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Kidwai N, Chen M, Postow MA, Hassel J, Callahan M. Breaking the Mold: Trailblazing Melanoma Therapy Beyond Checkpoint Through Innovative Approaches. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2024; 44:e432462. [PMID: 38768421 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_432462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Melanoma has long been a difficult malignancy to treat with low response rates to standard chemotherapies. In recent years, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated promising results, paving the way for the use of the rapidly developing novel immune targeting therapies. In this review, we look beyond immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments and summarize several emerging treatment strategies for melanoma, including neoantigen vaccines, conventional antibody drug-conjugates, and bispecific T-cell engager therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neiha Kidwai
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | - Monica Chen
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Michael A Postow
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
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Ragoonanan D, Khazal SJ, Abdel-Azim H, McCall D, Cuglievan B, Tambaro FP, Ahmad AH, Rowan CM, Gutierrez C, Schadler K, Li S, Di Nardo M, Chi L, Gulbis AM, Shoberu B, Mireles ME, McArthur J, Kapoor N, Miller J, Fitzgerald JC, Tewari P, Petropoulos D, Gill JB, Duncan CN, Lehmann LE, Hingorani S, Angelo JR, Swinford RD, Steiner ME, Hernandez Tejada FN, Martin PL, Auletta J, Choi SW, Bajwa R, Dailey Garnes N, Kebriaei P, Rezvani K, Wierda WG, Neelapu SS, Shpall EJ, Corbacioglu S, Mahadeo KM. Diagnosis, grading and management of toxicities from immunotherapies in children, adolescents and young adults with cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2021; 18:435-453. [PMID: 33608690 PMCID: PMC9393856 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-021-00474-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies are associated with remarkable therapeutic response rates but also with unique and severe toxicities, which potentially result in rapid deterioration in health. The number of clinical applications for novel immune effector-cell therapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing cells, and other immunotherapies, such as immune-checkpoint inhibitors, is increasing. In this Consensus Statement, members of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Cancer Immunotherapy (HCT-CI) Subgroup, Paediatric Diseases Working Party (PDWP) of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), Supportive Care Committee of the Pediatric Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Consortium (PTCTC) and MD Anderson Cancer Center CAR T Cell Therapy-Associated Toxicity (CARTOX) Program collaborated to provide updated comprehensive recommendations for the care of children, adolescents and young adults receiving cancer immunotherapies. With these recommendations, we address emerging toxicity mitigation strategies, we advocate for the characterization of baseline organ function according to age and discipline-specific criteria, we recommend early critical care assessment when indicated, with consideration of reversibility of underlying pathology (instead of organ failure scores) to guide critical care interventions, and we call for researchers, regulatory agencies and sponsors to support and facilitate early inclusion of young patients with cancer in well-designed clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dristhi Ragoonanan
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Sajad J Khazal
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hisham Abdel-Azim
- Department of Pediatrics, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David McCall
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Branko Cuglievan
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Ali Haider Ahmad
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Courtney M Rowan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Cristina Gutierrez
- Department of Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Keri Schadler
- Department of Pediatrics Research, Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shulin Li
- Department of Pediatrics Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matteo Di Nardo
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Chi
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Neuroradiology Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alison M Gulbis
- Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Basirat Shoberu
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria E Mireles
- Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer McArthur
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Neena Kapoor
- Department of Pediatrics, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Miller
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Julie C Fitzgerald
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Priti Tewari
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Demetrios Petropoulos
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jonathan B Gill
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christine N Duncan
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Leslie E Lehmann
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sangeeta Hingorani
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Seattle Childrens and the Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joseph R Angelo
- Renal Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rita D Swinford
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Marie E Steiner
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Fiorela N Hernandez Tejada
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul L Martin
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Duke Children's Hospital, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jeffery Auletta
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant and Infectious Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sung Won Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rajinder Bajwa
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Natalie Dailey Garnes
- Department of Infectious Disease, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Partow Kebriaei
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William G Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sattva S Neelapu
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Shpall
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Selim Corbacioglu
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kris M Mahadeo
- Department of Pediatrics, CARTOX Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Anderson TS, Wooster AL, La-Beck NM, Saha D, Lowe DB. Antibody-drug conjugates: an evolving approach for melanoma treatment. Melanoma Res 2021; 31:1-17. [PMID: 33165241 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma continues to be an aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer while therapeutic options are continuously developing in an effort to provide long-term solutions for patients. Immunotherapeutic strategies incorporating antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have seen varied levels of success across tumor types and represent a promising approach for melanoma. This review will explore the successes of FDA-approved ADCs to date compared to the ongoing efforts of melanoma-targeting ADCs. The challenges and opportunities for future therapeutic development are also examined to distinguish how ADCs may better impact individuals with malignancies such as melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ninh M La-Beck
- Departments of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology
- Pharmacy Practice, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, Texas, USA
| | | | - Devin B Lowe
- Departments of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology
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Munir S, Frøsig TM, Hansen M, Svane IM, Andersen MH. Characterization of T-cell responses against IκBα in cancer patients. Oncoimmunology 2021; 1:1290-1296. [PMID: 23243592 PMCID: PMC3518501 DOI: 10.4161/onci.21625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The nuclear factor κ light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) is constitutively active in most cancers, controlling multiple cellular processes including proliferation, invasion and resistance to therapy. NFκB is primarily regulated through the association with inhibitory proteins that are known as inhibitors of NFκB (IκBs). Increased NFκB activity in tumor cells has been correlated with decrease stability of IκB proteins, in particular IκBα. In responso to a large number of stimuli, IκB proteins are degraded by the proteasome. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize HLA-restricted antigenic peptides that are generated by proteasomal degradation in target cells. In the present study, we demonstrate the presence of naturally occurring IκBα -specific T cells in the peripheral blood of patients suffering from several unrelated tumor types, i.e., breast cancer, malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, but not of healthy controls. Furthermore, we show that such IBα-specific T cells are granzyme B-releasing, cytotoxic cells. Hence, the increased proteasomal degradation of IκBα in cancer induces IκBα-specific CTLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamaila Munir
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT); Department of Hematology and Oncology; Copenhagen University Hospital; Herlev, Denmark
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González-Cruz C, Ferrándiz-Pulido C, García-Patos Briones V. Melanoma in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients. ACTAS DERMO-SIFILIOGRAFICAS 2020; 112:216-224. [PMID: 33197437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we analyze the 3 clinical scenarios related to the development of melanoma in solid organ transplant recipients: melanoma in patients with a history of the tumor prior to a transplant, de novo melanoma following a transplant, and melanoma of donor origin. The main factors to consider in organ-transplant candidates with a history of melanoma are tumor stage, presence or absence of residual disease, and time from diagnosis to transplantation. Solid organ transplant recipients have a greater risk of melanoma than immunocompetent individuals. Mortality is also higher in this population, especially in patients with advanced melanoma, as treatment is especially challenging. Clinical history and physical examination provide the most useful information for preventing donor-to-recipient transmission of melanoma. Donor-derived melanoma has a very poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- C González-Cruz
- Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Facultad de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
| | - C Ferrándiz-Pulido
- Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Facultad de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - V García-Patos Briones
- Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Facultad de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
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Aiman AQ, Nesrin M, Amal A, Nassar AD. A new tool for early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis using combined biomarkers; synovial MAGE-1 mRNA and serum anti-CCP and RF. Pan Afr Med J 2020; 36:270. [PMID: 33088399 PMCID: PMC7545977 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.270.21827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. Biomarkers have the potential to aid in the clinical diagnosis of the disease, or to provide means of detecting early signs of the disease. Evaluating Melanoma associated antigen genes (MAGE-1) mRNA expression rate in synovial fluid cells and serum levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) for RA early diagnosis. Methods a total of 213 subjects were enrolled in the study, 135 RA patients and 78 normal subjects with traumatic knee joints (control group). Serum RF and anti-CCP were estimated quantitatively using ELISA. MAGE-1 mRNA expression rate was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results a significant increase in serum levels of RF IgM and anti-CCP in RA patients compared to the controls. A positively significant correlation was found between serum anti-CCP and RF IgM. The expression rate of MAGE-1 mRNA was 100% in RA patients versus the controls (0%). The specificity and the sensitivity of the three biomarkers was 100%. Conclusion the high expression rate of MAGE-1 in synovial fluid cells of RA patients is encouraging its utilization as a diagnostic biomarker for RA. The combined use of MAGE-1 transcript in synovial fluid cells, serum RF and anti-CCP is recommended for improving early diagnostic ability of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Al-Qtaitat Aiman
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Mutah, Jordan
| | - Mwafi Nesrin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Mutah, Jordan
| | - Albtoosh Amal
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Mutah, Jordan
| | - Al-Dalaien Nassar
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Jordan University Hospital, The University of Jordan, Mutah, Jordan
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Bellenghi M, Puglisi R, Pontecorvi G, De Feo A, Carè A, Mattia G. Sex and Gender Disparities in Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1819. [PMID: 32645881 PMCID: PMC7408637 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, the total incidence of cutaneous melanoma is higher in men than in women, with some differences related to ethnicity and age and, above all, sex and gender. Differences exist in respect to the anatomic localization of melanoma, in that it is more frequent on the trunk in men and on the lower limbs in women. A debated issue is if-and to what extent-melanoma development can be attributed to gender-specific behaviors or to biologically intrinsic differences. In the search for factors responsible for the divergences, a pivotal role of sex hormones has been observed, although conflicting results indicate the involvement of other mechanisms. The presence on the X chromosome of numerous miRNAs and coding genes playing immunological roles represents another important factor, whose relevance can be even increased by the incomplete X chromosome random inactivation. Considering the known advantages of the female immune system, a different cancer immune surveillance efficacy was suggested to explain some sex disparities. Indeed, the complexity of this picture emerged when the recently developed immunotherapies unexpectedly showed better improvements in men than in women. Altogether, these data support the necessity of further studies, which consider enrolling a balanced number of men and women in clinical trials to better understand the differences and obtain actual gender-equitable healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bellenghi
- Center for Gender-specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.B.); (R.P.); (G.P.); (G.M.)
| | - Rossella Puglisi
- Center for Gender-specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.B.); (R.P.); (G.P.); (G.M.)
| | - Giada Pontecorvi
- Center for Gender-specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.B.); (R.P.); (G.P.); (G.M.)
| | - Alessandra De Feo
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Carè
- Center for Gender-specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.B.); (R.P.); (G.P.); (G.M.)
| | - Gianfranco Mattia
- Center for Gender-specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.B.); (R.P.); (G.P.); (G.M.)
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Brocca G, Ferraresso S, Zamboni C, Martinez-Merlo EM, Ferro S, Goldschmidt MH, Castagnaro M. Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization Analysis Reveals Significantly Enriched Pathways in Canine Oral Melanoma. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1397. [PMID: 31921654 PMCID: PMC6920211 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Mucosal Melanoma (hMM) is an aggressive neoplasm of neuroectodermal origin with distinctive features from the more common cutaneous form of malignant melanoma (cMM). At the molecular level, hMMs are characterized by large chromosomal aberrations rather than single-nucleotide mutations, typically observed in cMM. Given the scarcity of available cases, there have been many attempts to establish a reliable animal model. In pet dogs, Canine Oral Melanoma (COM) is the most common malignant tumor of the oral cavity, sharing clinical and histological aspects with hMM. To improve the knowledge about COM's genomic DNA alterations, in the present work, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of COM from different European archives were collected to set up an array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) analysis to estimate recurrent Copy Number Aberrations (CNAs). DNA was extracted in parallel from tumor and healthy fractions and 19 specimens were successfully submitted to labeling and competitive hybridization. Data were statistically analyzed through GISTIC2.0 and a pathway-enrichment analysis was performed with ClueGO. Recurrent gained regions were detected, affecting chromosomes CFA 10, 13 and 30, while lost regions involved chromosomes CFA 10, 11, 22, and 30. In particular, CFA 13 showed a whole-chromosome gain in 37% of the samples, while CFA 22 showed a whole-chromosome loss in 25%. A distinctive sigmoidal trend was observed in CFA 10 and 30 in 25 and 30% of the samples, respectively. Comparative analysis revealed that COM and hMM share common chromosomal changes in 32 regions. MAPK- and PI3K-related genes were the most frequently involved, while pathway analysis revealed statistically significant perturbation of cancer-related biological processes such as immune response, drug metabolism, melanocytes homeostasis, and neo-angiogenesis. The latter is a new evidence of a significant involvement of neovascularization-related pathways in COMs and can provide the rationale for future application in anti-cancer targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginevra Brocca
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Serena Ferraresso
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Clarissa Zamboni
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Ferro
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Michael H Goldschmidt
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Massimo Castagnaro
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
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Melanoma and autoimmunity: spontaneous regressions as a possible model for new therapeutic approaches. Melanoma Res 2019; 29:231-236. [PMID: 30615013 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Until now, malignancy has been considered a cellular problem represented by the perturbed (uncontrolled) division of the cells associated with invasion and metastasis. Contrary to this classical approach, a new perspective suggests that cancerous disease is, in fact, a supracellular problem represented by inadequate evolution of complex supracellular processes (embryogenesis, development, regeneration, etc.). Such complex processes would be disconnected from the real needs of the body, inducing unnecessary or even dangerous events such as an exacerbated rate of the cell division, angiogenesis, immunosuppression (specific to embryogenesis and melanoma), invasion (mediated by trophoblastic/placental factors in melanoma), and migration (specific to neural crest cells, which generate melanocytes - the most common origin for melanoma). As a result, a correct and comprehensive interpretation of cancer (causes, evolution, therapy, and prevention) should be conducted from a supracellular perspective. After presenting the supracellular perspective, this article further investigates the favorable evolution of malignant melanoma in two distinct situations: in patients receiving no therapy and in patients treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors. In patients receiving no therapy, spontaneous regressions of melanoma could be the result of several autoimmune reactions (inducing not only melanoma regression but also vitiligo, an autoimmune event frequently associated with melanoma). Patients treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors develop similar autoimmune reactions, which are clearly correlated with better therapeutic results. The best example is vitiligo, which is considered a positive prognostic factor for patients receiving immune-checkpoint inhibitors. This finding indicates that immune-checkpoint inhibitors induce distinct types of autoimmune events, some corresponding to specific favorable autoimmune mechanisms (favoring tumor regression) and others to common unfavorable adverse reactions (which should be avoided or minimized). In conclusion, the spectrum of autoimmune reactions induced by immune-checkpoint inhibitors should be restricted in the near future to only these specific favorable autoimmune mechanisms. In this way, the unnecessary autoimmune reactions/autoaggressions could be avoided (a better quality of life), and treatment specificity and efficiency should increase (a higher response rate for melanoma therapy).
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Kroll AV, Jiang Y, Zhou J, Holay M, Fang RH, Zhang L. Biomimetic Nanoparticle Vaccines for Cancer Therapy. ADVANCED BIOSYSTEMS 2019; 3:e1800219. [PMID: 31728404 PMCID: PMC6855307 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
It is currently understood that, in order for a tumor to successfully grow, it must evolve means of evading immune surveillance. In the past several decades, researchers have leveraged increases in our knowledge of tumor immunology to develop therapies capable of augmenting endogenous immunity and eliciting strong antitumor responses. In particular, the goal of anticancer vaccination is to train the immune system to properly utilize its own resources in the fight against cancer. Although attractive in principle, there are currently only limited examples of anticancer vaccines that have been successfully translated to the clinic. Recently, there has been a significant push towards the use of nanotechnology for designing vaccine candidates that exhibit enhanced potency and specificity. In this progress report, we discuss recent developments in the field of anticancer nanovaccines. By taking advantage of the flexibility offered by nanomedicine to purposefully program immune responses, this new generation of vaccines has the potential to address many of the hurdles facing traditional platforms. A specific emphasis is placed on the emergence of cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, a novel biomimetic platform that can be used to generate personalized nanovaccines that elicit strong, multi-antigenic antitumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley V Kroll
- Department of NanoEngineering and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Yao Jiang
- Department of NanoEngineering and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jiarong Zhou
- Department of NanoEngineering and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Maya Holay
- Department of NanoEngineering and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ronnie H Fang
- Department of NanoEngineering and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Liangfang Zhang
- Department of NanoEngineering and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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Abstract
T-cell lymphomas (TCL) are uncommon non-Hodgkin lymphomas that often have an aggressive clinical course. Patients typically have limited treatment options upon relapse and a dismal prognosis after progression despite newly approved therapies. New therapeutic approaches for these orphan diseases are very much needed and a greater understanding of the role of nonmalignant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment may allow for an improved antitumor immune response. The tumor microenvironment is a key component in tumor evasion and typically results in an ineffective T-cell response to the tumor cells despite a significant inflammatory response. A better understanding of the tumor microenvironment therefore, in an effort to overcome the barriers to an effective immune response, would help in developing novel therapeutic approaches to treat and improve outcomes of these diseases. Immune checkpoint blockade to reinvigorate suppressed T-cell, or modulation of the CD47-SIRPalpha axis to promote macrophage phagocytosis, would be such targets. However, whether modulating the immune response using each pathway alone or whether a combination approach is necessary has yet to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Nora Bennani
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Stephen M Ansell
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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13
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Survivin-Based Treatment Strategies for Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19040971. [PMID: 29587347 PMCID: PMC5979467 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19040971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Survivin, an anti-apoptotic molecule abundantly expressed in most human neoplasms, has been reported to contribute to cancer initiation and drug resistance in a wide variety of human tumors. Efficient downregulation of survivin can sensitize tumor cells to various therapeutic interventions, generating considerable efforts in its validation as a new target in cancer therapy. This review thoroughly analyzes up-to-date information on the potential of survivin as a therapeutic target for new anticancer treatments. The literature dealing with the therapeutic targeting of survivin will be reviewed, discussing specifically squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), and with emphasis on the last clinical trials. This review gives insight into the recent developments undertaken in validating various treatment strategies that target survivin in SCCs and analyze the translational possibility, identifying those strategies that seem to be the closest to being incorporated into clinical practice. The most recent developments, such as dominant-negative survivin mutants, RNA interference, anti-sense oligonucleotides, small-molecule inhibitors, and peptide-based immunotherapy, seem to be helpful for effectively downregulating survivin expression and reducing tumor growth potential, increasing the apoptotic rate, and sensitizing tumor cells to chemo- and radiotherapy. However, selective and efficient targeting of survivin in clinical trials still poses a major challenge.
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Kelly M, McNeel D, Fisch P, Malkovsky M. Immunological considerations underlying heat shock protein-mediated cancer vaccine strategies. Immunol Lett 2017; 193:1-10. [PMID: 29129721 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The success of active immunotherapies in the prevention of many infectious diseases over the course of over 200 years has lead scientists to wonder if the same principles could be applied to cancer. Antigen-specific active immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer have been researched for over two decades, however, the overwhelming majority of these studies have failed to stimulate robust clinical responses. It is clear that current active immunotherapy research should incorporate methods to increase the immunostimulatory capacity of these therapies. To directly address this need, we propose the addition of the immunostimulatory heat shock proteins (HSPs) to active immunotherapeutic strategies to augment their efficacy. Heat shock proteins are a family of highly conserved intracellular chaperone proteins, and are the most abundant family proteins inside cells. This ubiquity, and their robust immunostimulatory capacity, points to their importance in regulation of intracellular processes and, therefore, indicators of loss of cellular integrity if found extracellularly. Thus, we emphasize the importance of taking into consideration the location of vaccine-derived HSP/tumor-antigen complexes when designing active immunotheraputic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Kelly
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Douglas McNeel
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Paul Fisch
- Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Institut für Pathologie, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Miroslav Malkovsky
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
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15
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Dutoit V, Migliorini D, Ranzanici G, Marinari E, Widmer V, Lobrinus JA, Momjian S, Costello J, Walker PR, Okada H, Weinschenk T, Herold-Mende C, Dietrich PY. Antigenic expression and spontaneous immune responses support the use of a selected peptide set from the IMA950 glioblastoma vaccine for immunotherapy of grade II and III glioma. Oncoimmunology 2017; 7:e1391972. [PMID: 29308320 PMCID: PMC5749651 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1391972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are lethal brain tumors that resist standard therapeutic approaches. Immunotherapy is a promising alternative strategy mostly developed in the context of glioblastoma. However, there is a need for implementing immunotherapy for grade II/III gliomas, as these are the most common CNS tumors in young adults with a high propensity for recurrence, making them lethal despite current treatments. We recently identified HLA-A2-restricted tumor-associated antigens by peptide elution from glioblastoma and formulated a multipeptide vaccine (IMA950) evaluated in phase I/II clinical trials with promising results. Here, we investigated expression of the IMA950 antigens in patients with grade II/III astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma or ependymoma, at the mRNA, protein and peptide levels. We report that the BCAN, CSPG4, IGF2BP3, PTPRZ1 and TNC proteins are significantly over-expressed at the mRNA (n = 159) and protein (n = 36) levels in grade II/III glioma patients as compared to non-tumor samples (IGF2BP3 being absent from oligodendroglioma). Most importantly, we detected spontaneous antigen-specific T cell responses to one or more of the IMA950 antigens in 100% and 71% of grade II and grade III patients, respectively (27 patients tested). These patients displayed T cell responses of better quality (higher frequency, broader epitope targeting) than patients with glioblastoma. Detection of spontaneous T cell responses to the IMA950 antigens shows that these antigens are relevant for tumor targeting, which will be best achieved by combination with CD4 epitopes such as the IDH1R132H peptide. Altogether, we provide the rationale for using a selective set of IMA950 peptides for vaccination of patients with grade II/III glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Dutoit
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1204 Geneva 11, Switzerland and Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1205 Geneva Switzerland
| | - Denis Migliorini
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1204 Geneva 11, Switzerland and Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1205 Geneva Switzerland
| | - Giulia Ranzanici
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1204 Geneva 11, Switzerland and Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1205 Geneva Switzerland
| | - Eliana Marinari
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1204 Geneva 11, Switzerland and Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1205 Geneva Switzerland
| | - Valérie Widmer
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1204 Geneva 11, Switzerland and Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1205 Geneva Switzerland
| | - Johannes Alexander Lobrinus
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1204 Geneva 11, Switzerland
| | - Shahan Momjian
- Neurosurgery Service, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1204 Geneva 11, Switzerland
| | - Joseph Costello
- Brain Tumor Research Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, Room 779 M, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paul R Walker
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1204 Geneva 11, Switzerland and Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1205 Geneva Switzerland
| | - Hideho Okada
- Brain Tumor Research Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, Room 779 M, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Cancer Immunotherapy Program, University of California San Francisco and The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, 1 Letterman Drive, Suite D3500, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Toni Weinschenk
- Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 15, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christel Herold-Mende
- Division of Experimental Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pierre-Yves Dietrich
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1204 Geneva 11, Switzerland and Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1205 Geneva Switzerland
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16
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Young GJ, Bi WL, Wu WW, Johanns TM, Dunn GP, Dunn IF. Management of intracranial melanomas in the era of precision medicine. Oncotarget 2017; 8:89326-89347. [PMID: 29179523 PMCID: PMC5687693 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most lethal of skin cancers, in part because of its proclivity for rapid and distant metastasis. It is also potentially the most neurotropic cancer in terms of probability of CNS metastasis from the primary lesion. Despite surgical resection and radiotherapy, prognosis remains guarded for patients with brain metastases. Over the past five years, a new domain of personalized therapy has emerged for advanced melanoma patients with the introduction of BRAF and other MAP kinase pathway inhibitors, immunotherapy, and combinatory therapeutic strategies. By targeting critical cellular signaling pathways and unleashing the adaptive immune response against tumor antigens, a subset of melanoma patients have demonstrated remarkable responses to these treatments. Over time, acquired resistance to these modalities inexorably develops, providing new challenges to overcome. We review the rapidly evolving terrain for intracranial melanoma treatment, address likely and potential mechanisms of resistance, as well as evaluate promising future therapeutic approaches currently under clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace J Young
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wenya Linda Bi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Winona W Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tanner M Johanns
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gavin P Dunn
- Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ian F Dunn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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17
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Pitcovski J, Shahar E, Aizenshtein E, Gorodetsky R. Melanoma antigens and related immunological markers. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2017; 115:36-49. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
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18
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Qamra A, Xing M, Padmanabhan N, Kwok JJT, Zhang S, Xu C, Leong YS, Lee Lim AP, Tang Q, Ooi WF, Suling Lin J, Nandi T, Yao X, Ong X, Lee M, Tay ST, Keng ATL, Gondo Santoso E, Ng CCY, Ng A, Jusakul A, Smoot D, Ashktorab H, Rha SY, Yeoh KG, Peng Yong W, Chow PK, Chan WH, Ong HS, Soo KC, Kim KM, Wong WK, Rozen SG, Teh BT, Kappei D, Lee J, Connolly J, Tan P. Epigenomic Promoter Alterations Amplify Gene Isoform and Immunogenic Diversity in Gastric Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Discov 2017; 7:630-651. [DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-16-1022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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19
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Yan H, Hou X, Li T, Zhao L, Yuan X, Fu H, Zhu R. CD4+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity eliminates primary tumor cells in metastatic melanoma through high MHC class II expression and can be enhanced by inhibitory receptor blockade. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:10.1007/s13277-016-5456-5. [PMID: 27709550 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5456-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma is a rapidly progressing disease with high mortality rate and limited treatment options. Immunotherapy based on tumor-targeting cytotoxic T cell responses represents a promising strategy. To assist in its development, we examined the possibility and efficacy of using CD4+ cytotoxic T cells. The regulatory mechanisms controlling CD4+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity were also investigated. We found that naturally occurring granzyme B and perforin-expressing CD4+ cytotoxic T cells can be recovered from metastatic melanoma patients at significantly elevated frequencies compared to those from healthy controls. These CD4+ cytotoxic T cells were also capable of killing autologous tumor cells harvested from metastatic melanoma, independent of CD8+ T cells or any other cell types. However, several restricting factors were observed. First, the cytolytic activity by CD4+ T cells required high MHC class II expression on melanoma cells, which was not satisfied in a subset of melanomas. Second, the granzyme B and perforin release by activated CD4+ cytotoxic T cells was reduced after coculturing with autologous melanoma cells, characterized by low LAMP-1 expression and low granzyme B and perforin secretion in the supernatant. This suggested that inhibitory mechanisms were present to suppress CD4+ cytotoxic T cells. Indeed, blockade of PD-1 and CTLA-4 had increased the cytolytic activity of CD4+ T cells but was only effective in MHC class II high but not MHC class II low melanomas. Together, our study showed that CD4+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity could eliminate primary melanoma cells but the efficacy depended on MHC class II expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Yan
- Department of Dermatology, The First People's Hospital of Jining City, 6 Jiankang Road, Jining, Shangdong, 272011, China
| | - Xianglian Hou
- Department of Supply and Services, Jiaxiang County People's Hospital, Jiaxiang County, Jining, Shangdong, 272400, China
| | - Tianhang Li
- Department of Dermatology, The First People's Hospital of Jining City, 6 Jiankang Road, Jining, Shangdong, 272011, China.
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, The First People's Hospital of Jining City, 6 Jiankang Road, Jining, Shangdong, 272011, China
| | - Xiaozhou Yuan
- DICAT Biomedical Computation Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hongjun Fu
- Department of Dermatology, The First People's Hospital of Jining City, 6 Jiankang Road, Jining, Shangdong, 272011, China
| | - Ruijie Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, The First People's Hospital of Jining City, 6 Jiankang Road, Jining, Shangdong, 272011, China
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20
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Braeuer RR, Watson IR, Wu CJ, Mobley AK, Kamiya T, Shoshan E, Bar-Eli M. Why is melanoma so metastatic? Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2014; 27:19-36. [PMID: 24106873 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers and can disseminate from a relatively small primary tumor and metastasize to multiple sites, including the lung, liver, brain, bone, and lymph nodes. Elucidating the molecular and genetic changes that take place during the metastatic process has led to a better understanding of why melanoma is so metastatic. Herein, we describe the unique features that distinguish melanoma from other solid tumors and contribute to the malignant phenotype of melanoma cells. For example, although melanoma cells are highly antigenic, they are extremely efficient at evading host immune response. Melanoma cells share numerous cell surface molecules with vascular cells, are highly angiogenic, are mesenchymal in nature, and possess a higher degree of 'stemness' than do other solid tumors. Finally, analysis of melanoma mutations has revealed that the gene expression profile of malignant melanoma is different from that of other cancers. Elucidating these molecular and genetic processes in highly metastatic melanoma can lead to the development of improved treatment and individualized therapy options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell R Braeuer
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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21
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Adenosine receptors as potential targets in melanoma. Pharmacol Res 2013; 76:34-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2013.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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22
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Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer. Furthermore, incidence rates are increasing. Until recently, no agent had been shown to improve survival over supportive care and treatment guidelines recommended that patients with metastatic disease were entered into clinical trials. With so few treatment options available, there was a clear need for new, more effective treatments in this setting. Melanoma serves as a 'model' tumour for understanding immunity to cancer. Melanoma tumour-associated antigens were among the first cancer antigens to be identified and classified, with further studies showing that many of these are also expressed by other tumour types. In addition, melanoma regression has been associated with vitiligo, visibly confirming an active role of the immune system in this type of cancer, and spontaneous regression of primary melanomas has also been observed in some cases. These observations, relating to the activity of the immune system in melanoma, provided strong evidence that this tumour would be amenable to immunotherapy, with immunotherapies such as cytokines, adoptive cell transfer and T-cell modulators shown to be an effective therapeutic approach. Against this background, melanoma has long been at the cutting edge of immuno-oncology research and will likely continue to be used as a model tumour to increase our understanding of immuno-oncology and to inform development in other types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Maio
- Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy Unit, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy.
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23
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Protein and non-protein biomarkers in melanoma: a critical update. Amino Acids 2012; 43:2203-30. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-012-1409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 09/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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24
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Träger U, Sierro S, Djordjevic G, Bouzo B, Khandwala S, Meloni A, Mortensen M, Simon AK. The immune response to melanoma is limited by thymic selection of self-antigens. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35005. [PMID: 22506061 PMCID: PMC3323626 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Accepted: 03/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of melanoma-associated antigens (MAA) being limited to normal melanocytes and melanomas, MAAs are ideal targets for immunotherapy and melanoma vaccines. As MAAs are derived from self, immune responses to these may be limited by thymic tolerance. The extent to which self-tolerance prevents efficient immune responses to MAAs remains unknown. The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) controls the expression of tissue-specific self-antigens in thymic epithelial cells (TECs). The level of antigens expressed in the TECs determines the fate of auto-reactive thymocytes. Deficiency in AIRE leads in both humans (APECED patients) and mice to enlarged autoreactive immune repertoires. Here we show increased IgG levels to melanoma cells in APECED patients correlating with autoimmune skin features. Similarly, the enlarged T cell repertoire in AIRE−/− mice enables them to mount anti-MAA and anti-melanoma responses as shown by increased anti-melanoma antibodies, and enhanced CD4+ and MAA-specific CD8+ T cell responses after melanoma challenge. We show that thymic expression of gp100 is under the control of AIRE, leading to increased gp100-specific CD8+ T cell frequencies in AIRE−/− mice. TRP-2 (tyrosinase-related protein), on the other hand, is absent from TECs and consequently TRP-2 specific CD8+ T cells were found in both AIRE−/− and AIRE+/+ mice. This study emphasizes the importance of investigating thymic expression of self-antigens prior to their inclusion in vaccination and immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Träger
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Sierro
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Gordana Djordjevic
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Basma Bouzo
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Shivani Khandwala
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Antonella Meloni
- Pediatric Clinic II, Ospedale Microcitemico and Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Monika Mortensen
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Apoptosis Department and Center for Genotoxic Stress Research, Institute of Cancer Biology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Katharina Simon
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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25
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Tietze JK, Sckisel GD, Hsiao HH, Murphy WJ. Antigen-specific versus antigen-nonspecific immunotherapeutic approaches for human melanoma: the need for integration for optimal efficacy? Int Rev Immunol 2012; 30:238-93. [PMID: 22053969 DOI: 10.3109/08830185.2011.598977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Due to its immunogenecity and evidence of immune responses resulting in tumor regression, metastatic melanoma has been the target for numerous immunotherapeutic approaches. Unfortunately, based on the clinical outcomes, even the successful induction of tumor-specific responses does not correlate with efficacy. Immunotherapies can be divided into antigen-specific approaches, which seek to induce T cells specific to one or several known tumor associated antigens (TAA), or with antigen-nonspecific approaches, which generally activate T cells to become nonspecifically lytic effectors. Here the authors critically review the different immunotherapeutic approaches in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia K Tietze
- Departments of Dermatology and Internal Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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26
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Straten PT, Andersen MH. The anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family are attractive tumor-associated antigens. Oncotarget 2011; 1:239-45. [PMID: 21304176 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.100804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family (Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L) and Mcl-2) are pivotal regulators of apoptotic cell death. They are all highly overexpressed in cancers of different origin in which they enhance the survival of the cancer cells. Consequently, they represent prime candidates for anti-cancer therapy and specific antisense oligonucleotides or small molecule inhibitors have shown broad anti-cancer activities in pre-clinical models and are currently tested in clinical trials. In addition, immune-mediated tumor destruction is emerging as an interesting modality to treat cancer patients. Notably, spontaneous cellular immune responses against the Bcl-2 family proteins have been identified as frequent features in cancer patients underscoring that these proteins are natural targets for the immune system. Thus, Bcl-2 family may serve as an important and widely applicable target for anti-cancer immunotherapeutic strategies, alone or in the combination with conventional therapy. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of Bcl-2 family proteins as T-cell antigens, which has set the stage for the first explorative trial using these antigens in therapeutic vaccinations against cancer, and discuss future opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per thor Straten
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Hematology, Herlev University Hospital, Denmark
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27
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Evolutionary history of the cancer immunity antigen MAGE gene family. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20365. [PMID: 21695252 PMCID: PMC3112145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2011] [Accepted: 04/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary mode of a multi-gene family can change over time, depending on the functional differentiation and local genomic environment of family members. In this study, we demonstrate such a change in the melanoma antigen (MAGE) gene family on the mammalian X chromosome. The MAGE gene family is composed of ten subfamilies that can be categorized into two types. Type I genes are of relatively recent origin, and they encode epitopes for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in cancer cells. Type II genes are relatively ancient and some of their products are known to be involved in apoptosis or cell proliferation. The evolutionary history of the MAGE gene family can be divided into four phases. In phase I, a single-copy state of an ancestral gene and the evolutionarily conserved mode had lasted until the emergence of eutherian mammals. In phase II, eight subfamily ancestors, with the exception for MAGE-C and MAGE-D subfamilies, were formed via retrotransposition independently. This would coincide with a transposition burst of LINE elements at the eutherian radiation. However, MAGE-C was generated by gene duplication of MAGE-A. Phase III is characterized by extensive gene duplication within each subfamily and in particular the formation of palindromes in the MAGE-A subfamily, which occurred in an ancestor of the Catarrhini. Phase IV is characterized by the decay of a palindrome in most Catarrhini, with the exception of humans. Although the palindrome is truncated by frequent deletions in apes and Old World monkeys, it is retained in humans. Here, we argue that this human-specific retention stems from negative selection acting on MAGE-A genes encoding epitopes of cancer cells, which preserves their ability to bind to highly divergent HLA molecules. These findings are interpreted with consideration of the biological factors shaping recent human MAGE-A genes.
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28
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Morandi F, Corrias MV, Levreri I, Scaruffi P, Raffaghello L, Carlini B, Bocca P, Prigione I, Stigliani S, Amoroso L, Ferrone S, Pistoia V. Serum levels of cytoplasmic melanoma-associated antigen at diagnosis may predict clinical relapse in neuroblastoma patients. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2011; 60:1485-95. [PMID: 21660451 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-011-1052-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2011] [Accepted: 05/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen (HMW-MAA) and the cytoplasmic melanoma-associated antigen (cyt-MAA/LGALS3BP) are expressed in melanoma. Their serum levels are increased in melanoma patients and correlate with clinical outcome. We investigated whether these molecules can serve as prognostic markers for neuroblastoma (NB) patients. Expression of cyt-MAA and HMW-MAA was evaluated by flow cytometry in NB cell lines, patients' neuroblasts ((FI)-NB), and short-term cultures of these latter cells (cNB). LGALS3BP gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR on (FI)-NB, cNB, and primary tumor specimens. Soluble HMW-MAA and cyt-MAA were tested by ELISA. Cyt-MAA and HMW-MAA were expressed in NB cell lines, cNB, and (FI)-NB samples. LGALS3BP gene expression was higher in primary tumors and cNB than in (FI)-NB samples. Soluble cyt-MAA, but not HMW-MAA, was detected in NB cell lines and cNBs supernatants. NB patients' serum levels of both antigens were higher than those of the healthy children. High cyt-MAA serum levels at diagnosis associated with higher incidence of relapse, independently from other known risk factors. In conclusion, both HMW-MAA and cyt-MAA antigens, and LGALS3BP gene, were expressed by NB cell lines and patients' neuroblasts, and both antigens' serum levels were increased in NB patients. Elevated serum levels of cyt-MAA at diagnosis correlated with relapse, supporting that cyt-MAA may serve as early serological biomarker to individuate patients at higher risk of relapse that may require a more careful follow-up, after being validated in a larger cohort of patients at different time-points during follow-up. Given its immunogenicity, cyt-MAA may also be a potential target for NB immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Morandi
- Laboratory of Oncology, G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Largo G. Gaslini 5, 16148 Genoa, Italy.
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29
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Identification of two novel HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes derived from MAGE-A4. Clin Dev Immunol 2011; 2010:567594. [PMID: 21350607 PMCID: PMC3042617 DOI: 10.1155/2010/567594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2010] [Revised: 10/08/2010] [Accepted: 12/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
MAGE-A antigens belong to cancer/testis (CT) antigens that are expressed in tumors but not in normal tissues except testis and placenta. MAGE-A antigens and their epitope peptides have been used in tumor immunotherapy trials. MAGE-A4 antigen is extensively expressed in various histological types of tumors, so it represents an attractive target for tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we predicted HLA-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of MAGE-A4, followed by peptide/HLA-A*0201 affinity and complex stability assays. Of selected four peptides (designated P1, P2, P3, and P4), P1 (MAGE-A4286-294, KVLEHVVRV) and P3 (MAGE-A4272-280, FLWGPRALA) could elicit peptide-specific CTLs both in vitro from HLA-A*0201-positive PBMCs and in HLA-A*0201/Kb transgenic mice. And the induced CTLs could lyse target cells in an HLA-A*0201-restricted fashion, demonstrating that the two peptides are HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes and could serve as targets for therapeutic antitumoral vaccination.
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Sakurai T, Kudo M, Itoh K, Ryu U, Higashitsuji H, Fujita J. Adriamycin Enhances Proteasome-Mediated Generation of the Proapoptotic Processed Form of MAGE-A4 in Hepatoma Cells. Oncology 2011; 81 Suppl 1:30-5. [DOI: 10.1159/000334307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Abstract
Survivin, the smallest member of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), plays an important role in the control of apoptosis, cell division, and cell migration/metastasis. Survivin is expressed and required for normal fetal development but is then generally no longer present in most adult tissues. However, reexpression of survivin is observed in numerous human cancers where presence of the protein is associated with enhanced proliferation, metastasis, poor prognosis, and decreased patient survival. Given the relatively selective expression in cancer cells, but not in normal tissue (tumor-associated antigen), and its importance in tumor cell biology, survivin has emerged as an attractive target for cancer treatment. Here, we discuss some aspects of survivin biology by focusing on why the protein appears to be so important for cancer cells and then discuss strategies that harness this dependence to eradicate tumors and situate survivin as a potential Achilles' heel of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Lladser
- Laboratory of Gene Immunotherapy, Fundacion Ciencia para la Vida, Santiago, Chile
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Pastorcic-Grgic M, Sarcevic B, Dosen D, Juretic A, Spagnoli GC, Grgic M. Prognostic value of MAGE-A and NY-ESO-1 expression in pharyngeal cancer. Head Neck 2010; 32:1178-84. [PMID: 20029985 DOI: 10.1002/hed.21314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognostic value of cancer testis antigens in pharyngeal cancer is understudied. METHODS We recruited 90 patients who were treated for pharyngeal cancer. Monoclonal antibodies 57B and B9.8.1.1 were used for detection of MAGE-A and NY-ESO-1 genes. RESULTS MAGE-A and NY-ESO-1 gene products were detectable in 70.0% and 33.3% of pharyngeal tumors, respectively. No correlation was established between MAGE-A and NY-ESO-1 expression and TNM staging at presentation. Survival analysis showed a trend toward a shorter 5-year disease-free survival in the group of patients with MAGE-A-positive tumors (log-rank test, p = .122). In contrast, a trend toward a prolonged 5-year disease-free survival was observed in the group of patients with NY-ESO-1-positive tumors (log-rank test, p = .219). CONCLUSION In a large population of patients with pharyngeal cancer and available 5-year survival data, prognosis tended to be poorer with MAGE-A expression and better with NY-ESO-1 expression, but the correlations did not reach statistical significance.
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Jacobs JFM, Punt CJA, Lesterhuis WJ, Sutmuller RPM, Brouwer HMLH, Scharenborg NM, Klasen IS, Hilbrands LB, Figdor CG, de Vries IJM, Adema GJ. Dendritic cell vaccination in combination with anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody treatment: a phase I/II study in metastatic melanoma patients. Clin Cancer Res 2010; 16:5067-78. [PMID: 20736326 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-1757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The success of cancer immunotherapy depends on the balance between effector T cells and suppressive immune regulatory mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment. In this study we investigated whether transient monoclonal antibody-mediated depletion of CD25(high) regulatory T cells (Treg) is capable of enhancing the immunostimulatory efficacy of dendritic cell vaccines. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Thirty HLA-A2.1(+) metastatic melanoma patients were vaccinated with mature dendritic cells pulsed with tumor peptide and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Half of the patients were pretreated with daclizumab, a humanized antibody against the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor α-chain (CD25), either four or eight days before dendritic cell vaccinations. Clinical and immunologic parameters were determined. RESULTS Daclizumab efficiently depleted all CD25(high) immune cells, including CD4(+)FoxP3(+)CD25(high) cells, from the peripheral blood within four days of administration. Thirty days after administration, daclizumab was cleared from the circulation and all CD25(+) cells reappeared. The presence of daclizumab during dendritic cell vaccinations prevented the induction of specific antibodies in vivo but not the presence of antigen-specific T cells. Daclizumab, however, did prevent these CD25(+) T cells from acquiring effector functions. Consequently, significantly less patients pretreated with daclizumab developed functional, vaccine-specific effector T cells and antibodies compared with controls. Daclizumab pretreatment had no significant effect on progression-free survival compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS Although daclizumab depleted the CD4(+)FoxP3(+)CD25(high) Tregs from the peripheral circulation, it did not enhance the efficacy of the dendritic cell vaccine. Residual daclizumab functionally suppressed de novo induced CD25(+) effector cells during dendritic cell vaccinations. Our results indicate that for immunotherapeutic benefit of transient Treg depletion, timing and dosing as well as Treg specificity are extremely important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joannes F M Jacobs
- Department of Medical Oncology, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Tumor antigen cross-presentation and the dendritic cell: where it all begins? Clin Dev Immunol 2010; 2010:539519. [PMID: 20976125 PMCID: PMC2957101 DOI: 10.1155/2010/539519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2010] [Accepted: 08/25/2010] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that are critical for the generation of effective cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses; however, their function and phenotype are often defective or altered in tumor-bearing hosts, which may limit their capacity to mount an effective tumor-specific CTL response. In particular, the manner in which exogenous tumor antigens are acquired, processed, and cross-presented to CD8 T cells by DCs in tumor-bearing hosts is not well understood, but may have a profound effect on antitumor immunity. In this paper, we have examined the role of DCs in the cross-presentation of tumor antigen in terms of their subset, function, migration, and location with the intention of examining the early processes that contribute to the development of an ineffective anti-tumor immune response.
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Thor Straten P, Andersen MH. The anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family are attractive tumor-associated antigens. Oncotarget 2010; 1:239-245. [PMID: 21304176 PMCID: PMC3248102 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2010] [Accepted: 08/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family (Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L) and Mcl-2) are pivotal regulators of apoptotic cell death. They are all highly overexpressed in cancers of different origin in which they enhance the survival of the cancer cells. Consequently, they represent prime candidates for anti-cancer therapy and specific antisense oligonucleotides or small molecule inhibitors have shown broad anti-cancer activities in pre-clinical models and are currently tested in clinical trials. In addition, immune-mediated tumor destruction is emerging as an interesting modality to treat cancer patients. Notably, spontaneous cellular immune responses against the Bcl-2 family proteins have been identified as frequent features in cancer patients underscoring that these proteins are natural targets for the immune system. Thus, Bcl-2 family may serve as an important and widely applicable target for anti-cancer immunotherapeutic strategies, alone or in the combination with conventional therapy. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of Bcl-2 family proteins as T-cell antigens, which has set the stage for the first explorative trial using these antigens in therapeutic vaccinations against cancer, and discuss future opportunities.
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McDonnell AM, Prosser AC, van Bruggen I, Robinson BWS, Currie AJ. CD8alpha+ DC are not the sole subset cross-presenting cell-associated tumor antigens from a solid tumor. Eur J Immunol 2010; 40:1617-27. [PMID: 20373290 DOI: 10.1002/eji.200940153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the clear paradoxes in tumor immunology is the fact that cross-presentation of cell-associated tumor antigens to CD8(+) T cells is efficient, yet CTL generation is weak, and tumors continue to grow. We examined, for the first time whether this may be due to alterations in the phenotype or function of cross-presenting DC using a solid tumor model expressing a membrane bound neo-antigen (hemagglutinin, HA). Tumor antigen was constitutively cross-presented in the tumor-draining LN throughout tumor progression by CD11c(+) DC. Further analysis revealed that both CD8alpha(+) and CD8alpha(-) DC subsets, but not plasmacytoid DC, were effective at cross-presenting HA tumor antigen. The proportions of DC subsets in the tumor-draining LN were equivalent to those seen in the LN of naïve mice; however, a significant increase in the expression of the potential inhibitory B7 molecule, B7-DC, was noted and appeared to be restricted to the CD8alpha(-) DC subset. Therefore LN resident CD8alpha(+) DC are not the sole DC subset capable of cross-presenting cell-associated tumor antigens. Migratory tumor DC subsets with altered co-stimulatory receptor expression may contribute to induction and regulation of tumor-specific responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison M McDonnell
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
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Elias EG, Hasskamp JH, Sharma BK. Biology of human cutaneous melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2010; 2:165-89. [PMID: 24281039 PMCID: PMC3827598 DOI: 10.3390/cancers2010165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2010] [Revised: 03/04/2010] [Accepted: 03/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A review of the natural behavior of cutaneous melanoma, clinical and pathological factors, prognostic indicators, some basic research and the present and possible futuristic strategies in the management of this disease are presented. While surgery remains to be the most effective therapeutic approach in the management of early primary lesions, there is no standard adjuvant therapy after surgical resection, or for metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias G Elias
- Maryland Melanoma Center, Weinberg Cancer Institute, Franklin Square Hospital Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Deacon DH, Hogan KT, Swanson EM, Chianese-Bullock KA, Denlinger CE, Czarkowski AR, Schrecengost RS, Patterson JW, Teague MW, Slingluff CL. The use of gamma-irradiation and ultraviolet-irradiation in the preparation of human melanoma cells for use in autologous whole-cell vaccines. BMC Cancer 2008; 8:360. [PMID: 19055839 PMCID: PMC2612687 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-8-360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2008] [Accepted: 12/04/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human cancer vaccines incorporating autologous tumor cells carry a risk of implantation and subsequent metastasis of viable tumor cells into the patient who is being treated. Despite the fact that the melanoma cell preparations used in a recent vaccine trial (Mel37) were gamma-irradiated (200 Gy), approximately 25% of the preparations failed quality control release criteria which required that the irradiated cells incorporate 3H-thymidine at no more than 5% the level seen in the non-irradiated cells. We have, therefore, investigated ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation as a possible adjunct to, or replacement for gamma-irradiation. Methods Melanoma cells were gamma- and/or UV-irradiated. 3H-thymidine uptake was used to assess proliferation of the treated and untreated cells. Caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation were measured as indicators of apoptosis. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis was used to assess antigen expression. Results UV-irradiation, either alone or in combination with gamma-irradiation, proved to be extremely effective in controlling the proliferation of melanoma cells. In contrast to gamma-irradiation, UV-irradiation was also capable of inducing significant levels of apoptosis. UV-irradiation, but not gamma-irradiation, was associated with the loss of tyrosinase expression. Neither form of radiation affected the expression of gp100, MART-1/MelanA, or S100. Conclusion These results indicate that UV-irradiation may increase the safety of autologous melanoma vaccines, although it may do so at the expense of altering the antigenic profile of the irradiated tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna H Deacon
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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The TAG family of cancer/testis antigens is widely expressed in a variety of malignancies and gives rise to HLA-A2-restricted epitopes. J Immunother 2008; 31:7-17. [PMID: 18157007 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0b013e318159f797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The TAG-1, TAG-2a, TAG-2b, and TAG-2c cancer/testis genes, known to be expressed in an unusually high percentage of melanoma cell lines, are shown here to be expressed in a variety of tumor lines of diverse histologic type, including cancers of the brain, breast, colon, lung, ovary, pharynx, and tongue. The genes are also expressed in fresh, uncultured melanoma, and ovarian cancer cells. Epitope prediction algorithms were used to identify potential HLA-A1, HLA-A2, HLA-A3, HLA-B7, and HLA-B8 epitopes, and these potential epitopes were tested for their ability to stimulate a peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response using lymphocytes from healthy donors. Two HLA-A2-restricted epitopes (SLGWLFLLL and LLLRLECNV) were identified using this approach. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for each of these peptides were capable of recognizing tumor cells expressing both the corresponding class I major histocompatibility complex encoded molecule and the TAG genes. These results indicate that TAG-derived peptides may be good components of a therapeutic vaccine designed to target melanoma and a variety of epithelial cell-derived malignancies.
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Andersen MH, Svane IM, Becker JC, Straten PT. The universal character of the tumor-associated antigen survivin. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:5991-4. [PMID: 17947459 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-07-0686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Survivin is expressed in most human neoplasms, but is absent in normal, differentiated tissues. Survivin is a bifunctional inhibitor of apoptosis protein that has been implicated in protection from apoptosis and regulation of mitosis. Several clinical trials targeting survivin with a collection of different approaches from small molecule antagonists to immunotherapy are currently under way. With regard to the latter, spontaneous anti-survivin T-cell reactivity has been described in cancer patients suffering from a huge range of cancers of different origin, e.g., breast and colon cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, and melanoma. Thus, survivin may serve as a universal target antigen for anticancer immunotherapy. Accordingly, down-regulation of survivin as a means of immune escape would severely inflict the survival capacity of tumor cells, which highlights this protein as a prime target candidate for therapeutic vaccinations against cancer. Data from several ongoing phase I/II trials targeting survivin for patients with advanced cancer will provide further information about this idea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Hald Andersen
- Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Department of Hematology, Herlev University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
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Muehleisen B, Schaerer L, Dummer R, Burg G, Hofbauer GFL. Cancer/testis antigen MAGE-A4 expression pattern differs in epithelial skin tumors of organ-transplant recipients and immunocompetent patients. J Cutan Pathol 2007; 34:1-6. [PMID: 17214847 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2006.00576.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lifetime risk for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin is 1:30. Risk in organ-transplant recipients (OTR) is increased over 60-fold through long-term drug-induced immunosuppression. MAGE family-derived peptides are cancer/testis antigens recognized by specific CD8(+) T cells and employed for immunotherapy. We were interested in the frequency and distribution of MAGE-A4 in epithelial skin tumors of OTR and immunocompetent patients. METHODS mAb 57B predominantly recognizing MAGE-A4 was used to stain 119 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded epithelial skin tumors (actinic keratosis, bowenoid actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, and SCC; n = 17, 25, 61, 16, respectively) in immunocompetent patients (n = 84) and OTR (n = 35). RESULTS All four epithelial skin tumors showed comparable immunoreactivity ranging from (25-71%, p = 0.361). Scattered immunoexpression pattern was more frequent in OTR (p = 0.025). SCC showed polarized immunoreactivity basally (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION MAGE-A4 was expressed in a large part of epithelial skin tumors with predominantly scattered immunoexpression pattern in OTR. The difference in immunoexpression pattern for immune status was limited, suggesting important non-immunosuppressor-mediated mechanisms for increased skin carcinogenesis in OTR. mAb 57B may be a helpful tool for immunohistochemistry and micrographic surgery using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beda Muehleisen
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Harrop R, John J, Carroll MW. Recombinant viral vectors: cancer vaccines. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2006; 58:931-47. [PMID: 17030074 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2006.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2006] [Accepted: 07/10/2006] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
To date cancer vaccines have yet to show efficacy in a phase III trial. However, the clinical benefit seen with monoclonal antibody mediated therapies (e.g., Herceptin) has provided proof of principle that immune responses directed against tumour-associated antigens could have therapeutic potential. The failure of past cancer vaccine trials is likely due to several factors including the inappropriate choice of tumour antigen, use of an unoptimised antigen delivery system or vaccination schedule or selection of the wrong patient group. Any one of these variables could potentially result in the induction of an immune response of insufficient magnitude to deliver clinical benefit. Live recombinant viral vaccines have been used in the development of cancer immunotherapy approaches for the past 10 years. Though such vectors are self-adjuvanted and offer the ability to express multiple tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) along with an array of immune co-factors, arguably, they have yet to demonstrate convincing efficacy in pivotal clinical trials. However, in recent years, more coordinated studies have revealed mechanisms to optimise current vectors and have lead to the development of new advantageous vector systems. In this review, we highlight that live recombinant viral vectors provide a versatile and effective antigen delivery system and describe the optimal properties of an effective viral vector. Additionally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the panel of recombinant viral systems currently available to cancer vaccinologists and how they can work in synergy in heterologous prime boost protocols and with other treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Harrop
- Oxford BioMedica (U.K.) Ltd., Oxford Science Park, Oxford, OX4 4GA U.K
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Nemunaitis J, Dillman RO, Schwarzenberger PO, Senzer N, Cunningham C, Cutler J, Tong A, Kumar P, Pappen B, Hamilton C, DeVol E, Maples PB, Liu L, Chamberlin T, Shawler DL, Fakhrai H. Phase II study of belagenpumatucel-L, a transforming growth factor beta-2 antisense gene-modified allogeneic tumor cell vaccine in non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol 2006; 24:4721-30. [PMID: 16966690 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2005.05.5335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 280] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Belagenpumatucel-L is a nonviral gene-based allogeneic tumor cell vaccine that demonstrates enhancement of tumor antigen recognition as a result of transforming growth factor beta-2 inhibition. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a randomized, dose-variable, phase II trial involving stages II, IIIA, IIIB, and IV non-small-cell lung cancer patients. Each patient received one of three doses (1.25, 2.5, or 5.0 x 10(7) cells/injection) of belagenpumatucel-L on a monthly or every other month schedule to a maximum of 16 injections. Immune function, safety, and anticancer activity were monitored. RESULTS Seventy-five patients (two stage II, 12 stage IIIA, 15 stage IIIB, and 46 stage IV patients) received a total of 550 vaccinations. No significant adverse events were observed. A dose-related survival difference was demonstrated in patients who received > or = 2.5 x 10(7) cells/injection (P = .0069). Focusing on the 61 late-stage (IIIB and IV) assessable patients, a 15% partial response rate was achieved. The estimated probabilities of surviving 1 and 2 years were 68% and 52%, respectively for the higher dose groups combined and 39% and 20%, respectively, for the low-dose group. Immune function was explored in the 61 advanced-stage (IIIB and IV) patients. Increased cytokine production (at week 12 compared with patients with progressive disease) was observed among clinical responders (interferon gamma, P = .006; interleukin [IL] -6, P = .004; IL-4, P = .007), who also displayed an elevated antibody-mediated response to vaccine HLAs (P = .014). Furthermore, positive enzyme-linked immunospot reactions to belagenpumatucel-L showed a correlation trend (P = .086) with clinical responsiveness in patients achieving stable disease or better. CONCLUSION Belagenpumatucel-L is well tolerated, and the survival advantage justifies further phase III evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Nemunaitis
- Mary Crowley Medical Research Center/Texas Oncology Professional Association, Dallas, TX, USA.
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Martinez SR, Mori T, Hoon DSB. Molecular upstaging of sentinel lymph nodes in melanoma: where are we now? Surg Oncol Clin N Am 2006; 15:331-40. [PMID: 16632218 DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2005.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The presence of lymph node metastasis is the best predictor of disease progression and overall survival in patients who have melanoma. Lymphatic mapping and selective lymphadenectomy allows directed pathologic analysis of the node or nodes most likely to have metastatic disease. To diagnose metastatic disease in SLNs reliably requires a coordinated effort by nuclear medicine physicians, surgeons, and pathologists. Errors may occur if quality assurance is not emphasized at any point during the process. This, along with the presence of occult metastatic disease, may lead to disease recurrence and progression, even when SLN histologically are free of disease. Molecular up-staging of occult malignant disease has the potential to provide important information to facilitate the diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment of cancer. The detection of occult tumor cells in SLNs and blood provides a powerful tool for assessing early regional and systemic disease spread in patients who have AJCC stage II and III-not only melanoma but also other solid tumors. The use of varying panels of markers from different laboratories has hampered the interpretation of data and made it difficult to unravel the merits of molecular up staging. Molecular approaches have made a major impact on the field of infectious disease and should one day be of equal usefulness in the diagnosis of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve R Martinez
- Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute at St. John's Health Center, 2200 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
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Abstract
The immune system is a complex arrangement of cells and molecules that preserve the integrity of the organism by elimination of all elements judged dangerous. Within the immune system, a humoral and a cellular as well as an innate and an adaptive arm can be differentiated. The key players of adaptive cellular immune responses are T lymphocytes in general and, for the effector function, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in particular. T lymphocytes arise in the bone marrow and migrate to the thymus for maturation. During this process, T cells somatically rearrange gene segments, eventually leading to the expression of a unique antigen-binding molecule, the T-cell receptor (TCR). This receptor allows them to monitor all cells of the body, ready to destroy any cell posing a threat to the organism. Cytotoxicity is exerted directly through the Fas or perforin pathway and/or indirectly by the release of cytokines. Obviously, the activity of such a potent cell is tightly regulated. Indeed, a predominance of stimulatory over inhibitory signals is required for effective immune responses to pathogens, and a predominance of inhibitory over stimulatory signals is required for maintenance of self-tolerance. Still, several situations occur in which an inappropriate CTL response leads to either autoimmune disease or persistence of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Hald Andersen
- Tumor Immunology Group, Institute of Cancer Biology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Abstract
Relatively small genomes and high replication rates allow viruses and bacteria to accumulate mutations. This continuously presents the host immune system with new challenges. On the other side of the trenches, an increasingly well-adjusted host immune response, shaped by coevolutionary history, makes a pathogen's life a rather complicated endeavor. It is, therefore, no surprise that pathogens either escape detection or modulate the host immune response, often by redirecting normal cellular pathways to their advantage. For the purpose of this chapter, we focus mainly on the manipulation of the class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen presentation pathways and the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system by both viral and bacterial pathogens. First, we describe the general features of antigen presentation pathways and the Ub-proteasome system and then address how they are manipulated by pathogens. We discuss the many human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded immunomodulatory genes that interfere with antigen presentation (immunoevasins) and focus on the HCMV immunoevasins US2 and US11, which induce the degradation of class I MHC heavy chains by the proteasome by catalyzing their export from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-membrane into the cytosol, a process termed ER dislocation. US2- and US11-mediated subversion of ER dislocation ensures proteasomal degradation of class I MHC molecules and presumably allows HCMV to avoid recognition by cytotoxic T cells, whilst providing insight into general aspects of ER-associated degradation (ERAD) which is used by eukaryotic cells to purge their ER of defective proteins. We discuss the similarities and differences between the distinct pathways co-opted by US2 and US11 for dislocation and degradation of human class I MHC molecules and also a putatively distinct pathway utilized by the murine herpes virus (MHV)-68 mK3 immunoevasin for ER dislocation of murine class I MHC. We speculate on the implications of the three pathogen-exploited dislocation pathways to cellular ER quality control. Moreover, we discuss the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system and its position at the core of antigen presentation as proteolysis and intracellular trafficking rely heavily on Ub-dependent processes. We add a few examples of manipulation of the Ub-proteasome system by pathogens in the context of the immune system and such diverse aspects of the host-pathogen relationship as virus budding, bacterial chromosome integration, and programmed cell death, to name a few. Finally, we speculate on newly found pathogen-encoded deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) and their putative roles in modulation of host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Loureiro
- Whitehead Institute, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Somasundaram R, Caputo L, Guerry D, Herlyn D. CD8+, HLA-unrestricted, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte line against malignant melanoma. J Transl Med 2005; 3:41. [PMID: 16281981 PMCID: PMC1308870 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-3-41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2005] [Accepted: 11/10/2005] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line was derived from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient with primary melanoma. The CD8+ CTL line specifically lysed the autologous primary melanoma cells and not the natural killer cell-sensitive K562 cells or lymphokine activated killer cell-sensitive DAUDI cells. When a large panel of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched and -unmatched allogeneic melanoma, glioma, breast and colorectal carcinoma cells was tested as targets in cytolysis assays, 4 HLA-matched and two HLA-unmatched allogeneic metastatic melanoma lines were lysed by the CD8+ CTL. Lysis of autologous and allogeneic melanoma cells was dependent on the effector-to-target cell ratio. Lysis of autologous melanoma cells was not blocked by anti-HLA class I or class II antibodies, confirming that the cytolytic activity of the CD8+ CTL was HLA-unrestricted. CTL lysis of autologous melanoma cells was CD3 (T cell receptor) dependent and FAS-FAS-L, and CD1 independent. Identification of the melanoma-associated antigen recognized by the HLA-unrestricted CTL may provide a vaccine for a broad population of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Caputo
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - DuPont Guerry
- Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 34and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dorothee Herlyn
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Andersen MH, Becker JC, Straten PT. Regulators of apoptosis: suitable targets for immune therapy of cancer. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2005; 4:399-409. [PMID: 15864269 DOI: 10.1038/nrd1717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Harnessing the immune system in the battle against cancer has been the focus of tremendous research efforts during the past two decades. Several means for achieving this goal, including adoptive transfer of tumour-reactive T cells, systemic or localized administration of immune modulating cytokines and the use of 'therapeutic' vaccines, have been explored. Anti-apoptotic molecules that enhance the survival of cancer cells and facilitate their escape from cytotoxic therapies represent prime candidates as vaccination antigens. Notably, spontaneous cellular immune responses against these proteins have frequently been identified in cancer patients. Here, we summarize current knowledge of IAP and BCL2 family proteins as T-cell antigens, report the results of the first explorative trial using these antigens in therapeutic vaccinations against cancer and discuss future opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Hald Andersen
- Tumor Immunology Group, Institute of Cancer Biology, Danish Cancer Society, Strandboulevarden 49, Dk-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Thompson LW, Hogan KT, Caldwell JA, Pierce RA, Hendrickson RC, Deacon DH, Settlage RE, Brinckerhoff LH, Engelhard VH, Shabanowitz J, Hunt DF, Slingluff CL. Preventing the spontaneous modification of an HLA-A2-restricted peptide at an N-terminal glutamine or an internal cysteine residue enhances peptide antigenicity. J Immunother 2004; 27:177-83. [PMID: 15076134 DOI: 10.1097/00002371-200405000-00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The p68-derived peptide, QIVDVCHDV, was identified by a reverse immunology approach as capable of reconstituting an epitope recognized by the melanoma-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line VMM5. The peptide has not been demonstrated definitively on the cell surface by mass spectrometry; thus, it is not yet considered appropriate for use in human melanoma vaccines. Interestingly, however, the antigenicity of this peptide was affected by spontaneous modifications at two distinct residues. Spontaneous modification of the QIVDVCHDV peptide can occur at the cysteine residue at position 6 or at the N-terminal glutamine residue, and both modifications dramatically affect CTL recognition. Avoidance of an acidic environment prevents the conversion of the N-terminal glutamine residue to pyroglutamic acid, a conversion that inhibits binding of the peptide to HLA-A2 and diminishes recognition by CTLs. Substitution of asparagine for the N-terminal glutamine and substitution of serine for the cysteine were shown to enhance the binding of the peptide to HLA-A2 and to enhance the recognition of the peptide by CTLs. These findings suggest general strategies for enhancing the antigenicity of other peptides containing similar amino acids in their sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee W Thompson
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, USA
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