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Si F, Liu X, Tao Y, Zhang Y, Ma F, Hsueh EC, Puram SV, Peng G. Blocking senescence and tolerogenic function of dendritic cells induced by γδ Treg cells enhances tumor-specific immunity for cancer immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008219. [PMID: 38580332 PMCID: PMC11002396 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a key component in maintaining the suppressive tumor microenvironment and immune suppression in different types of cancers. A precise understanding of the molecular mechanisms used by Treg cells for immune suppression is critical for the development of effective strategies for cancer immunotherapy. METHODS Senescence development and tolerogenic functions of dendritic cells (DCs) induced by breast cancer tumor-derived γδ Treg cells were fully characterized using real-time PCR, flow cytometry, western blot, and functional assays. Loss-of-function strategies with pharmacological inhibitor and/or neutralizing antibody were used to identify the potential molecule(s) and pathway(s) involved in DC senescence and dysfunction induced by Treg cells. Impaired tumor antigen HER2-specific recognition and immune response of senescent DCs induced by γδ Treg cells were explored in vitro and in vivo in humanized mouse models. In addition, the DC-based HER2 tumor vaccine immunotherapy in breast cancer models was performed to explore the enhanced antitumor immunity via prevention of DC senescence through blockages of STAT3 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling. RESULTS We showed that tumor-derived γδ Treg cells promote the development of senescence in DCs with tolerogenic functions in breast cancer. Senescent DCs induced by γδ Treg cells suppress Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation but promote the development of Treg cells. In addition, we demonstrated that PD-L1 and STAT3 signaling pathways are critical and involved in senescence induction in DCs mediated by tumor-derived γδ Treg cells. Importantly, our complementary in vivo studies further demonstrated that blockages of PD-L1 and/or STAT3 signaling can prevent γδ Treg-induced senescence and reverse tolerogenic functions in DCs, resulting in enhanced HER2 tumor-specific immune responses and immunotherapy efficacy in human breast cancer models. CONCLUSIONS These studies not only dissect the suppressive mechanism mediated by tumor-derived γδ Treg cells on DCs in the tumor microenvironment but also provide novel strategies to prevent senescence and dysfunction in DCs and enhance antitumor efficacy mediated by tumor-specific T cells for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fusheng Si
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yan Tao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yuanqin Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Feiya Ma
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Eddy C Hsueh
- Division of General Surgery and Department of Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sidharth V Puram
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Guangyong Peng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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2
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Yamaki H, Kono M, Wakisaka R, Komatsuda H, Kumai T, Hayashi R, Sato R, Nagato T, Ohkuri T, Kosaka A, Ohara K, Kishibe K, Takahara M, Hayashi T, Kobayashi H, Katada A. Brachyury-targeted immunotherapy combined with gemcitabine against head and neck cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023:10.1007/s00262-023-03460-0. [PMID: 37173455 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03460-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Brachyury is a transcription factor belonging to the T-box gene family and is involved in the posterior formation of the mesoderm and differentiation of chordates. As the overexpression of Brachyury is a poor prognostic factor in a variety of cancers, the establishment of Brachyury-targeted therapy would be beneficial for the treatment of aggressive tumors. Because transcription factors are difficult to treat with a therapeutic antibody, peptide vaccines are a feasible approach for targeting Brachyury. In this study, we identified Brachyury-derived epitopes that elicit antigen-specific and tumor-reactive CD4+ T cells that directly kill tumors. T cells recognizing Brachyury epitopes were present in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Next, we focused on gemcitabine (GEM) as an immunoadjuvant to augment the efficacy of antitumor responses by T cells. Interestingly, GEM upregulated HLA class I and HLA-DR expression in tumor, followed by the upregulation of anti-tumor T cell responses. As tumoral PD-L1 expression was also augmented by GEM, PD-1/PD-L1 blockade and GEM synergistically enhanced the tumor-reactivity of Brachyury-reactive T cells. The synergy between the PD-1/PD-L1 blockade and GEM was also confirmed in a mouse model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. These results suggest that the combined treatment of Brachyury peptide with GEM and immune checkpoint blockade could be a promising immunotherapy against head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidekiyo Yamaki
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Michihisa Kono
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Risa Wakisaka
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroki Komatsuda
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Takumi Kumai
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan.
- Department of Innovative Head and Neck Cancer Research and Treatment, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
| | - Ryusuke Hayashi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Sato
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Nagato
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Takayuki Ohkuri
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Akemi Kosaka
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Kenzo Ohara
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Kan Kishibe
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Miki Takahara
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
- Department of Innovative Head and Neck Cancer Research and Treatment, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Hayashi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroya Kobayashi
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Akihiro Katada
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan
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3
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Goulielmaki M, Stokidis S, Anagnostou T, Voutsas IF, Gritzapis AD, Baxevanis CN, Fortis SP. Frequencies of an Immunogenic HER-2/ neu Epitope of CD8+ T Lymphocytes Predict Favorable Clinical Outcomes in Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065954. [PMID: 36983028 PMCID: PMC10058793 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
HER-2/neu is the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, which is associated with the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). HER-2/neu-specific T cell immunity has been shown to predict immunologic and clinical responses in PCa patients treated with HER-2/neu peptide vaccines. However, its prognostic role in PCa patients receiving conventional treatment is unknown, and this was addressed in this study. The densities of CD8+ T cells specific for the HER-2/neu(780-788) peptide in the peripheral blood of PCa patients under standard treatments were correlated with TGF-β/IL-8 levels and clinical outcomes. We demonstrated that PCa patients with high frequencies of HER-2/neu(780-788)-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes had better progression-free survival (PFS) as compared with PCa patients with low frequencies. Increased frequencies of HER-2/neu(780-788)-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes were also associated with lower levels of TGF-β and IL-8. Our data provide the first evidence of the predictive role of HER-2/neu-specific T cell immunity in PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Goulielmaki
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Savvas Stokidis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis F Voutsas
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Angelos D Gritzapis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin N Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Sotirios P Fortis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
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4
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Enhanced In Vitro and In Vivo Potency of a T Cell Epitope in the Ebola Virus Glycoprotein Following Amino Acid Replacement at HLA-A*02:01 Binding Positions. J Virol 2022; 96:e0116621. [PMID: 36069549 PMCID: PMC9517714 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01166-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors and clinical studies on Ebola virus (EBOV) vaccine candidates have pinpointed the importance of a strong antibody response in protection and survival from EBOV infection. However, little is known about the T cell responses to EBOV or EBOV vaccines. We used HLA-A*02:01 (HLA-A2) transgenic mice to study HLA-A2-specific T cell responses elicited following vaccination with EBOV glycoprotein (EBOV-GP) presented with three different systems: (i) recombinant protein (rEBOV-GP), (ii) vesicular stomatitis replication-competent recombinant virus (VSV-EBOV-GP), and (iii) modified vaccinia Ankara virus recombinant (MVA-EBOV-GP). T cells from immunized animals were analyzed using peptide pools representing the entire GP region and individual peptides. Regardless of the vaccine formulation, we identified a minimal 9mer epitope containing an HLA-A2 motif (FLDPATTS), which was confirmed through HLA-A2 binding affinity and immunization studies. Using binding prediction software, we identified substitutions surrounding position 9 (S9V, P10V, and Q11V) that predicted enhanced binding to the HLA-A2 molecule. This enhanced binding was confirmed through in vitro binding studies and enhanced potency was shown with in vivo immunization studies using the enhanced sequences and the wild-type sequence. Of note, in silico studies predicted the enhanced 9mer epitope carrying the S9V substitution as the best overall HLA-A2 epitope for the full-length EBOV-GP. These results suggest that EBOV-GP-S9V and EBOV-GP-P10V represent more potent in vivo immunogens. Identification and enhancement of EBOV-specific human HLA epitopes could lead to the development of tools and reagents to induce more robust T cell responses in human subjects. IMPORTANCE Vaccine efficacy and immunity to viral infection are often measured by neutralizing antibody titers. T cells are specialized subsets of immune cells with antiviral activity, but this response is variable and difficult to track. We showed that the HLA-A2-specific T cell response to the Ebola virus glycoprotein can be enhanced significantly by a single residue substitution designed to improve an epitope binding affinity to one of the most frequent MHC alleles in the human population. This strategy could be applied to improve T cell responses to Ebola vaccines designed to elicit antibodies and adapted to target MHC alleles of populations in regions where endemic infections, like Ebola virus disease, are still causing outbreaks with concerning pandemic potential.
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5
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Seliger B, Massa C. Modulation of Lymphocyte Functions in the Microenvironment by Tumor Oncogenic Pathways. Front Immunol 2022; 13:883639. [PMID: 35663987 PMCID: PMC9160824 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.883639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the broad application of different immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of solid as well as hematopoietic cancers, the efficacy of these therapies is still limited, with only a minority of patients having a long-term benefit resulting in an improved survival rate. In order to increase the response rates of patients to the currently available immunotherapies, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the intrinsic and/or extrinsic resistance to treatment is required. There exist increasing evidences that activation of different oncogenic pathways as well as inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) in tumor cells inhibit the immune cell recognition and influegnce the composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME), thus leading to an impaired anti-tumoral immune response. A deeper understanding of the link between the tumor milieu and genomic alterations of TSGs and oncogenes is indispensable for the optimization of immunotherapies and to predict the patients’ response to these treatments. This review summarizes the role of different cancer-related, oncogene- and TSG-controlled pathways in the context of anti-tumoral immunity and response to different immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Chiara Massa
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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6
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Kono M, Komatsuda H, Yamaki H, Kumai T, Hayashi R, Wakisaka R, Nagato T, Ohkuri T, Kosaka A, Ohara K, Kishibe K, Takahara M, Katada A, Hayashi T, Kobayashi H, Harabuchi Y. Immunomodulation via FGFR inhibition augments FGFR1 targeting T-cell based antitumor immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2021619. [PMID: 35003900 PMCID: PMC8741288 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.2021619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) is overexpressed in multiple types of solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Being associated with poor prognosis, FGFR1 is a potential therapeutic target for aggressive tumors. T cell-based cancer immunotherapy has played a central role in novel cancer treatments. However, the potential of antitumor immunotherapy targeting FGFR1 has not been investigated. Here, we showed that FGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) augmented antitumor effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors in an HNSCC mouse model and upregulated tumoral MHC class I and MHC class II expression in vivo and in vitro. This upregulation was associated with the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, which is a crucial pathway for cancer development through FGFR signaling. Moreover, we identified an FGFR1-derived peptide epitope (FGFR1305-319) that could elicit antigen-reactive and multiple HLA-restricted CD4+ T cell responses. These T cells showed direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells that expressed FGFR1. Notably, FGFR-TKIs augmented antitumor effects of FGFR1-reactive T cells against human HNSCC cells. These results indicate that the combination of FGFR-TKIs with immunotherapy, such as an FGFR1-targeting peptide vaccine or immune checkpoint inhibitor, could be a novel and robust immunologic approach for treating patients with FGFR1-expressing cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihisa Kono
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Hiroki Komatsuda
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Hidekiyo Yamaki
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Takumi Kumai
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.,Department of Innovative Head & Neck Cancer Research and Treatment, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Hayashi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Risa Wakisaka
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Nagato
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Takayuki Ohkuri
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Akemi Kosaka
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Kenzo Ohara
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Kan Kishibe
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Miki Takahara
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Akihiro Katada
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Hayashi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.,Department of Innovative Head & Neck Cancer Research and Treatment, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Hiroya Kobayashi
- Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Harabuchi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
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7
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Hazini A, Fisher K, Seymour L. Deregulation of HLA-I in cancer and its central importance for immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e002899. [PMID: 34353849 PMCID: PMC8344275 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well accepted that many tumors undergo a process of clonal selection which means that tumor antigens arising at various stages of tumor progression are likely to be represented in just a subset of tumor cells. This process is thought to be driven by constant immunosurveillance which applies selective pressure by eliminating tumor cells expressing antigens that are recognized by T cells. It is becoming increasingly clear that the same selective pressure may also select for tumor cells that evade immune detection by acquiring deficiencies in their human leucocyte antigen (HLA) presentation pathways, allowing important tumor antigens to persist within cells undetected by the immune system. Deficiencies in antigen presentation pathway can arise by a variety of mechanisms, including genetic and epigenetic changes, and functional antigen presentation is a hard phenomenon to assess using our standard analytical techniques. Nevertheless, it is likely to have profound clinical significance and could well define whether an individual patient will respond to a particular type of therapy or not. In this review we consider the mechanisms by which HLA function may be lost in clinical disease, we assess the implications for current immunotherapy approaches using checkpoint inhibitors and examine the prognostic impact of HLA loss demonstrated in clinical trials so far. Finally, we propose strategies that might be explored for possible patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Hazini
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Kerry Fisher
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Len Seymour
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
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8
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Jongsma MLM, Neefjes J, Spaapen RM. Playing hide and seek: Tumor cells in control of MHC class I antigen presentation. Mol Immunol 2021; 136:36-44. [PMID: 34082257 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules present a blueprint of the intracellular proteome to T cells allowing them to control infection or malignant transformation. As a response, pathogens and tumor cells often downmodulate MHC-I mediated antigen presentation to escape from immune surveillance. Although the fundamental rules of antigen presentation are known in detail, the players in this system are not saturated and new modules of regulation have recently been uncovered. Here, we update the understanding of antigen presentation by MHC-I molecules and how this can be exploited by tumors to prevent exposure of the intracellular proteome. This knowledge can provide new ways to improve immune responses against tumors and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L M Jongsma
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - J Neefjes
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - R M Spaapen
- Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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9
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Zebertavage LK, Alice A, Crittenden MR, Gough MJ. Transcriptional Upregulation of NLRC5 by Radiation Drives STING- and Interferon-Independent MHC-I Expression on Cancer Cells and T Cell Cytotoxicity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7376. [PMID: 32355214 PMCID: PMC7193601 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64408-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation therapy has been shown to enhance the efficacy of various T cell-targeted immunotherapies that improve antigen-specific T cell expansion, T regulatory cell depletion, or effector T cell function. Additionally, radiation therapy has been proposed as a means to recruit T cells to the treatment site and modulate cancer cells as effector T cell targets. The significance of these features remains unclear. We set out to determine, in checkpoint inhibitor resistant models, which components of radiation are primarily responsible for overcoming this resistance. In order to model the vaccination effect of radiation, we used a Listeria monocytogenes based vaccine to generate a large population of tumor antigen specific T cells but found that the presence of cells with cytotoxic capacity was unable to replicate the efficacy of radiation with combination checkpoint blockade. Instead, we demonstrated that a major role of radiation was to increase the susceptibility of surviving cancer cells to CD8+ T cell-mediated control through enhanced MHC-I expression. We observed a novel mechanism of genetic induction of MHC-I in cancer cells through upregulation of the MHC-I transactivator NLRC5. These data support the critical role of local modulation of tumors by radiation to improve tumor control with combination immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K Zebertavage
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA.,Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Alejandro Alice
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Marka R Crittenden
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA.,The Oregon Clinic, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Michael J Gough
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USA.
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10
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Tsang JY, Ho CS, Ni YB, Shao Y, Poon IK, Chan SK, Cheung SY, Shea KH, Marabi M, Tse GM. Co-expression of HLA-I loci improved prognostication in HER2+ breast cancers. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:799-811. [PMID: 32055918 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02512-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The underlying basis for cancer immune evasion is important for effective immunotherapy and prognosis in breast cancers. Human leucocyte antigens (HLA)-I comprising three classical antigens (HLA-A, -B and -C) is mandatory for anti-tumor immunity. Its loss occurred frequently in many cancers resulting in effective immune evasion. Most studies examined HLA-I as a whole. Alterations in specific locus could have different clinical ramifications. Hence, we evaluated the expression of the three HLA-I loci in a large cohort of breast cancers. Low expression of HLA-A, -B and -C were found in 71.1%, 66.3%, and 60.2% of the cases. Low and high expression in all loci was found in 48.3% and 17.9% of the cases respectively. The remaining showed high expression in one or two loci. Cases with all HLA high expression (all HLA high) was frequent in the ER-HER2- (27.4%) and ER-HER2+ (23.1%) cases and was associated with characteristic pathologic features related to these tumor (higher grade, necrosis, high tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL), pT stage, low hormonal receptor, high basal marker expression) (p ≤ 0.019). Interestingly, in HER2+ cancers, only cases with all HLA high and high TIL showed significantly better survival. In node positive cancers, concordant high HLA expression in primary tumors and nodal metastases was favorable prognostically (DFS: HR = 0.741, p < 0.001; BCSS: HR = 0.699, p = 0.003). The data suggested an important clinical value of a combined analysis on the co-expression HLA-I status in both primary and metastatic tumors. This could be a potential additional key component to be incorporated into TIL evaluation for improved prognostication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Y Tsang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Sing Ho
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
- Department of Pathology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
| | - Yun-Bi Ni
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Yan Shao
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Ivan K Poon
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Siu-Ki Chan
- Department of Pathology, Kwong Wah Hospital, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
| | - Sai-Yin Cheung
- Department of Pathology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
| | - Ka-Ho Shea
- Department of Pathology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
| | - Monalyn Marabi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
| | - Gary M Tse
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong.
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11
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Chen M, Xu G, Fan M, Jia H, Xiao L, Lang J. Anti-tumour effects of a xenogeneic fibroblast activation protein-based whole cell tumour vaccine in murine tumour models. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 47:4182-4193. [PMID: 31722575 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2019.1687498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The clinical benefit of cancer immunotherapy, including tumour vaccines, is influenced by immunosuppressive factors in the tumour microenvironment. Among these factors, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their products, such as fibroblast activation protein-α (FAPα), greatly affect tumourigenesis, development, metastasis and treatment tolerance, which make them promising immunotherapy targets for cancer patients. Our previous study reported that a whole cell tumour vaccine (WCTV) expressing FAPα inhibited tumour growth by simultaneously attacking cancer cells and CAFs. This study aimed to improve WCTVs with xenoantigens to end immune tolerance and to further activate the adaptive immune system. In the present study, we designed a WCTV by transducing a vector encoding human FAPα (hFAPα) into murine tumour cells and evaluated its efficacy in multiple solid tumour models. Immunotherapy with this WCTV effectively delayed tumour growth and prevented recurrence. The anti-tumour responses were clearly linked to antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells, whereas CD4(+) T lymphocytes also played a role. Humoural immune responses were activated because the adoptive transfer of immunoglobulins induced abscopal anti-tumour effects, and autoantibodies against FAPα were specifically detected in the sera of immunized mice. Moreover, an increased number of apoptotic tumour cells along with a reduced number of CAFs within the tumours suggest that xenogeneic FAPα-based WCTV has the potential to drive T cell and antibody responses against cancer cells and CAFs. This finding could offer an advanced strategy to treat multiple solid tumours with individualized cancer immunotherapy techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihua Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Guangchao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Ming Fan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongyuan Jia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Xiao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinyi Lang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
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12
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Chandrasekaran S, Sasaki M, Scharer CD, Kissick HT, Patterson DG, Magliocca KR, Seykora JT, Sapkota B, Gutman DA, Cooper LA, Lesinski GB, Waller EK, Thomas SN, Kotenko SV, Boss JM, Moreno CS, Swerlick RA, Pollack BP. Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Signaling Can Modulate MHC Class I and II Expression. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:2395-2409. [PMID: 31548239 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-0545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Molecular events activating the PI3K pathway are frequently detected in human tumors and the activation of PI3K signaling alters numerous cellular processes including tumor cell proliferation, survival, and motility. More recent studies have highlighted the impact of PI3K signaling on the cellular response to interferons and other immunologic processes relevant to antitumor immunity. Given the ability of IFNγ to regulate antigen processing and presentation and the pivotal role of MHC class I (MHCI) and II (MHCII) expression in T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity, we sought to determine the impact of PI3K signaling on MHCI and MHCII induction by IFNγ. We found that the induction of cell surface MHCI and MHCII molecules by IFNγ is enhanced by the clinical grade PI3K inhibitors dactolisib and pictilisib. We also found that PI3K inhibition increases STAT1 protein levels following IFNγ treatment and increases accessibility at genomic STAT1-binding motifs. Conversely, we found that pharmacologic activation of PI3K signaling can repress the induction of MHCI and MHCII molecules by IFNγ, and likewise, the loss of PTEN attenuates the induction of MHCI, MHCII, and STAT1 by IFNγ. Consistent with these in vitro studies, we found that within human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, intratumoral regions with high phospho-AKT IHC staining had reduced MHCI IHC staining. IMPLICATIONS: Collectively, these findings demonstrate that MHC expression can be modulated by PI3K signaling and suggest that activation of PI3K signaling may promote immune escape via effects on antigen presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Chandrasekaran
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Maiko Sasaki
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Christopher D Scharer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Haydn T Kissick
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Urology Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Dillon G Patterson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kelly R Magliocca
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - John T Seykora
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Bishu Sapkota
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - David A Gutman
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lee A Cooper
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Gregory B Lesinski
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Edmund K Waller
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Susan N Thomas
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, Georgia.,Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sergei V Kotenko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Jeremy M Boss
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Carlos S Moreno
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Robert A Swerlick
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Brian P Pollack
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia. .,Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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13
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Abstract
Introduction: Advanced cancers that did not respond to chemotherapy were once a death sentence, but now there are newer therapies utilizing the patient's own immune system to fight cancer that are proving effective in chemotherapy-refractory malignancies. However, this success against cancer cells may be accompanied by immune-related adverse events that can affect the kidneys. Areas covered: Using Medline and Scopus, we compiled all publications through February 2019 that pertained to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T-cells). The focus of this review is the discussion of these new cancer therapies, with attention to the reported kidney-related adverse effects.. Expert opinion: Autoimmunity is repressed by molecular pathways that inhibit T-cell activation against selected antigens. These self-protective mechanisms have been appropriated by tumor cells as a means of evading immune detection and destruction. New immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy incite an aggressive immune response directed against tumor cells. This unrestrained activation of the immune system may result in kidney injury via multiple mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Sury
- a Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA
| | - Mark A Perazella
- a Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA.,b Section of Nephrology , Veterans Affairs Medical Center , West Haven , CT , USA
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14
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Tarantino P, Curigliano G. Defining the immunogram of breast cancer: a focus on clinical trials. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 19:383-385. [PMID: 30892954 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2019.1598372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
In phase III ImPassion130 trial, the addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy improved overall survival in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients. This benefit was significant only in patients harboring PD-L1-positive tumors, suggesting that stratification according to response biomarkers is needed to achieve consistent responses. Besides PD-L1 expression, a variety of potential biomarkers are under investigation for predicting immunotherapy efficacy in breast cancer, such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, gene signatures, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, and gut microbiome. Enriching future trials through these biomarkers could help identifying the population of responders, realizing what has been called precision immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Tarantino
- a Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapy , IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS , Milan , Italy.,b Department of Oncology and Haematology (DIPO) , University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- a Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapy , IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS , Milan , Italy.,b Department of Oncology and Haematology (DIPO) , University of Milan , Milan , Italy
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15
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HLA class I alterations in breast carcinoma are associated with a high frequency of the loss of heterozygosity at chromosomes 6 and 15. Immunogenetics 2018; 70:647-659. [PMID: 30145665 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-018-1074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
HLA class I (HLA-I) molecules play a crucial role in the presentation of tumor antigenic peptides to CD8+ T cells. Tumor HLA-I loss provides a route of immune escape from T cell-mediated killing. We analyzed HLA-I expression in 98 cryopreserved breast cancer tissues using a broad panel of anti-HLA-I antibodies. Genomic HLA-I typing was performed using DNA obtained from autologous normal breast tissue. Analysis of the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the HLA-I region of chromosome 6 (LOH-6) and in the β2-microglobulin (B2M) region of chromosome 15 (LOH-15) was done by microsatellite amplification of DNA isolated from microdissected tumor areas. B2M gene sequencing was done using this DNA form HLA-I-negative tumors. Immunohistological analysis revealed various types of HLA-I alterations in 79 tumors (81%), including total HLA-I loss in 53 cases (54%) and partial loss in 16 samples (14%). In 19 cases (19%), HLA-I expression was positive. Using microsatellite analysis, we detected LOH in 36 cases out of 92 evaluated (39%), including 15 samples with only LOH-6, 14 with LOH-15, and seven tumors with LOH-6 and LOH-15 at the same time. Remarkably, we detected LOH-6 in eight tumors with positive HLA-I immunolabeling. We did not find any B2M mutations in HLA-I-negative breast tumors. In conclusion, LOH at chromosomes 6 and 15 has a high incidence in breast cancer and occurs in tumors with different HLA-I immunophenotypes. This common molecular mechanism of HLA-I alterations may reduce the ability of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to kill tumor cells and negatively influence the clinical success of cancer immunotherapy.
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16
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Aptsiauri N, Ruiz-Cabello F, Garrido F. The transition from HLA-I positive to HLA-I negative primary tumors: the road to escape from T-cell responses. Curr Opin Immunol 2018; 51:123-132. [PMID: 29567511 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
MHC/HLA class I loss in cancer is one of the main mechanisms of tumor immune escape from T-cell recognition and destruction. Tumor infiltration by T lymphocytes (TILs) and by other immune cells was first described many years ago, but has never been directly and clearly linked to the destruction of HLA-I positive and selection of HLA-I negative tumor cells. The degree and the pattern of lymphocyte infiltration in a tumor nest may depend on antigenicity and the developmental stages of the tumors. In addition, it is becoming evident that HLA-I expression and tumor infiltration have a direct correlation with tumor tissue reorganization. We observed that at early stages (permissive Phase I) tumors are heterogeneous, with both HLA-I positive and HLA-negative cancer cells, and are infiltrated by TILs and M1 macrophages as a part of an active anti-tumor Th1 response. At later stages (encapsulated Phase II), tumor nests are mostly HLA-I negative with immune cells residing in the peri-tumoral stroma, which forms a granuloma-like encapsulated tissue structure. All these tumor characteristics, including tumor HLA-I expression pattern, have an important clinical prognostic value and should be closely and routinely investigated in different types of cancer by immunologists and by pathologists. In this review we summarize our current viewpoint about the alterations in HLA-I expression in cancer and discuss how, when and why tumor HLA-I losses occur. We also provide evidence for the negative impact of tumor HLA-I loss in current cancer immunotherapies, with the focus on reversible ('soft') and irreversible ('hard') HLA-I defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Aptsiauri
- Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria ibs, 18014 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Bioquimica, Biologia Molecular e Inmunologia III, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Cabello
- Servicio de Analisis Clinicos e Inmunologia, UGC Laboratorio Clinico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria ibs, 18014 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Bioquimica, Biologia Molecular e Inmunologia III, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Analisis Clinicos e Inmunologia, UGC Laboratorio Clinico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria ibs, 18014 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Bioquimica, Biologia Molecular e Inmunologia III, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Spain.
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17
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Muntasell A, Cabo M, Servitja S, Tusquets I, Martínez-García M, Rovira A, Rojo F, Albanell J, López-Botet M. Interplay between Natural Killer Cells and Anti-HER2 Antibodies: Perspectives for Breast Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1544. [PMID: 29181007 PMCID: PMC5694168 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) defines a subgroup of breast tumors with aggressive behavior. The addition of HER2-targeted antibodies (i.e., trastuzumab, pertuzumab) to chemotherapy significantly improves relapse-free and overall survival in patients with early-stage and advanced disease. Nonetheless, considerable proportions of patients develop resistance to treatment, highlighting the need for additional and co-adjuvant therapeutic strategies. HER2-specific antibodies can trigger natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and indirectly enhance the development of tumor-specific T cell immunity; both mechanisms contributing to their antitumor efficacy in preclinical models. Antibody-dependent NK cell activation results in the release of cytotoxic granules as well as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IFNγ and TNFα) and chemokines. Hence, NK cell tumor suppressive functions include direct cytolytic killing of tumor cells as well as the regulation of subsequent antitumor adaptive immunity. Albeit tumors with gene expression signatures associated to the presence of cytotoxic lymphocyte infiltrates benefit from trastuzumab-based treatment, NK cell-related biomarkers of response/resistance to HER2-specific therapeutic antibodies in breast cancer patients remain elusive. Several variables, including (i) the configuration of the patient NK cell repertoire; (ii) tumor molecular features (i.e., estrogen receptor expression); (iii) concomitant therapeutic regimens (i.e., chemotherapeutic agents, tyrosine kinase inhibitors); and (iv) evasion mechanisms developed by progressive breast tumors, have been shown to quantitatively and qualitatively influence antibody-triggered NK cell responses. In this review, we discuss possible interventions for restoring/enhancing the therapeutic activity of HER2 therapeutic antibodies by harnessing NK cell antitumor potential through combinatorial approaches, including immune checkpoint blocking/stimulatory antibodies, cytokines and toll-like receptor agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aura Muntasell
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariona Cabo
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sonia Servitja
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Oncology, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignasi Tusquets
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Oncology, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Martínez-García
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Oncology, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Rovira
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Oncology, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Joan Albanell
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Oncology, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain.,Univ. Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel López-Botet
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.,Univ. Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Richardson TE, Shen ZJ, Kanchwala M, Xing C, Filatenkov A, Shang P, Barnett S, Abedin Z, Malter JS, Raisanen JM, Burns DK, White CL, Hatanpaa KJ. Aggressive Behavior in Silent Subtype III Pituitary Adenomas May Depend on Suppression of Local Immune Response: A Whole Transcriptome Analysis. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2017; 76:874-882. [PMID: 28922848 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlx072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Silent subtype III pituitary adenomas (SS-3) are clinically nonfunctional adenomas that are more aggressive in terms of invasion and risk of recurrence than their conventional null cell counterparts. We previously showed that these tumors can be distinguished by immunohistochemistry based on the identification of a markedly enlarged and fragmented Golgi apparatus. To understand the molecular correlates of differential aggressiveness, we performed whole transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq) on 4 SS-3 and 4 conventional null cell adenomas. The genes that were highly upregulated in all the SS-3 adenomas included 2 secreted proteins involved in the suppression of T-lymphocyte activity, i.e., ARG2 (multiple testing adjusted padj = 1.5 × 10-3) and SEMA3A (padj = 3.3 × 10-3). Highly downregulated genes in all the SS-3 adenomas included HLA-B (padj = 3.3 × 10-6), suggesting reduced antigen presentation by the adenoma to cytotoxic T-cells. Quantitative RT-PCR of these genes performed on the adenoma samples supported the RNAseq results. We also found a relative decrease in the overall concentration of T-lymphocytes in the SS-3 tumors. These results suggest that SS-3 adenomas actively suppress the immune system and raise the possibility that they may be treatable with immune checkpoint inhibitors or nonspecific cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E Richardson
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhong-Jian Shen
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Mohammed Kanchwala
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Chao Xing
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Alexander Filatenkov
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Ping Shang
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Samuel Barnett
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Zahidur Abedin
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - James S Malter
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Jack M Raisanen
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Dennis K Burns
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
| | - Kimmo J Hatanpaa
- Department of Pathology; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development; Department of Bioinformatics; Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; PrimBio Research Institute, LLC, Exton, Pennsylvania
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19
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Seliger B. Immune modulatory microRNAs as a novel mechanism to revert immune escape of tumors. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2017; 36:49-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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20
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The Five Immune Forces Impacting DNA-Based Cancer Immunotherapeutic Strategy. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18030650. [PMID: 28304339 PMCID: PMC5372662 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18030650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA-based vaccine strategy is increasingly realized as a viable cancer treatment approach. Strategies to enhance immunogenicity utilizing tumor associated antigens have been investigated in several pre-clinical and clinical studies. The promising outcomes of these studies have suggested that DNA-based vaccines induce potent T-cell effector responses and at the same time cause only minimal side-effects to cancer patients. However, the immune evasive tumor microenvironment is still an important hindrance to a long-term vaccine success. Several options are currently under various stages of study to overcome immune inhibitory effect in tumor microenvironment. Some of these approaches include, but are not limited to, identification of neoantigens, mutanome studies, designing fusion plasmids, vaccine adjuvant modifications, and co-treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we follow a Porter’s analysis analogy, otherwise commonly used in business models, to analyze various immune-forces that determine the potential success and sustainable positive outcomes following DNA vaccination using non-viral tumor associated antigens in treatment against cancer.
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21
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Sui M, Si L, Xu T, Cui M. Establishment of specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte culture system and its inhibitory effect on ovarian cancer. Oncol Lett 2016; 12:4087-4093. [PMID: 27895776 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.5202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to establish a novel method for efficiently inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in vitro, in order to develop an immune-based therapy for suppressing and killing ovarian cancer cells with a high safety and efficacy. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpGODN) and ginsenoside Rg1, which were united as an immune adjuvant, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) antigen peptide, in order to establish a specific CTL culture system in vitro. Chromosome karyotype analysis, growth curve construction and flow cytometric analysis of immune phenotypes, including cluster of differentiation (CD)3, CD4 and CD8, were performed to characterize the stimulated PBMCs in vitro. Subsequently, SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were treated with the specific CTL culture system in vitro, and MTT assays were performed to test the inhibitory and lethal effects of the CTLs on SKOV3 cells. The number of CTLs was significantly increased from day 7 of stimulation with the specific mixture (CpGODN, ginsenoside Rg1 and HER2/neu) (P<0.01), and plateaued on day 19. Following activation, the number of CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells was significantly increased (P<0.01). The lymphocyte karyotype did not change following exposure to antigen. After treatment with the specific CTL system, the number of SKOV3 cells in the experimental group was significantly reduced compared with that in the control group (P<0.01). The results of the present study suggested that two novel immune adjuvants, CpGODN and ginsenoside Rg1, could be combined with the HER2/neu antigen peptide to establish a specific CTL culture system in vitro. This system demonstrated a high antigen specificity, safety and proliferative ability, and exerted significant lethal and inhibitory effects on SKOV3 cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Sui
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China
| | - Lihui Si
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China
| | - Tianmin Xu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China
| | - Manhua Cui
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China
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Voutsas IF, Anastasopoulou EA, Tzonis P, Papamichail M, Perez SA, Baxevanis CN. Unraveling the role of preexisting immunity in prostate cancer patients vaccinated with a HER-2/neu hybrid peptide. J Immunother Cancer 2016; 4:75. [PMID: 27891225 PMCID: PMC5109671 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-016-0183-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer vaccines aim at eliciting not only an immune response against specific tumor antigens, but also at enhancing a preexisting immunity against the tumor. In this context, we recently reported on the levels of preexisting immunity in prostate cancer patients vaccinated with the HER-2 hybrid peptide (AE37), during a phase I clinical trial. The purpose of the current study was to correlate between preexisting immunity to the native HER-2 peptide, AE36, and expression of HLA-A2 and -A24 molecules with the clinical outcome. Additionally, we investigated the ability of the AE37 vaccine to induce an antitumor immune response against other tumor associated antigens, not integrated in the vaccine formulation, with respect to the clinical response. Methods We analyzed prostate cancer patients who were vaccinated with the AE37 vaccine [Ii-Key-HER-2/neu(776–790) hybrid peptide vaccine (AE37), which is a MHC class II long peptide vaccine encompassing MHC class I epitopes, during a phase I clinical trial. Preexisting immunity to the native HER-2/neu(776–790) (AE36) peptide was assessed by IFNγ response or dermal reaction at the inoculation site. Antigen specificity against other tumor antigens was defined using multimer analysis. Progression free survival (PFS) was considered as the patients’ clinical outcome. Two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test at 95 % confidence interval was used for statistical evaluation at different time points and Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test were used for the evaluation of PFS. Results Preexisting immunity to AE36, irrespectively of HLA expression, was correlated with longer PFS. Specific CD8+ T cell immunity against E75 and PSA146–151 (HLA-A2 restricted), as well as, PSA153–161 (HLA-A24 restricted) was detected at relatively high frequencies which were further enhanced during vaccinations. Specific immunity against PSA153–161 correlated with longer PFS in HLA-A24+ patients. However, HLA-A2+ patients with high preexisting or vaccine-induced immunity to E75, showed a trend for shorter PFS. Conclusions Our data cast doubt on whether preexisting immunity or epitope spreading specific for HLA-class I-restricted peptides can actually predict a favorable clinical outcome. They also impose that preexisting immunity to long vaccine peptides, encompassing both HLA class II and I epitopes should be considered as an important prerequisite for the improvement of future immunotherapeutic protocols. Protocol ID Code: Generex-06-07 National Organization for Medicines (EOF) ID Code: IS-107-01-06 NEC Study Code: EED107/1/06 EudraCT Number: 2006-003299-37 Date of registration: 07/06/2006 Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: Nov 1st, 2007 Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40425-016-0183-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis F Voutsas
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Panagiotis Tzonis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Papamichail
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Sonia A Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Gilert A, Baruch L, Bronshtein T, Machluf M. PLGA-Listeriolysin O microspheres: Opening the gate for cytosolic delivery of cancer antigens. Biomed Microdevices 2016; 18:23. [PMID: 26888439 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-016-0050-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Strategies for cancer protein vaccination largely aim to activate the cellular arm of the immune system against cancer cells. This approach, however, is limited since protein vaccines mostly activate the system's humoral arm instead. One way to overcome this problem is to enhance the cross-presentation of such proteins by antigen-presenting cells, which may consequently lead to intense cellular response. Here we examined the ability of listeriolysin O (LLO) incorporated into poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres to modify the cytosolic delivery of low molecular weight peptides and enhance their cross-presentation. PLGA microspheres were produced in a size suitable for uptake by phagocytic cells. The peptide encapsulation and release kinetics were improved by adding NaCl to the preparation. PLGA microspheres loaded with the antigenic peptide and incorporated with LLO were readily up-taken by phagocytic cells, which exhibited an increase in the expression of peptide-MHC-CI complexes on the cell surface. Furthermore, this system enhanced the activation of a specific T hybridoma cell line, thus simulating cytotoxic T cells. These results establish, for the first time, a proof of concept for the use of PLGA microspheres incorporated with a pore-forming agent and the antigen peptide of choice as a unique cancer protein vaccination delivery platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Gilert
- The Laboratory for Cancer Drug Delivery & Cell Based Technologies, Faculty of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Limor Baruch
- The Laboratory for Cancer Drug Delivery & Cell Based Technologies, Faculty of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tomer Bronshtein
- The Laboratory for Cancer Drug Delivery & Cell Based Technologies, Faculty of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Marcelle Machluf
- The Laboratory for Cancer Drug Delivery & Cell Based Technologies, Faculty of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel.
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van der Burg SH, Arens R, Ossendorp F, van Hall T, Melief CJM. Vaccines for established cancer: overcoming the challenges posed by immune evasion. Nat Rev Cancer 2016; 16:219-33. [PMID: 26965076 DOI: 10.1038/nrc.2016.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 494] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccines preferentially stimulate T cells against tumour-specific epitopes that are created by DNA mutations or oncogenic viruses. In the setting of premalignant disease, carcinoma in situ or minimal residual disease, therapeutic vaccination can be clinically successful as monotherapy; however, in established cancers, therapeutic vaccines will require co-treatments to overcome immune evasion and to become fully effective. In this Review, we discuss the progress that has been made in overcoming immune evasion controlled by tumour cell-intrinsic factors and the tumour microenvironment. We summarize how therapeutic benefit can be maximized in patients with established cancers by improving vaccine design and by using vaccines to increase the effects of standard chemotherapies, to establish and/or maintain tumour-specific T cells that are re-energized by checkpoint blockade and other therapies, and to sustain the antitumour response of adoptively transferred T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramon Arens
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ferry Ossendorp
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Cornelis J M Melief
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- ISA Pharmaceuticals, J. H. Oortweg 19, 2333 CH, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Sadri-Ardalani F, Shabani M, Amiri MM, Bahadori M, Emami S, Sarrafzadeh AR, Noutash-Haghighat F, Jeddi-Tehrani M, Shokri F. Antibody response to HER2 extracellular domain and subdomains in mouse following DNA immunization. Tumour Biol 2015; 37:1217-27. [PMID: 26282003 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3897-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in 15-20 % of breast cancer patients and is an appropriate target for immunotherapy in these patients. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to HER2 are currently applied to treat breast cancer patients with HER2 overexpression. Active immunization with HER2 DNA or protein has been considered as a suitable alternative. The aim of this study is to evaluate anti-HER2 antibody response in serum of mice immunized with DNA constructs containing full extracellular domain (fECD) or subdomains of human HER2. Four extracellular subdomains and also fECD of HER2 were cloned into pCMV6-Neo vector. Different groups of Balb/C mice were immunized with HER2 DNA constructs and boosted with HER2 recombinant protein. The anti-HER2 antibody was subsequently determined by ELISA, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry. Anti-HER2 antibody was detected only in serum of mice immunized with fECD DNA. None of HER2 extracellular subdomains induced appreciable levels of anti-HER2 antibody. However, boosting with fECD or extracellular subdomain III (DIII) recombinant protein resulted in enhanced anti-HER2 fECD as well as anti-HER2 subdomain antibody responses. In this regard, almost all (99 %) of HER2-overexpressing BT474 cells could be detected by serum antibody from mice immunized with HER2 subdomain DNA and boosted with recombinant HER2 protein by flow cytometry. Similarly, serum of mice immunized with DIII DNA construct and boosted with recombinant DIII protein could also recognize these cells, but to a lesser extent (50 %). Our findings suggest that combination of HER2 DNA and protein immunization could effectively induce anti-HER2 antibody response in Balb/C mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fateme Sadri-Ardalani
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Shabani
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Amiri
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Motahareh Bahadori
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shaghayegh Emami
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Mahmood Jeddi-Tehrani
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fazel Shokri
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Datta J, Xu S, Rosemblit C, Smith JB, Cintolo JA, Powell DJ, Czerniecki BJ. CD4(+) T-Helper Type 1 Cytokines and Trastuzumab Facilitate CD8(+) T-cell Targeting of HER2/neu-Expressing Cancers. Cancer Immunol Res 2015; 3:455-63. [PMID: 25791067 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination strategies incorporating the immunodominant HLA-A2-restricted HER2/neu-derived peptide 369-377 (HER2369-377) are increasingly utilized in HER2/neu-expressing cancer patients. The failure of postvaccination HER2369-377-specific CD8(+) T cells to recognize HLA-A2(pos)HER2/neu-expressing cells in vitro, however, has been attributed to impaired MHC class I/HLA-A2 presentation observed in HER2/neu-overexpressing tumors. We reconcile this controversy by demonstrating that HER2369-377 is directly recognized by high functional-avidity HER2369-377-specific CD8(+) T cells-either genetically modified to express a novel HER2369-377 TCR or sensitized using HER2369-377-pulsed type 1-polarized dendritic cells (DC1)-on class I-abundant HER2(low), but not class I-deficient HER2(high), cancer cells. Importantly, a critical cooperation between CD4(+) T-helper type-1 (Th1) cytokines IFNγ/TNFα and HER2/neu-targeted antibody trastuzumab is necessary to restore class I expression in HER2(high) cancers, thereby facilitating recognition and lysis of these cells by HER2369-377-specific CD8(+) T cells. Concomitant induction of PD-L1 on HER2/neu-expressing cells by IFNγ/TNF and trastuzumab, however, has minimal impact on DC1-sensitized HER2369-377-CD8(+) T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Although activation of EGFR and HER3 signaling significantly abrogates IFNγ/TNFα and trastuzumab-induced class I restoration, EGFR/HER3 receptor blockade rescues class I expression and ensuing HER2369-377-CD8(+) cytotoxicity of HER2/neu-expressing cells. Thus, combinations of CD4(+) Th1 immune interventions and multivalent targeting of HER family members may be required for optimal anti-HER2/neu CD8(+) T-cell-directed immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jashodeep Datta
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shuwen Xu
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Cinthia Rosemblit
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jenessa B Smith
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jessica A Cintolo
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel J Powell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Brian J Czerniecki
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rena Rowen Breast Center, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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27
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Kiessling R, Okita R, Mougiakakos D, Mao Y, Sarhan D, Wennerberg E, Seliger B, Lundqvist A, Mimura K, Kono K. Opposing consequences of signaling through EGF family members: Escape from CTLs could be a bait for NK cells. Oncoimmunology 2014; 1:1200-1201. [PMID: 23170279 PMCID: PMC3494645 DOI: 10.4161/onci.20685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogenes have been traditionally viewed as molecular drivers for tumor growth and survival. Recent evidence indicates that oncogenes may facilitate the escape of malignant cells from immune recognition and elimination. In this article, we discuss the implications of the overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members on immune escape of tumors and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Kiessling
- Department of Oncology and Pathology; Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory; Cancer Center Karolinska; Karolinska Institutet; Stockholm, Sweden
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28
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Kumai T, Matsuda Y, Oikawa K, Aoki N, Kimura S, Harabuchi Y, Celis E, Kobayashi H. EGFR inhibitors augment antitumour helper T-cell responses of HER family-specific immunotherapy. Br J Cancer 2013; 109:2155-66. [PMID: 24045666 PMCID: PMC3798972 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2013.577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Revised: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy is an attractive strategy alternative to conventional cancer treatments for HNSCC, but its efficacy remains controversial. T-cell-based immunotherapy has been proposed as a novel therapeutic approach to improve the clinical outcome for HNSCC. In this study, we report human epidermal receptor (HER) family epitopes that induced CD4 T-cell responses to HNSCC. The results provide support for a novel strategy to treat HNSCC by combining EGFR-targeted therapy with T-cell-based immunotherapy. METHODS We evaluated the capacity of predicted CD4 T-cell peptide epitopes from EGFR to induce antitumour immune responses in vitro. In addition, EGFR inhibitors were evaluated for their ability to augment tumour MHC class II expression in HNSCC cell lines and subsequently increase T-cell recognition. RESULTS Among several predicted peptide epitopes, EGFR875-889 elicited CD4 T-cell responses that were restricted by HLA-DR4, DR15, or DR53 molecules, indicating that the peptide functions as a promiscuous T-cell epitope. The peptide-reactive T cells responded to autologous dendritic cells loaded with EGFR-expressing tumour cell lysates, indicating that these epitopes are naturally processed. In addition, the CD4 T cells were capable of directly recognising and killing HNSCC cells expressing EGFR and the appropriate HLA class II molecule. T cells reactive with the EGFR875-889 epitope could be detected in the blood of HNSCC patients. EGFR875-889-reactive CD4 T cells were also able to recognise several peptide analogues derived from homologous regions of EGFR family members, HER-2, HER-3 and c-MET. Finally, we examined the effects of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibition or EGFR-blocking antibodies on CD4 T-cell tumour reactivity. Treatment of tumour cells with the EGFR inhibitors enhanced tumour recognition by EGFR875-889-reactive T cells presumably due to the upregulation of HLA-DR expression in the HNSCC cells. CONCLUSION We identified novel CD4 T-cell EGFR epitopes and amongst these, EGFR875-889 functions as a promiscuous helper T-cell epitope that can elicit effective antitumour T-cell responses against tumours expressing HER family members and c-MET. These observations should facilitate the translation of T-cell-based immunotherapy into the clinic for the treatment of HNSCC and provide a rational basis for EGFR inhibition, immune-targeted combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kumai
- 1] Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan [2] Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
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29
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The hallmarks of cancer and the radiation oncologist: updating the 5Rs of radiobiology. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2013; 25:569-77. [PMID: 23850153 DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2013.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Revised: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A comprehensive, mechanistic understanding of radiobiological phenomena that can be integrated within the broader context of cancer biology offers the prospect of transforming clinical practice in radiation oncology. In this review, we revisit the six established biological hallmarks of cancer and examine how they have provided insights into novel therapeutic strategies. In addition, we discuss the potential of two emerging hallmarks to continue to expand our understanding beyond the narrow confines of the traditional 5Rs of radiobiology.
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30
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Vaccination for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer with special focus on Her-2/neu peptide vaccines. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2013; 138:1-12. [PMID: 23340862 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-013-2410-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Immunologic interventions in a subset of breast cancer patients represent a well-established therapeutic approach reflecting individualized treatment modalities. Thus, the therapeutic administration of monoclonal antibodies targeting tumor-associated antigens (TAA), such as Her-2/neu, represents a milestone in cancer treatment. However, passive antibody administration suffers from several drawbacks, including frequency and long duration of treatment. These undesirables may be avoidable in an approach based on generating active immune responses against these same targets. Only recently has the significance of tumors in relation to their microenvironments been understood as essential for creating an effective cancer vaccine. In particular, the immune system plays an important role in suppressing or promoting tumor formation and growth. Therefore, activation of appropriate triggers (such as induction of Th1 cells, CD8+ T cells, and suppression of regulatory cells in combination with generation of antibodies with anti-tumor activity) is a desirable goal. Current vaccination approaches have concentrated on therapeutic vaccines using certain TAA. Many cancer antigens, including breast cancer antigens, have been described and also given priority ranking for use as vaccine antigens by the US National Cancer Institute. One of the TAA antigens which has been thoroughly examined in numerous trials is Her-2/neu. This review will discuss delivery systems for this antigen with special focus on T and B cell peptide vaccines. Attention will be given to their advantages and limitations, as well as the use of certain adjuvants to improve anti-cancer responses.
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31
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Henle AM, Erskine CL, Benson LM, Clynes R, Knutson KL. Enzymatic discovery of a HER-2/neu epitope that generates cross-reactive T cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012. [PMID: 23180824 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Patients with HER-2/neu-expressing breast cancer remain at risk for relapse following standard therapy. Vaccines targeting HER-2/neu to prevent relapse are in various phases of clinical testing. Many vaccines incorporate the HER-2/neu HLA-A2-binding peptide p369-377 (KIFGSLAFL), because it has been shown that CTLs specific for this epitope can directly kill HER-2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer cells. Thus, understanding how tumors process this epitope may be important for identifying those patients who would benefit from immunization. Proteasome preparations were used to determine if p369-377 was processed from larger HER-2/neu-derived fragments. HPLC, mass spectrometry, cytotoxicity assays, IFN-γ ELISPOT, and human breast cancer cell lines were used to assess the proteolytic fragments. Processing of p369-377 was not detected by purified 20S proteasome and immunoproteasome, indicating that tumor cells may not be capable of processing this Ag from the HER-2/neu protein and presenting it in the context of HLA class I. Instead, we show that other extracellular domain HER-2/neu peptide sequences are consistently processed by the proteasomes. One of these sequences, p373-382 (SLAFLPESFD), bound HLA-A2 stronger than did p369-377. CTLs specific for p373-382 recognized both p373-382 and p369-377 complexed with HLA-A2. CTLs specific for p373-382 also killed human breast cancer cell lines at higher levels than did CTLs specific for p369-377. Conversely, CTLs specific for p369-377 recognized p373-382. Peptide p373-382 is a candidate epitope for breast cancer vaccines, as it is processed by proteasomes and binds HLA-A2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Henle
- Department of Immunology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Wang J, Wang X, Chen Y, Wan M, Xiang Z, Wu X, Wei H, Wang L, Zhang P, Wang L, Yu Y. Immunization with a HSP65–HER2 fusion peptide selectively eliminates HER2+ B16 melanoma cells in a xenograft tumor mouse model. Tumour Biol 2012; 34:193-201. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-012-0529-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Näsman A, Andersson E, Nordfors C, Grün N, Johansson H, Munck-Wikland E, Massucci G, Dalianis T, Ramqvist T. MHC class I expression in HPV positive and negative tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma in correlation to clinical outcome. Int J Cancer 2012; 132:72-81. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.27635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Accepted: 04/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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34
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Oliveras-Ferraros C, Cufí S, Vazquez-Martin A, Menendez OJ, Bosch-Barrera J, Martin-Castillo B, Joven J, Menendez JA. Metformin rescues cell surface major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) deficiency caused by oncogenic transformation. Cell Cycle 2012; 11:865-70. [PMID: 22333588 DOI: 10.4161/cc.11.5.19252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Active avoidance by tumor cells from attack and elimination by immune cells is an emerging cancer hallmark that is achieved primarily through decreasing the levels of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) at the cancer cells' surface. Deficiencies in MHC-I antigen-restricted immunosurveillance may be intertwined with an altered, Warburg-like cancer cell-intrinsic metabolism, another emerging hallmark of cancer that involves a switch from mitochondrial respiration to glycolysis to efficiently support large-scale biosynthetic programs that are required for active cell proliferation. We recently envisioned that intervention strategies aimed at reversing the bioenergetic signature of cancer cells (e.g., the antidiabetic biguanide metformin) should correct oncogene (e.g., HER2)-driven MHC-I defects, thus preventing immune escape of oncogene transformants. First, we explored how metformin treatment impacted mitochondrial biogenesis in cultured breast cancer cells overexpressing the membrane tyrosine kinase receptor HER2, the best-characterized downregulator of MHC-I. Metformin exposure was found to dose-dependently increase the expression levels of cytochrome c oxidase I and mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase, which are encoded by mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, respectively. Second, we explored whether metformin-enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis might significantly alter the MHC-I status in breast carcinoma cells. MHC-I expression, as assessed by flow cytometry using an anti-HLA-ABC monoclonal antibody, was fully restored (up to ~25-fold upregulation) in MHC-I-negative HER2 gene-amplified carcinoma cells. These findings may help delineate a previously unrecognized mechanism through which metformin (and metformin-like drugs) may enable a cancer patient's own immune system to mount an efficient anti-metastasis response that can prevent or delay disease recurrence. Restored antigenicity and immunogenicity of tumor cells may represent a previously unrecognized primary mode of action underlying the cancer-preventive effects of metformin.
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Okita R, Mougiakakos D, Ando T, Mao Y, Sarhan D, Wennerberg E, Seliger B, Lundqvist A, Mimura K, Kiessling R. HER2/HER3 signaling regulates NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity via MHC class I chain-related molecule A and B expression in human breast cancer cell lines. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 188:2136-45. [PMID: 22301547 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of the receptor tyrosine kinases HER2 and HER3 is associated with a poor prognosis in several types of cancer. Presently, HER2- as well as HER3-targeted therapies are in clinical practice or evaluated within clinical trials, including treatment with mAbs mediating growth inhibition and/or activation of Ab-induced innate or adaptive cellular immunity. A better understanding of how HER2/HER3 signaling in tumors influences cellular immune mechanisms is therefore warranted. In this study, we demonstrate that HER2/HER3 signaling regulates the expression of MHC class I-related chain A and B (MICA and MICB) in breast cancer cell lines. The MICA and MICB (MICA/B) molecules act as key ligands for the activating receptor NK group 2, member D (NKG2D) and promote NK cell-mediated recognition and cytolysis. Genetic silencing of HER3 but not HER2 downregulated the expression of MICA/B, and HER3 overexpression significantly enhanced MICA expression. Among the major pathways activated by HER2/HER3 signaling, the PI3K/AKT pathway was shown to predominantly regulate MICA/B expression. Treatment with the HER3-specific ligand neuregulin 1β promoted the expression in a process that was antagonized by pharmacological and genetic interference with HER3 but not by the ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) and ATM and Rad3-related protein kinases inhibitor caffeine. These observations further emphasize that HER2/HER3 signaling directly, and not via genotoxic stress, regulates MICA/B expression. As anticipated, stimulating HER2/HER3 enhanced the NKG2D-MICA/B-dependent NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Taken together, we conclude that signaling via the HER2/HER3 pathway in breast carcinoma cell lines may lead to enhanced NKG2D-MICA/B recognition by NK cells and T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riki Okita
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institute, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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Poschke I, Mougiakakos D, Kiessling R. Camouflage and sabotage: tumor escape from the immune system. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2011; 60:1161-71. [PMID: 21626032 PMCID: PMC11028815 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-011-1012-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 03/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The field of tumor immunology has made great progress in understanding tumor immune interactions. As a consequence a number of immuno-therapeutic approaches have been successfully introduced into the clinic and a large number of promising therapeutic strategies are investigated in ongoing clinical trials. Evaluation of anti-tumor immunity in such trials as well as in animal models has shown that tumor escape from immune recognition and tumor-mediated suppression of anti-tumor immunity can pose a significant obstacle to successful cancer therapy. Here, we review mechanisms of tumor immune escape and immune-subversion with a focus on the research interests in our laboratory: loss of MHC class I on tumor cells, increased oxidative stress, recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and regulatory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Poschke
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska R8:01, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Cavallo F, De Giovanni C, Nanni P, Forni G, Lollini PL. 2011: the immune hallmarks of cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2011; 60:319-26. [PMID: 21267721 PMCID: PMC3042096 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-010-0968-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2010] [Accepted: 12/27/2010] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Ten years after the publication of the position paper “The hallmarks of cancer” (Hanahan and Weinberg Cell 100:57–70, 2000), it has become increasingly clear that mutated cells on their way to giving rise to a tumor have also to learn how to thrive in a chronically inflamed microenvironment, evade immune recognition, and suppress immune reactivity. Genetic and molecular definition of these three immune hallmarks of cancer offers the opportunity to learn how to deploy specific countermeasures to reverse the situation in favor of the immune system and, eventually, the patient. This new information could be channeled to address what seem to be the three major hallmarks for the immune control of cancer progression: effective procedures to activate immune reactivity; characterization of not-disposable oncoantigens; and counteraction of immune suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Cavallo
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Molecular Biotechnology Center, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy.
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Mimura K, Ando T, Poschke I, Mougiakakos D, Johansson CC, Ichikawa J, Okita R, Nishimura MI, Handke D, Krug N, Choudhury A, Seliger B, Kiessling R. T cell recognition of HLA-A2 restricted tumor antigens is impaired by the oncogene HER2. Int J Cancer 2010; 128:390-401. [PMID: 20715101 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2010] [Accepted: 06/25/2010] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The HER2 oncogene is frequently over-expressed in human cancers and a promising target for immune therapy. Previous studies have shown that over-expression of mouse or rat HER2 leads to markedly reduced levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and molecules of the antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM), thus resulting in a phenotype promoting tumor escape from the immune system. Our study focuses on analyzing the effect of HER2 on MHC class I antigen presentation and sensitivity to tumor-antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in HLA-A2.1(+) melanoma cell lines. We demonstrate significant inverse correlations both between the expression of HER2 and total MHC class I surface expression as well as between HER2 and HLA-A2. A significant reduction of HLA-A2 levels was found when melanoma and carcinoma cell lines were transfected with a human HER2 gene. A signaling-competent HER2 molecule was crucial for the observed HLA-A2 down-regulation, as transfectants expressing high levels of HER2 mutated in the tyrosine signaling domain did not show altered HLA-A2 expression. Importantly, the human melanoma cell line EST049 demonstrated reduced HER2 and melanoma antigen-specific recognition by CTLs upon HER2 transfection. In addition, high expression of HER2 prevented both IFN-γ mediated HLA-A2 up-regulation and improved recognition by HLA-A2-restricted CTLs in treated cells. Moreover, key APM molecules were down-regulated by HER2. These findings implicate that HER2 over-expressing tumors may be more prone to escape from HLA-A2 restricted CTLs suggesting that immunotherapy approaches inducing an integrated humoral, cellular and innate immune response would be most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kousaku Mimura
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Bukur J, Herrmann F, Handke D, Recktenwald C, Seliger B. Identification of E2F1 as an important transcription factor for the regulation of tapasin expression. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:30419-26. [PMID: 20663889 PMCID: PMC2945534 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.094284] [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: 12/15/2009] [Revised: 06/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
HER-2/neu overexpression in tumor cells caused abnormalities of MHC class I surface expression due to impaired expression of components of the antigen-processing machinery (APM) including the low molecular weight proteins, the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP), and the chaperone tapasin, whereas the expression of MHC class I heavy chain as well as β(2)-microglobulin was only marginally affected. This oncogene-mediated deficient APM component expression could be reverted by interferon-γ treatment, suggesting a deregulation rather than structural alterations as underlying molecular mechanisms. To determine the level of regulation, the transcriptional activity of APM components was analyzed in HER-2/neu(-) and HER-2/neu(+) cells. All major APM components were transcriptionally down-regulated in HER-2/neu(+) when compared with HER-2/neu(-) cells, which was accompanied by a reduced binding of RNA polymerase II to the APM promoters. Site-directed mutagenesis of the p300- and E2F-binding sites in the APM promoters did not reconstitute the oncogene-mediated decreased transcription rate with the exception of tapasin, which was restored in HER-2/neu(+) cells to levels of wild type tapasin promoter activity in HER-2/neu(-) fibroblasts. The E2F-directed control of tapasin expression was further confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses showing that E2F1 and p300 bind to the tapasin and APM promoters in both cell lines. Moreover, siRNA-mediated silencing of E2F1 was associated with an increased tapasin expression, whereas transient overexpression of E2F1 launch a reduced tapasin transcription, suggesting that E2F1 is an essential transcription factor for tapasin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juergen Bukur
- From the Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Felix Herrmann
- From the Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Diana Handke
- From the Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christian Recktenwald
- From the Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- From the Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
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Triulzi C, Vertuani S, Curcio C, Antognoli A, Seibt J, Akusjärvi G, Wei WZ, Cavallo F, Kiessling R. Antibody-Dependent Natural Killer Cell–Mediated Cytotoxicity Engendered by a Kinase-Inactive Human HER2 Adenovirus-Based Vaccination Mediates Resistance to Breast Tumors. Cancer Res 2010; 70:7431-41. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-0493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Abstract
Mechanisms that maintain ocular immune privilege may contribute to ocular tumor progression by inhibiting tumoricidal immune responses. Consistent with that notion are observations from transplantable tumor models in mice demonstrating that the tumoricidal activity of CD8(+) cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) may be inhibited directly by interfering with CTL effector function in the eye or indirectly by abrogating the effector function of CD8+ T cell-activated intratumoral macrophages that are critical for ocular tumor rejection. In addition, epigenetic gene regulation by factors within the ocular tumor environment favors the generation of tumor variants that are resistant to CD8(+) CTL. Intratumoral macrophages may be essential for eliminating these variants because, unlike CTL, their tumoricidal activity is nonspecific. Hence, the inhibition of macrophage effector function within the eye, presumably to preserve immune privilege by minimizing ocular immunopathology, may hasten the outgrowth of tumor escape variants which contributes to ocular tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle C McKenna
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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Maruyama T, Mimura K, Sato E, Watanabe M, Mizukami Y, Kawaguchi Y, Ando T, Kinouchi H, Fujii H, Kono K. Inverse correlation of HER2 with MHC class I expression on oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2010; 103:552-9. [PMID: 20628381 PMCID: PMC2939777 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As HER2 is expressed in 30% of oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs), T-cell-based immunotherapy and monoclonal antibodies targeted against HER2 are attractive, novel approaches for ESCCs. However, it was shown that there is an inverse correlation between HER2 and MHC class I expression on tumours. Thus, the correlation between HER2 and MHC class I expressions on ESCC was evaluated. METHODS Expressions of MHC class I and HER2 in ESCC tissues (n=80) and cell lines were assessed by immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), and flow cytometry. We investigated whether HER2 downregulation with small interfering RNA (siRNA) in ESCC cell lines could upregulate the expression of MHC class I and the antigen presentation machinery components, and could increase their sensitivity for tumour antigen-specific CTLs. RESULTS There was an inverse correlation between HER2 and MHC class I expressions in both tumour tissues and cell lines. Downregulation of HER2 with siRNA resulted in the upregulation of MHC class I expression, leading to increased CTL recognition by tumour antigen-specific CTLs. CONCLUSION HER2-overexpressing ESCC tumour cells showed a reduced sensitivity for CTLs through the downregulation of MHC class I.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Maruyama
- First Department of Surgery, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo-city, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
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Garrido F, Cabrera T, Aptsiauri N. "Hard" and "soft" lesions underlying the HLA class I alterations in cancer cells: implications for immunotherapy. Int J Cancer 2010; 127:249-56. [PMID: 20178101 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The ability of cancer cells to escape from the natural or immunotherapy-induced antitumor immune response is often associated with alterations in the tumor cell surface expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I antigens. Considerable knowledge has been gained on the prevalence of various patterns of MHC Class I defects and the underlying molecular mechanisms in different types of cancer. In contrast, few data are available on the changes in MHC Class I expression happening during the course of cancer immunotherapy. We have recently proposed that the progression or regression of a tumor lesion in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy could be predetermined by the molecular mechanism responsible for the MHC Class I alteration and not by the type of immunotherapy used, i.e., interleukin-2 (IL-2), Bacillus Calmette-Guèrin (BCG), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), peptides alone, dendritic cells loaded with peptides, protein-bound polysaccharide etc. If the molecular alteration responsible for the changes in MHC Class I expression is reversible by cytokines ("soft" lesion), the MHC Class I expression will be upregulated, the specific T cell-mediated response will increase and the lesion will regress. However, if the molecular defect is structural ("hard" lesion), the MHC Class I expression will remain low, the escape mechanism will prevail and the primary tumor or the metastatic lesion will progress. According to this idea, the nature of the preexisting MHC Class I lesion in the cancer cell has a crucial impact determining the final outcome of cancer immunotherapy. In this article, we discuss the importance of these two types of molecular mechanisms of MHC Class I-altered expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Garrido
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Ladjemi MZ, Jacot W, Chardès T, Pèlegrin A, Navarro-Teulon I. Anti-HER2 vaccines: new prospects for breast cancer therapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2010; 59:1295-312. [PMID: 20532501 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-010-0869-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2009] [Accepted: 05/11/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Each year, breast cancer accounts for more than 400,000 new cancer cases and more than 130,000 cancer deaths in Europe. Prognosis of nonmetastatic breast cancer patients is directly related to the extent of the disease, mainly nodal spreading and tumor size, and to the molecular profile, particularly HER2 over-expression. In patients with HER2-over-expressing tumors, different studies have shown cellular and/or humoral immune responses against HER2 associated with a lower tumor development at early stages of the disease. These findings have led to the hypothesis that the generation of an anti-HER2 immune response should protect patients from HER2-over-expressing tumor growth. Taken together with the clinical efficiency of trastuzumab-based anti-HER2 passive immunotherapy, these observations allowed to envisage various vaccine strategies against HER2. The induction of a stable and strong immunity by cancer vaccines is expected to lead to establishment of immune memory, thereby preventing tumor recurrence. However, an immunological tolerance against HER2 antigen exists representing a barrier to effective vaccination against this oncoprotein. As a consequence, the current challenge for vaccines is to find the best conditions to break this immunological tolerance. In this review, we will discuss the different anti-HER2 vaccine strategies currently developed; considering the strategies having reached the clinical phases as well as those still in preclinical development. The used antigen can be either composed of tumoral allogenic cells or autologous cells, or specific to HER2. It can be delivered by dendritic cells or in a DNA, peptidic or proteic form. Another area of research concerns the use of anti-idiotypic antibodies mimicking HER2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Zohra Ladjemi
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, INSERM U896, Université Montpellier1, Montpellier, France
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Norell H, Poschke I, Charo J, Wei WZ, Erskine C, Piechocki MP, Knutson KL, Bergh J, Lidbrink E, Kiessling R. Vaccination with a plasmid DNA encoding HER-2/neu together with low doses of GM-CSF and IL-2 in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma: a pilot clinical trial. J Transl Med 2010; 8:53. [PMID: 20529245 PMCID: PMC2903523 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-8-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2010] [Accepted: 06/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adjuvant trastuzumab (Herceptin) treatment of breast cancer patients significantly improves their clinical outcome. Vaccination is an attractive alternative approach to provide HER-2/neu (Her2)-specific antibodies and may in addition concomitantly stimulate Her2-reactive T-cells. Here we report the first administration of a Her2-plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccine in humans. Patients and Methods The vaccine, encoding a full-length signaling-deficient version of the oncogene Her2, was administered together with low doses of GM-CSF and IL-2 to patients with metastatic Her2-expressing breast carcinoma who were also treated with trastuzumab. Six of eight enrolled patients completed all three vaccine cycles. In the remaining two patients treatment was discontinued after one vaccine cycle due to rapid tumor progression or disease-related complications. The primary objective was the evaluation of safety and tolerability of the vaccine regimen. As a secondary objective, treatment-induced Her2-specific immunity was monitored by measuring antibody production as well as T-cell proliferation and cytokine production in response to Her2-derived antigens. Results No clinical manifestations of acute toxicity, autoimmunity or cardiotoxicity were observed after administration of Her2-pDNA in combination with GM-CSF, IL-2 and trastuzumab. No specific T-cell proliferation following in vitro stimulation of freshly isolated PBMC with recombinant human Her2 protein was induced by the vaccination. Immediately after all three cycles of vaccination no or even decreased CD4+ T-cell responses towards Her2-derived peptide epitopes were observed, but a significant increase of MHC class II restricted T-cell responses to Her2 was detected at long term follow-up. Since concurrent trastuzumab therapy was permitted, λ-subclass specific ELISAs were performed to specifically measure endogenous antibody production without interference by trastuzumab. Her2-pDNA vaccination induced and boosted Her2-specific antibodies that could be detected for several years after the last vaccine administration in a subgroup of patients. Conclusion This pilot clinical trial demonstrates that Her2-pDNA vaccination in conjunction with GM-CSF and IL-2 administration is safe, well tolerated and can induce long-lasting cellular and humoral immune responses against Her2 in patients with advanced breast cancer. Trial registration The trial registration number at the Swedish Medical Products Agency for this trial is Dnr151:785/2001.
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Affiliation(s)
- Håkan Norell
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Lladser A, Ljungberg K, Tufvesson H, Tazzari M, Roos AK, Quest AFG, Kiessling R. Intradermal DNA electroporation induces survivin-specific CTLs, suppresses angiogenesis and confers protection against mouse melanoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2010; 59:81-92. [PMID: 19526360 PMCID: PMC11030864 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-009-0725-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2009] [Accepted: 05/28/2009] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Survivin is an intracellular tumor-associated antigen that is broadly expressed in a large variety of tumors and also in tumor associated endothelial cells but mostly absent in differentiated tissues. Naked DNA vaccines targeting survivin have been shown to induce T cell as well as humoral immune responses in mice. However, the lack of epitope-specific CD8+ T cell detection and modest tumor protection observed highlight the need for further improvements to develop effective survivin DNA vaccination approaches. Here, the efficacy of a human survivin DNA vaccine delivered by intradermal electroporation (EP) was tested. The CD8+ T cell epitope surv(20-28) restricted to H-2 Db was identified based on in-silico epitope prediction algorithms and binding to MHC class I molecules. Intradermal DNA EP of mice with a human survivin encoding plasmid generated CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses cross-reactive with the mouse epitope surv(20-28), as determined by intracellular IFN-gamma staining, suggesting that self-tolerance has been broken. Survivin-specific CTLs displayed an activated effector phenotype as determined by CD44 and CD107 up-regulation. Vaccinated mice displayed specific cytotoxic activity against B16 and peptide-pulsed RMA-S cells in vitro as well as against surv(20-28) peptide-pulsed target cells in vivo. Importantly, intradermal EP with a survivin DNA vaccine suppressed angiogenesis in vivo and elicited protection against highly aggressive syngeneic B16 melanoma tumor challenge. We conclude that intradermal EP is an attractive method for delivering a survivin DNA vaccine that should be explored also in clinical studies.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cytokines/biosynthesis
- Cytokines/immunology
- Electroporation
- Humans
- Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
- Injections, Intradermal
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/pathology
- Melanoma, Experimental/prevention & control
- Melanoma, Experimental/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Microtubule-Associated Proteins/immunology
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/immunology
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/therapy
- Survivin
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Lladser
- Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Liang X, Weigand LU, Schuster IG, Eppinger E, van der Griendt JC, Schub A, Leisegang M, Sommermeyer D, Anderl F, Han Y, Ellwart J, Moosmann A, Busch DH, Uckert W, Peschel C, Krackhardt AM. A Single TCRα-Chain with Dominant Peptide Recognition in the Allorestricted HER2/neu-Specific T Cell Repertoire. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2009; 184:1617-29. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0902155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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HER-2/neu (657-665) represents an immunogenic epitope of HER-2/neu oncoprotein with potent antitumor properties. Vaccine 2009; 28:162-70. [PMID: 19799847 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.09.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2009] [Revised: 09/10/2009] [Accepted: 09/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The HER-2/neu oncoprotein is a promising cancer vaccine target. We describe herein a novel HLA-A2.1-restricted epitope, encompassing amino acids 657-665 (AVVGILLVV), which is naturally presented by human breast and ovarian cell lines. HER-2/neu(657-665), [HER-2(9(657))], binds with high affinity to HLA-A2.1 molecules as revealed by a prediction algorithm (SYFPEITHI) and in functional assays. This peptide was found to be immunogenic in HLA-A2.1 transgenic (HHD) mice inducing peptide-specific CTL, which responded with increased IFNgamma production, degranulation, and in vitro as well as in vivo cytotoxicity. Most important, HER-2(9(657)) functioned as a therapeutic vaccine by enabling HHD mice to reject established transplantable tumors. Cured mice resisted tumor growth when re-challenged with the same tumor, demonstrating the capacity of HER-2(9(657)) to generate tumor-specific memory immune response. Finally, this peptide was also found to be immunogenic in PBMCs from HLA-A2.1(+) patients with HER-2/neu(+) breast cancer. Our data encourage further exploitation of HER-2(9(657)) as a promising candidate for peptide-based cancer vaccines.
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Jia J, Cui J, Liu X, Han J, Yang S, Wei Y, Chen Y. Genome-scale search of tumor-specific antigens by collective analysis of mutations, expressions and T-cell recognition. Mol Immunol 2009; 46:1824-9. [PMID: 19243822 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2009.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2008] [Revised: 01/05/2009] [Accepted: 01/12/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) are potential sources of cancer vaccines, some of which are derived from T-cell epitopes of over-expressed mutant proteins to elicit immunogenicity and overcome tolerance and evasion. The lack of effective vaccines for many cancers has prompted strong interest in improved TSA search methods. Recent progresses in profiling somatic mutations and expressions of human cancer genomes, and in predicting T-cell epitopes enable genome-scale TSA search by collectively analyzing these profiles. Such a collective approach has not been explored in spite of the availability and usage of individual methods. METHODOLOGY Genome-scale TSA search was conducted by genome-scale search of tumor-specific mutations in differentially over-expressed genes of specific cancers based on tumor-specific somatic mutation and microarray gene expression data, followed by T-cell recognition analysis of the identified mutant and over-expressed peptides to determine if they are substrates of proteasomal cleavage, TAP mediated transport and MHC-I alleles capable of eliciting immune response. The performance of our method was tested against 12 and 4 known T-cell defined melanoma and lung cancer TSAs in the Cancer Immunity database. CONCLUSIONS Our approach identified 50% and 75% of the 12 and 4 known TSAs and predicted from the human cancer genomes additional 8-250 and 14-359 putative TSAs of 5 and 3 HLA alleles respectively. The known TSA hit rates (1.9% and 0.8%) are enriched by 29-fold and 35-fold over those of mutation analysis. The numbers of predicted TSAs are within the testing range of typical screening campaigns. Noises in expression data of small sample sizes appear to be a major factor for misidentification of known TSAs. With improved data quality and analysis methods, the collective approach is potentially useful for facilitating genome-scale TSA search.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Jia
- Bioinformatics and Drug Design Group, Department of Pharmacy, and Centre for Computational Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
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