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Gugulothu KN, Anvesh Sai P, Suraparaju S, Karuturi SP, Pendli G, Kamma RB, Nimmagadda K, Modepalli A, Mamilla M, Vashist S. WT1 Cancer Vaccine in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review. Cureus 2024; 16:e56934. [PMID: 38665761 PMCID: PMC11043900 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56934] [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] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Advanced pancreatic cancer is one of the prominent contributors to cancer-related mortality globally. Chemotherapy, especially gemcitabine, is generally used for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Despite the treatment, the fatality rate for advanced pancreatic cancer is alarmingly high. Thus, the dire need for better treatment alternatives has drawn focus to cancer vaccinations. The Wilms tumor gene (WT1), typically associated with Wilms tumor, is found to be excessively expressed in some cancers, such as pancreatic cancer. This characteristic feature is harvested to develop cancer vaccines against WT1. This review aims to systematically summarize the clinical trials investigating the efficacy and safety of WT1 vaccines in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. An extensive literature search was conducted on databases Medline, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using the keywords "Advanced pancreatic cancer," "Cancer vaccines," "WT1 vaccines," and "Pulsed DC vaccines," and the results were exclusively studied to construct this review. WT1 vaccines work by introducing peptides from the WT1 protein to trigger an immune response involving cytotoxic T lymphocytes via antigen-presenting cells. Upon activation, these lymphocytes induce apoptosis in cancer cells by specifically targeting those with increased WT1 levels. WT1 vaccinations, which are usually given in addition to chemotherapy, have demonstrated clinically positive results and minimal side effects. However, there are several challenges to their widespread use, such as the immunosuppressive nature of tumors and heterogeneity in expression. Despite these limitations, the risk-benefit profile of cancer vaccines is encouraging, especially for the WT1 vaccine in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Considering the fledgling status of their development, large multicentric, variables-matched, extensive analysis across diverse demographics is considered essential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sonika Suraparaju
- Internal Medicine, Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, Tirupati, IND
| | | | - Ganesh Pendli
- Internal Medicine, PES Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam, IND
| | - Ravi Babu Kamma
- Internal Medicine, Sri Venkata Sai (SVS) Medical College, Mahabubnagar, IND
| | | | - Alekhya Modepalli
- Internal Medicine, Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, Tirupati, IND
| | - Mahesh Mamilla
- Internal Medicine, Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati, IND
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Li X, An W, Pan H, Fan Y, Huang H, Wang Y, Shen W, Zu L, Meng F, Zhou X. Wilms' tumour gene 1 (WT1) enhances non-small cell lung cancer malignancy and is inhibited by microRNA-498-5p. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:824. [PMID: 37667197 PMCID: PMC10476375 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11295-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wilms' tumour gene 1 (WT1) is clearly recognized as a tumour promoter in diversiform of human malignancies. Nevertheless, knowledge of its expression, functions and potential molecular mechanisms in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains elusive. METHODS Differential expression of WT1 mRNA and protein between NSCLC and normal tissues were assessed by analyzing RNA-seq data from Oncomine and protein data from Human Protein Atlas, respectively. Subsequently, prognosis significance and immune cell infiltration were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier plotter and CIBERSORT. 60 pairs of local NSCLC tissues were involved to validate WT1 expression by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot. Moreover, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, transwell, dual luciferase reporter assays and in vivo xenograft tumour growth experiments were conducted to explore the function and mechanism of WT1 in NSCLC. RESULTS Our solid data indicated that WT1 was increased in NSCLC tissues and cell lines in comparison with their matched controls. In particular, its upregulation correlated with worse prognosis and immune infiltration of the patients. Functional assays demonstrated that knockdown of WT1 inhibited NSCLC malignancy, including inhibiting cell proliferation, survival and invasion. Further exploration discovered that microRNA-498-5p (miR-498-5p) was the upstream suppressor of WT1 by directly targeting the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of WT1 mRNA. Moreover, expression of miR-498-5p was notably decreased and inversely correlated with WT1 in NSCLC tissues. Finally, we proved that miR-498-5p was a potent tumour suppressor in NSCLC by suppressing cell proliferation, survival and invasion, while WT1 restoration could in turn disrupt this suppression both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION The abnormal increase in WT1 contributes to the malignant properties of NSCLC cells, and miR-498-5p is a natural inhibitor of WT1. Our findings might facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies against NSCLC in the future.
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Grants
- No. 81302002, No. 82273019 to Xuebing Li; No. 81502166, No. 81972354, No. 82172901 to Xuexia Zhou National Natural Science Foundation of China
- No. 81302002, No. 82273019 to Xuebing Li; No. 81502166, No. 81972354, No. 82172901 to Xuexia Zhou National Natural Science Foundation of China
- No. 18JCYBJC92100, to Xuebing Li; No. 21JCQNJC01440, to Xuexia Zhou; No. 17JCYBJC25400, to Yaguang Fan; No. 17JCQNJC11700, to Hongli Pan Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City
- No. 18JCYBJC92100, to Xuebing Li; No. 21JCQNJC01440, to Xuexia Zhou; No. 17JCYBJC25400, to Yaguang Fan; No. 17JCQNJC11700, to Hongli Pan Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City
- No. 18JCYBJC92100, to Xuebing Li; No. 21JCQNJC01440, to Xuexia Zhou; No. 17JCYBJC25400, to Yaguang Fan; No. 17JCQNJC11700, to Hongli Pan Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City
- No. 18JCYBJC92100, to Xuebing Li; No. 21JCQNJC01440, to Xuexia Zhou; No. 17JCYBJC25400, to Yaguang Fan; No. 17JCQNJC11700, to Hongli Pan Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City
- No. CFC2020kyxm003, to Xuebing Li; No. CFC2020kyxm002, to Yaguang Fan Key Project of Cancer Foundation of China
- No. CFC2020kyxm003, to Xuebing Li; No. CFC2020kyxm002, to Yaguang Fan Key Project of Cancer Foundation of China
- No. ZYYFY2019022, to Fanrong Meng Foundation of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuebing Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenzhe An
- Department of Neuropathology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of the Nervous System, Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System of Education Ministry, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongli Pan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yaguang Fan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hua Huang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yixuan Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wang Shen
- West China Hospital, Sichuan Lung Cancer Institute, Sichuan Lung Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingling Zu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Fanrong Meng
- Tianjin Prenatal Diagnostic Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuexia Zhou
- Department of Neuropathology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of the Nervous System, Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System of Education Ministry, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
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Sandalova T, Sala BM, Achour A. Structural aspects of chemical modifications in the MHC-restricted immunopeptidome; Implications for immune recognition. Front Chem 2022; 10:861609. [PMID: 36017166 PMCID: PMC9395651 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.861609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant advances in mass-spectroscopy (MS) have made it possible to investigate the cellular immunopeptidome, a large collection of MHC-associated epitopes presented on the surface of healthy, stressed and infected cells. These approaches have hitherto allowed the unambiguous identification of large cohorts of epitope sequences that are restricted to specific MHC class I and II molecules, enhancing our understanding of the quantities, qualities and origins of these peptide populations. Most importantly these analyses provide essential information about the immunopeptidome in responses to pathogens, autoimmunity and cancer, and will hopefully allow for future tailored individual therapies. Protein post-translational modifications (PTM) play a key role in cellular functions, and are essential for both maintaining cellular homeostasis and increasing the diversity of the proteome. A significant proportion of proteins is post-translationally modified, and thus a deeper understanding of the importance of PTM epitopes in immunopeptidomes is essential for a thorough and stringent understanding of these peptide populations. The aim of the present review is to provide a structural insight into the impact of PTM peptides on stability of MHC/peptide complexes, and how these may alter/modulate immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana Sandalova
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Section for Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benedetta Maria Sala
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Section for Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adnane Achour
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Section for Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Adnane Achour,
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van Amerongen RA, Hagedoorn RS, Remst DFG, Assendelft DC, van der Steen DM, Wouters AK, van de Meent M, Kester MGD, de Ru AH, Griffioen M, van Veelen PA, Falkenburg JHF, Heemskerk MHM. WT1-specific TCRs directed against newly identified peptides install antitumor reactivity against acute myeloid leukemia and ovarian carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-004409. [PMID: 35728869 PMCID: PMC9214430 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transcription factor Wilms’ tumor gene 1 (WT1) is an ideal tumor target based on its expression in a wide range of tumors, low-level expression in normal tissues and promoting role in cancer progression. In clinical trials, WT1 is targeted using peptide-based or dendritic cell-based vaccines and T-cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies. Antitumor reactivities were reported, but T-cell reactivity is hampered by self-tolerance to WT1 and limited number of WT1 peptides, which were thus far selected based on HLA peptide binding algorithms. Methods In this study, we have overcome both limitations by searching in the allogeneic T-cell repertoire of healthy donors for high-avidity WT1-specific T cells, specific for WT1 peptides derived from the HLA class I associated ligandome of primary leukemia and ovarian carcinoma samples. Results Using broad panels of malignant cells and healthy cell subsets, T-cell clones were selected that demonstrated potent and specific anti-WT1 T-cell reactivity against five of the eight newly identified WT1 peptides. Notably, T-cell clones for WT1 peptides previously used in clinical trials lacked reactivity against tumor cells, suggesting limited processing and presentation of these peptides. The TCR sequences of four T-cell clones were analyzed and TCR gene transfer into CD8+ T cells installed antitumor reactivity against WT1-expressing solid tumor cell lines, primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts, and ovarian carcinoma patient samples. Conclusions Our approach resulted in a set of naturally expressed WT1 peptides and four TCRs that are promising candidates for TCR gene transfer strategies in patients with WT1-expressing tumors, including AML and ovarian carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A van Amerongen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Renate S Hagedoorn
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis F G Remst
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Danique C Assendelft
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk M van der Steen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anne K Wouters
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marian van de Meent
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michel G D Kester
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arnoud H de Ru
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Griffioen
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter A van Veelen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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