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Jeon D, Hill E, McNeel DG. Toll-like receptor agonists as cancer vaccine adjuvants. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2297453. [PMID: 38155525 PMCID: PMC10760790 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2297453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy to treat cancer patients. Among the wide range of immunological approaches, cancer vaccines have been investigated to activate and expand tumor-reactive T cells. However, most cancer vaccines have not shown significant clinical benefit as monotherapies. This is likely due to the antigen targets of vaccines, "self" proteins to which there is tolerance, as well as to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To help circumvent immune tolerance and generate effective immune responses, adjuvants for cancer vaccines are necessary. One representative adjuvant family is Toll-Like receptor (TLR) agonists, synthetic molecules that stimulate TLRs. TLRs are the largest family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that serve as the sensors of pathogens or cellular damage. They recognize conserved foreign molecules from pathogens or internal molecules from cellular damage and propel innate immune responses. When used with vaccines, activation of TLRs signals an innate damage response that can facilitate the development of a strong adaptive immune response against the target antigen. The ability of TLR agonists to modulate innate immune responses has positioned them to serve as adjuvants for vaccines targeting infectious diseases and cancers. This review provides a summary of various TLRs, including their expression patterns, their functions in the immune system, as well as their ligands and synthetic molecules developed as TLR agonists. In addition, it presents a comprehensive overview of recent strategies employing different TLR agonists as adjuvants in cancer vaccine development, both in pre-clinical models and ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghwan Jeon
- Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ethan Hill
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Douglas G. McNeel
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
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2
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Li C, Jin K. Chemical Strategies towards the Development of Effective Anticancer Peptides. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:1839-1873. [PMID: 37170992 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230426111157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is increasingly recognized as one of the primary causes of death and has become a multifaceted global health issue. Modern medical science has made significant advancements in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer over the past decade. The detrimental side effects, lack of efficacy, and multidrug resistance of conventional cancer therapies have created an urgent need for novel anticancer therapeutics or treatments with low cytotoxicity and drug resistance. The pharmaceutical groups have recognized the crucial role that peptide therapeutic agents can play in addressing unsatisfied healthcare demands and how these become great supplements or even preferable alternatives to biological therapies and small molecules. Anticancer peptides, as a vibrant therapeutic strategy against various cancer cells, have demonstrated incredible anticancer potential due to high specificity and selectivity, low toxicity, and the ability to target the surface of traditional "undruggable" proteins. This review will provide the research progression of anticancer peptides, mainly focusing on the discovery and modifications along with the optimization and application of these peptides in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuicui Li
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Kang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
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Sridaran D, Bradshaw E, DeSelm C, Pachynski R, Mahajan K, Mahajan NP. Prostate cancer immunotherapy: Improving clinical outcomes with a multi-pronged approach. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101199. [PMID: 37738978 PMCID: PMC10591038 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has gained traction in recent years owing to remarkable tumor clearance in some patients. Despite the notable success of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in multiple malignancies, engagement of the immune system for targeted prostate cancer (PCa) therapy is still in its infancy. Multiple factors contribute to limited response, including the heterogeneity of PCa, the cold tumor microenvironment, and a low number of neoantigens. Significant effort is being invested in improving immune-based PCa therapies. This review is a summary of the status of immunotherapy in treating PCa, with a discussion of multiple immune modalities, including vaccines, adoptively transferred T cells, and bispecific T cell engagers, some of which are undergoing clinical trials. In addition, this review also focuses on emerging mechanism-based small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors with immune modulatory properties that, either as single agents or in combination with other immunotherapies, have the potential to improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhivya Sridaran
- Division of Urologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Elliot Bradshaw
- Division of Urologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Carl DeSelm
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs (CHiiPs), Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Russell Pachynski
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs (CHiiPs), Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA; Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA; Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kiran Mahajan
- Division of Urologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA; Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nupam P Mahajan
- Division of Urologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA; Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St Louis, Cancer Research Building, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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4
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Wang J, Zhou K, Zhu H, Wei F, Ma S, Kan Y, Li B, Mao L. Current status and progress of the development of prostate cancer vaccines. J Cancer 2023; 14:835-842. [PMID: 37056394 PMCID: PMC10088880 DOI: 10.7150/jca.80803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, common treatments of prostate cancer mainly include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. However, patients have high recurrence rate after treatment, and are prone to castration-resistant prostate cancer. Tumor vaccine is based on tumor specific antigen (TSA) and tumor associated antigen (TAA) to activate specific immune response of the body to cancer cells. With continuous maturity of tumor vaccine technology, different forms of prostate cancer vaccines have been developed, such as cellular vaccines, extracellular-based anti-tumor vaccines, polypeptide vaccines, and nucleic acid vaccines. In this review, we summarize current status and progress in the development of prostate cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Kaichen Zhou
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Huihuang Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biological Cancer Therapy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Fukun Wei
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Sai Ma
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Yi Kan
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Bingheng Li
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Lijun Mao
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biological Cancer Therapy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
- ✉ Corresponding author: Lijun Mao, E-mail:
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Xu P, Wasielewski LJ, Yang JC, Cai D, Evans CP, Murphy WJ, Liu C. The Immunotherapy and Immunosuppressive Signaling in Therapy-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Biomedicines 2022; 10:1778. [PMID: 35892678 PMCID: PMC9394279 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in men. Initially, it is androgen-dependent, but it eventually develops into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which is incurable with current androgen receptor signaling target therapy and chemotherapy. Immunotherapy, specifically with immune checkpoint inhibitors, has brought hope for the treatment of this type of prostate cancer. Approaches such as vaccines, adoptive chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cells, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been employed to activate innate and adaptive immune responses to treat prostate cancer, but with limited success. Only Sipuleucel-T and the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab are approved by the US FDA for the treatment of limited prostate cancer patients. Prostate cancer has a complex tumor microenvironment (TME) in which various immunosuppressive molecules and mechanisms coexist and interact. Additionally, prostate cancer is considered a “cold” tumor with low levels of tumor mutational burden, low amounts of antigen-presenting and cytotoxic T-cell activation, and high levels of immunosuppressive molecules including cytokines/chemokines. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of immunosuppressive signaling activation and immune evasion will help develop more effective treatments for prostate cancer. The purpose of this review is to summarize emerging advances in prostate cancer immunotherapy, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms that lead to immune evasion in prostate cancer. At the same time, we also highlight some potential therapeutic targets to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of prostate cancer.
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Kang L, Han T, Cong H, Yu B, Shen Y. Recent research progress of biologically active peptides. Biofactors 2022; 48:575-596. [PMID: 35080058 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
With the rapid development of molecular biology and biochemical technology, great progress has been made in the study of peptides. Peptides are easy to digest and absorb, with lowering of blood pressure and cholesterol, improving immunity, regulating hormones, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. Peptides also have physiological regulation and biological metabolism functions with applications in the fields of feed production and biomedical research. In the future, the research focus of bioactive peptides will focus on their efficient preparation and application. This article introduces a comprehensive review of the types, synthesis, functionalization, and bio-related applications of bioactive peptides. For this aim, we introduced in detail various biopeptides and then presented the production methods of bioactive peptides, such as enzymatic synthesis, microbial fermentation, chemical synthesis, and others. The applications of bioactive peptides for anticancers, immune therapy, antibacterial, and other applications have been introduced and discussed. And discussed the development prospects of biologically active peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Kang
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tingting Han
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hailin Cong
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bing Yu
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Youqing Shen
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Center for Bionanoengineering, and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Abstract
Peptides cancer vaccines are designed based on the epitope peptides that can elicit humoral and cellular immune responses targeting tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) or tumor-specific antigens (TSAs). In order to develop a clinically safe and more effective vaccine for the future, several issues need to be addressed, and these include the selection of optimal antigen targets, adjuvants, and immunization regimens. Another emerging approach involves the use of personalized peptide-based vaccines based on neoantigens to enhance antitumor response. Rationally designed combinatorial therapy is currently being investigated with chemotherapeutic drugs or immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies to improve the efficacy. This review discusses an overview of the development of peptide-based vaccines, the role of adjuvants, and the delivery systems for peptide vaccines as well as combinatorial therapy as potential anticancer strategies.
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Woo S, Suh CH, Wibmer AG, Becker AS, Teo MY, Gönen M, Hricak H, Scher HI, Morris MJ, Vargas HA. Correlation Between Imaging-Based Intermediate Endpoints and Overall Survival in Men With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Analysis of 28 Randomized Trials Using the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Working Group (PCWG2) Criteria in 16,511 Patients. Clin Genitourin Cancer 2022; 20:69-79. [PMID: 34903480 DOI: 10.1016/j.clgc.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND Radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) based on Prostate Cancer Working Group 2 (PCWG2) has been increasingly used as a meaningful imaging-based intermediate endpoint (IBIE) for overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In randomized phase III trials, rPFS showed good correlation with OS at the individual trial level. We aimed to assess the correlation between the hazard ratios (HR) of IBIE and OS among PCWG2-based randomized trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS PubMed and EMBASE databases were systematically searched for randomized trials evaluating systemic treatments on mCRPC using PCWG2 up to April 15, 2020. Hazard ratios for OS and IBIEs were extracted and their correlation was assessed using weighted linear regression. Subgroup analyses were performed according to various clinical settings: prior chemotherapy, drug category, type of IBIE (rPFS vs. composite IBIE, latter defined as progression by imaging and one or a combination of PSA, pain, skeletal-related events, and performance status), and publication year. RESULTS Twenty-eight phase II-III randomized trials (16,511 patients) were included. Correlation between OS and IBIE was good (R2 = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.78). Trials using rPFS showed substantially higher correlation than those using a composite IBIE (R2 = 0.58, 95% CI, 0.32-0.82 vs. 0.00, 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.01). Correlations between OS and IBIE in other subgroups were at least moderate in nearly all subgroups (R2 = 0.32-0.91). CONCLUSION IBIEs in the era of PCWG2 correlate well with OS in randomized trials for systemic drugs in patients with mCRPC. PCWG2-based rPFS should be used instead of a composite IBIE that includes PSA and other clinical variables.
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Cusano E, Wong C, Taguedong E, Vaska M, Abedin T, Nixon N, Karim S, Tang P, Heng DYC, Ezeife D. Impact of Value Frameworks on the Magnitude of Clinical Benefit: Evaluating a Decade of Randomized Trials for Systemic Therapy in Solid Malignancies. Curr Oncol 2021; 28:4894-4928. [PMID: 34898590 PMCID: PMC8628676 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28060412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the era of rapid development of new, expensive cancer therapies, value frameworks have been developed to quantify clinical benefit (CB). We assessed the evolution of CB since the 2015 introduction of The American Society of Clinical Oncology and The European Society of Medical Oncology value frameworks. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing systemic therapies for solid malignancies from 2010 to 2020 were evaluated and CB (Δ) in 2010–2014 (pre-value frameworks (PRE)) were compared to 2015–2020 (POST) for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), and quality of life (QoL). In the 485 studies analyzed (12% PRE and 88% POST), the most common primary endpoint was PFS (49%), followed by OS (20%), RR (12%), and QoL (6%), with a significant increase in OS and decrease in RR as primary endpoints in the POST era (p = 0.011). Multivariable analyses revealed significant improvement in ΔOS POST (OR 2.86, 95% CI 0.46 to 5.26, p = 0.02) while controlling for other variables. After the development of value frameworks, median ΔOS improved minimally. The impact of value frameworks has yet to be fully realized in RCTs. Efforts to include endpoints shown to impact value, such as QoL, into clinical trials are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Cusano
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Correspondence:
| | - Chelsea Wong
- Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
| | - Eddy Taguedong
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada;
| | - Marcus Vaska
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, Canada; (M.V.); (T.A.); (N.N.); (S.K.); (P.T.); (D.Y.C.H.); (D.E.)
| | - Tasnima Abedin
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, Canada; (M.V.); (T.A.); (N.N.); (S.K.); (P.T.); (D.Y.C.H.); (D.E.)
| | - Nancy Nixon
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, Canada; (M.V.); (T.A.); (N.N.); (S.K.); (P.T.); (D.Y.C.H.); (D.E.)
| | - Safiya Karim
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, Canada; (M.V.); (T.A.); (N.N.); (S.K.); (P.T.); (D.Y.C.H.); (D.E.)
| | - Patricia Tang
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, Canada; (M.V.); (T.A.); (N.N.); (S.K.); (P.T.); (D.Y.C.H.); (D.E.)
| | - Daniel Y. C. Heng
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, Canada; (M.V.); (T.A.); (N.N.); (S.K.); (P.T.); (D.Y.C.H.); (D.E.)
| | - Doreen Ezeife
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, Canada; (M.V.); (T.A.); (N.N.); (S.K.); (P.T.); (D.Y.C.H.); (D.E.)
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Filaci G, Fenoglio D, Nolè F, Zanardi E, Tomasello L, Aglietta M, Del Conte G, Carles J, Morales-Barrera R, Guglielmini P, Scagliotti G, Signori A, Parodi A, Kalli F, Astone G, Ferrera F, Altosole T, Lamperti G, Criscuolo D, Gianese F, Boccardo F. Telomerase-based GX301 cancer vaccine in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a randomized phase II trial. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021. [PMID: 34351436 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-03024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Debate is around the optimal immunization regimen for cancer vaccines since too intense vaccination schedules may exhaust reactive lymphocytes. GX301 is a telomerase-based cancer vaccine whose safety and immunological effects were tested in a phase I trial applying an eight administrations schedule. Main objective of this study was to comparatively analyse safety and immunological response to three GX301 regimens in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients with response/disease stability after docetaxel chemotherapy. This was a multicentre, randomized, parallel-group, open-label trial registered with EudraCT (2014-000095-26) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02293707, 2014). Ninety-eight patients were randomized to receive either eight (regimen 1), four (regimen 2) or two (regimen 3) vaccine administrations. Sixty-three patients were assessable for the primary immunological end-point. Vaccine-specific immune responses were evaluated by intracellular staining for IFN, elispot and cytotoxic assay at 90 and 180 days from baseline. No major side effects were recorded. A 54% overall immune responder rate was observed with 95% of patients showing at least one vaccine-specific immune response. Rate of immunological responders and number of immunizations were proportionally related, suggesting superiority of regimens 1 and 2 over regimen 3. Overall survival did not differ among regimens in both immunological responders and non-responders and was inversely associated (P = 0.002) with increase in the number of circulating CD8 + T regulatory cells at 180 days. These data indicate that GX301 cancer vaccine is safe and immunogenic in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. Schedules with high number of administrations should be preferred in future studies due to their better immunological outcome.
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Stephens AJ, Burgess-Brown NA, Jiang S. Beyond Just Peptide Antigens: The Complex World of Peptide-Based Cancer Vaccines. Front Immunol 2021; 12:696791. [PMID: 34276688 PMCID: PMC8279810 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.696791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide-based cancer vaccines rely upon the strong activation of the adaptive immune response to elicit its effector function. They have shown to be highly specific and safe, but have yet to prove themselves as an efficacious treatment for cancer in the clinic. This is for a variety of reasons, including tumour heterogeneity, self-tolerance, and immune suppression. Importance has been placed on the overall design of peptide-based cancer vaccines, which have evolved from simple peptide derivatives of a cancer antigen, to complex drugs; incorporating overlapping regions, conjugates, and delivery systems to target and stimulate different components of antigen presenting cells, and to bolster antigen cross-presentation. Peptide-based cancer vaccines are increasingly becoming more personalised to an individual's tumour antigen repertoire and are often combined with existing cancer treatments. This strategy ultimately aids in combating the shortcomings of a more generalised vaccine strategy and provides a comprehensive treatment, taking into consideration cancer cell variability and its ability to avoid immune interrogation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Stephens
- Department of Oncology, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola A Burgess-Brown
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Shisong Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Maiorano BA, Schinzari G, Ciardiello D, Rodriquenz MG, Cisternino A, Tortora G, Maiello E. Cancer Vaccines for Genitourinary Tumors: Recent Progresses and Future Possibilities. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:623. [PMID: 34207536 PMCID: PMC8228524 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9060623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last years, many new treatment options have widened the therapeutic scenario of genitourinary malignancies. Immunotherapy has shown efficacy, especially in the urothelial and renal cell carcinomas, with no particular relevance in prostate cancer. However, despite the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, there is still high morbidity and mortality among these neoplasms. Cancer vaccines represent another way to activate the immune system. We sought to summarize the most recent advances in vaccine therapy for genitourinary malignancies with this review. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Database for clinical trials conducted in the last ten years, focusing on cancer vaccines in the prostate, urothelial and renal cancer. RESULTS Various therapeutic vaccines, including DNA-based, RNA-based, peptide-based, dendritic cells, viral vectors and modified tumor cells, have been demonstrated to induce specific immune responses in a variable percentage of patients. However, these responses rarely corresponded to significant survival improvements. CONCLUSIONS Further preclinical and clinical studies will improve the knowledge about cancer vaccines in genitourinary malignancies to optimize dosage, select targets with a driver role for tumor development and growth, and finally overcome resistance mechanisms. Combination strategies represent possibly more effective and long-lasting treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Anna Maiorano
- Oncology Unit, Foundation Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza IRCCS, 73013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (D.C.); (M.G.R.); (E.M.)
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (G.T.)
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (G.T.)
- Medical Oncology Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Foundation A. Gemelli Policlinic IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Ciardiello
- Oncology Unit, Foundation Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza IRCCS, 73013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (D.C.); (M.G.R.); (E.M.)
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Rodriquenz
- Oncology Unit, Foundation Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza IRCCS, 73013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (D.C.); (M.G.R.); (E.M.)
| | - Antonio Cisternino
- Urology Unit, Foundation Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza IRCCS, 73013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy;
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.S.); (G.T.)
- Medical Oncology Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Foundation A. Gemelli Policlinic IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Evaristo Maiello
- Oncology Unit, Foundation Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza IRCCS, 73013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (D.C.); (M.G.R.); (E.M.)
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Han L, Peng K, Qiu LY, Li M, Ruan JH, He LL, Yuan ZX. Hitchhiking on Controlled-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Opportunities and Challenges for Cancer Vaccines. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:679602. [PMID: 34040536 PMCID: PMC8141731 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.679602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccines represent among the most promising strategies in the battle against cancers. However, the clinical efficacy of current cancer vaccines is largely limited by the lack of optimized delivery systems to generate strong and persistent antitumor immune responses. Moreover, most cancer vaccines require multiple injections to boost the immune responses, leading to poor patient compliance. Controlled-release drug delivery systems are able to address these issues by presenting drugs in a controlled spatiotemporal manner, which allows co-delivery of multiple drugs, reduction of dosing frequency and avoidance of significant systemic toxicities. In this review, we outline the recent progress in cancer vaccines including subunit vaccines, genetic vaccines, dendritic cell-based vaccines, tumor cell-based vaccines and in situ vaccines. Furthermore, we highlight the efforts and challenges of controlled or sustained release drug delivery systems (e.g., microparticles, scaffolds, injectable gels, and microneedles) in ameliorating the safety, effectiveness and operability of cancer vaccines. Finally, we briefly discuss the correlations of vaccine release kinetics and the immune responses to enlighten the rational design of the next-generation platforms for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Han
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ke Peng
- School of pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Li-Ying Qiu
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Meng Li
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing-Hua Ruan
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Li-Li He
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhi-Xiang Yuan
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
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Abstract
With the regulatory approval of Provenge and Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer and advanced melanoma respectively, and other promising clinical trials outcomes, cancer vaccine is gaining prominence as a cancer therapeutic agent. Cancer vaccine works to induce T cell priming, expansion, and infiltration resulting in antigen-specific cytotoxicity. Such an approach that can drive cytotoxicity within the tumor could complement the success of checkpoint inhibitors as tumors shown to have high immune cell infiltration are those that would respond well to these antibodies. With the advancements in cancer vaccine, methods to monitor and understand how cancer vaccines modify the immune milieu is under rapid development. This includes using ELISpot and intracellular staining to detect cytokine secretion by activated T cells; tetramer and CyTOF to quantitate the level of antigen specific T cells; proliferation and cell killing assay to detect the expansion of T cell and specific killing activity. More recently, T cell profiling has provided unprecedented detail on immune cell subsets and providing clues to the mechanism involved in immune activation. Here, we reviewed cancer vaccines currently in clinical trials and highlight available techniques in monitoring the clinical response in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kue Peng Lim
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Cancer Research Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Nur Syafinaz Zainal
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Cancer Research Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
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Shackleton EG, Ali HY, Khan M, Pockley GA, McArdle SE. Novel Combinatorial Approaches to Tackle the Immunosuppressive Microenvironment of Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1145. [PMID: 33800156 PMCID: PMC7962457 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second-most common cancer in men worldwide and treatment options for patients with advanced or aggressive prostate cancer or recurrent disease continue to be of limited success and are rarely curative. Despite immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) efficacy in some melanoma, lung, kidney and breast cancers, immunotherapy efforts have been remarkably unsuccessful in PCa. One hypothesis behind this lack of efficacy is the generation of a distinctly immunosuppressive prostate tumor microenvironment (TME) by regulatory T cells, MDSCs, and type 2 macrophages which have been implicated in a variety of pathological conditions including solid cancers. In PCa, Tregs and MDSCs are attracted to TME by low-grade chronic inflammatory signals, while tissue-resident type 2 macrophages are induced by cytokines such as IL4, IL10, IL13, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) produced by Th2 cells. These then drive tumor progression, therapy resistance and the generation of castration resistance, ultimately conferring a poor prognosis. The biology of MDSC and Treg is highly complex and the development, proliferation, maturation or function can each be pharmacologically mediated to counteract the immunosuppressive effects of these cells. Herein, we present a critical review of Treg, MDSC and M2 involvement in PCa progression but also investigate a newly recognized type of immune suppression induced by the chronic stimulation of the sympathetic adrenergic signaling pathway and propose targeted strategies to be used in a combinatorial modality with immunotherapy interventions such as ICB, Sipuleucel-T or antitumor vaccines for an enhanced anti-PCa tumor immune response. We conclude that a strategic sequence of therapeutic interventions in combination with additional holistic measures will be necessary to achieve maximum benefit for PCa patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin G. Shackleton
- John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK; (E.G.S.); (H.Y.A.); (G.A.P.)
| | - Haleema Yoosuf Ali
- John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK; (E.G.S.); (H.Y.A.); (G.A.P.)
| | - Masood Khan
- Department of Urology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK;
| | - Graham A. Pockley
- John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK; (E.G.S.); (H.Y.A.); (G.A.P.)
- Centre for Health, Ageing and Understanding Disease, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Stephanie E. McArdle
- John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK; (E.G.S.); (H.Y.A.); (G.A.P.)
- Centre for Health, Ageing and Understanding Disease, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
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