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Avgoustakis K, Angelopoulou A. Biomaterial-Based Responsive Nanomedicines for Targeting Solid Tumor Microenvironments. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:179. [PMID: 38399240 PMCID: PMC10892652 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Solid tumors are composed of a highly complex and heterogenic microenvironment, with increasing metabolic status. This environment plays a crucial role in the clinical therapeutic outcome of conventional treatments and innovative antitumor nanomedicines. Scientists have devoted great efforts to conquering the challenges of the tumor microenvironment (TME), in respect of effective drug accumulation and activity at the tumor site. The main focus is to overcome the obstacles of abnormal vasculature, dense stroma, extracellular matrix, hypoxia, and pH gradient acidosis. In this endeavor, nanomedicines that are targeting distinct features of TME have flourished; these aim to increase site specificity and achieve deep tumor penetration. Recently, research efforts have focused on the immune reprograming of TME in order to promote suppression of cancer stem cells and prevention of metastasis. Thereby, several nanomedicine therapeutics which have shown promise in preclinical studies have entered clinical trials or are already in clinical practice. Various novel strategies were employed in preclinical studies and clinical trials. Among them, nanomedicines based on biomaterials show great promise in improving the therapeutic efficacy, reducing side effects, and promoting synergistic activity for TME responsive targeting. In this review, we focused on the targeting mechanisms of nanomedicines in response to the microenvironment of solid tumors. We describe responsive nanomedicines which take advantage of biomaterials' properties to exploit the features of TME or overcome the obstacles posed by TME. The development of such systems has significantly advanced the application of biomaterials in combinational therapies and in immunotherapies for improved anticancer effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Avgoustakis
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
- Clinical Studies Unit, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens (BRFAA), 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Athina Angelopoulou
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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2
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Fergatova A, Affara NI. The cellular triumvirate: fibroblasts entangled in the crosstalk between cancer cells and immune cells. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1337333. [PMID: 38313431 PMCID: PMC10835808 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1337333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
This review article will focus on subpopulations of fibroblasts that get reprogrammed by tumor cells into cancer-associated fibroblasts. Throughout this article, we will discuss the intricate interactions between fibroblasts, immune cells, and tumor cells. Unravelling complex intercellular crosstalk will pave the way for new insights into cellular mechanisms underlying the reprogramming of the local tumor immune microenvironment and propose novel immunotherapy strategies that might have potential in harnessing and modulating immune system responses.
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3
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Esmaeilzadeh A, Hadiloo K, Jabbari M, Elahi R. Current progress of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T versus CAR NK cell for immunotherapy of solid tumors. Life Sci 2024; 337:122381. [PMID: 38145710 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122381] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Equipping cancer-fighting immune cells with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has gained immense attention for cancer treatment. CAR-engineered T cells (CAR T cells) are the first immune-engineered cells that have achieved brilliant results in anti-cancer therapy. Despite promising anti-cancer features, CAR T cells could also cause fatal side effects and have shown inadequate efficacy in some studies. This has led to the introduction of other candidates for CAR transduction, e.g., Natural killer cells (NK cells). Regarding the better safety profile and anti-cancer properties, CAR-armored NK cells (CAR NK cells) could be a beneficial and suitable alternative to CAR T cells. Since introducing these two cells as anti-cancer structures, several studies have investigated their efficacy and safety, and most of them have focused on hematological malignancies. Solid tumors have unique properties that make them more resistant and less curable cancers than hematological malignancies. In this review article, we conduct a comprehensive review of the structure and properties of CAR NK and CAR T cells, compare the recent experience of immunotherapy with CAR T and CAR NK cells in various solid cancers, and overview current challenges and future solutions to battle solid cancers using CARNK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdolreza Esmaeilzadeh
- Department of Immunology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center (CGRC), Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
| | - Kaveh Hadiloo
- Student Research Committee, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Marjan Jabbari
- School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Reza Elahi
- School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
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4
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Zheng W, Ling S, Cao Y, Shao C, Sun X. Combined use of NK cells and radiotherapy in the treatment of solid tumors. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1306534. [PMID: 38264648 PMCID: PMC10803658 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1306534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes possessing potent tumor surveillance and elimination activity. Increasing attention is being focused on the role of NK cells in integral antitumor strategies (especially immunotherapy). Of note, therapeutic efficacy is considerable dependent on two parameters: the infiltration and cytotoxicity of NK cells in tumor microenvironment (TME), both of which are impaired by several obstacles (e.g., chemokines, hypoxia). Strategies to overcome such barriers are needed. Radiotherapy is a conventional modality employed to cure solid tumors. Recent studies suggest that radiotherapy not only damages tumor cells directly, but also enhances tumor recognition by immune cells through altering molecular expression of tumor or immune cells via the in situ or abscopal effect. Thus, radiotherapy may rebuild a NK cells-favored TME, and thus provide a cost-effective approach to improve the infiltration of NK cells into solid tumors, as well as elevate immune-activity. Moreover, the radioresistance of tumor always hampers the response to radiotherapy. Noteworthy, the puissant cytotoxic activity of NK cells not only kills tumor cells directly, but also increases the response of tumors to radiation via activating several radiosensitization pathways. Herein, we review the mechanisms by which NK cells and radiotherapy mutually promote their killing function against solid malignancies. We also discuss potential strategies harnessing such features in combined anticancer care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Zheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sunkai Ling
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuandong Cao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunlin Shao
- Institution of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinchen Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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5
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Chasara RS, Ajayi TO, Leshilo DM, Poka MS, Witika BA. Exploring novel strategies to improve anti-tumour efficiency: The potential for targeting reactive oxygen species. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19896. [PMID: 37809420 PMCID: PMC10559285 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The cellular milieu in which malignant growths or cancer stem cells reside is known as the tumour microenvironment (TME). It is the consequence of the interactivity amongst malignant and non-malignant cells and directly affects cancer development and progression. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chemically reactive molecules that contain oxygen, they are generated because of numerous endogenous and external factors. Endogenous ROS produced from mitochondria is known to significantly increase intracellular oxidative stress. In addition to playing a key role in several biological processes both in healthy and malignant cells, ROS function as secondary messengers in cell signalling. At low to moderate concentrations, ROS serves as signalling transducers to promote cancer cell motility, invasion, angiogenesis, and treatment resistance. At high concentrations, ROS can induce oxidative stress, leading to DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. These effects can result in cell death or trigger signalling pathways that lead to apoptosis. The creation of innovative therapies and cancer management techniques has been aided by a thorough understanding of the TME. At present, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, occasionally in combination, are the most often used methods for tumour treatment. The current challenge that these therapies face is the lack of spatiotemporal application specifically at the lesion which results in toxic effects on healthy cells associated with off-target drug delivery and undesirably high doses. Nanotechnology can be used to specifically deliver various chemicals via nanocarriers to target tumour cells, thereby increasing the accumulation of ROS-inducing agents at the site of the tumour. Nanoparticles can be engineered to release ROS-inducing agents in a controlled manner to the TME that will in turn react with the ROS to either increase or decrease it, thereby improving antitumour efficiency. Nano-delivery systems such as liposomes, nanocapsules, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers were explored for the up/down-regulation of ROS. This review will discuss the use of nanotechnology in targeting and altering the ROS in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumbidzai Sharon Chasara
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, 0204, South Africa
| | - Taiwo Oreoluwa Ajayi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, 0204, South Africa
| | - Dineo Motjoadi Leshilo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, 0204, South Africa
| | - Madan Sai Poka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, 0204, South Africa
| | - Bwalya Angel Witika
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, 0204, South Africa
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6
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Zhou Y, Cheng L, Liu L, Li X. NK cells are never alone: crosstalk and communication in tumour microenvironments. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:34. [PMID: 36797782 PMCID: PMC9933398 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01737-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune escape is a hallmark of cancer. The dynamic and heterogeneous tumour microenvironment (TME) causes insufficient infiltration and poor efficacy of natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy, which becomes a key factor triggering tumour progression. Understanding the crosstalk between NK cells and the TME provides new insights for optimising NK cell-based immunotherapy. Here, we present new advances in direct or indirect crosstalk between NK cells and 9 specialised TMEs, including immune, metabolic, innervated niche, mechanical, and microbial microenvironments, summarise TME-mediated mechanisms of NK cell function inhibition, and highlight potential targeted therapies for NK-TME crosstalk. Importantly, we discuss novel strategies to overcome the inhibitory TME and provide an attractive outlook for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqiang Zhou
- grid.32566.340000 0000 8571 0482The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000 China ,grid.412643.60000 0004 1757 2902Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China ,Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lu Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lu Liu
- grid.412643.60000 0004 1757 2902Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xun Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China. .,Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China. .,Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
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7
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Juras PK, Racioppi L, Mukherjee D, Artham S, Gao X, D’Agostino LA, Chang CY, McDonnell DP. Increased CaMKK2 Expression Is an Adaptive Response That Maintains the Fitness of Tumor-Infiltrating Natural Killer Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:109-122. [PMID: 36301267 PMCID: PMC9812906 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) is a key regulator of energy homeostasis in several cell types. Expression of this enzyme in tumor cells promotes proliferation and migration, and expression in tumor-associated immune cells facilitates M2 macrophage polarization and the development of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Thus, there has been interest in developing CaMKK2 inhibitors as potential anticancer therapeutics. One impediment to clinical development of these agents is that the roles of CaMKK2 in other cellular compartments within the tumor immune microenvironment remain to be established. We report herein that CaMKK2 is expressed at low basal levels in natural killer (NK) cells but is upregulated in tumor-infiltrating NK cells where it suppresses apoptosis and promotes proliferation. NK cell-intrinsic deletion of CaMKK2 increased metastatic progression in several murine models, establishing a critical role for this enzyme in NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity. Ablation of the CaMKK2 protein, but not inhibition of its kinase activity, resulted in decreased NK-cell survival. These results indicate an important scaffolding function for CaMKK2 in NK cells and suggest that competitive CaMKK2 inhibitors and ligand-directed degraders (LDD) are likely to have distinct therapeutic utilities. Finally, we determined that intracellular lactic acid is a key driver of CaMKK2 expression, suggesting that upregulated expression of this enzyme is an adaptive mechanism by which tumor-infiltrating NK cells mitigate the deleterious effects of a lactic acid-rich tumor microenvironment. The findings of this study should inform strategies to manipulate the CaMKK2-signaling axis as a therapeutic approach in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick K. Juras
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Luigi Racioppi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematological Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA,Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80131, Italy
| | - Debarati Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sandeep Artham
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Xia Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Laura Akullian D’Agostino
- Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Bristol Myers Squibb, 200 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
| | - Ching-Yi Chang
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Donald P. McDonnell
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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8
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Daly RJ, Scott AM, Klein O, Ernst M. Enhancing therapeutic anti-cancer responses by combining immune checkpoint and tyrosine kinase inhibition. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:189. [PMID: 36175961 PMCID: PMC9523960 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01656-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has been established as the standard of care for many types of cancer, but the strategies employed have continued to evolve. Recently, much clinical focus has been on combining targeted therapies with ICI for the purpose of manipulating the immune setpoint. The latter concept describes the equilibrium between factors that promote and those that suppress anti-cancer immunity. Besides tumor mutational load and other cancer cell-intrinsic determinants, the immune setpoint is also governed by the cells of the tumor microenvironment and how they are coerced by cancer cells to support the survival and growth of the tumor. These regulatory mechanisms provide therapeutic opportunities to intervene and reduce immune suppression via application of small molecule inhibitors and antibody-based therapies against (receptor) tyrosine kinases and thereby improve the response to ICIs. This article reviews how tyrosine kinase signaling in the tumor microenvironment can promote immune suppression and highlights how therapeutic strategies directed against specific tyrosine kinases can be used to lower the immune setpoint and elicit more effective anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger J Daly
- Cancer Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia. .,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | - Andrew M Scott
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, 145 Studley Rd, Melbourne-Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.,Department of Molecular Imaging & Therapy, Austin Health, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Melbourne-Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Oliver Klein
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, 145 Studley Rd, Melbourne-Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Matthias Ernst
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, 23 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia. .,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, 145 Studley Rd, Melbourne-Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.
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9
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Saw PE, Chen J, Song E. Targeting CAFs to overcome anticancer therapeutic resistance. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:527-555. [PMID: 35331673 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The view of cancer as a tumor cell-centric disease is now replaced by our understanding of the interconnection and dependency of tumor stroma. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the most abundant stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), are involved in anticancer therapeutic resistance. As we unearth more solid evidence on the link between CAFs and tumor progression, we gain insight into the role of CAFs in establishing resistance to cancer therapies. Herein, we review the origin, heterogeneity, and function of CAFs, with a focus on how CAF subsets can be used as biomarkers and can contribute to therapeutic resistance in cancer. We also depict current breakthroughs in targeting CAFs to overcome anticancer therapeutic resistance and discuss emerging CAF-targeting modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phei Er Saw
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Jianing Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Erwei Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China; Fountain-Valley Institute for Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.
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10
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Wang J, Toregrosa-Allen S, Elzey BD, Utturkar S, Lanman NA, Bernal-Crespo V, Behymer MM, Knipp GT, Yun Y, Veronesi MC, Sinn AL, Pollok KE, Brutkiewicz RR, Nevel KS, Matosevic S. Multispecific targeting of glioblastoma with tumor microenvironment-responsive multifunctional engineered NK cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2107507118. [PMID: 34740973 PMCID: PMC8609337 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107507118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor antigen heterogeneity, a severely immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and lymphopenia resulting in inadequate immune intratumoral trafficking, have rendered glioblastoma (GBM) highly resistant to therapy. To address these obstacles, here we describe a unique, sophisticated combinatorial platform for GBM: a cooperative multifunctional immunotherapy based on genetically engineered human natural killer (NK) cells bearing multiple antitumor functions including local tumor responsiveness that addresses key drivers of GBM resistance to therapy: antigen escape, immunometabolic reprogramming of immune responses, and poor immune cell homing. We engineered dual-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK cells to bear a third functional moiety that is activated in the GBM TME and addresses immunometabolic suppression of NK cell function: a tumor-specific, locally released antibody fragment which can inhibit the activity of CD73 independently of CAR signaling and decrease the local concentration of adenosine. The multifunctional human NK cells targeted patient-derived GBM xenografts, demonstrated local tumor site-specific activity in the tissue, and potently suppressed adenosine production. We also unveil a complex reorganization of the immunological profile of GBM induced by inhibiting autophagy. Pharmacologic impairment of the autophagic process not only sensitized GBM to antigenic targeting by NK cells but promoted a chemotactic profile favorable to NK infiltration. Taken together, our study demonstrates a promising NK cell-based combinatorial strategy that can target multiple clinically recognized mechanisms of GBM progression simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | | | - Bennett D Elzey
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Sagar Utturkar
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Nadia Atallah Lanman
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Victor Bernal-Crespo
- Histology Research Laboratory, Center for Comparative Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Matthew M Behymer
- Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Gregory T Knipp
- Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Yeonhee Yun
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Michael C Veronesi
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Anthony L Sinn
- In Vivo Therapeutics Core, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Karen E Pollok
- In Vivo Therapeutics Core, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Randy R Brutkiewicz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Kathryn S Nevel
- Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Sandro Matosevic
- Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907;
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
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11
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Mao X, Xu J, Wang W, Liang C, Hua J, Liu J, Zhang B, Meng Q, Yu X, Shi S. Crosstalk between cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment: new findings and future perspectives. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:131. [PMID: 34635121 PMCID: PMC8504100 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01428-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 691] [Impact Index Per Article: 230.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a stromal cell population with cell-of-origin, phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, are the most essential components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Through multiple pathways, activated CAFs can promote tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, along with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and even chemoresistance. Numerous previous studies have confirmed the critical role of the interaction between CAFs and tumor cells in tumorigenesis and development. However, recently, the mutual effects of CAFs and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) have been identified as another key factor in promoting tumor progression. The TIME mainly consists of distinct immune cell populations in tumor islets and is highly associated with the antitumor immunological state in the TME. CAFs interact with tumor-infiltrating immune cells as well as other immune components within the TIME via the secretion of various cytokines, growth factors, chemokines, exosomes and other effector molecules, consequently shaping an immunosuppressive TME that enables cancer cells to evade surveillance of the immune system. In-depth studies of CAFs and immune microenvironment interactions, particularly the complicated mechanisms connecting CAFs with immune cells, might provide novel strategies for subsequent targeted immunotherapies. Herein, we shed light on recent advances regarding the direct and indirect crosstalk between CAFs and infiltrating immune cells and further summarize the possible immunoinhibitory mechanisms induced by CAFs in the TME. In addition, we present current related CAF-targeting immunotherapies and briefly describe some future perspectives on CAF research in the end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Mao
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chen Liang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jie Hua
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qingcai Meng
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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12
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Natural Killer Cells in Cancer and Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancer Lett 2021; 520:233-242. [PMID: 34302920 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The detection and killing of neoplastic cells require coordination of a variety of antitumor effector cells. Natural killer (NK) cells of the innate immune system are at the forefront of the body's defense systems and evidence suggests that the infiltration and cytotoxicity of NK cells in the cancer tissue influence treatment efficacy and survival. As powerful effectors in the anticancer immune response, NK cells rapidly recognize and kill transformed cells with little reactivity against healthy self-tissues, which highlights their potential role in cancer immunotherapy. Modern immunotherapeutic approaches include immune checkpoint inhibitors to revitalize dysfunctional T cells and adoptive cell transfer using CD8+ T cells with chimeric antigen receptors to enhance their functionality. However, treatment responses may be short-lived and risk of discontinuation due to adverse effects necessitates the development of safer immuno-oncologic therapies with improved outcomes. To this end, novel combinatorial interventions using T cells and NK cells and strategies for overcoming associated challenges are currently being investigated. This review summarizes the advances in the research on NK cells in cancer and cancer immunotherapy and discusses the possible implications for future cancer treatment.
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13
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Wang J, Lou J, Fu L, Jin Q. An independent poor-prognosis subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma based on the tumor microenvironment. J Int Med Res 2021; 49:300060520980646. [PMID: 33567957 PMCID: PMC7883156 DOI: 10.1177/0300060520980646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant tumor with a particularly poor prognosis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is closely associated with tumorigenesis, progression, and treatment. However, the relationship between TME genes and HCC patient prognosis is poorly understood. Methods In this study, we identified two prognostic subtypes based on the TME using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus. The Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter method was used to evaluate immune cell infiltration in HCC. Differentially expressed genes between molecular subtypes were calculated with the Limma package, and clusterProfiler was used for Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment analyses to identify genes related to the independent subtypes. We also integrated mRNA expression data into our bioinformatics analysis. Results We identified 4227 TME-associated genes and 640 genes related to the prognosis of HCC. We defined two major subtypes (Clusters 1 and 2) based on the analysis of TME-associated gene expression. Cluster 1 was characterized by increased expression of immune-associated genes and a worse prognosis than Cluster 2. Conclusions The identification of these HCC subtypes based on the TME provides further insight into the molecular mechanisms and prediction of HCC prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of General Surgery, Hangzhou Mingzhou Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianying Lou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Fu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of General Surgery, Hangzhou Mingzhou Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qu Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of General Surgery, Hangzhou Mingzhou Hospital, Hangzhou, China
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14
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Chaudhry K, Dowlati E, Bollard CM. Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells: a promising cancer immunotherapy. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2021; 17:643-659. [PMID: 33821731 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2021.1911648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Introduction:Widespread success of CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for the treatment of hematological malignancies have shifted the focus from conventional cancer treatments toward adoptive immunotherapy. There are major efforts to improve CAR constructs and to identify new target antigens. Even though the Food and Drug Administration has approved commercialization of some CD19 CART cell therapies, there are still some limitations that restrict their widespread clinical use. The manufacture of autologous products for individual patients is logistically cumbersome and expensive and allogeneic T cell products may pose an appreciable risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).Areas covered:Natural killer (NK) cells are an attractive alternative for CART-based immunotherapies. They have the innate ability to detect and eliminate malignant cells and are safer in the 'off-the-shelf' setting. This review discusses the current progress within the CAR NK cell field, including the challenges, and future prospects. Gene engineered NK cells was used as the search term in PubMed and Google Scholar through to December 2020.Expert opinion:CAR NK cell therapies hold promise as an 'off-the-shelf' cell therapy for cancer. It is hoped that an enhanced understanding of their immunobiology and molecular mechanisms of action will improve their in vivo potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajal Chaudhry
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, WA, USA
| | - Ehsan Dowlati
- Department of Neurosurgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, WA, USA
| | - Catherine M Bollard
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, WA, USA.,GW Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, WA, USA.,Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, WA, USA
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15
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Quatrini L, Mariotti FR, Munari E, Tumino N, Vacca P, Moretta L. The Immune Checkpoint PD-1 in Natural Killer Cells: Expression, Function and Targeting in Tumour Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3285. [PMID: 33172030 PMCID: PMC7694632 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last years, immunotherapy with antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of different types of tumours, representing a true revolution in oncology. While its efficacy has initially been attributed only to unleashing T cell responses, responsivity to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade was observed in some tumours with low Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) I expression and increasing evidence has revealed PD-1 surface expression and inhibitory function also in natural killer (NK) cells. Thus, the contribution of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy to the recovery of NK cell anti-tumour response has recently been appreciated. Here, we summarize the studies investigating PD-1 expression and function in NK cells, together with the limitations and perspectives of immunotherapies. A better understanding of checkpoint biology is needed to design next-generation therapeutic strategies and to improve the clinical protocols of current therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Quatrini
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Francesca Romana Mariotti
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Enrico Munari
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Nicola Tumino
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00146 Rome, Italy; (F.R.M.); (N.T.); (P.V.); (L.M.)
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16
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Terrén I, Orrantia A, Vitallé J, Astarloa-Pando G, Zenarruzabeitia O, Borrego F. Modulating NK cell metabolism for cancer immunotherapy. Semin Hematol 2020; 57:213-224. [PMID: 33256914 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes with potent antitumor functions and, therefore, multiple NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies have been developed and are currently being tested. However, there is a necessity to find new means to improve these therapies, and immunometabolism represents an attractive target. NK cell effector functions are intricately linked to their metabolism, and modulating the latter could be the key to release their full potential. In this review, we have summarized how NK cell metabolism is regulated during some processes, such as maturation, viral infection, and cytokine stimulation. Additionally, we provide an overview of how NK cell metabolism is affected by current therapeutic approaches aimed to promote NK cell expansion and/or to increase their effector functions. We have also recapitulated several strategies that could help alleviating the metabolic impairment that characterizes tumor-infiltrating NK cells, and thus increase or restore their effector functions. Furthermore, we have reviewed several therapeutic approaches targeting cancer metabolism that could synergize with NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies, and thus enhance their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñigo Terrén
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Ane Orrantia
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Joana Vitallé
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain
| | | | - Olatz Zenarruzabeitia
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain.
| | - Francisco Borrego
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Immunopathology Group, Barakaldo, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
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