for immunoPET, we employed a syngeneic, orthotopic murine tumor model of lymphoma to assess the feasibility of in vivo tracking of CAR T cells by immunoPET using the 89Zr-DFO-anti-ICOS tracer, which we have previously reported. RESULTS Analysis of human CD19-CAR T cells during activation identified the Inducible T-cell COStimulator (ICOS) as a potential target for immunoPET. In a preclinical tumor model, 89Zr-DFO-ICOS mAb PET-CT imaging detected significantly higher signal in specific bone marrow-containing skeletal sites of CAR T-cell-treated mice compared with controls. Importantly, administration of ICOS-targeting antibodies at tracer doses did not interfere with CAR T-cell persistence and function. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the potential of ICOS-immunoPET imaging for monitoring of CAR T-cell therapy, a strategy readily applicable to both commercially available and investigational CAR T cells.See related commentary by Volpe et al., p. 911.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Simonetta
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Translational Research Center for Oncohematology, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Israt S Alam
- Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Juliane K Lohmeyer
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Bita Sahaf
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Zinaida Good
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, California
| | - Weiyu Chen
- Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Zunyu Xiao
- Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Toshihito Hirai
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Lukas Scheller
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Pujan Engels
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Ophir Vermesh
- Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Elise Robinson
- Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Tom Haywood
- Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Ataya Sathirachinda
- Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Jeanette Baker
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | | | - Liora M Schultz
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Jay Y Spiegel
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Jason T Lee
- Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Stanford Center for Innovation in In Vivo Imaging (SCi), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - David B Miklos
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Crystal L Mackall
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, California
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Sanjiv S Gambhir
- Bio-X Program and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
- Departments of Bioengineering and Materials Science & Engineering, Bio-X, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Robert S Negrin
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
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Robu S, Richter A, Gosmann D, Seidl C, Leung D, Hayes W, Cohen D, Morin P, Donnelly DJ, Lipovšek D, Bonacorsi SJ, Smith A, Steiger K, Aulehner C, Krackhardt AM, Weber WA. Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of a 68Ga-Labeled Adnectin, 68Ga-BMS-986192, as a PET Agent for Imaging PD-L1 Expression. J Nucl Med 2021; 62:1228-1234. [PMID: 33517324 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.258384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Blocking the interaction of the immune checkpoint molecule programmed cell death protein-1 and its ligand, PD-L1, using specific antibodies has been a major breakthrough for immune oncology. Whole-body PD-L1 expression PET imaging may potentially allow for a better prediction of response to programmed cell death protein-1-targeted therapies. Imaging of PD-L1 expression is feasible by PET with the adnectin protein 18F-BMS-986192. However, radiofluorination of proteins such as BMS-986192 remains complex and labeling yields are low. The goal of this study was therefore the development and preclinical evaluation of a 68Ga-labeled adnectin protein (68Ga-BMS-986192) to facilitate clinical trials. Methods: 68Ga labeling of DOTA-conjugated adnectin (BXA-206362) was performed in NaOAc-buffer at pH 5.5 (50°C, 15 min). In vitro stability in human serum at 37°C was analyzed using radio-thin layer chromatography and radio-high-performance liquid chromatography. PD-L1 binding assays were performed using the transduced PD-L1-expressing lymphoma cell line U-698-M and wild-type U-698-M cells as a negative control. Immunohistochemical staining studies, biodistribution studies, and small-animal PET studies of 68Ga-BMS-986192 were performed using PD-L1-positive and PD-L1-negative U-698-M-bearing NSG mice. Results: 68Ga-BMS-986192 was obtained with quantitative radiochemical yields of more than 97% and with high radiochemical purity. In vitro stability in human serum was at least 95% after 4 h of incubation. High and specific binding of 68Ga-BMS-986192 to human PD-L1-expressing cancer cells was confirmed, which closely correlates with the respective PD-L1 expression level determined by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry staining. In vivo, 68Ga-BMS-986192 uptake was high at 1 h after injection in PD-L1-positive tumors (9.0 ± 2.1 percentage injected dose [%ID]/g) and kidneys (56.9 ± 9.2 %ID/g), with negligible uptake in other tissues. PD-L1-negative tumors demonstrated only background uptake of radioactivity (0.6 ± 0.1 %ID/g). Coinjection of an excess of unlabeled adnectin reduced tumor uptake of PD-L1 by more than 80%. Conclusion: 68Ga-BMS-986192 enables easy radiosynthesis and shows excellent in vitro and in vivo PD-L1-targeting characteristics. The high tumor uptake combined with low background accumulation at early imaging time points demonstrates the feasibility of 68Ga-BMS-986192 for imaging of PD-L1 expression in tumors and is encouraging for further clinical applications of PD-L1 ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Robu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany;
| | - Antonia Richter
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dario Gosmann
- School of Medicine, Clinic and Policlinic for Internal Medicine III, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christof Seidl
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - David Leung
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Wendy Hayes
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Daniel Cohen
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Paul Morin
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - David J Donnelly
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Daša Lipovšek
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton, New Jersey
| | | | - Adam Smith
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Katja Steiger
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, Munich, Germany, and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; and
| | - Christina Aulehner
- School of Medicine, Clinic and Policlinic for Internal Medicine III, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Angela M Krackhardt
- School of Medicine, Clinic and Policlinic for Internal Medicine III, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, Munich, Germany, and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; and
| | - Wolfgang A Weber
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, Munich, Germany, and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; and.,TranslaTUM (Zentralinstitut für translationale Krebsforschung der Technischen Universität München), Munich, Germany
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16
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17
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McCarthy CE, White JM, Viola NT, Gibson HM. In vivo Imaging Technologies to Monitor the Immune System. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1067. [PMID: 32582173 PMCID: PMC7280489 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The past two decades have brought impressive advancements in immune modulation, particularly with the advent of both cancer immunotherapy and biologic therapeutics for inflammatory conditions. However, the dynamic nature of the immune response often complicates the assessment of therapeutic outcomes. Innovative imaging technologies are designed to bridge this gap and allow non-invasive visualization of immune cell presence and/or function in real time. A variety of anatomical and molecular imaging modalities have been applied for this purpose, with each option providing specific advantages and drawbacks. Anatomical methods including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound provide sharp tissue resolution, which can be further enhanced with contrast agents, including super paramagnetic ions (for MRI) or nanobubbles (for ultrasound). Conjugation of the contrast material to an antibody allows for specific targeting of a cell population or protein of interest. Protein platforms including antibodies, cytokines, and receptor ligands are also popular choices as molecular imaging agents for positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), scintigraphy, and optical imaging. These tracers are tagged with either a radioisotope or fluorescent molecule for detection of the target. During the design process for immune-monitoring imaging tracers, it is important to consider any potential downstream physiologic impact. Antibodies may deplete the target cell population, trigger or inhibit receptor signaling, or neutralize the normal function(s) of soluble proteins. Alternatively, the use of cytokines or other ligands as tracers may stimulate their respective signaling pathways, even in low concentrations. As in vivo immune imaging is still in its infancy, this review aims to describe the modalities and immunologic targets that have thus far been explored, with the goal of promoting and guiding the future development and application of novel imaging technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E McCarthy
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Jordan M White
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Nerissa T Viola
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Heather M Gibson
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
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18
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Chimeric antigen receptor therapy in hematological malignancies: antigenic targets and their clinical research progress. Ann Hematol 2020; 99:1681-1699. [PMID: 32388608 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-020-04020-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based immunotherapy has achieved dramatic success in the treatment of B cell malignancies, based on the summary of current research data, and has shown good potential in early phase cancer clinical trials. Modified constructs are being optimized to recognize and destroy tumor cells more effectively. By targeting the proper B-lineage-specific antigens such as CD19 and CD20, adoptive immunotherapy has demonstrated promising clinical results and already plays a role in the treatment of several lymphoid malignancies, which highlights the importance of target selection for other CAR therapies. The high efficacy of CAR-T cells has resulted in the approval of anti-CD19-directed CAR-T cells for the treatment of B cell malignancies. In this review, we focus on the basic structure and current clinical application of CAR-T cells, detail the research progress of CAR-T for different antigenic targets in hematological malignancies, and further discuss the current barriers and proposed solutions, investigating the possible mechanisms of recurrence of CAR-T cell therapy. A summary of the paper is also given to overview as the prospects for this therapy.
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19
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Iafrate M, Fruhwirth GO. How Non-invasive in vivo Cell Tracking Supports the Development and Translation of Cancer Immunotherapies. Front Physiol 2020; 11:154. [PMID: 32327996 PMCID: PMC7152671 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a relatively new treatment regimen for cancer, and it is based on the modulation of the immune system to battle cancer. Immunotherapies can be classified as either molecular or cell-based immunotherapies, and both types have demonstrated promising results in a growing number of cancers. Indeed, several immunotherapies representing both classes are already approved for clinical use in oncology. While spectacular treatment successes have been reported, particularly for so-called immune checkpoint inhibitors and certain cell-based immunotherapies, they have also been accompanied by a variety of severe, sometimes life-threatening side effects. Furthermore, not all patients respond to immunotherapy. Hence, there is the need for more research to render these promising therapeutics more efficacious, more widely applicable, and safer to use. Whole-body in vivo imaging technologies that can interrogate cancers and/or immunotherapies are highly beneficial tools for immunotherapy development and translation to the clinic. In this review, we explain how in vivo imaging can aid the development of molecular and cell-based anti-cancer immunotherapies. We describe the principles of imaging host T-cells and adoptively transferred therapeutic T-cells as well as the value of traceable cancer cell models in immunotherapy development. Our emphasis is on in vivo cell tracking methodology, including important aspects and caveats specific to immunotherapies. We discuss a variety of associated experimental design aspects including parameters such as cell type, observation times/intervals, and detection sensitivity. The focus is on non-invasive 3D cell tracking on the whole-body level including aspects relevant for both preclinical experimentation and clinical translatability of the underlying methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gilbert O. Fruhwirth
- Imaging Therapy and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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20
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Wei W, Rosenkrans ZT, Liu J, Huang G, Luo QY, Cai W. ImmunoPET: Concept, Design, and Applications. Chem Rev 2020; 120:3787-3851. [PMID: 32202104 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Immuno-positron emission tomography (immunoPET) is a paradigm-shifting molecular imaging modality combining the superior targeting specificity of monoclonal antibody (mAb) and the inherent sensitivity of PET technique. A variety of radionuclides and mAbs have been exploited to develop immunoPET probes, which has been driven by the development and optimization of radiochemistry and conjugation strategies. In addition, tumor-targeting vectors with a short circulation time (e.g., Nanobody) or with an enhanced binding affinity (e.g., bispecific antibody) are being used to design novel immunoPET probes. Accordingly, several immunoPET probes, such as 89Zr-Df-pertuzumab and 89Zr-atezolizumab, have been successfully translated for clinical use. By noninvasively and dynamically revealing the expression of heterogeneous tumor antigens, immunoPET imaging is gradually changing the theranostic landscape of several types of malignancies. ImmunoPET is the method of choice for imaging specific tumor markers, immune cells, immune checkpoints, and inflammatory processes. Furthermore, the integration of immunoPET imaging in antibody drug development is of substantial significance because it provides pivotal information regarding antibody targeting abilities and distribution profiles. Herein, we present the latest immunoPET imaging strategies and their preclinical and clinical applications. We also emphasize current conjugation strategies that can be leveraged to develop next-generation immunoPET probes. Lastly, we discuss practical considerations to tune the development and translation of immunoPET imaging strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijun Wei
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.,Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Room 7137, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Zachary T Rosenkrans
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Gang Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China
| | - Quan-Yong Luo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Weibo Cai
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Room 7137, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.,University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
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21
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Perrin J, Capitao M, Mougin-Degraef M, Guérard F, Faivre-Chauvet A, Rbah-Vidal L, Gaschet J, Guilloux Y, Kraeber-Bodéré F, Chérel M, Barbet J. Cell Tracking in Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:34. [PMID: 32118018 PMCID: PMC7033605 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The impressive development of cancer immunotherapy in the last few years originates from a more precise understanding of control mechanisms in the immune system leading to the discovery of new targets and new therapeutic tools. Since different stages of disease progression elicit different local and systemic inflammatory responses, the ability to longitudinally interrogate the migration and expansion of immune cells throughout the whole body will greatly facilitate disease characterization and guide selection of appropriate treatment regiments. While using radiolabeled white blood cells to detect inflammatory lesions has been a classical nuclear medicine technique for years, new non-invasive methods for monitoring the distribution and migration of biologically active cells in living organisms have emerged. They are designed to improve detection sensitivity and allow for a better preservation of cell activity and integrity. These methods include the monitoring of therapeutic cells but also of all cells related to a specific disease or therapeutic approach. Labeling of therapeutic cells for imaging may be performed in vitro, with some limitations on sensitivity and duration of observation. Alternatively, in vivo cell tracking may be performed by genetically engineering cells or mice so that may be revealed through imaging. In addition, SPECT or PET imaging based on monoclonal antibodies has been used to detect tumors in the human body for years. They may be used to detect and quantify the presence of specific cells within cancer lesions. These methods have been the object of several recent reviews that have concentrated on technical aspects, stressing the differences between direct and indirect labeling. They are briefly described here by distinguishing ex vivo (labeling cells with paramagnetic, radioactive, or fluorescent tracers) and in vivo (in vivo capture of injected radioactive, fluorescent or luminescent tracers, or by using labeled antibodies, ligands, or pre-targeted clickable substrates) imaging methods. This review focuses on cell tracking in specific therapeutic applications, namely cell therapy, and particularly CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) T-cell therapy, which is a fast-growing research field with various therapeutic indications. The potential impact of imaging on the progress of these new therapeutic modalities is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Perrin
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Marisa Capitao
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Marie Mougin-Degraef
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Nantes, France
| | - François Guérard
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Alain Faivre-Chauvet
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Nantes, France
| | - Latifa Rbah-Vidal
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Joëlle Gaschet
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Yannick Guilloux
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Françoise Kraeber-Bodéré
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Nantes, France.,Nuclear Medicine, ICO Cancer Center, Saint-Herblain, France
| | - Michel Chérel
- CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Nuclear Medicine, ICO Cancer Center, Saint-Herblain, France
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Decazes P, Bohn P. Immunotherapy by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Nuclear Medicine Imaging: Current and Future Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E371. [PMID: 32041105 PMCID: PMC7072145 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12020371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy by using immune checkpoint inhibitors is a revolutionary development in oncology. Medical imaging is also impacted by this new therapy, particularly nuclear medicine imaging (also called radionuclide imaging), which uses radioactive tracers to visualize metabolic functions. Our aim was to review the current applications of nuclear medicine imaging in immunotherapy, along with their limitations, and the perspectives offered by this imaging modality. Method: Articles describing the use of radionuclide imaging in immunotherapy were researched using PubMed by April 2019 and analyzed. Results: More than 5000 articles were analyzed, and nearly 100 of them were retained. Radionuclide imaging, notably 18F-FDG PET/CT, already has a major role in many cancers for pre-therapeutic and therapeutic evaluation, diagnoses of adverse effects, called immune-related adverse events (IrAE), and end-of-treatment evaluations. However, these current applications can be hindered by immunotherapy, notably due to atypical response patterns such as pseudoprogression, which is defined as an increase in the size of lesions, or the visualization of new lesions, followed by a response, and hyperprogression, which is an accelerated tumor growth rate after starting treatment. To overcome these difficulties, new opportunities are offered, particularly therapeutic evaluation criteria adapted to immunotherapy and immuno-PET allowing us to predict responses to immunotherapy. Moreover, some new technological solutions are also promising, such as radiomic analyses and body composition on associated anatomical images. However, more research has to be done, notably for the diagnosis of hyperprogression and pseudoprogression. Conclusion: Immunotherapy, by its major impact on cancer and by the new patterns generated on images, is revolutionary in the field of medical images. Nuclear medicine imaging is already established and will be able to help meet new challenges through its plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Decazes
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Henri Becquerel Cancer Center, 76000 Rouen, France;
- LITIS-QuantIF-EA (Equipe d’Accueil) 4108, IRIB, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rouen, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Pierre Bohn
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Henri Becquerel Cancer Center, 76000 Rouen, France;
- LITIS-QuantIF-EA (Equipe d’Accueil) 4108, IRIB, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rouen, 76000 Rouen, France
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Application of molecular imaging technology in tumor immunotherapy. Cell Immunol 2020; 348:104039. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Schwenck J, Schörg B, Fiz F, Sonanini D, Forschner A, Eigentler T, Weide B, Martella M, Gonzalez-Menendez I, Campi C, Sambuceti G, Seith F, Quintanilla-Martinez L, Garbe C, Pfannenberg C, Röcken M, Fougere CL, Pichler BJ, Kneilling M. Cancer immunotherapy is accompanied by distinct metabolic patterns in primary and secondary lymphoid organs observed by non-invasive in vivo 18F-FDG-PET. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:925-937. [PMID: 31903160 PMCID: PMC6929998 DOI: 10.7150/thno.35989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Cancer immunotherapy depends on a systemic immune response, but the basic underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. Despite the very successful and widespread use of checkpoint inhibitors in the clinic, the majority of cancer patients do not benefit from this type of treatment. In this translational study, we investigated whether noninvasive in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) is capable of detecting immunotherapy-associated metabolic changes in the primary and secondary lymphoid organs and whether this detection enables the prediction of a successful anti-cancer immune response. Methods: RIP1-Tag2 mice with progressed endogenous insular cell carcinomas underwent a combined cancer immunotherapy consisting of CD4+ T cells plus monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) or a sham treatment after radiation-mediated immune cell depletion. A second cohort of RIP1-Tag2 mice underwent exclusive checkpoint inhibitor therapy (CIT) using anti-PD-L1/LAG-3 mAbs or sham treatment without initial immune cell depletion to mimic the clinical situation. All mice were monitored by 18F-FDG-PET combined with anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, we retrospectively analyzed PET / computed tomography (CT) scans (PET/CT) regarding 18F-FDG uptake of CIT-treated metastatic melanoma patients in the spleen (n=23) and bone marrow (BM; n=20) as well as blood parameters (n=17-21). Results: RIP1-Tag2 mice with advanced insular cell carcinomas treated with combination immunotherapy exhibited significantly increased 18F-FDG uptake in the spleen compared to sham-treated mice. Histopathology of the spleens from treated mice revealed atrophy of the white pulp with fewer germinal centers and an expanded red pulp with hyperplasia of neutrophils than those of sham-treated mice. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry analyses of the spleens revealed a lower number of T cells and a higher number of neutrophils compared to those in the spleens of sham-treated mice. Flow cytometry of the BM showed enhanced activation of T cells following the treatment schemes that included checkpoint inhibitors. The ratio of 18F-FDG uptake at baseline to the uptake at follow-up in the spleens of exclusively CIT-treated RIP1-Tag2 mice was significantly enhanced, but the ratio was not enhanced in the spleens of the sham-treated littermates. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed a reduced number of T cells in the spleens of exclusively CIT-treated mice compared to that of sham-treated mice. A retrospective analysis of clinical 18F-FDG-PET/CT scans revealed enhanced 18F-FDG uptake in the spleens of some successfully CIT-treated patients with metastatic melanoma, but there were no significant differences between responders and non-responders. The analysis of the BM in clinical 18F-FDG-PET/CT scans with a computational segmentation tool revealed significantly higher baseline 18F-FDG uptake in patients who responded to CIT than in non-responders, and this relationship was independent of bone metastasis, even in the baseline scan. Conclusions: Thus, we are presenting the first translational study of solid tumors focusing on the metabolic patterns of primary and secondary lymphoid organs induced by the systemic immune response after CIT. We demonstrate that the widely available 18F-FDG-PET modality is an applicable translational tool that has high potential to stratify patients at an early time point.
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Kristensen LK, Fröhlich C, Christensen C, Melander MC, Poulsen TT, Galler GR, Lantto J, Horak ID, Kragh M, Nielsen CH, Kjaer A. CD4 + and CD8a + PET imaging predicts response to novel PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor: studies of Sym021 in syngeneic mouse cancer models. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:8221-8238. [PMID: 31754392 PMCID: PMC6857046 DOI: 10.7150/thno.37513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting the outcome of immunotherapy is essential for efficient treatment. The recent clinical success of immunotherapy is increasingly changing the paradigm of cancer treatment. Accordingly, the development of immune-based agents is accelerating and the number of agents in the global immuno-oncology pipeline has grown 60-70% over the past year. However, despite remarkable clinical efficacy in some patients, only few achieve a lasting clinical response. Treatment failure can be attributed to poorly immunogenic tumors that do not attract tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Therefore, we developed positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers for non-invasive detection of CD4+ and CD8a+ TILs in syngeneic mouse tumor models for preclinical studies. Methods: Seven syngeneic mouse tumor models (B16F10, P815, CT26, MC38, Renca, 4T1, Sa1N) were quantified for CD4+ and CD8a+ TILs using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC), as well as for tumor growth response to Sym021, a humanized PD-1 antibody cross-reactive with mouse PD-1. Radiotracers were generated from F(ab)'2 fragments of rat-anti-mouse CD4 and CD8a antibodies conjugated to the p-SCN-Bn-Desferrioxamine (SCN-Bn-DFO) chelator and radiolabeled with Zirconium-89 (89Zr-DFO-CD4/89Zr-DFO-CD8a). Tracers were optimized for in vivo PET/CT imaging in CT26 tumor-bearing mice and specificity was evaluated by depletion studies and isotype control imaging. 89Zr-DFO-CD4 and 89Zr-DFO-CD8a PET/CT imaging was conducted in the panel of syngeneic mouse models prior to immunotherapy with Sym021. Results: Syngeneic tumor models were characterized as “hot” or “cold” according to number of TILs determined by flow cytometry and IHC. 89Zr-DFO-CD4 and 89Zr-DFO-CD8a were successfully generated with a radiochemical purity >99% and immunoreactivity >85%. The optimal imaging time-point was 24 hours post-injection of ~1 MBq tracer with 30 µg non-labeled co-dose. Reduced tumor and spleen uptake of 89Zr-DFO-CD8a was observed in CD8a+ depleted mice and the uptake was comparable with that of isotype control (89Zr-DFO-IgG2b) confirming specificity. PET imaging in syngeneic tumor models revealed a varying maximum tumor-to-heart ratio of 89Zr-DFO-CD4 and 89Zr-DFO-CD8a across tumor types and in-between subjects that correlated with individual response to Sym021 at day 10 relative to start of therapy (p=0.0002 and p=0.0354, respectively). The maximum 89Zr-DFO-CD4 tumor-to-heart ratio could be used to stratify mice according to Sym021 therapy response and overall survival was improved in mice with a 89Zr-DFO-CD4 ratio >9 (p=0.0018). Conclusion: We developed 89Zr-DFO-CD4 and 89Zr-DFO-CD8a PET radiotracers for specific detection and whole-body assessment of CD4+ and CD8a+ status. These radiotracers can be used to phenotype preclinical syngeneic mouse tumor models and to predict response to an immune checkpoint inhibitor. We foresee development of such non-invasive in vivo biomarkers for prediction and evaluation of clinical efficacy of immunotherapeutic agents, such as Sym021.
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