1
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Zhang ZH, Du Y, Wei S, Pei W. Multilayered insights: a machine learning approach for personalized prognostic assessment in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1327147. [PMID: 38486931 PMCID: PMC10937467 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1327147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex malignancy, and precise prognosis assessment is vital for personalized treatment decisions. Objective This study aimed to develop a multi-level prognostic risk model for HCC, offering individualized prognosis assessment and treatment guidance. Methods By utilizing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we performed differential gene expression analysis to identify genes associated with survival in HCC patients. The HCC Differential Gene Prognostic Model (HCC-DGPM) was developed through multivariate Cox regression. Clinical indicators were incorporated into the HCC-DGPM using Cox regression, leading to the creation of the HCC Multilevel Prognostic Model (HCC-MLPM). Immune function was evaluated using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA), and immune cell infiltration was assessed. Patient responsiveness to immunotherapy was evaluated using the Immunophenoscore (IPS). Clinical drug responsiveness was investigated using drug-related information from the TCGA database. Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and trend association tests were conducted. Results Seven differentially expressed genes from the TCGA database were used to construct the HCC-DGPM. Additionally, four clinical indicators associated with survival were identified from the SEER database for model adjustment. The adjusted HCC-MLPM showed significantly improved discriminative capacity (AUC=0.819 vs. 0.724). External validation involving 153 HCC patients from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database verified the performance of the HCC-MLPM (AUC=0.776). Significantly, the HCC-MLPM exhibited predictive capacity for patient response to immunotherapy and clinical drug efficacy (P < 0.05). Conclusion This study offers comprehensive insights into HCC prognosis and develops predictive models to enhance patient outcomes. The evaluation of immune function, immune cell infiltration, and clinical drug responsiveness enhances our comprehension and management of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yunxiang Du
- Department of Oncology, Huai’an 82 Hospital, China RongTong Medical Healthcare Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Shuzhen Wei
- Department of Oncology, Huai’an 82 Hospital, China RongTong Medical Healthcare Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Weidong Pei
- Department of Discipline Development, China RongTong Medical Healthcare Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
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2
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Thongchot S, Aksonnam K, Thuwajit P, Yenchitsomanus PT, Thuwajit C. Nucleolin‑based targeting strategies in cancer treatment: Focus on cancer immunotherapy (Review). Int J Mol Med 2023; 52:81. [PMID: 37477132 PMCID: PMC10555485 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2023.5284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The benefits of treating several types of cancers using immunotherapy have recently been established. The overexpression of nucleolin (NCL) in a number of types of cancer provides an attractive antigen target for the development of novel anticancer immunotherapeutic treatments. NCL is a multifunctional protein abundantly distributed in the nucleus, cytoplasm and cell membrane. It influences carcinogenesis, and the proliferation, survival and metastasis of cancer cells, leading to cancer progression. Additionally, the meta‑analysis of total and cytoplasmic NCL overexpression indicates a poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer. The AS1411 aptamers currently appear to have therapeutic action in the phase II clinical trial. The authors' research group has recently explored the anticancer function of NCL through the activation of T cells by dendritic cell‑based immunotherapy. The present review describes and discusses the mechanisms through which the multiple functions of NCL can participate in the progression of cancer. In addition, the studies that define the utility of NCL‑dependent anticancer therapies are summarized, with specific focus being paid to cancer immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyanee Thongchot
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
| | - Krittaya Aksonnam
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
| | - Peti Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
| | - Pa-Thai Yenchitsomanus
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Chanitra Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
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3
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Rubio-Perez J, Rodríguez-Perez ÁR, Díaz-Blázquez M, Moreno-García V, Dómine-Gómez M. Treatment-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis due to atezolizumab: a case report and review of the literature. J Med Case Rep 2022; 16:365. [PMID: 36195892 PMCID: PMC9531226 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-022-03585-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors avoid inhibition of T-cell responses, upregulating antitumor immune response. Moreover, a dysregulation with hyperactive immune response can be caused, some of them underdiagnosed. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare and often fatal syndrome of uncontrolled and ineffective hyperinflammatory response that triggers an inflammatory cascade that can lead in many cases to death. Case presentation We report the case of a 67-year-old Caucasian man with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma who developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after initiation of atezolizumab, an antagonist of programmed death-ligand 1. Even with early diagnosis and proper treatment, death occurs in approximately half of all cases reported. Conclusion Key markers are needed to better identify patients at risk of developing severe immune-related adverse events. In addition to key markers, a higher degree of suspicion and early intervention are needed to improve outcomes in acquired hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, especially with the increasingly and expanding use of immune activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Rubio-Perez
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Instituto de investigación sanitaria FJD, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ángel Ricardo Rodríguez-Perez
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Instituto de investigación sanitaria FJD, Madrid, Spain.
| | - María Díaz-Blázquez
- Anatomic Pathology Unit Department, University Hospital Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Victor Moreno-García
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Instituto de investigación sanitaria FJD, Madrid, Spain.,START Madrid-FJD, University Hospital Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Dómine-Gómez
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Instituto de investigación sanitaria FJD, Madrid, Spain
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4
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Zhao Y, Bai Y, Shen M, Li Y. Therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer targeting immune cells: Future directions. Front Immunol 2022; 13:992762. [PMID: 36225938 PMCID: PMC9549957 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.992762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignancy with a high incidence and mortality, and the emergence of immunotherapy has brought survival benefits to GC patients. Compared with traditional therapy, immunotherapy has the advantages of durable response, long-term survival benefits, and lower toxicity. Therefore, targeted immune cells are the most promising therapeutic strategy in the field of oncology. In this review, we introduce the role and significance of each immune cell in the tumor microenvironment of GC and summarize the current landscape of immunotherapy in GC, which includes immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy (ACT), dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, reduction of M2 tumor-associated macrophages (M2 TAMs), N2 tumor-associated neutrophils (N2 TANs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), effector regulatory T cells (eTregs), and regulatory B cells (Bregs) in the tumor microenvironment and reprogram TAMs and TANs into tumor killer cells. The most widely used immunotherapy strategies are the immune checkpoint inhibitor programmed cell death 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) antibody, cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) antibody, and chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) in ACT, and these therapeutic strategies have significant anti-tumor efficacy in solid tumors and hematological tumors. Targeting other immune cells provides a new direction for the immunotherapy of GC despite the relatively weak clinical data, which have been confirmed to restore or enhance anti-tumor immune function in preclinical studies and some treatment strategies have entered the clinical trial stage, and it is expected that more and more effective immune cell–based therapeutic methods will be developed and applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuansong Bai
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Meili Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Yapeng Li, ; Meili Shen,
| | - Yapeng Li
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis Technology of High Performance Polymer, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Yapeng Li, ; Meili Shen,
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5
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Immune Effect of T Lymphocytes Infiltrated by Tumors on Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:4662874. [PMID: 36124030 PMCID: PMC9482535 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4662874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer is increasing every year and it has high morbidity and mortality. Antitumor immunotherapy is a new method for the treatment of lung cancer. Currently, tumor immunotherapy mainly includes classical immunotherapy and immune-targeted therapy To explore the influence of tumor T-lymphocyte (T-cell) infiltration in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, 100 NSCLC patients diagnosed and treated in Changde Second People's hospital were recruited. Patients were followed up for 3 years. The subjects were divided into a survival group (group S) and a death group (group D). The patient's pathological tissue sections were made, and the degree of T-cell infiltration was counted by H&E (Hematoxylin and eosin) staining. The infiltration degree was graded, and the positive rate of T-cell subsets was calculated by immunohistochemical staining. The 3-year positive rate was 48%, with 48 cases in group S and 52 cases in group D. The positive rate of H&E staining of group S was 100%, including 0 cases of grade 0, 5 cases of grade 1 (10.42%), 16 cases of grade 2 (33.33%), and 27 cases of grade 3 (56.25%). The positive rate of group D was 86.54%, including 4 cases of grade 0 (8.89%), 10 cases of grade 1 (22.22%), 25 cases of grade 2 (55.56%), and 6 cases of grade 3 (13.33%). The total number of T-cell infiltrates in group S was much higher than that in group D (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that the mean positive rate of CD8+ T-cell infiltration was 72.1% in group S and 47.6% in group D, with a considerable difference (P < 0.05). No remarkable difference was found in CD4+ and CD25+ (P < 0.05). CD8+ + CD4+, CD8+/CD4+, CD25+/CD8+, CD25+/CD4+, and CD25+/(CD8+ + CD4+) positive rates were calculated, and the difference between group S and group D was substantial in CD8+ + CD4+ (P < 0.05). The results showed that T cells infiltrated by tumors had an immunosuppressive effect on tumor cells.
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6
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Faghfuri E, Shadbad MA, Faghfouri AH, Soozangar N. Cellular immunotherapy in gastric cancer: adoptive cell therapy and dendritic cell-based vaccination. Immunotherapy 2022; 14:475-488. [PMID: 35232264 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies. Recent studies have highlighted cellular immunotherapy (CI) as a promising approach for treating this disease. Among the CI-based approaches, adoptive cell therapy and dendritic cell-based vaccination are commonly studied in preclinical and clinical trials. Here we review the current evidence on the potentiality of CI in treating GC, the targets for adoptive cell therapy, ongoing clinical trials, constraints and the future outlook. The results suggest that there is a need to identify novel biomarkers that predict which GC patients will most likely respond to these approaches. Also, CI plus chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors can improve the survival of patients with late-stage GC. Therefore, this approach can be promising for treating these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Faghfuri
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | | | | | - Narges Soozangar
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
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7
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El-Kadiry AEH, Rafei M, Shammaa R. Cell Therapy: Types, Regulation, and Clinical Benefits. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:756029. [PMID: 34881261 PMCID: PMC8645794 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.756029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell therapy practices date back to the 19th century and continue to expand on investigational and investment grounds. Cell therapy includes stem cell- and non-stem cell-based, unicellular and multicellular therapies, with different immunophenotypic profiles, isolation techniques, mechanisms of action, and regulatory levels. Following the steps of their predecessor cell therapies that have become established or commercialized, investigational and premarket approval-exempt cell therapies continue to provide patients with promising therapeutic benefits in different disease areas. In this review article, we delineate the vast types of cell therapy, including stem cell-based and non-stem cell-based cell therapies, and create the first-in-literature compilation of the different "multicellular" therapies used in clinical settings. Besides providing the nuts and bolts of FDA policies regulating their use, we discuss the benefits of cell therapies reported in 3 therapeutic areas-regenerative medicine, immune diseases, and cancer. Finally, we contemplate the recent attention shift toward combined therapy approaches, highlighting the factors that render multicellular therapies a more attractive option than their unicellular counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abed El-Hakim El-Kadiry
- Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Montreal Heart Institute, Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Moutih Rafei
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Riam Shammaa
- Canadian Centre for Regenerative Therapy, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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8
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Zhu H, Liu X. Advances of Tumorigenesis, Diagnosis at Early Stage, and Cellular Immunotherapy in Gastrointestinal Malignancies. Front Oncol 2021; 11:666340. [PMID: 34434889 PMCID: PMC8381364 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.666340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, in 2018, 4.8 million new patients have a diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, while 3.4 million people died of such disorders. GI malignancies are tightly relevant to 26% of the world-wide cancer incidence and occupies 35% of all cancer-associated deaths. In this article, we principally investigated molecular and cellular mechanisms of tumorigenesis in five major GI cancers occurring at esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, and colorectal region that illustrate high morbidity in Eastern and Western countries. Moreover, through this investigation, we not only emphasize importance of the tumor microenvironment in development and treatment of malignant tumors but also identify significance of M2PK, miRNAs, ctDNAs, circRNAs, and CTCs in early detection of GI cancers, as well as systematically evaluate contribution of personalized precision medicine including cellular immunotherapy, new antigen and vaccine therapy, and oncolytic virotherapy in treatment of GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haipeng Zhu
- Precision and Personalized Cancer Treatment Center, Division of Cancer Diagnosis & Therapy, Ciming Boao International Hospital, Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, Qionghai, China.,Stem Cell and Biotherapy Technology Research Center, Xinxiang Medical College, Xinxiang, China
| | - Xiaojun Liu
- Division of Cellular & Biomedical Science, Ciming Boao International Hospital, Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, Qionghai, China
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9
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Kozma GT, Mészáros T, Bakos T, Hennies M, Bencze D, Uzonyi B, Győrffy B, Cedrone E, Dobrovolskaia MA, Józsi M, Szebeni J. Mini-Factor H Modulates Complement-Dependent IL-6 and IL-10 Release in an Immune Cell Culture (PBMC) Model: Potential Benefits Against Cytokine Storm. Front Immunol 2021; 12:642860. [PMID: 33995361 PMCID: PMC8113956 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.642860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokine storm (CS), an excessive release of proinflammatory cytokines upon overactivation of the innate immune system, came recently to the focus of interest because of its role in the life-threatening consequences of certain immune therapies and viral diseases, including CAR-T cell therapy and Covid-19. Because complement activation with subsequent anaphylatoxin release is in the core of innate immune stimulation, studying the relationship between complement activation and cytokine release in an in vitro CS model holds promise to better understand CS and identify new therapies against it. We used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cultured in the presence of autologous serum to test the impact of complement activation and inhibition on cytokine release, testing the effects of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome), zymosan and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as immune activators and heat inactivation of serum, EDTA and mini-factor H (mfH) as complement inhibitors. These activators induced significant rises of complement activation markers C3a, C4a, C5a, Ba, Bb, and sC5b-9 at 45 min of incubation, with or without ~5- to ~2,000-fold rises of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13 and TNFα at 6 and 18 h later. Inhibition of complement activation by the mentioned three methods had differential inhibition, or even stimulation of certain cytokines, among which effects a limited suppressive effect of mfH on IL-6 secretion and significant stimulation of IL-10 implies anti-CS and anti-inflammatory impacts. These findings suggest the utility of the model for in vitro studies on CS, and the potential clinical use of mfH against CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Tibor Kozma
- Nanomedicine Research and Education Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- SeroScience LCC, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Mészáros
- Nanomedicine Research and Education Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- SeroScience LCC, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Bakos
- Nanomedicine Research and Education Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Dániel Bencze
- MTA-ELTE Complement Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Department of Immunology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Barbara Uzonyi
- MTA-ELTE Complement Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Department of Immunology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Győrffy
- Second Department of Bioinformatics and Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Lendület Cancer Biomarker Research Group, Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edward Cedrone
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Marina A. Dobrovolskaia
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Mihály Józsi
- MTA-ELTE Complement Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Department of Immunology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Immunology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Szebeni
- Nanomedicine Research and Education Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- SeroScience LCC, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Health, Miskolc University, Miskolc, Hungary
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10
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Maes K, Mondino A, Lasarte JJ, Agirre X, Vanderkerken K, Prosper F, Breckpot K. Epigenetic Modifiers: Anti-Neoplastic Drugs With Immunomodulating Potential. Front Immunol 2021; 12:652160. [PMID: 33859645 PMCID: PMC8042276 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.652160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells are under the surveillance of the host immune system. Nevertheless, a number of immunosuppressive mechanisms allow tumors to escape protective responses and impose immune tolerance. Epigenetic alterations are central to cancer cell biology and cancer immune evasion. Accordingly, epigenetic modulating agents (EMAs) are being exploited as anti-neoplastic and immunomodulatory agents to restore immunological fitness. By simultaneously acting on cancer cells, e.g. by changing expression of tumor antigens, immune checkpoints, chemokines or innate defense pathways, and on immune cells, e.g. by remodeling the tumor stroma or enhancing effector cell functionality, EMAs can indeed overcome peripheral tolerance to transformed cells. Therefore, combinations of EMAs with chemo- or immunotherapy have become interesting strategies to fight cancer. Here we review several examples of epigenetic changes critical for immune cell functions and tumor-immune evasion and of the use of EMAs in promoting anti-tumor immunity. Finally, we provide our perspective on how EMAs could represent a game changer for combinatorial therapies and the clinical management of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Maes
- Laboratory for Hematology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Medical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universiteit Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anna Mondino
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Juan José Lasarte
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, IDISNA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Xabier Agirre
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), Pamplona, Spain.,Hemato-oncology Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, IDISNA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Karin Vanderkerken
- Laboratory for Hematology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Felipe Prosper
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), Pamplona, Spain.,Hemato-oncology Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, IDISNA, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Karine Breckpot
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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11
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Saadeldin MK, Abdel-Aziz AK, Abdellatif A. Dendritic cell vaccine immunotherapy; the beginning of the end of cancer and COVID-19. A hypothesis. Med Hypotheses 2020; 146:110365. [PMID: 33221134 PMCID: PMC7836805 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is the newest approach to combat cancer. It can be achieved using several strategies, among which is the dendritic cell (DC) vaccine therapy. Several clinical trials are ongoing using DC vaccine therapy either as a sole agent or in combination with other interventions to tackle different types of cancer. Immunotherapy can offer a potential treatment to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) the worst pandemic facing this generation, a disease with deleterious effects on the health and economic systems worldwide. We hypothesize that DC vaccine therapy may provide a potential treatment strategy to help combat COVID-19. Cancer patients are at the top of the vulnerable population owing to their immune-compromised status. In this review, we discuss DC vaccine therapy in the light of the body's immunity, cancer, and newly emerging infections such as COVID-19 in hopes of better-customized treatment options for patients with multiple comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Kamal Saadeldin
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan 20139, Italy.
| | - Amal Kamal Abdel-Aziz
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan 20139, Italy; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Abdellatif
- Biology Department, School of Science and Engineering, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
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12
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Venetis K, Invernizzi M, Sajjadi E, Curigliano G, Fusco N. Cellular immunotherapy in breast cancer: The quest for consistent biomarkers. Cancer Treat Rev 2020; 90:102089. [PMID: 32889360 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2020.102089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, with a relatively high proportion of patients experiencing resistance to standard treatments. Cellular immunotherapy (CI), which is based on the extraction, modification, and re-infusion of the patient's immune cells, is showing promising results in these patients. Among CI possible approaches, adoptive cell therapy (ACT) and dendritic cell (DC) vaccination are the most comprehensively explored in both primary/translational research studies and clinical trials. ACT may include the use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), T cell receptor (TCR)-, or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T-cells. There are indications suggesting that a biomarker-based approach might be beneficial in effectively selecting breast cancer patients for CI. Here, we sought to provide the current knowledge of CI in breast cancer, focusing on candidate biomarkers, ongoing clinical trials, limitations, and immediate future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Venetis
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Invernizzi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Elham Sajjadi
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy.
| | - Nicola Fusco
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy.
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Kim K, Khang D. Past, Present, and Future of Anticancer Nanomedicine. Int J Nanomedicine 2020; 15:5719-5743. [PMID: 32821098 PMCID: PMC7418170 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s254774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This review aims to summarize the methods that have been used till today, highlight methods that are currently being developed, and predict the future roadmap for anticancer therapy. In the beginning of this review, established approaches for anticancer therapy, such as conventional chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, monoclonal antibodies, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are summarized. To counteract the side effects of conventional chemotherapy and to increase limited anticancer efficacy, nanodrug- and stem cell-based therapies have been introduced. However, current level of understanding and strategies of nanodrug and stem cell-based therapies have limitations that make them inadequate for clinical application. Subsequently, this manuscript reviews methods with fewer side effects compared to those of the methods mentioned above which are currently being investigated and are already being applied in the clinic. The newer strategies that are already being clinically applied include cancer immunotherapy, especially T cell-mediated therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors, and strategies that are gaining attention include the manipulation of the tumor microenvironment or the activation of dendritic cells. Tumor-associated macrophage repolarization is another potential strategy for cancer immunotherapy, a method which activates macrophages to immunologically attack malignant cells. At the end of this review, we discuss combination therapies, which are the future of cancer treatment. Nanoparticle-based anticancer immunotherapies seem to be effective, in that they effectively use nanodrugs to elicit a greater immune response. The combination of these therapies with others, such as photothermal or tumor vaccine therapy, can result in a greater anticancer effect. Thus, the future of anticancer therapy aims to increase the effectiveness of therapy using various therapies in a synergistic combination rather than individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyungeun Kim
- College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, South Korea
| | - Dongwoo Khang
- College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, South Korea.,Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, South Korea.,Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Science & Technology (GAIHST), Gachon University, Incheon 21999, South Korea.,Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, South Korea
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