1
|
Moschella F, Buccione C, Ruspantini I, Castiello L, Rozo Gonzalez A, Iacobone F, Ferraresi V, Palermo B, Nisticò P, Belardelli F, Proietti E, Macchia I, Urbani F. Blood immune cells as potential biomarkers predicting relapse-free survival of stage III/IV resected melanoma patients treated with peptide-based vaccination and interferon-alpha. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1145667. [PMID: 37274275 PMCID: PMC10233106 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1145667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite the recent approval of several therapies in the adjuvant setting of melanoma, tumor relapse still occurs in a significant number of completely resected stage III-IV patients. In this context, the use of cancer vaccines is still relevant and may increase the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. We previously demonstrated safety, immunogenicity and preliminary evidence of clinical efficacy in stage III/IV resected melanoma patients subjected to a combination therapy based on peptide vaccination together with intermittent low-dose interferon-α2b, with or without dacarbazine preconditioning (https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search, identifier: 2008-008211-26). In this setting, we then focused on pre-treatment patient immune status to highlight possible factors associated with clinical outcome. Methods Multiparametric flow cytometry was used to identify baseline immune profiles in patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells and correlation with the patient clinical outcome. Receiver operating characteristic curve, Kaplan-Meier survival and principal component analyses were used to evaluate the predictive power of the identified markers. Results We identified 12 different circulating T and NK cell subsets with significant (p ≤ 0.05) differential baseline levels in patients who later relapsed with respect to patients who remained free of disease. All 12 parameters showed a good prognostic accuracy (AUC>0.7, p ≤ 0.05) and 11 of them significantly predicted the relapse-free survival. Remarkably, 3 classifiers also predicted the overall survival. Focusing on immune cell subsets that can be analyzed through simple surface staining, three subsets were identified, namely regulatory T cells, CD56dimCD16- NK cells and central memory γδ T cells. Each subset showed an AUC>0.8 and principal component analysis significantly grouped relapsing and non-relapsing patients (p=0.034). These three subsets were used to calculate a combination score that was able to perfectly distinguish relapsing and non-relapsing patients (AUC=1; p=0). Noticeably, patients with a combined score ≥2 demonstrated a strong advantage in both relapse-free (p=0.002) and overall (p=0.011) survival as compared to patients with a score <2. Discussion Predictive markers may be used to guide patient selection for personalized therapies and/or improve follow-up strategies. This study provides preliminary evidence on the identification of peripheral blood immune biomarkers potentially capable of predicting the clinical response to combined vaccine-based adjuvant therapies in melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Moschella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Buccione
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Andrea Rozo Gonzalez
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Iacobone
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Virginia Ferraresi
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS) Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Belinda Palermo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS) Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS) Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Iole Macchia
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Urbani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine PhD School, II University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Aricò E, Bracci L, Castiello L, Urbani F, Casanova JL, Belardelli F. Exploiting natural antiviral immunity for the control of pandemics: Lessons from Covid-19. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2022; 63:23-33. [PMID: 34955389 PMCID: PMC8675148 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the disruptive global consequences in terms of mortality and social and economic crises, have taught lessons that may help define strategies to better face future pandemics. Innate and intrinsic immunity form the front-line natural antiviral defense. They involve both tissue-resident and circulating cells, which can produce anti-viral molecules shortly after viral infection. Prototypes of these factors are type I interferons (IFN), antiviral cytokines with a long record of clinical use. During the last two years, there has been an impressive progress in understanding the mechanisms of both SARS-CoV-2 infection and the cellular and soluble antiviral responses occurring early after viral exposure. However, this information was not sufficiently translated into therapeutic approaches. Insufficient type I IFN activity probably accounts for disease progression in many patients. This results from both the multiple interfering mechanisms developed by SARS-CoV-2 to decrease type I IFN response and various pre-existing human deficits of type I IFN activity, inherited or auto-immune. Emerging data suggest that IFN-I-mediated boosting of patients' immunity, achieved directly through the exogenous administration of IFN-β early post viral infection, or indirectly following inoculation of heterologous vaccines (e.g., Bacillus Calmette Guerin), might play a role against SARS-CoV-2. We review how recent insights on the viral and human determinants of critical COVID-19 pneumonia can foster clinical studies of IFN therapy. We also discuss how early therapeutic use of IFN-β and prophylactic campaigns with live attenuated vaccines might prevent a first wave of new pandemic viruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Castiello
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Urbani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy,Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine PhD School, II University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy
| | - Jean-Laurent Casanova
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA,Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, INSERM U1163, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Paris, France,University of Paris, Imagine Institute, Paris, France,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Aricò E, Castiello L, Bracci L, Urbani F, Lombardo F, Bacigalupo I, Ancidoni A, Vanacore N, Falcione A, Reggiani C, Dutti GM, Maglie MG, Papa O, Bartoletti PL, Ozzella G, Bevilacqua N, Nicastri E, Belardelli F, Sconocchia G. Antiviral and immunomodulatory interferon-beta in high-risk COVID-19 patients: a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 2021; 22:584. [PMID: 34479601 PMCID: PMC8413691 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05367-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate the efficacy of low-dose IFN-β in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 recently infected elderly patients to progress towards severe COVID-19 versus control group within 28 days. Secondary objectives are: 1) To assess the reduction in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission in patients treated with IFN-β versus control group within 28 days of randomization 2) To assess the reduction in number of deaths in IFN- β compared to control group (day 28) 3) To evaluate the increase in proportion of participants returning to negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR in IFN-β -treated versus control group at Day 14 and Day 28 4) To assess the increase in SARS-CoV-2-specific binding antibody titers in IFN-β compared to control group (day 28) 5) To assess the safety of IFN-β -treated patients versus control group TRIAL DESIGN: Randomized, Open-Label, Controlled, Superiority Phase II Study. Patients, who satisfy all inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria, will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups in a ratio 2:1 (IFN-treated versus control patients). Randomization will be stratified by gender. Stratified randomization will balance the presence of male and female in both study arms. PARTICIPANTS Male and female adults aged 65 years or older with newly diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection and mild COVID-19 symptoms are eligible for the study. The trial is being conducted in Rome. Participants will be either hospitalized or home isolated. A group of physicians belonging to the Special Unit for Regional Continued Care (USCAR), specifically trained for the study and under the supervision of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", will be responsible for the screening, enrolment, treatment and clinical monitoring of patients, thus acting as a bridge between clinical centers and territorial health management. Inclusion criteria are as follows: ≥ 65 years of age at time of enrolment; Laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection as determined by PCR, in any specimen < 72 hours prior to randomization; Subject (or legally authorized representative) provides written informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures; Understands and agrees to comply with planned study procedures; Agrees to the collection of nasopharyngeal swabs and venous blood samples per protocol; Being symptomatic for less than 7 days before starting therapy; NEWS2 score ≤2. Exclusion criteria are as follows: Hospitalized patients with illness of any duration, and at least one of the following: Clinical assessment (evidence of rales/crackles on exam) and SpO2 ≤ 94% on room air at rest or after walking test, OR Acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and/or supplemental oxygen; Patients currently using IFN-β (e.g., multiple sclerosis patients); Patients undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatments; Patients with chronic kidney diseases; Known allergy or hypersensitivity to IFN (including asthma); Any autoimmune disease (resulting from patient anamnesis); Patients with signs of dementia or neurocognitive disorders; Patients with current severe depression and/or suicidal ideations; Being concurrently involved in another clinical trial; HIV infection (based on the anamnesis); Use of any antiretroviral medication; Impaired renal function (eGFR calculated by CKD-EPI Creatinine equation < 30 ml/min); Presence of other severe diseases impairing life expectancy (e.g. patients are not expected to survive 28 days given their pre-existing medical condition); Any physical or psychological impediment in a patient that could let the investigator to suspect his/her poor compliance; Lack or withdrawal of informed consent INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Control arm: No specific antiviral treatment besides standard of care. Treatment arm: 11μg (3MIU) of IFN-β1a will be injected subcutaneously at day 1, 3, 7, and 10 in addition to standard of care. The drug solution, contained in a pre-filled cartridge, will be injected by means of the RebiSmart® electronic injection device. Interferon β1a (Rebif®, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) is a disease-modifying drug used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The dose selected for this study is expected to exploit the antiviral and immunomodulatory properties of the cytokine without causing relevant toxicity or inducing refractoriness phenomena sometimes observed after high-dose and/or chronic IFNβ treatments. MAIN OUTCOMES Primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of patients experiencing a disease progression, during at least 5 days, according to the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2). The NEWS2 score is a standardized approach aimed at promptly detecting signs of clinical deterioration in acutely ill patients and establishing the potential need for higher level of care. It is based on the evaluation of vital signs, including respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, blood pressure, pulse/heart rate, AVPU response. The resulting observations, compared to a normal range, are combined in a single composite "alarm" score. Any other clinical sign clearly indicating a disease worsening will be considered as disease progression. RANDOMIZATION Sixty patients will be randomized 2:1 to receive IFN-β1a plus the standard of care or the standard of care only. Eligible patients will be randomized (no later than 36 h after enrolment) by means of a computerized central randomization system. All patients will receive a unique patient identification number at enrolling visit when signing the informed consent and before any study procedure is performed. This number remains constant throughout the entire study. The randomization of patients will be closed when 60 patients have been enrolled. The randomization will be stratified by sex; for each stratum a sequence of treatments randomly permuted in blocks of variable length (3 or 6) will be generated. BLINDING (MASKING) This is an open-label study. After the randomization, patients will be notified whether they will be in the experimental arm or in the control arm. NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE) The study plans to enrol 60 patients: 40 in the IFN-β1a arm, 20 in the control arm, according to a 2:1 - treated: untreated ratio. TRIAL STATUS Protocol Version: 3.0 Version Date: 18/03/2021 The study is open for recruitment since 16/04/2021.Recruitment is expected to l be completed before 15/08/2021. TRIAL REGISTRATION EudraCT N°: 2020-003872-42, registration date: 19/10/2020. FULL PROTOCOL The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol."
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Luciano Castiello
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Urbani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine PhD School, II University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Lombardo
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bacigalupo
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Ancidoni
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Vanacore
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Reggiani
- Special Units for Regional Continued Care (USCAR), Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Ombretta Papa
- Special Units for Regional Continued Care (USCAR), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Ozzella
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Nazario Bevilacqua
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Sconocchia
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ciccolella M, Andreone S, Mancini J, Sestili P, Negri D, Pacca AM, D’Urso MT, Macchia D, Canese R, Pang K, SaiYing Ko T, Decadt Y, Schiavoni G, Mattei F, Belardelli F, Aricò E, Bracci L. Anticancer Effects of Sublingual Type I IFN in Combination with Chemotherapy in Implantable and Spontaneous Tumor Models. Cells 2021; 10:845. [PMID: 33917958 PMCID: PMC8068355 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Salivary gland tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms representing less than 10% of all head and neck tumors. Among salivary gland tumors, salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare, but highly aggressive malignant tumor resembling ductal breast carcinoma. Sublingual treatments are promising for SDC due to the induction of both local and systemic biological effects and to reduced systemic toxicity compared to other administration routes. In the present study, we first established that the sublingual administration of type I IFN (IFN-I) is safe and feasible, and exerts antitumor effects both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy in transplantable tumor models, i.e., B16-OVA melanoma and EG.7-OVA lymphoma. Subsequently, we proved that sublingual IFN-I in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX) induces a long-lasting reduction of tumor mass in NeuT transgenic mice that spontaneously develop SDC. Most importantly, tumor shrinkage in NeuT transgenic micewas accompanied by the emergence of tumor-specific cellular immune responses both in the blood and in the tumor tissue. Altogether, these results provide evidence that sublingual IFN holds promise in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ciccolella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Sara Andreone
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Jacopo Mancini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Paola Sestili
- National Center for the Control and Evaluation of Medicines, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Donatella Negri
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Anna Maria Pacca
- Animal Research and Welfare Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.M.P.); (M.T.D.); (D.M.)
| | - Maria Teresa D’Urso
- Animal Research and Welfare Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.M.P.); (M.T.D.); (D.M.)
| | - Daniele Macchia
- Animal Research and Welfare Centre, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.M.P.); (M.T.D.); (D.M.)
| | - Rossella Canese
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Ken Pang
- Biolingus AG, CH-6052 Hergiswil NW, Switzerland; (K.P.); (T.S.K.); (Y.D.)
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville 3052, Australia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Thomas SaiYing Ko
- Biolingus AG, CH-6052 Hergiswil NW, Switzerland; (K.P.); (T.S.K.); (Y.D.)
| | - Yves Decadt
- Biolingus AG, CH-6052 Hergiswil NW, Switzerland; (K.P.); (T.S.K.); (Y.D.)
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Fabrizio Mattei
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.A.); (J.M.); (G.S.); (F.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gessani S, Belardelli F. Type I Interferons as Joint Regulators of Tumor Growth and Obesity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020196. [PMID: 33430520 PMCID: PMC7827047 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The escalating global epidemic of overweight and obesity is a major public health and economic problem, as excess body weight represents a significant risk factor for several chronic diseases including cancer. Despite the strong scientific evidence for a link between obesity and cancer, the mechanisms involved in this interplay have not yet been fully understood. The aim of this review is to evaluate the role of type I interferons, a family of antiviral cytokines with key roles in the regulation of both obesity and cancer, highlighting how the dysregulation of the interferon system can differently affect these pathological conditions. Abstract Type I interferons (IFN-I) are antiviral cytokines endowed with multiple biological actions, including antitumor activity. Studies in mouse models and cancer patients support the concept that endogenous IFN-I play important roles in the control of tumor development and growth as well as in response to several chemotherapy/radiotherapy treatments. While IFN-I signatures in the tumor microenvironment are often considered as biomarkers for a good prognostic response to antitumor therapies, prolonged IFN-I signaling can lead to immune dysfunction, thereby promoting pathogen or tumor persistence, thus revealing the “Janus face” of these cytokines in cancer control, likely depending on timing, tissue microenvironment and cumulative levels of IFN-I signals. Likewise, IFN-I exhibit different and even opposite effects on obesity, a pathologic condition linked to cancer development and growth. As an example, evidence obtained in mouse models shows that localized expression of IFN-I in the adipose tissue results in inhibition of diet–induced obesity, while hyper-production of these cytokines by specialized cells such as plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the same tissue, can induce systemic inflammatory responses leading to obesity. Further studies in mouse models and humans should reveal the mechanisms by which IFN-I can regulate both tumor growth and obesity and to understand the role of factors such as genetic background, diet and microbioma in shaping the production and action of these cytokines under physiological and pathological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Gessani
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.G.); (F.B.)
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.G.); (F.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Vitale S, Russo V, Dettori B, Palombi C, Baev D, Proietti E, Le Bon A, Belardelli F, Pace L. Type I interferons induce peripheral T regulatory cell differentiation under tolerogenic conditions. Int Immunol 2020; 33:59-77. [PMID: 32840576 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxaa058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The type I interferons (type I IFNs) are central to a vast array of immunological functions. The production of these immune-modulatory molecules is initiated at the early stages of the innate immune responses and, therefore, plays a dominant role in shaping downstream events in both innate and adaptive immunity. Indeed, the major role of IFNα/β is the induction of priming states, relevant for the functional differentiation of T lymphocyte subsets. Among T cell subtypes, the CD4 +CD25 +Foxp3 + T regulatory cells (Tregs) represent a specialized subset of CD4 + T cells with a critical role in maintaining peripheral tolerance and immune homeostasis. Although the role of type I IFNs in maintaining the function of thymus-derived Tregs has been previously described, the direct contribution of these innate factors to peripheral Treg (pTreg) and induced Treg (iTreg) differentiation and suppressive function is still unclear. We now show that, under tolerogenic conditions, IFNα/β play a critical role in antigen-specific and also polyclonal naïve CD4 + T cell conversion into peripheral antigen-specific CD4 +CD25 +Foxp3 + Tregs and inhibit CD4 + T helper (Th) cell expansion in mice. While type I IFNs sustain the expression and the activation of the transcription master regulators Foxp3, Stat3 and Stat5, these innate molecules reciprocally inhibit Th17 cell differentiation. Altogether, these results indicate a new pivotal role of IFNα/β on pTreg differentiation and induction of peripheral tolerance, which may have important implications in the therapeutic control of inflammatory disorders, such as of autoimmune diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Vitale
- Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory of Immunology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Russo
- Armenise-Harvard Immune Regulation Unit, Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Candiolo (TO), Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO- IRCCS Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Beatrice Dettori
- Laboratory of Immunology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Palombi
- Laboratory of Immunology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Denis Baev
- Armenise-Harvard Immune Regulation Unit, Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Candiolo (TO), Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO- IRCCS Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | | | - Agnes Le Bon
- Inserm Pôle Infrastructures, Faculté de Médecine Pitié salpétrière, Paris, France
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.,Istitute of Traslational Pharmacology, CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigia Pace
- Armenise-Harvard Immune Regulation Unit, Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Candiolo (TO), Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO- IRCCS Candiolo (TO), Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Aricò E, Bracci L, Castiello L, Gessani S, Belardelli F. Are we fully exploiting type I Interferons in today's fight against COVID-19 pandemic? Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2020; 54:43-50. [PMID: 32665127 PMCID: PMC7334951 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2020.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first emerged in late 2019 in China. At the time of writing, its causative agent SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide infecting over 9 million individuals and causing more than 460,000 deaths. In the absence of vaccines, we are facing the dramatic challenge of controlling COVID-19 pandemic. Among currently available drugs, type I Interferons (IFN-I) - mainly IFN-α and β -represent ideal candidates given their direct and immune-mediated antiviral effects and the long record of clinical use. However, the best modalities of using these cytokines in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients is a matter of debate. Here, we discuss how we can exploit the current knowledge on IFN-I system to tailor the most promising dosing, timing and route of administration of IFN-I to the disease stage, with the final aim of making these cytokines a valuable therapeutic strategy in today's fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Castiello
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandra Gessani
- Center for Gender-specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Urbani F, Ferraresi V, Capone I, Macchia I, Palermo B, Nuzzo C, Torsello A, Pezzotti P, Giannarelli D, Pozzi AF, Santaquilani M, Roazzi P, Bastucci S, Catricalà C, La Malfa A, Vercillo G, Gualtieri N, Buccione C, Castiello L, Cognetti F, Nisticò P, Belardelli F, Moschella F, Proietti E. Clinical and Immunological Outcomes in High-Risk Resected Melanoma Patients Receiving Peptide-Based Vaccination and Interferon Alpha, With or Without Dacarbazine Preconditioning: A Phase II Study. Front Oncol 2020; 10:202. [PMID: 32211314 PMCID: PMC7069350 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical studies based on novel rationales and mechanisms of action of chemotherapy agents and cytokines can contribute to the development of new concepts and strategies of antitumor combination therapies. In previous studies, we investigated the paradoxical immunostimulating effects of some chemotherapeutics and the immunoadjuvant activity of interferon alpha (IFN-α) in preclinical and clinical models, thus unraveling novel rationales and mechanisms of action of chemotherapy agents and cytokines for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we carried out a randomized, phase II clinical trial, in which we analyzed the relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of 34 completely resected stage III–IV melanoma patients, treated with peptide-based vaccination (Melan-A/MART-1 and NY-ESO-1) in combination with IFN-α2b, with (arm 2) or without (arm 1) dacarbazine preconditioning. All patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At a median follow-up of 4.5 years (interquartile range, 15.4–81.0 months), the rates of RFS were 52.9 and 35.3% in arms 1 and 2, respectively. The 4.5-year OS rates were 68.8% in arm 1 and 62.7% in arm 2. No significant differences were observed between the two arms for both RFS and OS. Interestingly, the RFS and OS curves remained stable starting from 18 and 42 months, respectively. Grade 3 adverse events occurred in 5.9% of patients, whereas grade 4 events were not observed. Both treatments induced a significant expansion of vaccine-specific CD8+ T cells, with no correlation with the clinical outcome. However, treatment-induced increase of polyfunctionality and of interleukin 2 production by Melan-A–specific CD8+ T cells and expansion/activation of natural killer cells correlated with RFS, being observed only in nonrelapsing patients. Despite the recent availability of different therapeutic options, low-cost, low-toxic therapies with long-lasting clinical effects are still needed in patients with high-risk resected stage III/IV melanoma. The combination of peptide vaccination with IFN-α2b showed a minimal toxicity profile and resulted in encouraging RFS and OS rates, justifying further evaluation in clinical trials, which may include the use of checkpoint inhibitors to further expand the antitumor immune response and the clinical outcome. Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search, identifier: 2008-008211-26
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Urbani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.,Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | - Virginia Ferraresi
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Imerio Capone
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Iole Macchia
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Belinda Palermo
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmen Nuzzo
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Torsello
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizio Pezzotti
- Department of Infectious Disease, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Diana Giannarelli
- Biostatistical Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Fausta Pozzi
- Hospital Pharmacia, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Roazzi
- Health Technology Assessement, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Bastucci
- Clinical Trial Center, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Antonia La Malfa
- Hospital Pharmacia, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Vercillo
- Clinical Pathology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Novella Gualtieri
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Buccione
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Cognetti
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federica Moschella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lapenta C, Donati S, Spadaro F, Lattanzi L, Urbani F, Macchia I, Sestili P, Spada M, Cox MC, Belardelli F, Santini SM. Lenalidomide improves the therapeutic effect of an interferon-α-dendritic cell-based lymphoma vaccine. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2019; 68:1791-1804. [PMID: 31620858 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02411-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The perspective of combining cancer vaccines with immunomodulatory drugs is currently regarded as a highly promising approach for boosting tumor-specific T cell immunity and eradicating residual malignant cells. The efficacy of dendritic cell (DC) vaccination in combination with lenalidomide, an anticancer drug effective in several hematologic malignancies, was investigated in a follicular lymphoma (FL) model. First, we evaluated the in vitro activity of lenalidomide in modulating the immune responses of lymphocytes co-cultured with a new DC subset differentiated with IFN-α (IFN-DC) and loaded with apoptotic lymphoma cells. We next evaluated the efficacy of lenalidomide and IFN-DC-based vaccination, either alone or in combination, in hu-PBL-NOD/SCID mice bearing established human lymphoma. We found that lenalidomide reduced Treg frequency and IL-10 production in vitro, improved the formation of immune synapses of CD8 + lymphocytes with lymphoma cells and enhanced anti-lymphoma cytotoxicity. Treatment of lymphoma-bearing mice with either IFN-DC vaccination or lenalidomide led to a significant decrease in tumor growth and lymphoma cell spread. Lenalidomide treatment was shown to substantially inhibit tumor-induced neo-angiogenesis rather than to exert a direct cytotoxic effect on lymphoma cells. Notably, the combined treatment with the vaccine plus lenalidomide was more effective than either single treatment, resulting in the significant regression of established tumors and delayed tumor regrowth upon treatment discontinuation. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that IFN-DC-based vaccination plus lenalidomide exert an additive therapeutic effect in xenochimeric mice bearing established lymphoma. These results may pave the way to evaluate this combination in the clinical ground.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Lapenta
- Reparto di Immunologia dei Tumori, Dipartimento di Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Simona Donati
- Reparto di Immunologia dei Tumori, Dipartimento di Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Spadaro
- Servizio Grandi Strumentazioni e Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Lattanzi
- Reparto di Immunologia dei Tumori, Dipartimento di Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Urbani
- Reparto di Immunologia dei Tumori, Dipartimento di Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Scuola di Dottorato in Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Tor Vergata University, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Iole Macchia
- Reparto di Immunologia dei Tumori, Dipartimento di Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sestili
- Servizio Grandi Strumentazioni e Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Spada
- Centro nazionale sperimentazione e benessere animale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Christina Cox
- Unità di Ematologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea, Università La Sapienza, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Istituto di Farmacologia Traslazionale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano M Santini
- Reparto di Immunologia dei Tumori, Dipartimento di Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Castiello L, Aricò E, D'Agostino G, Santodonato L, Belardelli F. In situ Vaccination by Direct Dendritic Cell Inoculation: The Coming of Age of an Old Idea? Front Immunol 2019; 10:2303. [PMID: 31611878 PMCID: PMC6773832 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
For more than 25 years, dendritic cell (DC) based vaccination has flashily held promises to represent a therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. While the vast majority of studies has focused on the use of antigen loaded DC, the intratumoral delivery of unloaded DC aiming at in situ vaccination has gained much less attention. Such approach grounds on the ability of inoculated DC to internalize and process antigens directly released by tumor (usually in combination with cell-death-inducing agents) to activate broad patient-specific antitumor T cell response. In this review, we highlight the recent studies in both solid and hematological tumors showing promising clinical results and discuss the main pitfalls and advantages of this approach for endogenous cancer vaccination. Lastly, we discuss how in situ vaccination by DC inoculation may fit with current immunotherapy approaches to expand and prolong patient response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Castiello
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Laura Santodonato
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cox MC, Castiello L, Mattei M, Santodonato L, D'Agostino G, Muraro E, Martorelli D, Lapenta C, Di Napoli A, Di Landro F, Cangemi M, Pavan A, Castaldo P, Hohaus S, Donati S, Montefiore E, Berdini C, Carlei D, Monque DM, Ruco L, Prosperi D, Tafuri A, Spadaro F, Sestili P, Spada M, Dolcetti R, Santini SM, Rozera C, Aricò E, Capone I, Belardelli F. Clinical and Antitumor Immune Responses in Relapsed/Refractory Follicular Lymphoma Patients after Intranodal Injections of IFNα-Dendritic Cells and Rituximab: a Phase I Clinical Trial. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:5231-5241. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-0709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
12
|
Cox C, Castiello L, Mattei M, Santodonato L, D'agostino G, Muraro E, Martorelli D, Lapenta C, Di Napoli A, Di Landro F, Cangemi M, Pavan A, Castaldo P, Hohaus S, Donati S, Montefiore E, Berdini C, Borgioni S, Carlei D, Monque D, Ruco L, Prosperi D, Tafuri A, Spadaro F, Sestili P, Spada M, Dolcetti R, Santini S, Rozera C, Arico' E, Capone I, Belardelli F. INTRANODAL TREATMENT WITH IFNΑ-DENDRITIC CELLS AND RITUXIMAB INDUCES SYSTEMIC CLINICAL RESPONSE AND ENDOGENOUS VACCINATION AGAINST FOLLICULAR LYMPHOMA: FINAL RESULT OF A PHASE I STUDY. Hematol Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/hon.126_2630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Cox
- Haematology; AOU Sant'Andrea, Rome, Italy & King's College Foundation Trust; London United Kingdom
| | - L. Castiello
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - M. Mattei
- Radiology; AOU Sant'Andrea; Rome Italy
| | - L. Santodonato
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - G. D'agostino
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - E. Muraro
- Oncology; Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS; Aviano Italy
| | - D. Martorelli
- Oncology; Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS; Aviano Italy
| | - C. Lapenta
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine; Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - A. Di Napoli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine; AOU Sant'Andrea; Rome Italy
| | - F. Di Landro
- Institute of Hematology; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS; Rome Italy
| | - M. Cangemi
- Oncology; Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS; Aviano Italy
| | - A. Pavan
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine; AOU Sant'Andrea; Rome Italy
| | | | - S. Hohaus
- Institute of Hematology; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS; Rome Italy
| | - S. Donati
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine; Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - E. Montefiore
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | | | | | - D. Carlei
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - D. Monque
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - L. Ruco
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine; AOU Sant'Andrea; Rome Italy
| | - D. Prosperi
- Nuclear Medicine; AOU Sant'Andrea; Rome Italy
| | - A. Tafuri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine; AOU Sant'Andrea; Rome Italy
| | - F. Spadaro
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine; Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - P. Sestili
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine; Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - M. Spada
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - R. Dolcetti
- Diamantina Institute; Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland; Brisbane Australia
| | - S. Santini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine; Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - C. Rozera
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - E. Arico'
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - I. Capone
- FaBioCell; Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanita'; Rome Italy
| | - F. Belardelli
- institute of Translational Pharmacology; CNR; Rome Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Castiello L, Sestili P, Schiavoni G, Dattilo R, Monque DM, Ciaffoni F, Iezzi M, Lamolinara A, Sistigu A, Moschella F, Pacca AM, Macchia D, Ferrantini M, Zeuner A, Biffoni M, Proietti E, Belardelli F, Aricò E. Disruption of IFN-I Signaling Promotes HER2/Neu Tumor Progression and Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 6:658-670. [PMID: 29622580 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Type I interferon (IFN-I) is a class of antiviral immunomodulatory cytokines involved in many stages of tumor initiation and progression. IFN-I acts directly on tumor cells to inhibit cell growth and indirectly by activating immune cells to mount antitumor responses. To understand the role of endogenous IFN-I in spontaneous, oncogene-driven carcinogenesis, we characterized tumors arising in HER2/neu transgenic (neuT) mice carrying a nonfunctional mutation in the IFNI receptor (IFNAR1). Such mice are unresponsive to this family of cytokines. Compared with parental neu+/- mice (neuT mice), IFNAR1-/- neu+/- mice (IFNAR-neuT mice) showed earlier onset and increased tumor multiplicity with marked vascularization. IFNAR-neuT tumors exhibited deregulation of genes having adverse prognostic value in breast cancer patients, including the breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) marker aldehyde dehydrogenase-1A1 (ALDH1A1). An increased number of BCSCs were observed in IFNAR-neuT tumors, as assessed by ALDH1A1 enzymatic activity, clonogenic assay, and tumorigenic capacity. In vitro exposure of neuT+ mammospheres and cell lines to antibodies to IFN-I resulted in increased frequency of ALDH+ cells, suggesting that IFN-I controls stemness in tumor cells. Altogether, these results reveal a role of IFN-I in neuT-driven spontaneous carcinogenesis through intrinsic control of BCSCs. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(6); 658-70. ©2018 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Castiello
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sestili
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosanna Dattilo
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenica M Monque
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Ciaffoni
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Iezzi
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSi-Met), G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Alessia Lamolinara
- Department of Medicine and Aging Science, Center of Excellence on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSi-Met), G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Antonella Sistigu
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Department of General Pathology and Physiopathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Moschella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Pacca
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Macchia
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Ferrantini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ann Zeuner
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Biffoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Aricò E, Sestili P, Carpinelli G, Canese R, Cecchetti S, Schiavoni G, D'Urso MT, Belardelli F, Proietti E. Chemo-immunotherapy induces tumor regression in a mouse model of spontaneous mammary carcinogenesis. Oncotarget 2018; 7:59754-59765. [PMID: 27486759 PMCID: PMC5312346 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-specific immune tolerance represents an obstacle for the development of effective anti-tumor immune responses through cancer vaccines. We here evaluated the efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy in breaking tumor-specific immune tolerance in an almost incurable mouse model of spontaneous carcinogenesis. Transgenic HER-2/neu mice bearing large mammary tumors received the adoptive transfer of splenocytes and serum isolated from immune donors, with or without pre-conditioning with cyclophosphamide. Treatment efficacy was assessed by monitoring tumor growth by manual inspection and by magnetic resonance imaging. The same chemo-immunotherapy protocol was tested on tumor-free HER-2/neu mice, to evaluate the effects on tumor emergence. Our data show that chemo-immunotherapy hampered carcinogenesis and caused the regression of large mammary tumor lesions in tumor-bearing HER-2/neu mice. The complete eradication of a significant number of tumor lesions occurred only in mice receiving cyclophosphamide shortly before immunotherapy, and was associated with increased serum anti HER-2/p185 antibodies and tumor leukocyte infiltration. The same protocol significantly delayed the appearance of mammary tumors when administered to tumor-free HER-2/neu mice, indicating that this chemo-immunotherapy approach acted through the elicitation of an effective anti-tumor immune response. Overall, our data support the immune-modulatory role of chemotherapy in overcoming cancer immune tolerance when administered at lymphodepleting non-myeloablative doses shortly before transfer of antigen-specific immune cells and immunoglobulins. These findings open new perspectives on combining immune-modulatory chemotherapy and immunotherapy to overcome immune tolerance in cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sestili
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Carpinelli
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Canese
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Cecchetti
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa D'Urso
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Lombardo C, Albanese D, Belardelli F, d'Alessandro F, Giacomini M, Rondanina T, Spagnoli LG. Training and Mobility: A Priority for the Organisation of the European Cancer Institutes. How a National Mobility Initiative Could Enhance EU Cooperation in Cancer Research Contributing to the Development of an European Research Area: The Example of the Italian Comprehensive Cancer Centers’ Network “Alleanza Contro il Cancro”. Tumori 2018; 94:147-53. [DOI: 10.1177/030089160809400203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
It is widely recognized that productivity gains, sustained economic growth and employment are largely determined by technological progress, innovation and human capital. The 2000 Lisbon strategy to make Europe a competitive knowledge-based economy by 2010 and, more specifically, the Barcelona objectives agreed upon in 2002 to increase R&D investment in the EU to approach 3% of GDP, ensuring that there are sufficient human resources for research, are a preliminary step in this direction. If we want to reach this goal we have to succeed in retaining the best researchers, creating the right environment where they can perform their activities and develop their careers. To this aim the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) has set up a working group on Education and Training with the mandate to encourage continuing education in cancer research and applications and to verify the feasibility to promote mobility programs inside the network and in association with industries. Until now only few OECI training programs have been launched and a full mobility program has not been developed yet due to limited budget resources. The Italian Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Alleanza Contro il Cancro, has planned the launch of a mobility program awarding 70 annual fellowships over a period of 36 months. This program, which will be open to the world research community, could represent a first interaction through mobility among the members of the OECI network also involving industries. The program is a tangible approach to sustain the translational process needed for the development of an European Research Area in the field of cancer and its related biomedical disciplines, thus providing a practical answer to the 2005 renewed Lisbon Strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Lombardo
- IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa
- Alleanza Contro il Cancro, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa
| | - Daniela Albanese
- IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa
- Alleanza Contro il Cancro, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa
| | | | - Francesca d'Alessandro
- IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa
- Alleanza Contro il Cancro, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa
| | - Mauro Giacomini
- Dipartimento di Informatica Sistemistica e Telematica, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa
| | - Tania Rondanina
- IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa
- Alleanza Contro il Cancro, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa
| | - Luigi G Spagnoli
- Alleanza Contro il Cancro, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa
- Università Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Buoncervello M, Romagnoli G, Buccarelli M, Fragale A, Toschi E, Parlato S, Lucchetti D, Macchia D, Spada M, Canini I, Sanchez M, Falchi M, Musella M, Biffoni M, Belardelli F, Capone I, Sgambato A, Vitiani LR, Gabriele L. IFN-α potentiates the direct and immune-mediated antitumor effects of epigenetic drugs on both metastatic and stem cells of colorectal cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 7:26361-73. [PMID: 27028869 PMCID: PMC5041985 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations, including dysregulated DNA methylation and histone modifications, govern the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Cancer cells exploit epigenetic regulation to control cellular pathways, including apoptotic and metastatic signals. Since aberrations in epigenome can be pharmacologically reversed by DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors, epigenetics in combination with standard agents are currently envisaged as a new therapeutic frontier in cancer, expected to overcome drug resistance associated with current treatments. In this study, we challenged this idea and demonstrated that the combination of azacitidine and romidepsin with IFN-α owns a high therapeutic potential, targeting the most aggressive cellular components of CRC, such as metastatic cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs), via tight control of key survival and death pathways. Moreover, the antitumor efficacy of this novel pharmacological approach is associated with induction of signals of immunogenic cell death. Of note, a previously undisclosed key role of IFN-α in inducing both antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on CSCs of CRC was also found. Overall, these findings open a new frontier on the suitability of IFN-α in association with epigenetics as a novel and promising therapeutic approach for CRC management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Buoncervello
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Romagnoli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Buccarelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fragale
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Toschi
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Parlato
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Lucchetti
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Macchia
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Spada
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Canini
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Sanchez
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Falchi
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Musella
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Biffoni
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Imerio Capone
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sgambato
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Ricci Vitiani
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Gabriele
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Buccione C, Fragale A, Polverino F, Ziccheddu G, Aricò E, Belardelli F, Proietti E, Battistini A, Moschella F. Role of interferon regulatory factor 1 in governing
T
reg depletion,
T
h1 polarization, inflammasome activation and antitumor efficacy of cyclophosphamide. Int J Cancer 2017; 142:976-987. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Buccione
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Alessandra Fragale
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Federica Polverino
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Giovanna Ziccheddu
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Angela Battistini
- Department of Infectious DiseasesIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| | - Federica Moschella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular MedicineIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome Italy
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Montico B, Lapenta C, Ravo M, Martorelli D, Muraro E, Zeng B, Comaro E, Spada M, Donati S, Santini SM, Tarallo R, Giurato G, Rizzo F, Weisz A, Belardelli F, Dolcetti R, Dal Col J. Exploiting a new strategy to induce immunogenic cell death to improve dendritic cell-based vaccines for lymphoma immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1356964. [PMID: 29147614 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1356964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although promising, the clinical benefit provided by dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines is still limited and the choice of the optimal antigen formulation is still an unresolved issue. We have developed a new DC-based vaccination protocol for aggressive and/or refractory lymphomas which combines the unique features of interferon-conditioned DC (IFN-DC) with highly immunogenic tumor cell lysates (TCL) obtained from lymphoma cells undergoing immunogenic cell death. We show that treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell lines with 9-cis-retinoic acid and IFNα (RA/IFNα) induces early membrane exposure of Calreticulin, HSP70 and 90 together with CD47 down-regulation and enhanced HMGB1 secretion. Consistently, RA/IFNα-treated apoptotic cells and -TCLs were more efficiently phagocytosed by DCs compared to controls. Notably, cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) generated with autologous DCs pulsed with RA/IFNα-TCLs more efficiently recognized and specifically lysed MCL or DLBCL cells or targets loaded with several HLA-A*0201 cyclin D1 or HLA-B*0801 survivin epitopes. These cultures also showed an expansion of Th1 and Th17 cells and an increased Th17/Treg ratio. Moreover, DCs loaded with RA/IFNα-TCLs showed enhanced functional maturation and activation. NOD/SCID mice reconstituted with human peripheral blood lymphocytes and vaccinated with autologous RA/IFNα-TCL loaded-IFN-DCs showed lymphoma-specific T-cell responses and a significant decrease in tumor growth with respect to mice treated with IFN-DC unpulsed or loaded with untreated TCLs. This study demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of the use of RA/IFNα to generate a highly immunogenic TCL as a suitable tumor antigen formulation for the development of effective anticancer DC-based vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Montico
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Department of Translational Research, Immunopathology and Cancer biomarkers, Aviano (PN), Italy
| | - C Lapenta
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - M Ravo
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry 'Scuola Medica Salernitana', University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy
| | - D Martorelli
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Department of Translational Research, Immunopathology and Cancer biomarkers, Aviano (PN), Italy
| | - E Muraro
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Department of Translational Research, Immunopathology and Cancer biomarkers, Aviano (PN), Italy
| | - B Zeng
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - E Comaro
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Department of Translational Research, Immunopathology and Cancer biomarkers, Aviano (PN), Italy
| | - M Spada
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - S Donati
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - S M Santini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - R Tarallo
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry 'Scuola Medica Salernitana', University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy
| | - G Giurato
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry 'Scuola Medica Salernitana', University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy.,Genomix4Life srl, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy
| | - F Rizzo
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry 'Scuola Medica Salernitana', University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy
| | - A Weisz
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry 'Scuola Medica Salernitana', University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy
| | - F Belardelli
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - R Dolcetti
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Department of Translational Research, Immunopathology and Cancer biomarkers, Aviano (PN), Italy.,The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - J Dal Col
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Department of Translational Research, Immunopathology and Cancer biomarkers, Aviano (PN), Italy.,Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry 'Scuola Medica Salernitana', University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Fragale A, Romagnoli G, Licursi V, Buoncervello M, Del Vecchio G, Giuliani C, Parlato S, Leone C, De Angelis M, Canini I, Toschi E, Belardelli F, Negri R, Capone I, Presutti C, Gabriele L. Antitumor Effects of Epidrug/IFNα Combination Driven by Modulated Gene Signatures in Both Colorectal Cancer and Dendritic Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2017; 5:604-616. [PMID: 28615266 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer results from the progressive accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations. IFN signaling defects play an important role in the carcinogenesis process, in which the inability of IFN transcription regulatory factors (IRF) to access regulatory sequences in IFN-stimulated genes (ISG) in tumors and in immune cells may be pivotal. We reported that low-dose combination of two FDA-approved epidrugs, azacytidine (A) and romidepsin (R), with IFNα2 (ARI) hampers the aggressiveness of both colorectal cancer metastatic and stem cells in vivo and triggers immunogenic cell death signals that stimulate dendritic cell (DC) function. Here, we investigated the molecular signals induced by ARI treatment and found that this drug combination increased the accessibility to regulatory sequences of ISGs and IRFs that were epigenetically silenced in both colorectal cancer cells and DCs. Likewise, specific ARI-induced histone methylation and acetylation changes marked epigenetically affected ISG promoters in both metastatic cancer cells and DCs. Analysis by ChIP-seq confirmed such ARI-induced epigenetically regulated IFN signature. The activation of this signal endowed DCs with a marked migratory capability. Our results establish a direct correlation between reexpression of silenced ISGs by epigenetic control and ARI anticancer activity and provide new knowledge for the development of innovative combined therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer. Cancer Immunol Res; 5(7); 604-16. ©2017 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Fragale
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giulia Romagnoli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Licursi
- Institute for System Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Buoncervello
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Del Vecchio
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin," Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Giuliani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Parlato
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Celeste Leone
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta De Angelis
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Canini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Toschi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rodolfo Negri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin," Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Imerio Capone
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Presutti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin," Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Gabriele
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Lapenta C, Donati S, Spadaro F, Castaldo P, Belardelli F, Cox MC, Santini SM. NK Cell Activation in the Antitumor Response Induced by IFN-α Dendritic Cells Loaded with Apoptotic Cells from Follicular Lymphoma Patients. J I 2016; 197:795-806. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
21
|
Schüz J, Espina C, Villain P, Herrero R, Leon ME, Minozzi S, Romieu I, Segnan N, Wardle J, Wiseman M, Belardelli F, Bettcher D, Cavalli F, Galea G, Lenoir G, Martin-Moreno JM, Nicula FA, Olsen JH, Patnick J, Primic-Zakelj M, Puska P, van Leeuwen FE, Wiestler O, Zatonski W. European Code against Cancer 4th Edition: 12 ways to reduce your cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol 2015; 39 Suppl 1:S1-10. [PMID: 26164654 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2015.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This overview describes the principles of the 4th edition of the European Code against Cancer and provides an introduction to the 12 recommendations to reduce cancer risk. Among the 504.6 million inhabitants of the member states of the European Union (EU28), there are annually 2.64 million new cancer cases and 1.28 million deaths from cancer. It is estimated that this cancer burden could be reduced by up to one half if scientific knowledge on causes of cancer could be translated into successful prevention. The Code is a preventive tool aimed to reduce the cancer burden by informing people how to avoid or reduce carcinogenic exposures, adopt behaviours to reduce the cancer risk, or to participate in organised intervention programmes. The Code should also form a base to guide national health policies in cancer prevention. The 12 recommendations are: not smoking or using other tobacco products; avoiding second-hand smoke; being a healthy body weight; encouraging physical activity; having a healthy diet; limiting alcohol consumption, with not drinking alcohol being better for cancer prevention; avoiding too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation; avoiding cancer-causing agents at the workplace; reducing exposure to high levels of radon; encouraging breastfeeding; limiting the use of hormone replacement therapy; participating in organised vaccination programmes against hepatitis B for newborns and human papillomavirus for girls; and participating in organised screening programmes for bowel cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Schüz
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France.
| | - Carolina Espina
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Patricia Villain
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Rolando Herrero
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Maria E Leon
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Silvia Minozzi
- CPO Piedmont, University Hospital "Città della Salute e della Scienza", Turin, Italy
| | - Isabelle Romieu
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
| | - Nereo Segnan
- CPO Piedmont, University Hospital "Città della Salute e della Scienza", Turin, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Franco Cavalli
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Gauden Galea
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Jørgen H Olsen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Pekka Puska
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Otmar Wiestler
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Witold Zatonski
- Maria Skoldowska-Curie Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Calzolari A, Valerio A, Capone F, Napolitano M, Villa M, Pricci F, Bravo E, Belardelli F. The European Research Infrastructures of the ESFRI Roadmap in Biological and Medical Sciences: status and perspectives. Ann Ist Super Sanita 2015; 50:178-85. [PMID: 24968918 DOI: 10.4415/ann_14_02_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since 2002, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures identified the needs for Research Infrastructures (RIs) in Europe in priority fields of scientific research and drafted a strategic document, the ESFRI Roadmap, defining the specific RIs essential to foster European research and economy. The Biological and Medical Sciences RIs (BMS RIs) were developed thanks to the active participation of many institutions in different European member states associated to address the emerging needs in biomedicine and, among these, the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), in virtue of its role in public health and research, has been specifically involved in the national development and implementation of three RIs: the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI), the European Advanced Translational Research Infrastructure in Medicine (EATRIS) and the European Clinical Research Infrastructures Network (ECRIN). AIM This article outlines the design and development of these RIs up to the recent achievement of the ERIC status, their importance in the Horizon 2020 programme and their societal and economic potential impact, with special attention to their development and significance in Italy. CONCLUSIONS The ISS plays a unique role in fostering a coordinated participation of excellence Italian institutes/facilities to different European biomedical RIs, thus contributing to health innovation, healthcare optimization, and healthcare cost containment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Calzolari
- Dipartimento di Ematologia, Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Rozera C, Cappellini GA, D'Agostino G, Santodonato L, Castiello L, Urbani F, Macchia I, Aricò E, Casorelli I, Sestili P, Montefiore E, Monque D, Carlei D, Napolitano M, Rizza P, Moschella F, Buccione C, Belli R, Proietti E, Pavan A, Marchetti P, Belardelli F, Capone I. Intratumoral injection of IFN-alpha dendritic cells after dacarbazine activates anti-tumor immunity: results from a phase I trial in advanced melanoma. J Transl Med 2015; 13:139. [PMID: 25933939 PMCID: PMC4438625 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0473-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Advanced melanoma patients have an extremely poor long term prognosis and are in strong need of new therapies. The recently developed targeted therapies have resulted in a marked antitumor effect, but most responses are partial and some degree of toxicity remain the major concerns. Dendritic cells play a key role in the activation of the immune system and have been typically used as ex vivo antigen-loaded cell drugs for cancer immunotherapy. Another approach consists in intratumoral injection of unloaded DCs that can exploit the uptake of a wider array of tumor-specific and individual unique antigens. However, intratumoral immunization requires DCs endowed at the same time with properties typically belonging to both immature and mature DCs (i.e. antigen uptake and T cell priming). DCs generated in presence of interferon-alpha (IFN-DCs), due to their features of partially mature DCs, capable of efficiently up-taking, processing and cross-presenting antigens to T cells, could successfully carry out this task. Combining intratumoral immunization with tumor-destructing therapies can induce antigen release in situ, facilitating the injected DCs in triggering an antitumor immune response. Methods We tested in a phase I clinical study in advanced melanoma a chemo-immunotherapy approach based on unloaded IFN-DCs injected intratumorally one day after administration of dacarbazine. Primary endpoint of the study was treatment safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints were immune and clinical responses of patients. Results Six patients were enrolled, and only three completed the treatment. The chemo-immunotherapy was well tolerated with no major side effects. Three patients showed temporary disease stabilization and two of them showed induction of T cells specific for tyrosinase, NY-ESO-1 and gp100. Of interest, one patient showing a remarkable long-term disease stabilization kept showing presence of tyrosinase specific T cells in PBMC and high infiltration of memory T cells in the tumor lesion at 21 months. Conclusion We tested a chemo-immunotherapeutic approach based on IFN-DCs injected intratumorally one day after DTIC in advanced melanoma. The treatment was well tolerated, and clinical and immunological responses, including development of vitiligo, were observed, therefore warranting additional clinical studies aimed at evaluating efficacy of this approach. Trial registration Trial Registration Number not publicly available due to EudraCT regulations: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/doc/EU_CTR_FAQ.pdf
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Rozera
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Giancarlo Antonini Cappellini
- IV Dermatology Oncology Unit, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IDI-IRCCS), via Monti Creta 104, Rome, 00167, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina D'Agostino
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Laura Santodonato
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Luciano Castiello
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Francesca Urbani
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Iole Macchia
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Ida Casorelli
- Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant'Andrea Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, 00189, Italy.
| | - Paola Sestili
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Enrica Montefiore
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Domenica Monque
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Davide Carlei
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Mariarosaria Napolitano
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Paola Rizza
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Federica Moschella
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Carla Buccione
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Roberto Belli
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Antonio Pavan
- Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant'Andrea Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, 00189, Italy.
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- IV Dermatology Oncology Unit, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IDI-IRCCS), via Monti Creta 104, Rome, 00167, Italy. .,Department of Oncology, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant'Andrea Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, 00189, Italy.
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Imerio Capone
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Anastasiadou E, Garg N, Bigi R, Yadav S, Campese AF, Lapenta C, Spada M, Cuomo L, Botta A, Belardelli F, Frati L, Ferretti E, Faggioni A, Trivedi P. Epstein-Barr virus infection induces miR-21 in terminally differentiated malignant B cells. Int J Cancer 2015; 137:1491-7. [PMID: 25704079 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with plasmacytoid malignancies is now well established but how the virus influences microRNA expression in such cells is not known. We have used multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines to address this issue and find that an oncomiR, miR-21 is induced after in vitro EBV infection. The PU.1 binding site in miR-21 promoter was essential for its activation by the virus. In accordance with its noted oncogenic functions, miR-21 induction in EBV infected MM cells caused downregulation of p21 and an increase in cyclin D3 expression. EBV infected MM cells were highly tumorigenic in SCID mice. Given the importance of miR-21 in plasmacytoid malignancies, our findings that EBV could further exacerbate the disease by inducing miR-21 has interesting implications both in terms of diagnosis and future miR based therapeutical approaches for the virus associated plasmacytoid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Anastasiadou
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Neha Garg
- Department of Molecular Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Rachele Bigi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Shivangi Yadav
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Caterina Lapenta
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Spada
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Cuomo
- Department of Clinical Pathology, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Botta
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Frati
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Faggioni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Pankaj Trivedi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Sistigu A, Yamazaki T, Vacchelli E, Chaba K, Enot DP, Adam J, Vitale I, Goubar A, Baracco EE, Remédios C, Fend L, Hannani D, Aymeric L, Ma Y, Niso-Santano M, Kepp O, Schultze JL, Tüting T, Belardelli F, Bracci L, La Sorsa V, Ziccheddu G, Sestili P, Urbani F, Delorenzi M, Lacroix-Triki M, Quidville V, Conforti R, Spano JP, Pusztai L, Poirier-Colame V, Delaloge S, Penault-Llorca F, Ladoire S, Arnould L, Cyrta J, Dessoliers MC, Eggermont A, Bianchi ME, Pittet M, Engblom C, Pfirschke C, Préville X, Uzè G, Schreiber RD, Chow MT, Smyth MJ, Proietti E, André F, Kroemer G, Zitvogel L. Cancer cell-autonomous contribution of type I interferon signaling to the efficacy of chemotherapy. Nat Med 2014; 20:1301-9. [PMID: 25344738 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 745] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Some of the anti-neoplastic effects of anthracyclines in mice originate from the induction of innate and T cell-mediated anticancer immune responses. Here we demonstrate that anthracyclines stimulate the rapid production of type I interferons (IFNs) by malignant cells after activation of the endosomal pattern recognition receptor Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). By binding to IFN-α and IFN-β receptors (IFNARs) on neoplastic cells, type I IFNs trigger autocrine and paracrine circuitries that result in the release of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10). Tumors lacking Tlr3 or Ifnar failed to respond to chemotherapy unless type I IFN or Cxcl10, respectively, was artificially supplied. Moreover, a type I IFN-related signature predicted clinical responses to anthracycline-based chemotherapy in several independent cohorts of patients with breast carcinoma characterized by poor prognosis. Our data suggest that anthracycline-mediated immune responses mimic those induced by viral pathogens. We surmise that such 'viral mimicry' constitutes a hallmark of successful chemotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Sistigu
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France. [3] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. [4] Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Takahiro Yamazaki
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France. [3] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Erika Vacchelli
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. [3] INSERM, U848, Villejuif, France
| | - Kariman Chaba
- 1] INSERM, U848, Villejuif, France. [2] Equipe 11 Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France. [3] Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - David P Enot
- 1] INSERM, U848, Villejuif, France. [2] Equipe 11 Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France. [3] Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Julien Adam
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Department of Biology and Pathology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [3] Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Ilio Vitale
- Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Aicha Goubar
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U981, Villejuif, France
| | - Elisa E Baracco
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. [3] INSERM, U848, Villejuif, France
| | - Catarina Remédios
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France. [3] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Laetitia Fend
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France. [3] Transgene S.A., Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Dalil Hannani
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France. [3] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Laetitia Aymeric
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France. [3] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Yuting Ma
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. [3] INSERM, U848, Villejuif, France
| | - Mireia Niso-Santano
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. [3] INSERM, U848, Villejuif, France
| | - Oliver Kepp
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. [3] INSERM, U848, Villejuif, France
| | - Joachim L Schultze
- Laboratory for Genomics and Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Tüting
- Laboratory of Experimental Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bracci
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina La Sorsa
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Ziccheddu
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sestili
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Urbani
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Delorenzi
- 1] SIB-Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland. [2] National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) Molecular Oncology, Institut Suisse de Recherche Expérimentale sur le Cancer (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland. [3] Departement de Formation et Recherche, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Virginie Quidville
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Rosa Conforti
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France. [3] Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 507, Villejuif, France. [4] Department of Medical Oncology, Hôpital Pitie Salpetriere, Paris, France
| | | | - Lajos Pusztai
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Vichnou Poirier-Colame
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U1015, Villejuif, France. [3] Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 507, Villejuif, France
| | - Suzette Delaloge
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Department of Biology and Pathology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Frederique Penault-Llorca
- Department of Pathology, Jean Perrin Center, EA 4677 ERTICa, University of Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Sylvain Ladoire
- 1] Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France. [2] INSERM, CRI-866 Faculty of Medicine, Dijon, France. [3] University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
| | - Laurent Arnould
- 1] Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France. [2] INSERM, CRI-866 Faculty of Medicine, Dijon, France. [3] University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
| | - Joanna Cyrta
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Department of Biology and Pathology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | | | | | - Marco E Bianchi
- San Raffaele University and Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Mikael Pittet
- 1] Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Camilla Engblom
- 1] Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christina Pfirschke
- 1] Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Gilles Uzè
- CNRS UMR5235, University Montpellier II, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier, France
| | - Robert D Schreiber
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Melvyn T Chow
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark J Smyth
- 1] Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia. [2] School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrice André
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. [3] Department of Biology and Pathology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [4] Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [5] INSERM, U981, Villejuif, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] INSERM, U848, Villejuif, France. [3] Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France. [4] Metabolomics Platform, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [5] Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris, France
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- 1] Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France. [2] Université Paris Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. [3] Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 507, Villejuif, France
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Napolitano M, Santoro F, Puopolo M, Donfancesco C, Galluzzo L, De Grandi A, Cevenini E, De Curtis A, Sevini F, Palmieri L, Mascalzon D, Roazzi P, Scafato E, Pramstaller P, Iacoviello L, Donati MB, Giampaoli S, Franceschi C, Belardelli F, Bravo E. Development of a pilot project on data sharing among partners of the Italian Hub of Population Biobanks (HIBP): association between lipid profile and socio-demographic variables. Biopreserv Biobank 2014; 12:225-33. [PMID: 25075723 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2014.0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Italian Hub of Population Biobanks (HIBP) includes both ongoing and completed studies that are heterogeneous in both their purpose and in the specimens collected. The heterogeneity in starting conditions makes sharing study data very difficult because of technical, ethical, and collection rights issues that hamper collaboration and synergy. With the aim of overcoming these difficulties and establishing the "proof-of-concept" that sharing studies is achievable among Italian collections, a data-sharing pilot project has been agreed to by HIBP members. Participants agreed to the general methodology and signed a shared Data Transfer Agreement. The biobanks involved were: EURAC (Micros study), CIG (GEHA project), CNESPS (FINE, MATISS, MONICA, OEC1998, ITR (Italian Twin Register), and IPREA studies, and MOLIBANK (Moli-Sani project). Biobank data were uploaded into a common database using a dedicated informatics infrastructure. Demographic data, and anthropometric and hematochemical parameters were shared for each record. Each biobank uploaded into the common database a dataset with a minimum of 1000 subjects, for a total of 5071 records. After a harmonization process, the final dataset included 3882 records. Subjects were grouped into three main geographic areas of Italy (North, Center, and South) and separate analyses were performed for men and women. The 3882 records were analyzed through multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results were expressed as odds ratios with 95% confidence interval. Results show several geographical differences in the lipidemic pattern, mostly regarding cholesterol-HDL, which represents a strong basis for further, deeper sample-based studies. This HIBP pilot study aimed to prove the feasibility of such collaborations and it provides a methodological prototype for future studies based on the participation in the partnership of well-established quality collections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariarosaria Napolitano
- 1 Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Deriu PL, La Pietra L, Pierotti M, Collazzo R, Paradiso A, Belardelli F, De Paoli P, Nigro A, Lacalamita R, Ferrarini M, Pelicci P, Pierotti M, Roli A, Ciliberto G, Scala S, Amadori A, Chiusole D, Musto P, Fusco V, Storto G, De Maria R, Canitano S, Apolone G, Ravelli M, Mazzini E, Amadori D, Bernabini M, Ancarani V, Lombardo C. Accreditation for excellence of cancer research institutes: recommendations from the Italian Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Tumori 2014; 99:293e-8e. [PMID: 24503807 DOI: 10.1700/1390.15472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A panel of experts from Italian Comprehensive Cancer Centers defines the recommendations for external quality control programs aimed to accreditation to excellence of these institutes. After definition of the process as a systematic, periodic evaluation performed by an external agency to verify whether a health organization possesses certain prerequisites regarding structural, organizational and operational conditions that are thought to affect health care quality, the panel reviews models internationally available and makes final recommendations on aspects considered of main interest. This position paper has been produced within a special project of the Ministry of Health of the Italian Government aimed to accredit, according to OECI model, 11 Italian cancer centers in the period 2012-2014. The Project represents the effort undertaken by this network of Comprehensive Cancer Centers to find a common denominator for the experience of all Institutes in external quality control programs. Fourteen shared "statements" are put forth, designed to offer some indications on the main aspects of this subject, based on literature evidence or expert opinions. They deal with the need for "accountability" and involvement of the entire organization, the effectiveness of self-evaluation, the temporal continuity and the educational value of the experience, the use of indicators and measurement tools, additionally for intra- and inter-organization comparison, the system of evaluation models used, the provision for specific requisites for oncology, and the opportunity for mutual exchange of evaluation experiences.
Collapse
|
28
|
Mattei F, Schiavoni G, De Ninno A, Lucarini V, Sestili P, Sistigu A, Fragale A, Sanchez M, Spada M, Gerardino A, Belardelli F, Businaro L, Gabriele L. A multidisciplinary study usingin vivotumor models and microfluidic cell-on-chip approach to explore the cross-talk between cancer and immune cells. J Immunotoxicol 2014; 11:337-46. [DOI: 10.3109/1547691x.2014.891677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
|
29
|
Bracci L, La Sorsa V, Belardelli F, Proietti E. Type I interferons as vaccine adjuvants against infectious diseases and cancer. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 7:373-81. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.7.3.373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
30
|
Bracci L, Capone I, Moschella F, Proietti E, Belardelli F. Exploiting dendritic cells in the development of cancer vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 12:1195-210. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2013.836905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
|
31
|
Pupella V, Monteverde ME, Lombardo C, Belardelli F, Giacomini M. A semi-automatic web based tool for the selection of research projects reviewers. Stud Health Technol Inform 2014; 205:950-954. [PMID: 25160328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The correct evaluation of research proposals continues today to be problematic, and in many cases, grants and fellowships are subjected to this type of assessment. A web based semi-automatic tool to help in the selection of reviewers was developed. The core of the proposed system is the matching of the MeSH Descriptors of the publications submitted by the reviewers (for their accreditation) and the Descriptor linked to the research keywords, which were selected. Moreover, a citation related index was further calculated and adopted in order to discard not suitable reviewers. This tool was used as a support in a web site for the evaluation of candidates applying for a fellowship in the oncology field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pupella
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Eugenia Monteverde
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| | - Claudio Lombardo
- Alleanza Contro il Cancro, Via Giorgio Ribotta, 5, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Giacomini
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Maio M, Nicolay HJM, Ascierto PA, Belardelli F, Camerini R, Colombo MP, Queirolo P, Ridolfi R, Russo V, Parisi G, Cutaia O, Fonsatti E, Parmiani G. Tenth annual meeting of the Italian Network for Tumor Biotherapy (NIBIT), SIENA, Italy, November 5-7, 2012. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2013; 62:1851-8. [PMID: 24190546 PMCID: PMC11029494 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-013-1496-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Maio
- Division of Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Viale Mario Bracci n. 16, 53100, Siena, Italy,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Podo F, Carpinelli G, Ferretti A, Borghi P, Proietti E, Belardelli F. Activation of Glycerophosphocholine Phosphodiesterase in Friend Leukemia Cells Upon In-Vitro Induced Erythroid Differentiation.31P and1H NMR Studies. Isr J Chem 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/ijch.199200036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
34
|
Cardone M, Ikeda KN, Varano B, Belardelli F, Millefiorini E, Gessani S, Conti L. Opposite regulatory effects of IFN-β and IL-3 on C-type lectin receptors, antigen uptake, and phagocytosis in human macrophages. J Leukoc Biol 2013; 95:161-8. [PMID: 24018352 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.0313168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
CLRs are predominantly expressed in macrophages and myeloid DCs, where they play a key role in antigen recognition, scavenging, and host defense against pathogens. To identify novel immunoregulatory cytokines and networks involved in the control of these functions, we analyzed the coordinate effects of IFN-β and IL-3 on CLR expression, antigen uptake, and phagocytosis in human MDMs and MDDCs. We report that these cytokines exert opposite regulatory effects on the expression of CLRs and endocytic/phagocytic activities of MDMs. Specifically, IFN-β markedly inhibits the expression of MR and Dectin-1 during MDM differentiation and impairs the capacity of MDM to internalize antigens and phagocytose unopsonized Candida albicans. Conversely, IL-3 up-modulates MR, Dectin-1, and DC-SIGN, thus allowing more efficient uptake/phagocytosis. Interestingly, IL-3 counteracts the IFN-β effect on antigen uptake/processing by fully restoring MR expression in IFN-β-primed MDMs. In contrast, the phagocytic activity is only partially restored as a result of the failure of IL-3 in counteracting IFN-β-induced Dectin-1 suppression. Notably, IFN-β-mediated impairment of CLR expression/function occurs in macrophages but not in MDDCs. These results identify IFN-β and IL-3 as unrecognized regulators of CLR expression and function, unraveling a novel interaction between these cytokines instrumental for the regulation of the macrophage response to pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cardone
- 1.Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Parlato S, Bruni R, Fragapane P, Salerno D, Marcantonio C, Borghi P, Tataseo P, Ciccaglione AR, Presutti C, Romagnoli G, Bozzoni I, Belardelli F, Gabriele L. IFN-α regulates Blimp-1 expression via miR-23a and miR-125b in both monocytes-derived DC and pDC. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72833. [PMID: 23977359 PMCID: PMC3745402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Type I interferon (IFN-I) have emerged as crucial mediators of cellular signals controlling DC differentiation and function. Human DC differentiated from monocytes in the presence of IFN-α (IFN-α DC) show a partially mature phenotype and a special capability of stimulating CD4+ T cell and cross-priming CD8+ T cells. Likewise, plasmacytoid DC (pDC) are blood DC highly specialized in the production of IFN-α in response to viruses and other danger signals, whose functional features may be shaped by IFN-I. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms stimulated by IFN-α in driving human monocyte-derived DC differentiation and performed parallel studies on peripheral unstimulated and IFN-α-treated pDC. A specific miRNA signature was induced in IFN-α DC and selected miRNAs, among which miR-23a and miR-125b, proved to be negatively associated with up-modulation of Blimp-1 occurring during IFN-α-driven DC differentiation. Of note, monocyte-derived IFN-α DC and in vitro IFN-α-treated pDC shared a restricted pattern of miRNAs regulating Blimp-1 expression as well as some similar phenotypic, molecular and functional hallmarks, supporting the existence of a potential relationship between these DC populations. On the whole, these data uncover a new role of Blimp-1 in human DC differentiation driven by IFN-α and identify Blimp-1 as an IFN-α-mediated key regulator potentially accounting for shared functional features between IFN-α DC and pDC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Parlato
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bruni
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Fragapane
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Debora Salerno
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Marcantonio
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Borghi
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Tataseo
- Transfusional Medicine and Molecular Biology Laboratory, ASL, Avezzano-Sulmona, Sulmona, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Ciccaglione
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Presutti
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Romagnoli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Bozzoni
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Gabriele
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Moschella F, Torelli GF, Valentini M, Urbani F, Buccione C, Petrucci MT, Natalino F, Belardelli F, Foà R, Proietti E. Cyclophosphamide induces a type I interferon-associated sterile inflammatory response signature in cancer patients' blood cells: implications for cancer chemoimmunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19:4249-61. [PMID: 23759676 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-3666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Certain chemotherapeutics, particularly cyclophosphamide, can enhance the antitumor efficacy of immunotherapy. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of cyclophosphamide-mediated immunomodulation is needed to improve the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Transcript profiling and flow cytometry were used to explore cyclophosphamide-induced immunoadjuvanticity in patients with hematologic malignancies. RESULTS A single high-dose treatment rapidly (1-2 days) induced peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) transcriptional modulation, leading to reduction of cell-cycle and biosynthetic/metabolic processes and augmentation of DNA damage and cell death pathways (p53 signaling pathway), death-related scavenger receptors, antigen processing/presentation mediators, T-cell activation markers and, noticeably, a type I IFN (IFN-I) signature (OAS1, CXCL10, BAFF, IFITM2, IFI6, IRF5, IRF7, STAT2, UBE2L6, UNC93B1, ISG20L1, TYK2). Moreover, IFN-I-induced proinflammatory mediators (CXCL10, CCL2, IL-8, and BAFF) were increased in patients' plasma. Accordingly, cyclophosphamide induced the expansion/activation of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes, of HLA-DR(+), IL-8RA(+), and MARCO(+) monocytes/dendritic cells, and of CD69(+), OX40(+), and IL-8RA(+) lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these data identify the cyclophosphamide-induced immunomodulatory factors in humans and indicate that preconditioning chemotherapy may stimulate immunity as a consequence of danger perception associated with blood cell death, through p53 and IFN-I-related mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Moschella
- Department of Hematology Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Bracci L, Schiavoni G, Sistigu A, Belardelli F. Immune-based mechanisms of cytotoxic chemotherapy: implications for the design of novel and rationale-based combined treatments against cancer. Cell Death Differ 2013; 21:15-25. [PMID: 23787994 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2013.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 631] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Revised: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional anticancer chemotherapy has been historically thought to act through direct killing of tumor cells. This concept stems from the fact that cytotoxic drugs interfere with DNA synthesis and replication. Accumulating evidence, however, indicates that the antitumor activities of chemotherapy also rely on several off-target effects, especially directed to the host immune system, that cooperate for successful tumor eradication. Chemotherapeutic agents stimulate both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system through several modalities: (i) by promoting specific rearrangements on dying tumor cells, which render them visible to the immune system; (ii) by influencing the homeostasis of the hematopoietic compartment through transient lymphodepletion followed by rebound replenishment of immune cell pools; (iii) by subverting tumor-induced immunosuppressive mechanisms and (iv) by exerting direct or indirect stimulatory effects on immune effectors. Among the indirect ways of immune cell stimulation, some cytotoxic drugs have been shown to induce an immunogenic type of cell death in tumor cells, resulting in the emission of specific signals that trigger phagocytosis of cell debris and promote the maturation of dendritic cells, ultimately resulting in the induction of potent antitumor responses. Here, we provide an extensive overview of the multiple immune-based mechanisms exploited by the most commonly employed cytotoxic drugs, with the final aim of identifying prerequisites for optimal combination with immunotherapy strategies for the development of more effective treatments against cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Bracci
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Bravo E, Napolitano M, Santoro F, Belardelli F, Federici A. The Italian Hub of Population Biobanks as a potential tool for improving public health stewardship. Biopreserv Biobank 2013; 11:173-5. [PMID: 23840926 PMCID: PMC3696929 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2012.0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In Italy, a country that is experiencing the decentralization of health services from central to regional level of government, the Minister of Health is proposing stewardship as a model of governance for the public health system. Stewardship favors efficiency in the policy decision-making process, based on reciprocal trust, and tends to be more ethical. The embryonic proposal to test stewardship in the field of population-based research was advanced during the launching conference Challenges and Opportunities of the Italian Hub of Population Biobanks (HIBP) held in 2012 in Rome. Resources collected by population biobanks (i.e., blood and its derivatives, and/or DNA isolated from any type of biological samples and relative associated data) have, in fact, a recognized scientific value for the investigation of links between genetics, health and life style, and epidemiological outcomes through population biobank-based studies, and are essential to planning effective and qualified interventions for public health. The current economic crisis requires a strong push to rationalize investment in health policies. In particular, population biobank-based studies require financial commitment, often of long duration, for the realization of their goals. Thus, innovative solutions to allow fast integration of scientific knowledge into political health strategy are required. During the conference in Rome, it was proposed to test the stewardship model by its application to the inter-relationship between population biobank-based studies and disease prevention. Stewardship minimizes barriers to innovation and uses information more effectively to better develop new strategies for prevention and/or treatment. In the months following the conference, the proposal was defined more clearly, and the HIBP network became a potential tool for testing and implementing this model in the Italian Public Health prevention system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Bravo
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Napolitano
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Santoro
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Rocca S, Schiavoni G, Sali M, Anfossi AG, Abalsamo L, Palucci I, Mattei F, Sanchez M, Giagu A, Antuofermo E, Fadda G, Belardelli F, Delogu G, Gabriele L. Interferon regulatory factor 8-deficiency determines massive neutrophil recruitment but T cell defect in fast growing granulomas during tuberculosis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62751. [PMID: 23717393 PMCID: PMC3663794 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Following Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, immune cell recruitment in lungs is pivotal in establishing protective immunity through granuloma formation and neogenesis of lymphoid structures (LS). Interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF-8) plays an important role in host defense against Mtb, although the mechanisms driving anti-mycobacterial immunity remain unclear. In this study, IRF-8 deficient mice (IRF-8⁻/⁻) were aerogenously infected with a low-dose Mtb Erdman virulent strain and the course of infection was compared with that induced in wild-type (WT-B6) counterparts. Tuberculosis (TB) progression was examined in both groups using pathological, microbiological and immunological parameters. Following Mtb exposure, the bacterial load in lungs and spleens progressed comparably in the two groups for two weeks, after which IRF-8⁻/⁻ mice developed a fatal acute TB whereas in WT-B6 the disease reached a chronic stage. In lungs of IRF-8⁻/⁻, uncontrolled growth of pulmonary granulomas and impaired development of LS were observed, associated with unbalanced homeostatic chemokines, progressive loss of infiltrating T lymphocytes and massive prevalence of neutrophils at late infection stages. Our data define IRF-8 as an essential factor for the maintenance of proper immune cell recruitment in granulomas and LS required to restrain Mtb infection. Moreover, IRF-8⁻/⁻ mice, relying on a common human and mouse genetic mutation linked to susceptibility/severity of mycobacterial diseases, represent a valuable model of acute TB for comparative studies with chronically-infected congenic WT-B6 for dissecting protective and pathological immune reactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Rocca
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Schiavoni
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Sali
- Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Laura Abalsamo
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivana Palucci
- Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Mattei
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Sanchez
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Giagu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Fadda
- Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Belardelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Delogu
- Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Gabriele
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Businaro L, De Ninno A, Schiavoni G, Lucarini V, Ciasca G, Gerardino A, Belardelli F, Gabriele L, Mattei F. Cross talk between cancer and immune cells: exploring complex dynamics in a microfluidic environment. Lab Chip 2013; 13:229-39. [PMID: 23108434 DOI: 10.1039/c2lc40887b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The reconstitution of a complex microenvironment on microfluidic chips is one of the cornerstones to demonstrate the improved flexibility of these devices with respect to macroscale in vitro approaches. In this work, we realised an on-chip model to investigate the interactions between cancer and immune system. To this end, we exploited mice deficient (Knock Out, KO) for interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF-8), a transcription factor essential for the induction of competent immune responses, to investigate how IRF-8 gene expression contributes to regulate immune and melanoma cells crosstalk. In vivo, IRF-8 KO mice are highly permissive to B16 melanoma growth due to failure of immune cells to properly exert immunosurveillance. B16 cells and immune cells isolated from the spleen of wild type (WT) and IRF-8 KO mice were co-cultured for one week in a PDMS platform and monitored by fluorescence microscopy and time-lapse recordings. We observed that WT spleen cells migrated through microchannels connecting the culturing chambers towards B16 cells and tightly interacted with tumor cells, forming clusters of activation. In contrast, IRF-8 KO immune cells poorly interacted with melanoma cells. In parallel, B16 cells were more attracted towards microchannels, acquiring a more invasive behaviour in the presence of IRF-8 KO spleen cells, with respect to WT cells. Our results strongly confirm the in vivo observations and highlight the value of on-chip co-culture systems as a useful in vitro tool to elucidate the reciprocal interactions between cancer cells and host immune system, with relevant impact in the development of more effective anti-tumor therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Businaro
- Italian National Research Council-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (CNR-IFN), Via Cineto Romano 42, Rome, 00156, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Maio M, Nicolay HJM, Ascierto PA, Belardelli F, Camerini R, Colombo MP, Queirolo P, Ridolfi R, Russo V, Parisi G, Fonsatti E, Papamichail M, Parmiani G. Ninth annual meeting of the Italian Network for Tumor Biotherapy (NIBIT), Siena, Italy, October 19-22, 2011: New perspectives in the immunotherapy of cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2012; 61:1599-608. [PMID: 22736255 PMCID: PMC11029342 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-012-1304-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 05/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Maio
- Division of Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Viale Mario Bracci n 16, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Aricò E, Belardelli F. Interferon-α as antiviral and antitumor vaccine adjuvants: mechanisms of action and response signature. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2012; 32:235-47. [PMID: 22490303 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2011.0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-α (IFN-α) are cytokines endowed with multiple biologic effects, including activities on cells of the immune system, which are important for inducing protective antiviral and antitumor responses. Studies in mouse models have been instrumental for understanding the immune adjuvant activity of these cytokines and some of their mechanisms of action. In particular, recent studies conducted on both mouse and human models suggest that IFN-α act as effective immune adjuvants for inducing antiviral and antitumor immunity and that the effects of IFN on the differentiation and activation of dendritic cells (DC) play an important role in the induction of protective responses. In spite of the long record of IFN-α clinical use, a few clinical trials have attempted to evaluate the efficacy of these cytokines used as vaccine adjuvants. Recently, studies on the IFN-α signature in cells from patients treated with IFN-α under different modalities and various clinical settings have provided important insights for understanding the in vivo mechanisms of the IFN immune adjuvant activity in humans and may contribute to the identification of molecular markers with a clinical response. These studies further support the interest of evaluating the clinical efficacy of IFN-α when used as a vaccine adjuvant and also suggest that the DC generated in vitro from monocytes in the presence of this cytokine can exhibit a special advantage for the development of effective therapeutic vaccination strategies in cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Proietti E, Moschella F, Capone I, Belardelli F. Exploitation of the propulsive force of chemotherapy for improving the response to cancer immunotherapy. Mol Oncol 2011; 6:1-14. [PMID: 22177803 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2011.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2011] [Accepted: 11/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the early clinical studies of cancer immunotherapy, the question arose as to whether it was possible to combine it with standard cancer treatments, mostly chemotherapy. The answer, now, is past history. The combined use of immunotherapy and chemotherapy is not only possible but, in certain cases, can be advantageous, depending on the drug, the dose and the combination modalities. In order to find the best synergisms between the two treatments and to turn weak immunotherapeutic interventions into potent anticancer instruments, it is mandatory to understand the complex mechanisms responsible for the positive interactions between chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In this article, we review the current knowledge on mechanisms involved in the immunostimulating activity of chemotherapy and summarize the main studies in both mouse models and patients aimed at exploiting such mechanisms for enhancing the response to cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Proietti
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Conti L, Cardone M, Ikeda K, Varano B, Belardelli F, Gessani S. PS2-001. Regulation of mannose receptor expression, phagocytosis and antigen processing in human macrophages: role of type I IFN and IL-3. Cytokine 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2011.07.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
45
|
Rizza P, Capone I, Moretti F, Proietti E, Belardelli F. IFN-α as a vaccine adjuvant: recent insights into the mechanisms and perspectives for its clinical use. Expert Rev Vaccines 2011; 10:487-98. [PMID: 21506646 DOI: 10.1586/erv.11.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The IFN-α family are pleiotropic cytokines with the longest record of clinical use. Over the last decade, new biological effects of IFN-α on immune cells, including dendritic cells, have been described, supporting the concept that these cytokines can act as effective vaccine adjuvants. Recently, an important advance in our understanding of the mechanisms of interferon adjuvant activity has been achieved. Some clinical studies have been performed to assess the adjuvant activity in individuals immunized with preventive vaccines, showing variable results depending on interferon/vaccine formulation and vaccinated subjects. In spite of many data in animal models, little information is available on the possible advantage of utilizing IFN-α as an adjuvant for cancer vaccines in humans. Further clinical trials specifically designed to explore vaccine adjuvant activity are needed in order to define the best conditions for using IFN-α or IFN-α-conditioned dendritic cells for the development of therapeutic vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rizza
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Belardelli F, Rizza P, Moretti F, Carella C, Galli MC, Migliaccio G. Translational research on advanced therapies. Ann Ist Super Sanita 2011; 47:72-8. [PMID: 21430343 DOI: 10.4415/ann_11_01_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Fostering translational research of advanced therapies has become a major priority of both scientific community and national governments. Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) are a new medicinal product category comprising gene therapy and cell-based medicinal products as well as tissue engineered medicinal products. ATMP development opens novel avenues for therapeutic approaches in numerous diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. However, there are important bottlenecks for their development due to the complexity of the regulatory framework, the high costs and the needs for good manufacturing practice (GMP) facilities and new end-points for clinical experimentation. Thus, a strategic cooperation between different stakeholders (academia, industry and experts in regulatory issues) is strongly needed. Recently, a great importance has been given to research infrastructures dedicated to foster translational medicine of advanced therapies. Some ongoing European initiatives in this field are presented and their potential impact is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Belardelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Neuroscienze, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Maio M, Nicolay HJM, Ascierto PA, Belardelli F, Camerini R, Colombo MP, Queirolo P, Ridolfi R, Russo V, Fonsatti E, Parmiani G. Eighth annual meeting of the Italian network for tumor biotherapy (NIBIT), Siena, October 7-9, 2010. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2011; 60:901-7. [PMID: 21431916 PMCID: PMC11028668 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-011-1006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2011] [Accepted: 02/24/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Maio
- Division of Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Strada delle Scotte 14, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Aricò E, Castiello L, Urbani F, Rizza P, Panelli MC, Wang E, Marincola FM, Belardelli F. Concomitant detection of IFNα signature and activated monocyte/dendritic cell precursors in the peripheral blood of IFNα-treated subjects at early times after repeated local cytokine treatments. J Transl Med 2011; 9:67. [PMID: 21586124 PMCID: PMC3115876 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-9-67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2011] [Accepted: 05/17/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interferons alpha (IFNα) are the cytokines most widely used in clinical medicine for the treatment of cancer and viral infections. Among the immunomodulatory activities possibly involved in their therapeutic efficacy, the importance of IFNα effects on dendritic cells (DC) differentiation and activation has been considered. Despite several studies exploiting microarray technology to characterize IFNα mechanisms of action, there is currently no consensus on the core signature of these cytokines in the peripheral blood of IFNα-treated individuals, as well as on the existence of blood genomic and proteomic markers of low-dose IFNα administered as a vaccine adjuvant. METHODS Gene profiling analysis with microarray was performed on PBMC isolated from melanoma patients and healthy individuals 24 hours after each repeated injection of low-dose IFNα, administered as vaccine adjuvant in two separate clinical trials. At the same time points, cytofluorimetric analysis was performed on CD14+ monocytes, to detect the phenotypic modifications exerted by IFNα on antigen presenting cells precursors. RESULTS An IFNα signature was consistently observed in both clinical settings 24 hours after each repeated administration of the cytokine. The observed modulation was transient, and did not reach a steady state level refractory to further stimulations. The molecular signature observed ex vivo largely matched the one detected in CD14+ monocytes exposed in vitro to IFNα, including the induction of CXCL10 at the transcriptional and protein level. Interestingly, IFNα ex vivo signature was paralleled by an increase in the percentage and expression of costimulatory molecules by circulating CD14+/CD16+ monocytes, indicated as natural precursors of DC in response to danger signals. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide new insights into the identification of a well defined molecular signature as biomarker of IFNα administered as immune adjuvants, and for the characterization of new molecular and cellular players, such as CXCL10 and CD14+/CD16+ cells, mediating and possibly predicting patient response to these cytokines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aricò
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Moschella F, Valentini M, Aricò E, Macchia I, Sestili P, D'Urso MT, Alessandri C, Belardelli F, Proietti E. Unraveling cancer chemoimmunotherapy mechanisms by gene and protein expression profiling of responses to cyclophosphamide. Cancer Res 2011; 71:3528-39. [PMID: 21444678 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-4523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Certain chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cyclophosphamide (CTX), can enhance the antitumor efficacy of immunotherapy because of their capacity to modulate innate and adaptive immunity. Indeed, it has been argued that this capacity may be more significant to chemotherapeutic efficacy in general than is currently appreciated. To gain insights into the core mechanisms of chemoimmunotherapy, we methodically profiled the effects of CTX on gene expression in bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood, and on cytokine expression in plasma and bone marrow of tumor-bearing mice. Gene and protein expression were modulated early and transiently by CTX, leading to upregulation of a variety of immunomodulatory factors, including danger signals, pattern recognition receptors, inflammatory mediators, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors. These factors are involved in sensing CTX myelotoxicity and activating repair mechanisms, which, in turn, stimulate immunoactivation events that promote efficacy. In particular, CTX induced a T-helper 17 (Th17)-related gene signature associated with an increase in Th17, Th1, and activated CD25(+)CD4(+)Foxp3(-) T lymphocytes and a slight recovery of regulatory T cells. By analyzing gene and protein expression kinetics and their relationship to the antitumor efficacy of different therapeutic schedules of combination, we determined that optimal timing for performing adoptive immunotherapy is approximately 1 day after CTX treatment. Together, our findings highlight factors that may propel the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy, offering a mechanistic glimpse of the important immune modulatory effects of CTX.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Moschella
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Lorenzi S, Mattei F, Sistigu A, Bracci L, Spadaro F, Sanchez M, Spada M, Belardelli F, Gabriele L, Schiavoni G. Type I IFNs control antigen retention and survival of CD8α(+) dendritic cells after uptake of tumor apoptotic cells leading to cross-priming. J Immunol 2011; 186:5142-50. [PMID: 21441457 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1004163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cross-presentation is a crucial mechanism for generating CD8 T cell responses against exogenous Ags, such as dead cell-derived Ag, and is mainly fulfilled by CD8α(+) dendritic cells (DC). Apoptotic cell death occurring in steady-state conditions is largely tolerogenic, thus hampering the onset of effector CD8 T cell responses. Type I IFNs (IFN-I) have been shown to promote cross-priming of CD8 T cells against soluble or viral Ags, partly through stimulation of DC. By using UV-irradiated OVA-expressing mouse EG7 thymoma cells, we show that IFN-I promote intracellular Ag persistence in CD8α(+) DC that have engulfed apoptotic EG7 cells, regulating intracellular pH, thus enhancing cross-presentation of apoptotic EG7-derived OVA Ag by CD8α(+) DC. Notably, IFN-I also sustain the survival of Ag-bearing CD8α(+) DC by selective upmodulation of antiapoptotic genes and stimulate the activation of cross-presenting DC. The ensemble of these effects results in the induction of CD8 T cell effector response in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our data indicate that IFN-I cross-prime CD8 T cells against apoptotic cell-derived Ag both by licensing DC and by enhancing cross-presentation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Lorenzi
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Neuroscienze, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|