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Albers AE, Qian X, Kaufmann AM, Mytilineos D, Ferris RL, Hoffmann TK, DeLeo AB. Phenotype of p53 wild-type epitope-specific T cells in the circulation of patients with head and neck cancer. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10716. [PMID: 30013227 PMCID: PMC6048165 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29067-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) specific for non-mutated, wild type (wt) sequence p53 peptides derived from wt or mutant p53 molecules expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) have been detected in the circulation of patients with this disease. The frequency and differentiation/maturation phenotypes of these anti-tumor specific CTL can reflect the host’s immunologic response. Therefore, we investigated the frequency and phenotypes of wt sequence p53 peptide-specific CTL in patients with HNSCC (n = 33) by flow cytometric analysis using HLA-A*0201 tetrameric peptides (tet) complexed with the wt sequence p53264–272 or p53149–157 peptide and co-staining with phenotypic markers. One main finding was that increasing frequencies of tet+ CD8+ T cells in patients’ circulation correlated with increased frequencies of inactive naïve tet+ cells, while those with effector memory and terminally differentiated phenotypes, which are associated with positive anti-tumor immune responses, decreased. We also found that the frequency of circulating tet+ CD8+ T cells negatively correlated with p53 expression in tumor tissues and tumor stage. Our findings support further clinical-based investigations to define the frequencies and phenotypes of wt sequence p53 peptide-specific CD8+ T cells to predict disease severity, enhance selection of patients for inclusion in vaccination trials and highlight prerequisites to enhance immune susceptibility by activation of inactive naïve tet+ T cells and/or enhancing circulating effector T cell activity by checkpoint blockage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas E Albers
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Xu Qian
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas M Kaufmann
- Clinic for Gynecology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daphne Mytilineos
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Robert L Ferris
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Thomas K Hoffmann
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert B DeLeo
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Salama AKS, Moschos SJ. Next steps in immuno-oncology: enhancing antitumor effects through appropriate patient selection and rationally designed combination strategies. Ann Oncol 2017; 28:57-74. [PMID: 28177433 PMCID: PMC6887913 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdw534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancers escape immune surveillance via distinct mechanisms that involve central (negative selection within the thymus) or peripheral (lack of costimulation, receipt of death/anergic signals by tumor, immunoregulatory cell populations) immune tolerance. During the 1990s, moderate clinical benefit was seen using several cytokine therapies for a limited number of cancers. Over the past 20 years, extensive research has been performed to understand the role of various components of peripheral immune tolerance, with the co-inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed death 1 (PD-1), and its ligand (PD-L1) being the most well-characterized at preclinical and clinical levels. Patients and methods We used PubMed and Google Scholar searches to identify key articles published reporting preclinical and clinical studies investigating CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1, frequently cited review articles, and clinical studies of CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 pathway inhibitors, including combination therapy strategies. We also searched recent oncology congress presentations and clinicaltrials.gov to cover the most up-to-date clinical trial data and ongoing clinical trials of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combinations. Results Inhibiting CTLA-4 and PD-1 using monoclonal antibody therapies administered as single agents has been associated with clinical benefit in distinct patient subgroups across several malignancies. Concurrent blockade of CTLA-4 and components of the PD-1/PD-L1 system using various schedules has shown synergy and even higher incidence of durable antitumor responses at the expense of increased rates of immune-mediated adverse events, which can be life-threatening, but are rarely fatal and are reversible in most cases using established treatment guidelines. Conclusions Dual immune checkpoint blockade has demonstrated promising clinical benefit in numerous solid tumor types. This example of concurrent modulation of multiple components of the immune system is currently being investigated in other cancers using various immunomodulatory strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. K. S. Salama
- Division of Medical Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham
| | - S. J. Moschos
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
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3
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Apoptosis of tumor infiltrating effector TIM-3+CD8+ T cells in colon cancer. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15659. [PMID: 26493689 PMCID: PMC4616166 DOI: 10.1038/srep15659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
TIM-3 functions to enforce CD8+ T cell exhaustion, a dysfunctional state associated with the tolerization of tumor microenvironment. Here we report apoptosis of IFN-γ competent TIM-3+ population of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in colon cancer. In humans suffering from colorectal cancer, TIM-3+ population is higher in cancer tissue-resident relative to peripheral blood CD8+ T cells. Both the TIM-3+ and TIM-3- cancer tissue-resident CD8+ T cells secrete IFN-γ of comparable levels, although apoptotic cells are more in TIM-3+ compared to TIM-3- population. In mouse CT26 colon tumor model, majority of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells express TIM-3 and execute cytolysis function with higher effector cytokine secretion and apoptosis in TIM-3+ compared to TIM-3- population. The tumor cells secrete galectin-9, which increases apoptosis of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Galectin-9/TIM-3 signaling blockade with anti-TIM-3 antibody reduces the apoptosis and in addition, inhibits tumor growth in mice. The blockade increases therapeutic efficacy of cyclophosphamide to treat tumor in mice as well. These results reveal a previously unexplored role of TIM-3 on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in vivo.
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Al-Taei S, Banner R, Powell N, Evans M, Palaniappan N, Tabi Z, Man S. Decreased HPV-specific T cell responses and accumulation of immunosuppressive influences in oropharyngeal cancer patients following radical therapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2013; 62:1821-30. [PMID: 24146146 PMCID: PMC11028645 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-013-1488-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is a type of squamous cell head and neck cancer that is often associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, suggesting the potential for immunotherapeutic targeting of HPV antigens. This study aimed to determine the effect of radical therapy on HPV-specific T cells and other immune parameters in 20 OPC patients, as a prelude to future immunotherapy studies. HPV DNA could be detected in 9/12 available tissue samples (8/9 HPV(+) samples were also p16(+)). HPV-specific T cell responses against HPV16 E6 and E7 peptides were detected by enzyme-linked immunoSPOT in 10/13 and 8/13 evaluable patients, respectively, but did not appear to correlate with HPV status. Post-treatment, both HPV E6 and E7 T cell responses were decreased (4/13 and 2/13 patients, respectively). These reductions in T cell response could not be explained by a concurrent decrease in memory T cells whose absolute numbers were relatively unaffected by radical therapy (27,975 vs. 25,661/10(5) PBMC) despite a significant decrease in overall lymphocyte counts (1.74 vs. 0.69 × 10(9)/L). Instead, there were significant increases in regulatory T cells (3.7 vs. 6.8 %) and a population of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (CD14(-)HLA-DR(-)CD15(hi), 12.38 vs. 21.92 %). This suggests that immunosuppression may contribute to the reduction in HPV-specific T cell responses post-treatment, although study of larger patient cohorts will be required to test whether this affects clinical outcome. Overall these findings suggest that HPV-targeted immunotherapy in post-therapy OPC patients will require multiple strategies to boost T cell immunity and to overcome the influence of immunosuppressive cells.
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MESH Headings
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/immunology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/virology
- Cell Proliferation
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/metabolism
- Dendritic Cells/virology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Human papillomavirus 16/genetics
- Human papillomavirus 16/immunology
- Humans
- Immunoenzyme Techniques
- Immunologic Memory
- Immunotherapy
- Interferon-gamma/metabolism
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/virology
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Myeloid Cells/immunology
- Myeloid Cells/metabolism
- Myeloid Cells/virology
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/immunology
- Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/immunology
- Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/therapy
- Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/virology
- Papillomavirus E7 Proteins/genetics
- Papillomavirus E7 Proteins/immunology
- Papillomavirus Infections/immunology
- Papillomavirus Infections/therapy
- Papillomavirus Infections/virology
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Repressor Proteins/genetics
- Repressor Proteins/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/virology
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ned Powell
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cancer and Genetics Building, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN UK
| | | | | | | | - Stephen Man
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cancer and Genetics Building, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN UK
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Turksma AW, Braakhuis BJ, Bloemena E, Meijer CJ, Leemans CR, Hooijberg E. Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer patients: shifting the balance. Immunotherapy 2013; 5:49-61. [PMID: 23256798 DOI: 10.2217/imt.12.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer in the western world. Over the last few decades little improvement has been made to increase the relatively low 5-year survival rate. This calls for novel and improved therapies. Here, we describe opportunities in immunotherapy for head and neck cancer patients and hurdles yet to be overcome. Viruses are involved in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cases. The incidence of HPV-related head and neck cancer is increasing and is a distinctly different disease from other head and neck carcinomas. Virus-induced tumors express viral antigens that are good targets for immunotherapeutic treatment options. The type of immunotherapeutic treatment, either active or passive, should be selected depending on the HPV status of the tumor and the immune status of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelies W Turksma
- VU University Medical Center - Cancer Center Amsterdam, Department of Pathology 2.26, de Boelelaan 1117, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Tumor-induced CD8+ T-cell dysfunction in lung cancer patients. Clin Dev Immunol 2012; 2012:741741. [PMID: 23118782 PMCID: PMC3483679 DOI: 10.1155/2012/741741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2012] [Revised: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide and one of the most common types of cancers. The limited success of chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimes have highlighted the need to develop new therapies like antitumor immunotherapy. CD8+ T-cells represent a major arm of the cell-mediated anti-tumor response and a promising target for developing T-cell-based immunotherapies against lung cancer. Lung tumors, however, have been considered to possess poor immunogenicity; even so, lung tumor-specific CD8+ T-cell clones can be established that possess cytotoxicity against autologous tumor cells. This paper will focus on the alterations induced in CD8+ T-cells by lung cancer. Although memory CD8+ T-cells infiltrate lung tumors, in both tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and malignant pleural effusions, these cells are dysfunctional and the effector subset is reduced. We propose that chronic presence of lung tumors induces dysfunctions in CD8+ T-cells and sensitizes them to activation-induced cell death, which may be associated with the poor clinical responses observed in immunotherapeutic trials. Getting a deeper knowledge of the evasion mechanisms lung cancer induce in CD8+ T-cells should lead to further understanding of lung cancer biology, overcome tumor evasion mechanisms, and design improved immunotherapeutic treatments for lung cancer.
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Prado-Garcia H, Romero-Garcia S, Morales-Fuentes J, Aguilar-Cazares D, Lopez-Gonzalez JS. Activation-induced cell death of memory CD8+ T cells from pleural effusion of lung cancer patients is mediated by the type II Fas-induced apoptotic pathway. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2012; 61:1065-80. [PMID: 22159518 PMCID: PMC11028981 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-011-1165-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Accepted: 11/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Pleural effusions, containing high numbers of mononuclear and tumor cells, are frequent in patients with advanced stages of lung cancer. We reported that in pleural effusions from primary lung cancer, the CD8+ T cell subpopulation, and particularly the terminally differentiated subset, is reduced compared to that of non-malignant effusions. We analyzed the participation of activation-induced cell death (AICD) and extrinsic pathways (type I or II) as mechanisms for the decrease in pleural effusion CD8+ T cell subpopulation. Pleural effusion or peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, from lung cancer patients, were stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody and analyzed for (a) apoptosis by annexin-V-binding and TUNEL assay, (b) transcript levels of Fas ligand (FasL) and TRAIL by real-time RT-PCR, (c) expression of FasL and TRAIL, measured as integrated mean fluorescence intensities (iMFI) by flow cytometry, (d) expression of Bcl-2 and BIM molecules, measured as MFI, and (e) apoptosis inhibition using caspase-8 and -9 inhibitors. Pleural effusion CD8+ T cells, but not CD4+ T cells, from cancer patients underwent AICD. Blocking FasL/Fas pathway protected from AICD. Upregulation of FasL and TRAIL expressions was found in pleural effusion CD8+ T cells, which also showed a subset of Bcl-2 low cells. In memory CD8+ T cells, AICD depended on both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Hence, in the pleural space of lung cancer patients, AICD might compromise the antitumor function of CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heriberto Prado-Garcia
- Departamento de Enfermedades Cronico-Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosío Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico.
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8
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Allen CT, Judd NP, Bui JD, Uppaluri R. The clinical implications of antitumor immunity in head and neck cancer. Laryngoscope 2011; 122:144-57. [DOI: 10.1002/lary.21913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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9
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Schuler PJ, Boeckers P, Engers R, Boelke E, Bas M, Greve J, Dumitru CA, Lehnerdt GF, Ferris RL, Andrade Filho PA, Brandau S, Lang S, Whiteside TL, Hoffmann TK. EGFR-specific T cell frequencies correlate with EGFR expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Transl Med 2011; 9:168. [PMID: 21970318 PMCID: PMC3198929 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-9-168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2011] [Accepted: 10/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), expression levels of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) correlate with poor prognosis and decreased survival rates. As the mechanisms responsible for cellular immune response to EGFR in vivo remain unclear, the frequency and function of EGFR-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) was determined in HNSCC patients. Methods The frequency of CTL specific for the HLA-A2.1-restricted EGFR-derived YLN peptide (YLNTVQPTCV) and KLF peptide (KLFGTSGQKT) was determined in 16 HLA-A2.1+ HNSCC patients and 16 healthy HLA-A2.1+ individuals (NC) by multicolor flow cytometry. Patients' results were correlated to EGFR expression obtained by immunohistochemistry in corresponding tumor sections. Proliferation and anti-tumor activity of peptide-specific CTL was demonstrated by in vitro stimulation with dendritic cells pulsed with the peptides. Results Frequency of EGFR-specific CTL correlated significantly with EGFR expression in tumor sections (p = 0.02, r2 = 0.6). Patients with elevated EGFR scores (> 7) had a significantly higher frequency of EGFR-specific CTL than NC and patients with low EGFR scores (< 7). EGFR-specific CTL from cancer patients were expanded ex vivo and produced IFN-γ upon recognition of EGFR+ target cells. Conclusion EGFR expressed on HNSCC cells induces a specific immune response in vivo. Strategies for expansion of EGFR-specific CTL may be important for future immunotherapy of HNSCC patients.
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10
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Tsuji T, Matsuzaki J, Ritter E, Miliotto A, Ritter G, Odunsi K, Old LJ, Gnjatic S. Split T cell tolerance against a self/tumor antigen: spontaneous CD4+ but not CD8+ T cell responses against p53 in cancer patients and healthy donors. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23651. [PMID: 21858191 PMCID: PMC3155555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2011] [Accepted: 07/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Analyses of NY-ESO-1-specific spontaneous immune responses in cancer patients revealed that antibody and both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were induced together in cancer patients. To explore whether such integrated immune responses are also spontaneously induced for other tumor antigens, we have evaluated antibody and T cell responses against self/tumor antigen p53 in ovarian cancer patients and healthy individuals. We found that 21% (64/298) of ovarian cancer patients but no healthy donors showed specific IgG responses against wild-type p53 protein. While none of 12 patients with high titer p53 antibody showed spontaneous p53-specific CD8+ T cell responses following a single in vitro sensitization, significant p53-specific IFN-γ producing CD4+ T cells were detected in 6 patients. Surprisingly, similar levels of p53-specific CD4+ T cells but not CD8+ T cells were also detected in 5/10 seronegative cancer patients and 9/12 healthy donors. Importantly, p53-specific CD4+ T cells in healthy donors originated from a CD45RA− antigen-experienced T cell population and recognized naturally processed wild-type p53 protein. These results raise the possibility that p53-specific CD4+ T cells reflect abnormalities in p53 occurring in normal individuals and that they may play a role in processes of immunosurveillance or immunoregulation of p53-related neoplastic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takemasa Tsuji
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd., New York Branch at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Junko Matsuzaki
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Erika Ritter
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd., New York Branch at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Anthony Miliotto
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Gerd Ritter
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd., New York Branch at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kunle Odunsi
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Lloyd J. Old
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd., New York Branch at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Sacha Gnjatic
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd., New York Branch at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: .
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11
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Chang-Qing F, Yi L, De-Guang W, Qing-Bin S, Xiang-Min H, Na T, Jian-Hua L. Immune clearance gastric carcinoma cells in ascites by activating caspase-9-induced apoptosis. APMIS 2011; 119:173-9. [PMID: 21284734 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2010.02707.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Floating gastric adenocarcinoma cells in ascitic fluid are the main cause of peritoneal dissemination. Activation of apoptosis is an important mechanism by which tumor cells are eliminated by the immune surveillance system. Hence, we examined caspase-9 expression and the apoptosis in gastric adenocarcinoma cells in ascitic fluid using immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction and in situ cell death detection kits, flow cytometry. The results revealed strong expression of caspase-9 in 58.49% (31/53) malignant cells and a relatively weak expression of caspase-9 in 41.51% (22/53) malignant cells. The proportion of apoptotic cells in 31 malignant cases with strong caspase-9 expression (35.14 ± 3.42)% was significantly higher than that in 22 malignant cases with relatively weak caspase-9 expression (17.29 ± 7.62)% or in mesothelial cells (10.76 ± 4.21%; p < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated that the patients with low caspase-9 expression showed significantly shorter survival (p < 0.05) than those with high caspase-9 expression. These findings suggest that immune clearance gastric carcinoma cells in ascites activated by caspase-9 helped to improve the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Chang-Qing
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Albers AE, Strauss L, Liao T, Hoffmann TK, Kaufmann AM. T cell-tumor interaction directs the development of immunotherapies in head and neck cancer. Clin Dev Immunol 2010; 2010:236378. [PMID: 21234340 PMCID: PMC3017942 DOI: 10.1155/2010/236378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2010] [Accepted: 10/16/2010] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The competent immune system controls disease effectively due to induction, function, and regulation of effector lymphocytes. Immunosurveillance is exerted mostly by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) while specific immune suppression is associated with tumor malignancy and progression. In squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, the presence, activity, but also suppression of tumor-specific CTL have been demonstrated. Functional CTL may exert a selection pressure on the tumor cells that consecutively escape by a combination of molecular and cellular evasion mechanisms. Certain of these mechanisms target antitumor effector cells directly or indirectly by affecting cells that regulate CTL function. This results in the dysfunction or apoptosis of lymphocytes and dysregulated lymphocyte homeostasis. Another important tumor-escape mechanism is to avoid recognition by dysregulation of antigen processing and presentation. Thus, both induction of functional CTL and susceptibility of the tumor and its microenvironment to become T cell targets should be considered in CTL-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. E. Albers
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, 12200 Berlin, Germany
| | - L. Strauss
- Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
| | - T. Liao
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, 12200 Berlin, Germany
| | - T. K. Hoffmann
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Universität Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - A. M. Kaufmann
- Department of Gynecology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin and Campus Mitte, 12200 Berlin, Germany
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Badoual C, Sandoval F, Pere H, Hans S, Gey A, Merillon N, Van Ryswick C, Quintin-Colonna F, Bruneval P, Brasnu D, Fridman WH, Tartour E. Better understanding tumor-host interaction in head and neck cancer to improve the design and development of immunotherapeutic strategies. Head Neck 2010; 32:946-58. [PMID: 20191626 DOI: 10.1002/hed.21346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancers are heavily infiltrated by immune cells, the significance of which is complex. The natural immune response against head and neck tumors, including anti-human papillomavirus (HPV) T cells, and humoral responses has been clearly documented. However, during the course of tumor progression, co-option of the immune system by tumor cells for their own advantage and increased resistance of tumor cells to immune attack also occur. Inflammation and immune subversion to support angiogenesis are key factors promoting tumor growth. Only a better understanding of this tumor-host interaction will permit a rational design of new immunotherapeutic approaches combining immunostimulation with drugs endowed with the ability to counteract immunoevasion mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Badoual
- EA 4054 Universite Paris Descartes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons Alfort, France
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14
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Current world literature. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2010; 18:134-45. [PMID: 20234215 DOI: 10.1097/moo.0b013e3283383ef9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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