1
|
Prevention and Therapy of Metastatic HER-2 + Mammary Carcinoma with a Human Candidate HER-2 Virus-like Particle Vaccine. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102654. [PMID: 36289916 PMCID: PMC9599132 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are a promising therapeutic alternative to monoclonal antibodies against HER-2+ breast cancer. We present the preclinical activity of an ES2B-C001, a VLP-based vaccine being developed for human breast cancer therapy. FVB mice challenged with HER-2+ mammary carcinoma cells QD developed progressive tumors, whereas all mice vaccinated with ES2B-C001+Montanide ISA 51, and 70% of mice vaccinated without adjuvant, remained tumor-free. ES2B-C001 completely inhibited lung metastases in mice challenged intravenously. HER-2 transgenic Delta16 mice developed mammary carcinomas by 4−8 months of age; two administrations of ES2B-C001+Montanide prevented tumor onset for >1 year. Young Delta16 mice challenged intravenously with QD cells developed a mean of 68 lung nodules in 13 weeks, whereas all mice vaccinated with ES2B-C001+Montanide, and 73% of mice vaccinated without adjuvant, remained metastasis-free. ES2B-C001 in adjuvant elicited strong anti-HER-2 antibody responses comprising all Ig isotypes; titers ranging from 1−10 mg/mL persisted for many months. Antibodies inhibited the 3D growth of human HER-2+ trastuzumab-sensitive and -resistant breast cancer cells. Vaccination did not induce cytokine storms; however, it increased the ELISpot frequency of IFN-γ secreting HER-2-specific splenocytes. ES2B-C001 is a promising candidate vaccine for the therapy of tumors expressing HER-2. Preclinical results warrant further development towards human clinical studies.
Collapse
|
2
|
Sher YP, Chai KM, Chen WC, Shen KY, Chen IH, Lee MH, Chiu FF, Liu SJ. A Polypeptide of Tumor-Associated Antigen L6 with Intrinsic Adjuvant Activity Enhances Antitumor Immunity. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040620. [PMID: 33096846 PMCID: PMC7711899 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide vaccines are safe, and aim to elicit and expand tumor-specific immunity so as to eradicate tumors. However, achieving strong and long-lasting anti-tumor immunity with peptide vaccines for the antigen-specific treatment of cancer is challenging, in part because their efficacy depends on strong adjuvants or immunomodulators. We approached this problem by conjugating an epitope-based cancer vaccine with a lipidated sequence (an immunomodulator) to elicit a strong immune response. Lipidated and non-lipidated polyepitope proteins were generated that contained the universal T helper cell epitope (pan-DR), B cell epitopes, and the extended loop sequence of extracellular domain 2 of tumor-associated antigen L6 (TAL6). We show that the lipidated polyepitope cancer vaccine can activate bone marrow-derived dendritic cells, and trigger effective antigen-specific antibody and T helper cell responses, more effectively than the non-lipidated vaccine. Moreover, potent T cell immune responses were elicited in mice inoculated with the lipidated polyepitope cancer vaccine, providing protective antitumor immunity in mice bearing TAL6 tumors. Our study demonstrates that a lipidated polyepitope cancer vaccine could be employed to generate potent anti-tumor immune responses, including humoral and cellular immunity, which could be beneficial in the treatment of TAL6+ cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuh-Pyng Sher
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
- Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
- Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Kit Man Chai
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ching Chen
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Yin Shen
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350, Taiwan
| | - I-Hua Chen
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hui Lee
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Feng Chiu
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jen Liu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sánchez Ramírez J, Morera Díaz Y, Bequet-Romero M, Hernández-Bernal F, Martín Bauta Y, Selman-Housein Bernal KH, de la Torre Santos AV, Pérez de la Iglesia M, Trimiño Lorenzo L, Ayala Avila M. Specific humoral response in cancer patients treated with a VEGF-specific active immunotherapy procedure within a compassionate use program. BMC Immunol 2020; 21:12. [PMID: 32171254 PMCID: PMC7071683 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-020-0338-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CIGB-247 is a cancer therapeutic vaccine that uses as antigen a variant of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mixed with the bacterially-derived adjuvant VSSP. CIGB-247 has been already evaluated in two phase I clinical trials (CENTAURO and CENTAURO-2), showing to be safe and immunogenic in advanced cancer patients selected under well-defined and controlled clinical conditions. Surviving patients were submitted to monthly re-immunizations and some of them showed objective clinical benefits. Based on these results, a compassionate use program (CUP) with CIGB-247 was initiated for patients that did not meet the strict entry criteria applied for the CENTAURO and CENTAURO-2 clinical trials, but could potentially benefit from the application of this cancer therapeutic vaccine. RESULTS Polyclonal IgM, IgA and IgG antibodies specific for VEGF were detected by ELISA in serum samples from patients vaccinated with 400 μg of antigen combined with 200 μg of VSSP. Polyclonal antibody response showed no cross reactivity for other VEGF family member molecules like VEGF-C and VEGF-D. Serum from immunized individuals was able to block the binding of VEGF to its receptors VEGFR2 and VEGFR1. IgG fraction purified from immune sera shared the aforementioned characteristics and also inhibited the interaction between VEGF and the therapeutic recombinant antibody bevacizumab, an anti-angiogenic drug approved for the treatment of different tumors. No serious adverse events attributable to CIGB-247 have been documented yet in participants of the CIGB-247 CUP. The present paper is a first report of our findings concerning the humoral response and safety characteristics in treated CIGB-247 CUP cancer patients. The study has provided the unique opportunity of not only testing CIGB-247 in a broader clinical spectrum sample of Cuban cancer patients, but also within the context of the day-to-day clinical practice and treatment settings for these diseases in Cuban medical institutions. CONCLUSIONS The CIGB-247 CUP has demonstrated that immunization and follow-up of a variety of cancer patients, under day-to-day clinical practice conditions in several Cuban medical institutions, replicate our previous findings in clinical trials: CIGB-247 is safe and immunogenic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Sánchez Ramírez
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Playa, 10600 Havana, Cuba
| | - Yanelys Morera Díaz
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Playa, 10600 Havana, Cuba
| | - Mónica Bequet-Romero
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Playa, 10600 Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marta Ayala Avila
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Playa, 10600 Havana, Cuba
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Palladini A, Thrane S, Janitzek CM, Pihl J, Clemmensen SB, de Jongh WA, Clausen TM, Nicoletti G, Landuzzi L, Penichet ML, Balboni T, Ianzano ML, Giusti V, Theander TG, Nielsen MA, Salanti A, Lollini PL, Nanni P, Sander AF. Virus-like particle display of HER2 induces potent anti-cancer responses. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1408749. [PMID: 29399414 PMCID: PMC5790387 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1408749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) occurs in 20–30% of invasive breast cancers. Monoclonal antibody therapy is effective in treating HER2-driven mammary carcinomas, but its utility is limited by high costs, side effects and development of resistance. Active vaccination may represent a safer, more effective and cheaper alternative, although the induction of strong and durable autoantibody responses is hampered by immune-tolerogenic mechanisms. Using a novel virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccine platform we show that directional, high-density display of human HER2 on the surface of VLPs, allows induction of therapeutically potent anti-HER2 autoantibody responses. Prophylactic vaccination reduced spontaneous development of mammary carcinomas by 50%-100% in human HER2 transgenic mice and inhibited the growth of HER2-positive tumors implanted in wild-type mice. The HER2-VLP vaccine shows promise as a new cost-effective modality for prevention and treatment of HER2-positive cancer. The VLP platform may represent an effective tool for development of vaccines against other non-communicable diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Palladini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christoph M Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jessica Pihl
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine B Clemmensen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies, SCION-DTU Science Park, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas M Clausen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Giordano Nicoletti
- Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorena Landuzzi
- Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Bologna, Italy
| | - Manuel L Penichet
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, The Molecular Biology Institute, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tania Balboni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marianna L Ianzano
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica Giusti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pier-Luigi Lollini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Nanni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kieber-Emmons T, Monzavi-Karbassi B, Hutchins LF, Pennisi A, Makhoul I. Harnessing benefit from targeting tumor associated carbohydrate antigens. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2017; 13:323-331. [PMID: 27929800 PMCID: PMC5328237 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1264789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrating additive or synergistic antitumor effects that focus on distinct elements of tumor biology are the most rational strategies for cancer treatment. Treatments for breast cancer have increased overall survival, but remain limited by lack of efficacy in a subset of breast cancer patients. The real challenge is to define what elements of tumor biology make the most sense to be integrated. An emerging strategy is to consider a systems biology approach to impact multiple interactions in networks as compare with hitting a specific protein-protein interaction target. In this review, we consider how targeting tumor associated carbohydrate antigens (TACA) that are fundamental to signal pathways might be tailored to harness benefit from combination therapy of sustained immunity with chemotherapy. An approach we are developing makes use of a carbohydrate mimetic peptide (CMP) to induce polyspecific antibodies, which by their nature have numerous on and off target effects. Linking multi-target TACA recognition with mechanisms affecting tumor growth in the context of network heterogeneity and concepts of immune surveillance to tumor cells and the type of breast cancer patients that would benefit from such an approach provides a novel integrative treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kieber-Emmons
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | | | - Laura F. Hutchins
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Angela Pennisi
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Issam Makhoul
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Benedetti R, Dell’Aversana C, Giorgio C, Astorri R, Altucci L. Breast Cancer Vaccines: New Insights. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8:270. [PMID: 29081765 PMCID: PMC5645504 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a persistent global challenge for its high frequency in women (although it seldom occurs in men), due to the large diffusion of risk factors and gene mutations, and for its peculiar biology and microenvironment. To date, BC can benefit from different therapeutic strategies involving surgery, ablation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and more specific approaches such as hormone therapy and the administration of various substances impairing cancer growth, aggressivity, and recurrence with different modalities. Despite these relatively wide chances, also used in combinatory protocols, relevant mortality and relapse rates, often associated with resistant phenotypes, stress the need for a personalized-medicine based on prompting the patient's immune system (IS) against cancer cells. BC immunogenicity was latterly proven, so the whole immunotherapy field for BC is still at a very early stage. This immunotherapeutic approach exploits both the high specificity of adaptive immune response and the immunological memory. This review is focused on some of the majorly relevant BC vaccines available (NeuVax, AVX901, and INO-1400), providing a description of the more promising clinical trials. The efficacy of cancer vaccines highly depends on the patient's IS, and a wide optimization is needed in terms of targets' selection, drug design and combinations, dose finding, protocol structuring, and patients' recruitment; moreover, new standards are being discussed for the outcome evaluation. However, early-phases excellent results suggest that the manipulation of the IS via specific vaccines is a highly attractive approach for BC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Benedetti
- Dipartimento di Biochimica Biofisica e Patologia generale, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘L. Vanvitelli’ Naples, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rosaria Benedetti, ; Lucia Altucci,
| | - Carmela Dell’Aversana
- Dipartimento di Biochimica Biofisica e Patologia generale, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘L. Vanvitelli’ Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Cristina Giorgio
- Dipartimento di Biochimica Biofisica e Patologia generale, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘L. Vanvitelli’ Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Astorri
- Dipartimento di Biochimica Biofisica e Patologia generale, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘L. Vanvitelli’ Naples, Naples, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze della Salute “Vincenzo Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Lucia Altucci
- Dipartimento di Biochimica Biofisica e Patologia generale, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘L. Vanvitelli’ Naples, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rosaria Benedetti, ; Lucia Altucci,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Current world literature. Curr Opin Urol 2012; 22:254-62. [PMID: 22469752 DOI: 10.1097/mou.0b013e328352c3f8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|