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Albelda SM. CAR T cell therapy for patients with solid tumours: key lessons to learn and unlearn. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:47-66. [PMID: 37904019 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00832-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been approved for use in patients with B cell malignancies or relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma, yet efficacy against most solid tumours remains elusive. The limited imaging and biopsy data from clinical trials in this setting continues to hinder understanding, necessitating a reliance on imperfect preclinical models. In this Perspective, I re-evaluate current data and suggest potential pathways towards greater success, drawing lessons from the few successful trials testing CAR T cells in patients with solid tumours and the clinical experience with tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. The most promising approaches include the use of pluripotent stem cells, co-targeting multiple mechanisms of immune evasion, employing multiple co-stimulatory domains, and CAR ligand-targeting vaccines. An alternative strategy focused on administering multiple doses of short-lived CAR T cells in an attempt to pre-empt exhaustion and maintain a functional effector pool should also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Albelda
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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2
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Wolf B, Weydandt L, Dornhöfer N, Hiller GGR, Höhn AK, Nel I, Jain RK, Horn LC, Aktas B. Desmoplasia in cervical cancer is associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18946. [PMID: 37919378 PMCID: PMC10622496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46340-4] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In cancer of the uterine cervix, the role of desmoplasia, i.e., peritumoral stromal remodeling characterized by fibroblast activation and increased extracellular matrix deposition, is not established. We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on data from 438 patients who had undergone surgical treatment for cervical cancer as part of the prospective Leipzig Mesometrial Resection study between 1999 and 2021. Using non-parametric tests, Kaplan-Meier plotting, and Cox regression modeling, we calculated the prognostic impact of desmoplasia and its association with other risk factors. Desmoplasia was present in 80.6% of cases and was associated with a higher frequency of lymphovascular space involvement (76.5 vs. 56.5%, p < 0.001) and venous infiltration (14.4 vs. 2.4%, p < 0.001). Lymph node metastasis (23.0 vs. 11.8%, p < 0.05) and parametrial involvement (47.3 vs. 17.6%, p < 0.0001) were also more common in patients with desmoplasia. The presence of desmoplasia was associated with inferior overall (80.2% vs. 94.5% hazard ratio [HR] 3.8 [95% CI 1.4-10.4], p = 0.002) and recurrence-free survival (75.3% vs. 87.3%, HR 2.3 [95% CI 1.2-4.6], p = 0.008). In addition, desmoplasia was associated with significantly less peritumoral inflammation (rho - 0.43, p < 0.0001). In summary, we link desmoplasia to a more aggressive phenotype of cervical cancer, reduced peritumoral inflammation, and inferior survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wolf
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | - Laura Weydandt
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nadja Dornhöfer
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Anne Kathrin Höhn
- Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ivonne Nel
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rakesh K Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | | | - Bahriye Aktas
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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3
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Du S, Yan J, Xue Y, Zhong Y, Dong Y. Adoptive cell therapy for cancer treatment. EXPLORATION (BEIJING, CHINA) 2023; 3:20210058. [PMID: 37933232 PMCID: PMC10624386 DOI: 10.1002/exp.20210058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a rapidly growing anti-cancer strategy that has shown promise in treating various cancer types. The concept of ACT involves activating patients' own immune cells ex vivo and then transferring them back to the patients to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. Currently, the commonly used ACT includes tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), genetically engineered immune cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) vaccines. With the advancement of cell culture and genetic engineering techniques, ACT has been used in clinics to treat malignant hematological diseases and many new ACT-based regimens are in different stages of clinical trials. Here, representative ACT approaches are introduced and the opportunities and challenges for clinical translation of ACT are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Du
- Division of Pharmaceutics and PharmacologyCollege of PharmacyOhio State UniversityColumbusUSA
- Icahn Genomics InstitutePrecision Immunology InstituteDepartment of Oncological SciencesTisch Cancer InstituteFriedman Brain InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUSA
| | - Jingyue Yan
- Division of Pharmaceutics and PharmacologyCollege of PharmacyOhio State UniversityColumbusUSA
- Icahn Genomics InstitutePrecision Immunology InstituteDepartment of Oncological SciencesTisch Cancer InstituteFriedman Brain InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUSA
| | - Yonger Xue
- Division of Pharmaceutics and PharmacologyCollege of PharmacyOhio State UniversityColumbusUSA
- Icahn Genomics InstitutePrecision Immunology InstituteDepartment of Oncological SciencesTisch Cancer InstituteFriedman Brain InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUSA
| | - Yichen Zhong
- Division of Pharmaceutics and PharmacologyCollege of PharmacyOhio State UniversityColumbusUSA
- Icahn Genomics InstitutePrecision Immunology InstituteDepartment of Oncological SciencesTisch Cancer InstituteFriedman Brain InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUSA
| | - Yizhou Dong
- Division of Pharmaceutics and PharmacologyCollege of PharmacyOhio State UniversityColumbusUSA
- Icahn Genomics InstitutePrecision Immunology InstituteDepartment of Oncological SciencesTisch Cancer InstituteFriedman Brain InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUSA
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4
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MiR-30c facilitates natural killer cell cytotoxicity to lung cancer through targeting GALNT7. Genes Genomics 2023; 45:247-260. [PMID: 36040682 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-022-01306-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play important roles in regulating natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity to cancer cells. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanism of miR-30c in regulating NK cell cytotoxicity to lung cancer cells. METHODS Primary NK cells were derived from the peripheral blood of lung cancer and normal participants. Exosomes were isolated and validated via transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The levels of miR-30c, polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 7 (GALNT7) and proteins in PI3K/AKT pathway were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels and the cytotoxicity of effector NK cells to target lung cancer cells were measured via enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, cell apoptosis or xenograft experiments. The relationship between miR-30c and GALNT7 was analyzed by luciferase activity, RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. And a xenograft mice model was established to verify the effect of miR-30c in regulating NK cell cytotoxicity to lung cancer cells in vivo. RESULTS NK cell-derived exosomes carrying miR-30c, and miR-30c level was significantly downregulated in primary NK cells of lung cancer patients. MiR-30c overexpression promoted TNF-α and IFN-γ secretion and enhanced the cytotoxicity of interleukin 2 (IL-2)-treated NK cells to lung cancer cells, while knockdown of miR-30c played an opposite effect in regulating the cytotoxicity of NK cells to lung cancer cells. GALNT7 was a target of miR-30c and was negatively regulated by miR-30c. Besides, miR-30c targeted GALNT7 to exert its function in regulating NK cell cytotoxicity. Furthermore, GALNT7 prompted the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway in NK cells. Additionally, miR-30c overexpression enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity to lung cancer cells and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION miR-30c enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity to lung cancer cells via decreasing GALNT7 and inactivating the PI3K/AKT pathway, suggesting that regulating miR-30c expression maybe a promising approach for enhancing NK cell-based antitumor therapies.
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Ren Y, Kumar A, Das JK, Peng HY, Wang L, Balllard D, Xiong X, Ren X, Zhang Y, Yang JM, Song J. Tumorous expression of NAC1 restrains antitumor immunity through the LDHA-mediated immune evasion. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e004856. [PMID: 36150745 PMCID: PMC9511653 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cell-mediated antitumor immunity has a vital role in cancer prevention and treatment; however, the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) constitutes a significant contributor to immune evasion that weakens antitumor immunity. Here, we explore the relationship between nucleus accumbens-associated protein-1 (NAC1), a nuclear factor of the BTB (broad-complex, Tramtrack, bric a brac)/POZ (Poxvirus, and Zinc finger) gene family, and the TME. METHODS Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of mouse or human tumor antigen (Ag)-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) was tested in an immunocompetent or immunodeficient mouse model of melanoma with or without expression of NAC1. The effects of NAC1 expression on immune evasion in tumor cells were assessed in vitro and in vivo. CRISPR/Cas9, glycolysis analysis, retroviral transduction, quantitative real-time PCR, flow cytometric analysis, immunoblotting, database analyses were used to screen the downstream target and underlying mechanism of NAC1 in tumor cells. RESULTS Tumorous expression of NAC1 negatively impacts the CTL-mediated antitumor immunity via lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)-mediated suppressive TME. NAC1 positively regulated the expression of LDHA at the transcriptional level, which led to higher accumulation of lactic acid in the TME. This inhibited the cytokine production and induced exhaustion and apoptosis of CTLs, impairing their cell-killing ability. In the immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice, NAC1 depleted melanoma tumors grew significantly slower and had an elevated infiltration of tumor Ag-specific CTLs following ACT, compared with the control groups. CONCLUSIONS Tumor expression of NAC1 contributes substantially to immune evasion through its regulatory role in LDHA expression and lactic acid production. Thus, therapeutic targeting of NAC1 warrants further exploration as a potential strategy to reinforce cancer immunotherapy, such as the ACT of CTLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Ren
- Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Anil Kumar
- Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Jugal K Das
- Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Hao-Yun Peng
- Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Liqing Wang
- Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Darby Balllard
- Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaofang Xiong
- Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Xingcong Ren
- Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Jin-Ming Yang
- Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Jianxun Song
- Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
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6
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Preclinical Evaluation of CAR T Cell Function: In Vitro and In Vivo Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063154. [PMID: 35328572 PMCID: PMC8955360 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is a rapidly emerging modality that engineers T cells to redirect tumor-specific cytotoxicity. CAR T cells have been well characterized for their efficacy against B cell malignancies, and rigorously studied in other types of tumors. Preclinical evaluation of CAR T cell function, including direct tumor killing, cytokine production, and memory responses, is crucial to the development and optimization of CAR T cell therapies. Such comprehensive examinations are usually performed in different types of models. Model establishment should focus on key challenges in the clinical setting and the capability to generate reliable data to indicate CAR T cell therapeutic potency in the clinic. Further, modeling the interaction between CAR T cells and tumor microenvironment provides additional insight for the future endeavors to enhance efficacy, especially against solid tumors. This review will summarize both in vitro and in vivo models for CAR T cell functional evaluation, including how they have evolved with the needs of CAR T cell research, the information they can provide for preclinical assessment of CAR T cell products, and recent technology advances to test CAR T cells in more clinically relevant models.
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7
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Hong Y, Kim IS. The therapeutic potential of immune cell-derived exosomes as an alternative to adoptive cell transfer. BMB Rep 2022. [PMCID: PMC8810551 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2022.55.1.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yeonsun Hong
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea
| | - In-San Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
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8
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Restricting tumor lactic acid metabolism using dichloroacetate improves T cell functions. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:39. [PMID: 34991504 PMCID: PMC8734242 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-09151-2] [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: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lactic acid produced by tumors has been shown to overcome immune surveillance, by suppressing the activation and function of T cells in the tumor microenvironment. The strategies employed to impair tumor cell glycolysis could improve immunosurveillance and tumor growth regulation. Dichloroacetate (DCA) limits the tumor-derived lactic acid by altering the cancer cell metabolism. In this study, the effects of lactic acid on the activation and function of T cells, were analyzed by assessing T cell proliferation, cytokine production and the cellular redox state of T cells. We examined the redox system in T cells by analyzing the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide and glutathione and gene expression of some proteins that have a role in the redox system. Then we co-cultured DCA-treated tumor cells with T cells to examine the effect of reduced tumor-derived lactic acid on proliferative response, cytokine secretion and viability of T cells. Result We found that lactic acid could dampen T cell function through suppression of T cell proliferation and cytokine production as well as restrain the redox system of T cells by decreasing the production of oxidant and antioxidant molecules. DCA decreased the concentration of tumor lactic acid by manipulating glucose metabolism in tumor cells. This led to increases in T cell proliferation and cytokine production and also rescued the T cells from apoptosis. Conclusion Taken together, our results suggest accumulation of lactic acid in the tumor microenvironment restricts T cell responses and could prevent the success of T cell therapy. DCA supports anti-tumor responses of T cells by metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-09151-2.
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9
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Tong Y, Yu Y, Zheng H, Wang Y, Xie S, Chen C, Lu R, Guo L. Differentially Expressed Genes in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma as a Potential Marker for Prognostic and Immune Signatures. Front Oncol 2022; 11:776824. [PMID: 34976818 PMCID: PMC8716543 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.776824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by the inactivation of the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) gene. Of note, no other gene is mutated as frequently as VHL in ccRCC, turning out that patients with inactivated VHL constitute the majority of ccRCC-related character. Thus, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their molecular networks caused by VHL mutation were considered as important factors for influencing the prognosis of ccRCC. Here, we first screened out six DEGs (GSTA1, GSTA2, NAT8, FABP7, SLC17A3, and SLC17A4) which downregulated in ccRCC patients with VHL non-mutation than with the mutation. Generally, most DEGs with high expression were associated with a favorable prognosis and low-risk score. Meanwhile, we spotted transcription factors and their kinases as hubs of DEGs. Finally, we clustered ccRCC patients into three subgroups according to the expression of hub proteins, and analyzed these subgroups with clinical profile, outcome, immune infiltration, and potential Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response. Herein, DEGs might be a promising biomarker panel for immunotherapy and prognosis in ccRCC. Moreover, the ccRCC subtype associated with high expression of hubs fit better for ICB therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiwen Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanchun Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Suhong Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuncun Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Renquan Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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10
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Patel U, Abernathy J, Savani BN, Oluwole O, Sengsayadeth S, Dholaria B. CAR T cell therapy in solid tumors: A review of current clinical trials. EJHAEM 2021; 3:24-31. [PMID: 35844304 PMCID: PMC9175685 DOI: 10.1002/jha2.356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Urvi Patel
- College of Pharmacy The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Nashville Tennessee USA
| | - John Abernathy
- College of Medicine The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis Tennessee USA
| | - Bipin N Savani
- Department of Hematology‐ Oncology Vanderbilt‐Ingram Cancer Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USA
| | - Olalekan Oluwole
- Department of Hematology‐ Oncology Vanderbilt‐Ingram Cancer Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USA
| | - Salyka Sengsayadeth
- Department of Hematology‐ Oncology Vanderbilt‐Ingram Cancer Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USA
| | - Bhagirathbhai Dholaria
- Department of Hematology‐ Oncology Vanderbilt‐Ingram Cancer Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USA
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11
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Liu G, Zhang Q, Liu G, Li D, Zhang L, Gu Z, Tian H, Zhang Y, Tian X. Disruption of adenosine 2A receptor improves the anti-tumor function of anti-mesothelin CAR T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Exp Cell Res 2021; 409:112886. [PMID: 34673000 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been successfully used for the treatment of hematological malignancies including acute and chronic lymphoblastic leukemia. However, results of CAR T cell projects in solid tumors have been less impressive to date, partly because of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). It is widely known that high adenosine production is an important factor causing tumor-induced immunosuppression in TME, and adenosine mediates the suppression of anti-tumor T cell responses via binding and signaling through adenosine 2a receptor (A2aR). Previous studies have shown that adenosine generated by cancer cells significantly inhibits T cell anti-tumor activity through binding and then activating adenosine 2A receptors (A2aRs) of T cells. Based on the previous work, in our study, we evaluated whether A2aR disruption by shRNA could enhance the anti-tumor function of anti-mesothelin (MSLN) CAR T cells both in vitro and in vivo. For this goal above, we used MSLN-positive human ovarian serous carcinoma cells (SKOV3) and human colon cancer cells (HCT116) as target cancer cells while MSLN-negative human ovarian cancer cells (ES2) as non-target cancer cells. We observed that targeting cell-intrinsic A2aR through shRNA overexpression caused significant A2aR disruption in CAR T cells and profoundly increased CAR T cell efficacy in both CAR T cell cytokine production and cytotoxicity towards MSLN-positive cancer cells in vitro. More importantly, in SKOV3 xenograft mouse models, anti-MSLN CAR-T cells significantly reduced the tumor burden compared with non-transduced T cells, and the anti-tumor activity of A2aR-disrupted anti-MSLN CAR-T cells was stronger than that of wild-type anti-MSLN CAR-T cells. Altogether, our study showed enhanced anti-tumor efficacy caused by shRNA-mediated A2aR disruption in anti-MSLN CAR T cells both in vitro and in vivo, which proved that shRNA-mediated modification of gene expression might be an excellent strategy for improving CAR T cell function in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and could potentially improve the outcome of treatment in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guodi Liu
- Shanghai Yihao Biological Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200231, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Shanghai Yihao Biological Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200231, China
| | - Guoping Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Dehua Li
- Shanghai Yihao Biological Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200231, China
| | - Linsong Zhang
- Shanghai Yihao Biological Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200231, China
| | - Zhangjie Gu
- Shanghai Yihao Biological Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200231, China
| | - Huixin Tian
- Shanghai Yihao Biological Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200231, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tumor Hospital of China Medical University and Liao Ning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, China.
| | - Xiaoli Tian
- Shanghai Yihao Biological Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200231, China.
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12
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Li W, Zhou Y, Wu Z, Shi Y, Tian E, Zhu Y, Wang T, Dou W, Meng X, Chen M, Zhai B, Zhu D. Targeting Wnt Signaling in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment to Enhancing EpCAM CAR T-Cell therapy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:724306. [PMID: 34790117 PMCID: PMC8591126 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.724306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are still lacking viable treatments. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown promise in hematologic malignancies, but their efficacy in solid tumors has been limited due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We found that cancer antigen- EpCAM expression increased in the metastatic stage compared with the primary stage in cancers and the activation of Wnt and TGFβ pathways was positively correlated with EpCAM expression in multiple cancers, including colorectal cancer. We constructed CAR T cells targeting EpCAM that successfully showed selective cytotoxicity in highly EpCAM-expressing cancer cell lines. The combination of EpCAM CAR-T with the Wnt inhibitor-hsBCL9CT-24 displayed synergetic effect against EpCAM-positive colon cells in vitro and also in vivo. A mechanistic study showed that hsBCL9CT-24 treatment could modulate the tumor environment and improve infiltration of T cells, while possibly promoting the effector T cells at the early stages and postponing the exhaustion of CAR T cells at advanced stages. Overall, these results demonstrated that the combination of EpCAM CAR T-cell therapy with the Wnt inhibitor can overcome the limitations of CAR T cells in treating solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhen Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Taizhou, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Taixing Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Taizhou, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongen Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaoping Shi
- Department of Interventional Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Enming Tian
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingqi Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Interventional Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Dou
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangjing Meng
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Taizhou, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Taixing Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Taizhou, China
| | - Bo Zhai
- Department of Interventional Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Zhu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of ImmunoTherapeutics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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13
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Kinoshita T, Terai H, Yaguchi T. Clinical Efficacy and Future Prospects of Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11101029. [PMID: 34685400 PMCID: PMC8540292 DOI: 10.3390/life11101029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The three major conventional treatments: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, have been commonly performed for lung cancer. However, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Immunotherapy has recently emerged as a very effective new treatment modality, and there is now growing enthusiasm for cancer immunotherapy worldwide. However, the results of clinical studies using immunotherapy are not always favorable. Understanding the steps involved in the recognition and eradication of cancer cells by the immune system seems essential to understanding why past immunotherapies have failed and how current therapies can be optimally utilized. In addition, the combination of immunotherapies, such as cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors, as well as the combination of these therapies with three conventional therapies, may pave the way for personalized immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the results of immunotherapies used in phase III clinical trials, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, and discuss the future prospects of immunotherapies in lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonari Kinoshita
- Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-5363-3806
| | - Hideki Terai
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan;
| | - Tomonori Yaguchi
- Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology, Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;
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14
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Shademan B, Karamad V, Nourazarian A, Avcı CB. CAR T Cells: Cancer Cell Surface Receptors Are the Target for Cancer Therapy. Adv Pharm Bull 2021; 12:476-489. [PMID: 35935042 PMCID: PMC9348524 DOI: 10.34172/apb.2022.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a prominent strategy for the treatment of cancer. A method that improves the immune system's ability to attack a tumor (Enhances antigen binding). Targeted killing of malignant cells by adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is a promising immunotherapy technique in the treatment of cancers. For this purpose, the patient's immune cells, with genetic engineering aid, are loaded with chimeric receptors that have particular antigen binding and activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes. That increases the effectiveness of immune cells and destroying cancer cells. This review discusses the basic structure and function of CAR-T cells and how antigenic targets are identified to treat different cancers and address the disadvantages of this treatment for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrouz Shademan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, EGE University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Vahidreza Karamad
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, EGE University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Alireza Nourazarian
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Cigir Biray Avcı
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, EGE University, Izmir, Turkey
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15
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Recruitment, Infiltration, and Cytotoxicity of HLA-Independent Killer Lymphocytes in Three-Dimensional Melanoma Models. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102302. [PMID: 34065007 PMCID: PMC8151151 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Limited therapeutic results of immune checkpoint inhibitors in definite tumor settings, such as melanoma, call for alternative or complementary approaches. Among these, adoptive cell therapy (ACT) by means of HLA-independent tumor killer lymphocytes is a promising approach. We aimed at developing a pre-clinical 3D model to investigate and visualize the interaction between tumor and immune effectors in melanoma. To this aim, we employed Cytokine-Induced Killer cells (CIK) and NK-92 on patient-derived melanoma samples. By means of imaging-based methods, we measured the effector recruitment on the 3D targets, their infiltration, and cytotoxic activity. Our results and methodologies can be easily generalized to other effectors and other classes of tumors and help elucidate fundamental questions on the basic biology and kinetics of immune effector recruitment in a realistic 3D setting mimicking a solid tumor. Abstract Cancer adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with HLA-independent tumor killer lymphocytes is a promising approach, with intrinsic features potentially addressing crucial tumor-escape mechanisms of checkpoint inhibitors. Cytokine-induced Killer (CIK) and Natural Killer (NK) lymphocytes share similar tumor-killing mechanisms, with preclinical evidence of intense activity against multiple solid tumors and currently testing in clinical studies. To improve the effective clinical translation of such ACT approaches, several fundamental questions still need to be addressed within appropriate preclinical contexts, capable of overcoming limitations imposed by most traditional two-dimensional assays. Here, we developed a novel experimental approach to explore, dissect, and visualize the interactions of CIK and NK lymphocytes with melanoma tumors in vitro in 3D. Primary melanoma cells were assembled into small tumors that were dispersed in a 3D matrix and challenged with patient-derived CIK or the NK-92 cell line. By means of imaging-based methods, we reported, visualized, and quantitatively measured the recruitment of CIK and NK on the 3D targets, their infiltration, and cytotoxic activity. Our results support the effective tumor recruitment and tumor infiltration by CIK and NK. Such features appeared dependent on the specific geometric aspects of the environment but can be explained in terms of directional migration toward the tumor, without invoking major feedback components. Overall, our 3D platform allows us to monitor the processes of tumor recruitment, infiltration, and killing by means of live measurements, revealing important kinetic aspects of ACT with CIK and NK against melanoma.
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16
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El-Khazragy N, Ghozy S, Emad P, Mourad M, Razza D, Farouk YK, Mohamed NA, Ahmed MK, Youssef T, Bahnasawy YM, Elmasery S. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells immunotherapy: challenges and opportunities in hematological malignancies. Immunotherapy 2020; 12:1341-1357. [PMID: 33148070 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2020-0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Taking advantage of the cellular immune system is the mainstay of the adoptive cell therapy, to induce recognition and destruction of cancer cells. The impressive demonstration of this principle is chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T)-cell therapy, which had a major impact on treating relapsed and refractory hematological malignancies. Despite the great results of the CAR-T-cell therapy, many tumors are still able to avoid immune detection and further elimination, as well as the possible associated adverse events. Herein, we highlighted the recent advances in CAR-T-cell therapy, discussing their applications beneficial functions and side effects in hematological malignancies, illustrating the underlying challenges and opportunities. Furthermore, we provide an overview to overcome different obstacles using potential manufacture and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nashwa El-Khazragy
- Department of Clinical Pathology-Hematology and AinShams Medical Research Institute (MASRI), Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.,Department of Biomedical Research, Global Research Labs, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sherief Ghozy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Passant Emad
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Modern Sciences & Arts University (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Mariam Mourad
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Modern Sciences & Arts University (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Diaaeldeen Razza
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Modern Sciences & Arts University (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Yasmeen K Farouk
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Modern Sciences & Arts University (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Nermeen A Mohamed
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Modern Sciences & Arts University (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed K Ahmed
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Modern Sciences & Arts University (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Tarek Youssef
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Modern Sciences & Arts University (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Youssef M Bahnasawy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Modern Sciences & Arts University (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Shereen Elmasery
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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17
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Shao FF, Chen BJ, Wu GQ. The functions of EZH2 in immune cells: Principles for novel immunotherapies. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 110:77-87. [PMID: 33040370 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.1ru0520-311r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is aberrantly expressed or mutated in multiple types of cancer cells and plays an oncogenic role in tumorigenesis and development in most cancers. Results from pilot clinical studies have implied that EZH2 inhibitors have therapeutic potential against some cancers. However, the exact mechanisms by which EZH2 plays oncogenic roles and EZH2 inhibition exerts anticancer effects are incompletely understood. To date, the findings of studies focusing on EZH2 and cancer cells have failed to fully explain the observations in preclinical and clinical studies. Therefore, recent studies about the roles of EZH2 in cancers have shifted from cancer cells to immune cells. The human immune system is a complex network comprising multiple subpopulations of immune cells. Immune cells communicate and interact with cancer cells during cancer development and treatment, dictating the fate of cancer cells. Elucidating the roles of EZH2 in immune cells, especially in cancer patients, promises the identification of novel immunotherapeutic strategies or priming of existing immunotherapies against cancer. Hence, we reviewed the studies focusing on the involvement of EZH2 in various immune cells, aiming to provide ideas for immunotherapies targeting EZH2 in immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Fei Shao
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bo-Jin Chen
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guo-Qing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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18
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Li C, Xue VW, Wang QM, Lian GY, Huang XR, Lee TL, To KF, Tang PMK, Lan HY. The Mincle/Syk/NF-κB Signaling Circuit Is Essential for Maintaining the Protumoral Activities of Tumor-Associated Macrophages. Cancer Immunol Res 2020; 8:1004-1017. [PMID: 32532809 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-19-0782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) have important roles in cancer progression, but the signaling behind the formation of protumoral TAM remains understudied. Here, by single-cell RNA sequencing, we revealed that the pattern recognition receptor Mincle was highly expressed in TAM and significantly associated with mortality in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer cells markedly induced Mincle expression in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM), thus promoting cancer progression in invasive lung carcinoma LLC and melanoma B16F10 in vivo and in vitro Mincle was predominately expressed in the M2-like TAM in non-small cell lung carcinoma and LLC tumors, and silencing of Mincle unexpectedly promoted M1-like phenotypes in vitro Mechanistically, we discovered a novel Mincle/Syk/NF-κB signaling pathway in TAM needed for executing their TLR4-independent protumoral activities. Adoptive transfer of Mincle-silenced BMDM significantly suppressed TAM-driven cancer progression in the LLC-bearing NOD/SCID mice. By modifying our well-established ultrasound microbubble-mediated gene transfer protocol, we demonstrated that tumor-specific silencing of Mincle effectively blocked Mincle/Syk/NF-κB signaling, therefore inhibiting the TAM-driven cancer progression in the syngeneic mouse cancer models. Thus, our findings highlight the function of Mincle as a novel immunotherapeutic target for cancer via blocking the Mincle/Syk/NF-κB circuit in TAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjie Li
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Vivian Weiwen Xue
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Qing-Ming Wang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Guang-Yu Lian
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Xiao-Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tin-Lap Lee
- Reproduction, Development and Endocrinology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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19
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Sasawatari S, Okamoto Y, Kumanogoh A, Toyofuku T. Blockade of N-Glycosylation Promotes Antitumor Immune Response of T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 204:1373-1385. [PMID: 31969386 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive cellular therapy and its derivative, chimeric AgR T cell therapy, have achieved significant progress against cancer. Major barriers persist, however, including insufficient induction of cytotoxic T cells and exhaustion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. In this study, we discovered a new role for 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG) in enhancing the antitumor activity of human T cells against NKG2D ligand-expressing tumor cells. Human T cells treated with 2DG upregulated the NK-specific transcription factors TOX2 and EOMES, thereby acquiring NK cell properties, including high levels of perforin/granzyme and increased sensitivity to IL-2. Notably, rather than inhibiting glycolysis, 2DG modified N-glycosylation, which augmented antitumor activity and cell surface retention of IL-2R of T cells. Moreover, 2DG treatment prevented T cells from binding to galectin-3, a potent tumor Ag associated with T cell anergy. Our results, therefore, suggest that modifying N-glycosylation of T cells with 2DG could improve the efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapies against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigemi Sasawatari
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuki Okamoto
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kumanogoh
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; and.,Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Toyofuku
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan;
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20
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Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cancer immunotherapy uses autologous immune system's cells, genetically modified, to reinforce the immune system against cancer cells. Genetic modification is usually mediated via viral transfection, despite the risk of insertional oncogenesis and off target side effects. In vitro-transcribed (IVT)-mRNA-mediated transfection could contribute to a much safer CAR therapy, since IVT-mRNA leaves no ultimate genetic residue in recipient cells. In this chapter, the IVT-mRNA generation procedure is described, from the selection of the target of the CAR T-cells, the cloning of the template for the in vitro transcription and the development of several chemical modifications for optimizing the structure and thus the stability of the produced CAR IVT-mRNA molecules. Among various transfection methods to efficiently express the CAR molecule on T-cells' surface, the electroporation and the cationic-lipid mediated transfection of the CAR IVT-mRNAs are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Androulla N Miliotou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Lefkothea C Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece.
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21
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Shen L, Kang L, Wang D, Xun J, Chen C, Du L, Zhang M, Gong J, Mi X, Yue S, Zhang Y, Song X, Xiang R, Zhang Z, Tan X. Legumain-deficient macrophages promote senescence of tumor cells by sustaining JAK1/STAT1 activation. Cancer Lett 2019; 472:40-49. [PMID: 31857155 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Macrophages serve as the first line of communication between tumors and the rest of the immune system, and understanding the interplay between macrophage and tumor cells is essential for developing novel macrophage-based strategy against tumor. Here, we show that deletion of legumain in macrophages activates senescence of tumor cells. Macrophage derived IL-1β mediates the pro-senescent effect of Lgmn-/- macrophages since blockage of IL-1β reverses the senescence phenotype in both a coculture model of macrophage and tumor cells and an orthotopic mouse model of breast cancer. Sustained activation of JAK1/STAT1 signaling and increased iNOS were found in the tumor cell-cocultured Lgmn-/- macrophages, which were necessary for IL-1β expression and secretion. Applying a specific STAT1 agonist mimics the inductive effect of legumain deletion on IL-1β expression in macrophages, and the effect can be blocked via inhibition of iNOS. Legumain and integrin αvβ3 interact to prevent STAT1 signaling in macrophages, and blockage of integrin αvβ3 stimulates STAT1 activation. Therapeutically, transplantation of bone marrow from Lgmn-/- mice suppresses the malignant growth of tumor by upregulating tumor cell senescence. Therefore, our finding highlights legumain in macrophages as a potential therapeutic target for tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Shen
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China; Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Lichun Kang
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Dekun Wang
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Jing Xun
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Chuan'ai Chen
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Lingfang Du
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Mianzhi Zhang
- Dongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100078, China
| | - Junbo Gong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Modern Drug Delivery and High Efficiency, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xue Mi
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Shijing Yue
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yuying Zhang
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xiangrong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Rong Xiang
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Zhujun Zhang
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
| | - Xiaoyue Tan
- College of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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22
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Folkert IW, Devalaraja S, Linette GP, Weber K, Haldar M. Primary Bone Tumors: Challenges and Opportunities for CAR-T Therapies. J Bone Miner Res 2019; 34:1780-1788. [PMID: 31441962 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Primary malignant bone tumors are rare, occur in all age groups, and include distinct entities such as osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Traditional treatment with some combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation has reached the limit of efficacy, with substantial room for improvement in patient outcome. Furthermore, genomic characterization of these tumors reveals a paucity of actionable molecular targets. Against this backdrop, recent advances in cancer immunotherapy represent a silver lining in the treatment of primary bone cancer. Major strategies in cancer immunotherapy include stimulating naturally occurring anti-tumor T cells and adoptive transfer of tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) belong to the latter strategy and are an impressive application of both insights into T cell biology and advances in genetic engineering. In this review, we briefly describe the CAR-T approach and discuss its applications in primary bone tumors. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian W Folkert
- Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Samir Devalaraja
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gerald P Linette
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kristy Weber
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Penn Sarcoma Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Malay Haldar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Penn Sarcoma Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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23
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Osipov A, Murphy A, Zheng L. From immune checkpoints to vaccines: The past, present and future of cancer immunotherapy. Adv Cancer Res 2019; 143:63-144. [PMID: 31202363 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a worldwide medical problem with significant repercussions on individual patients and societies as a whole. In order to alter the outcomes of this deadly disease the treatment of cancer over the centuries has undergone a unique evolution. However, utilizing the best treatment modalities and achieving cures or long-term durable responses have been inconsistent and limited, that is until recently. Contemporary research has highlighted a fundamental gap in our understanding of how we approach treating cancer, by revealing the intricate relationship between the immune system and tumors. In this atmosphere, the growth of immunotherapy has not only forever changed our understanding of cancer biology, but the manner by which we treat patients. It's paradigm shifting success has led to the approval of over 10 different immunotherapeutic agents, including checkpoint inhibitors, vaccine-based therapies, oncolytic viruses and T cell directed therapies for nearly 20 different indications across countless tumor types. Despite the breakthroughs that have occurred in the field of immunotherapy, it has not been the panacea for all cancers. With a deeper understanding of the immune system we have been able to peer into tumor immune escape and therapy resistance. Simultaneously this understanding has paved the way for the investigation and development of novel immune system altering agents and combinatorial therapies. In this chapter we review the immune system and its intricate relationship with cancer, the evolution of immunotherapy, its current landscape, and future directions in the context of resistance mechanisms and the challenges faced by immunotherapy against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arsen Osipov
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adrian Murphy
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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24
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Ali AI, Oliver AJ, Samiei T, Chan JD, Kershaw MH, Slaney CY. Genetic Redirection of T Cells for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. Front Oncol 2019; 9:56. [PMID: 30809507 PMCID: PMC6379296 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional treatments for pancreatic cancer are largely ineffective, and the prognosis for the vast majority of patients is poor. Clearly, new treatment options are desperately needed. Immunotherapy offers hope for the development of treatments for pancreatic cancer. A central requirement for the efficacy of this approach is the existence of cancer antigen-specific T cells, but these are often not present or difficult to isolate for most pancreatic tumors. Nevertheless, specific T cells can be generated using genetic modification to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), which can enable T cell responses against pancreatic tumor cells. CAR T cells can be produced ex vivo and expanded in vitro for infusion into patients. Remarkable responses have been documented using CAR T cells against several malignancies, including leukemias and lymphomas. Based on these successes, the extension of CAR T cell therapy for pancreatic cancer holds great promise. However, there are a number of challenges that limit the full potential of CAR T cell therapies for pancreatic cancer, including the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). In this article, we will review the recent progress in using CAR T cells in pancreatic cancer preclinical and clinical settings, discuss hurdles for utilizing the full potential of CAR T cell therapy and propose research strategies and future perspectives. Research into the use of CAR T cell therapy in pancreatic cancer setting is rapidly gaining momentum and understanding strategies to overcome the current challenges in the pancreatic cancer setting will allow the development of effective CAR T cell therapies, either alone or in combination with other treatments to benefit pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aesha I Ali
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Amanda J Oliver
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tinaz Samiei
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jack D Chan
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael H Kershaw
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Clare Y Slaney
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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25
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Sukari A, Abdallah N, Nagasaka M. Unleash the power of the mighty T cells-basis of adoptive cellular therapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019; 136:1-12. [PMID: 30878123 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) is an immunotherapy which involves the passive transfer of lymphocytes into a lymphodepleted host after ex vivo stimulation and expansion. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have shown objective tumor responses mainly restricted to melanoma and rely on a laborious manufacturing process. These limitations led to emergence of engineered cells, where normal peripheral blood lymphocytes are modified to express T cell receptors (TCRs) or chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) specific for tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). To date, CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cells have been the most extensively studied, showing complete and durable responses in B-cell malignancies. Antitumor responses with engineered T cells have often been accompanied by undesired toxicities in clinical trials including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. In this review, we provide an overview of adoptive cellular strategies, early and ongoing clinical trials, adverse events and strategies to mitigate side effects and overcome limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar Sukari
- Department of Oncology, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Nadine Abdallah
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Misako Nagasaka
- Department of Oncology, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Advanced Medical Innovation, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
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Popa ML, Albulescu R, Neagu M, Hinescu ME, Tanase C. Multiplex assay for multiomics advances in personalized-precision medicine. J Immunoassay Immunochem 2019; 40:3-25. [PMID: 30632882 DOI: 10.1080/15321819.2018.1562940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Building the future of precision medicine is the main focus in cancer domain. Clinical trials are moving toward an array of studies that are more adapted to precision medicine. In this domain, there is an enhanced need for biomarkers, monitoring devices, and data-analysis methods. Omics profiling using whole genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome can offer detailed information of the human body in an integrative manner. Omes profiles reflect more accurately real-time physiological status. Personalized omics analyses both disease as a whole and the main disease processes, for a better understanding of the individualized health. Through this, multi-omic approaches for health monitoring, preventative medicine, and personalized treatment can be targeted simultaneously and can lead clinicians to have a comprehensive view on the diseasome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Linda Popa
- a Biochemistry-Proteomics Department , Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology , Bucharest , Romania
- b Cellular and Molecular Biology and Histology Department , "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Bucharest , Romania
| | - Radu Albulescu
- a Biochemistry-Proteomics Department , Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology , Bucharest , Romania
- c Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Department , National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical R&D , Bucharest , Romania
| | - Monica Neagu
- a Biochemistry-Proteomics Department , Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology , Bucharest , Romania
- d Faculty of Biology , University of Bucharest , Bucharest , Romania
| | - Mihail Eugen Hinescu
- a Biochemistry-Proteomics Department , Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology , Bucharest , Romania
- b Cellular and Molecular Biology and Histology Department , "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Bucharest , Romania
| | - Cristiana Tanase
- a Biochemistry-Proteomics Department , Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology , Bucharest , Romania
- e Cajal Institute , Titu Maiorescu University , Bucharest , Romania
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Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy approaches have emerged as novel treatment regimens against cancer. A particularly interesting avenue is the concept of in situ vaccination, where immunostimulatory agents are introduced into an identified tumor to overcome local immunosuppression and, if successful, mount systemic antitumor immunity. We had previously shown that nanoparticles from cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) are highly potent in inducing long-lasting antitumor immunity when used as an in situ vaccine in various tumor mouse models. Here we asked whether the nanoparticles from tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) could also be applied as an in situ vaccine and, if so, whether efficacy or mechanism of immune-activation would be affected by the nanoparticle size (300 × 18 nm native TMV vs 50 × 18 nm short TMV nanorods), shape (nanorods vs spherical TMV, termed SNP), or state of assembly (assembled TMV rod vs free coat protein, CP). Our studies indicate that CPMV, but less so TMV, elicits potent antitumor immunity after intratumoral treatment of dermal melanoma (B16F10 using C57BL/6 mice). TMV and TMVshort slowed tumor growth and increased survival time, however, at significantly lower potency compared to that of CPMV. There were no apparent differences between TMV, TMVshort, or the SNP indicating that the aspect ratio does not necessarily play a role in plant viral in situ vaccines. The free CPs did not elicit an antitumor response or immunostimulation, which may indicate that a multivalent assembly is required to trigger an innate immune recognition and activation. Differential potency of CPMV vs TMV can be explained with differences in immune-activation: data indicate that CPMV stimulates an antitumor response through recruitment of monocytes into the tumor microenvironment (TME), establishing signaling through the IFN-γ pathway, which also leads to recruitment of tumor-infiltrated neutrophils (TINs) and natural killer (NK) cells. Furthermore, the priming of the innate immune system also mounts an adaptive response with CD4+ and CD8+ T cell recruitment and establishment of effector memory cells. While the TMV treatment also lead to the recruitment of innate immune cells as well as T cells (although to a lesser degree), key differences were noted in cyto/chemokine profiling with TMV inducing a potent immune response early on characterized by strong pro-inflammatory cytokines, primarily IL-6. Together, data indicate that some plant viral nanotechnology platforms are more suitable for application as in situ vaccines than others; understanding the intricate differences and underlying mechanism of immune-activation may set the stage for clinical development of these technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
| | - Steven Fiering
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth University, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, United States
| | - Nicole F. Steinmetz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Department of Radiology
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Macromolecular Science and Engineering
- Division of General Medical Sciences-Oncology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
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Antitumor activity of CAR-T cells targeting the intracellular oncoprotein WT1 can be enhanced by vaccination. Blood 2018; 132:1134-1145. [PMID: 30045840 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-08-802926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy for treatment of hematologic malignancies supports further development of treatments for both liquid and solid tumors. However, expansion of CAR-T cell therapy is limited by the availability of surface antigens specific for the tumor while sparing normal cells. There is a rich diversity of tumor antigens from intracellularly expressed proteins that current and conventional CAR-T cells are unable to target. Furthermore, adoptively transferred T cells often suffer from exhaustion and insufficient expansion, in part, because of the immunosuppressive mechanisms operating in tumor-bearing hosts. Therefore, it is necessary to develop means to further activate and expand those CAR-T cells in vivo. The Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) is an intracellular oncogenic transcription factor that is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy because of its overexpression in a wide range of leukemias and solid tumors, and a low level of expression in normal adult tissues. In the present study, we developed CAR-T cells consisting of a single chain variable fragment (scFv) specific to the WT1235-243/HLA-A*2402 complex. The therapeutic efficacy of our CAR-T cells was demonstrated in a xenograft model, which was further enhanced by vaccination with dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with the corresponding antigen. This enhanced efficacy was mediated, at least partly, by the expansion and activation of CAR-T cells. CAR-T cells shown in the present study not only demonstrate the potential to expand the range of targets available to CAR-T cells, but also provide a proof of concept that efficacy of CAR-T cells targeting peptide/major histocompatibility complex can be boosted by vaccination.
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Golumba-Nagy V, Kuehle J, Hombach AA, Abken H. CD28-ζ CAR T Cells Resist TGF-β Repression through IL-2 Signaling, Which Can Be Mimicked by an Engineered IL-7 Autocrine Loop. Mol Ther 2018; 26:2218-2230. [PMID: 30055872 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected T cells induced spectacular regressions of leukemia and lymphoma, however, failed so far in the treatment of solid tumors. A cause is thought to be T cell repression through TGF-β, which is massively accumulating in the tumor tissue. Here, we show that T cells with a CD28-ζ CAR, but not with a 4-1BB-ζ CAR, resist TGF-β-mediated repression. Mechanistically, LCK activation and consequently IL-2 release and autocrine IL-2 receptor signaling mediated TGF-β resistance; deleting the LCK-binding motif in the CD28 CAR abolished both IL-2 secretion and TGF-β resistance, while IL-2 add-back restored TGF-β resistance. Other γ-cytokines like IL-7 and IL-15 could replace IL-2 in this context. This is demonstrated by engineering IL-2 deficient CD28ΔLCK-ζ CAR T cells with a hybrid IL-7 receptor to provide IL-2R β chain signaling upon IL-7 binding. Such modified T cells showed improved CAR T cell activity against TGF-β+ tumors. Data draw the concept that an autocrine loop resulting in IL-2R signaling can make CAR T cells more potent in staying active against TGF-β+ solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktória Golumba-Nagy
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Department I Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Johannes Kuehle
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Department I Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andreas A Hombach
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Department I Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Department I Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology (RCI), University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; University Medical Center of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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Regulation of inflammatory factors by double-stranded RNA receptors in breast cancer cells. Immunobiology 2017; 223:466-476. [PMID: 29331323 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malignant cells are not the only components of a tumor mass since other cells (e.g., fibroblasts, infiltrating leukocytes and endothelial cells) are also part of it. In combination with the extracellular matrix, all these cells constitute the tumor microenvironment. In the last decade the role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression has gained increased attention and prompted efforts directed to abrogate its deleterious effects on anti-cancer therapies. The immune system can detect and attack tumor cells, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (particularly CD8 T cells) have been associated with improved survival or better response to therapies in colorectal, melanoma, breast, prostate and ovarian cancer patients among others. Contrariwise, tumor-associated myeloid cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells [MDSCs], dendritic cells [DCs], macrophages) or lymphoid cells such as regulatory T cells can stimulate tumor growth via inhibition of immune responses against the tumor or by participating in tumor neoangiogenesis. Herewith we analyzed the chemokine profile of mouse breast tumors regarding their capacity to generate factors capable of attracting and sequestering DCs to their midst. Chemoattractants from tumors were investigated by molecular biology and immunological techniques and tumor infiltrating DCs were investigated for matched chemokine receptors. In addition, we investigated the inflammatory response of breast cancer cells, a major component of the tumor microenvironment, to double-stranded RNA stimulation. By using molecular biology techniques such as qualitative and quantitative PCR, PCR arrays, and immunological techniques (ELISA, cytokine immunoarrays) we examined the effects of dsRNA treatment on the cytokine secretion profiles of mouse and human breast cancer cells and non-transformed cells. We were able to determine that tumors generate chemokines that are able to interact with receptors present on the surface of tumor infiltrating DCs. We observed that PRR signaling is able to modify the production of chemokines by breast tumor cells and normal breast cells, thereby constituting a possible player in shaping the profile of the leukocyte population in the TME.
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Liang H, Wu Y, Ou XY, Li JY, Li J. Au@Pt nanoparticles as catalase mimics to attenuate tumor hypoxia and enhance immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 28:465702. [PMID: 28925921 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa8d9c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) is closely linked to tumor progression, heterogeneity and immune suppression. Therefore, the development of effective methods to overcome hypoxia and substantially enhance the immunotherapy efficacy remains a desirable goal. Herein, we engineered a biocompatible Au core/Pt shell nanoparticles (Au@Pt NPs) to reoxygenate the TME by reacting with endogenous H2O2. Treatment with Au@Pt NPs appeared to improve oxygen in intracellular environments and decrease hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression. Furthermore, the integration of high catalytic efficiency of Au@Pt NPs with cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell immunotherapy, could lead to significantly improve the effect of CIK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. These results suggest great potential of Au@Pt NPs for regulation of the hypoxic TME and enhance immune cell mediated anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, People's Republic of China
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Lewis HC, Chinnadurai R, Bosinger SE, Galipeau J. The IDO inhibitor 1-methyl tryptophan activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor response in mesenchymal stromal cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:91914-91927. [PMID: 29190885 PMCID: PMC5696151 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The catabolism of tryptophan (Trp) by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a key step in tolerance effected by a variety of cell types, including mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Trp catabolism generates molecules known as kynurenines, whose tolerance mechanisms involve activation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR). A synthetic analog of Trp, 1-methyl tryptophan (1MT), is a selective inhibitor of IDO enzymatic activity being utilized in cancer immunotherapy trials. We hypothesized 1MT might activate AHR independently of its effects on IDO. We demonstrate MSCs express AHR protein, and that in vitro treatment with 1MT causes AHR nucleotranslocation. Upon analyzing mRNA, we observed transcriptional upregulation of cytochrome p450 1a1 and 1b1 by 1MT racemic mixture (R-MT), consistent with AHR-activation. RNA-sequencing identified Nrf2, MAPK12 and IL-1a as downstream targets of 1MT. We demonstrate 1a1 and 1b1 activation by 1MT in IDO+ MSC following interferon-γ (IFN-γ) activation, suggesting AHR signaling is uncoupled from IDO catalytic function. Such a mechanism of action for 1MT may extend its usage to a wider range of patients, irrespective of tumor IDO expression. These observations support a novel paradigm by which AHR-activating compounds like 1MT can be used in cancer immunotherapy to stimulate a pro-inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly C. Lewis
- Departments of Pediatrics and Hematology & Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Raghavan Chinnadurai
- Department of Medicine and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Steven E. Bosinger
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Yerkes NHP Genomics Core Laboratory, Div. Microbiology & Immunology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jacques Galipeau
- Department of Medicine and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Davoodzadeh Gholami M, Kardar GA, Saeedi Y, Heydari S, Garssen J, Falak R. Exhaustion of T lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment: Significance and effective mechanisms. Cell Immunol 2017; 322:1-14. [PMID: 29079339 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 10/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
T lymphocytes play crucial roles in adaptive immune responses to tumors. However, due to different tolerance mechanisms and inhibitory effects of the tumor microenvironment (TME) on T cells, responses to tumors are insufficient. In fact, cellular and molecular suppressive mechanisms repress T cell responses in the TME, resulting in senescent, anergic and exhausted lymphocytes. Exhaustion is a poor responsive status of T cells, with up-regulated expression of inhibitory receptors, decreased production of effective cytokines, and reduced cytotoxic activity. Low immunogenicity of tumor antigens and inadequate presentation of tumor-specific antigens results in inappropriate activation of naive T lymphocytes against tumor antigens. Moreover, when effector cytotoxic T cells enter TME, they encounter a complicated network of cells and cytokines that suppress their effectiveness and turn them into exhausted T cells. Thus, the mechanism of T cell exhaustion in cancer is different from that in chronic infections. In this review we will discuss the main components such as inhibitory receptors, inflammatory cells, stromal cells, cytokine milieu as well as environmental and metabolic conditions in TME which play role in development of exhaustion. Furthermore, recent therapeutic methods available to overcome exhaustion will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Davoodzadeh Gholami
- Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Gholam Ali Kardar
- Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Yousef Saeedi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Netherlands.
| | - Sahel Heydari
- Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Johan Garssen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Netherlands.
| | - Reza Falak
- Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Human CD3+ T-Cells with the Anti-ERBB2 Chimeric Antigen Receptor Exhibit Efficient Targeting and Induce Apoptosis in ERBB2 Overexpressing Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18091797. [PMID: 28885562 PMCID: PMC5618474 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18091797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a common malignancy among women. The innate and adaptive immune responses failed to be activated owing to immune modulation in the tumour microenvironment. Decades of scientific study links the overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ERBB2) antigen with aggressive tumours. The Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) coding for specific tumour-associated antigens could initiate intrinsic T-cell signalling, inducing T-cell activation, and cytotoxic activity without the need for major histocompatibility complex recognition. This renders CAR as a potentially universal immunotherapeutic option. Herein, we aimed to establish CAR in CD3+ T-cells, isolated from human peripheral blood mononucleated cells that could subsequently target and induce apoptosis in the ERBB2 overexpressing human breast cancer cell line, SKBR3. Constructed CAR was inserted into a lentiviral plasmid containing a green fluorescent protein tag and produced as lentiviral particles that were used to transduce activated T-cells. Transduced CAR-T cells were then primed with SKBR3 cells to evaluate their functionality. Results showed increased apoptosis in SKBR3 cells co-cultured with CAR-T cells compared to the control (non–transduced T-cells). This study demonstrates that CAR introduction helps overcome the innate limitations of native T-cells leading to cancer cell apoptosis. We recommend future studies should focus on in vivo cytotoxicity of CAR-T cells against ERBB2 expressing tumours.
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Steppan DA, Pratilas CA, Loeb DM. Targeted therapy for soft tissue sarcomas in adolescents and young adults. Adolesc Health Med Ther 2017; 8:41-55. [PMID: 28408855 PMCID: PMC5384699 DOI: 10.2147/ahmt.s70377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors originating from the mesenchyme. Even though they affect individuals in all age groups, the prevalence of subtypes of STSs changes significantly from childhood through adolescence into adulthood. The mainstay of therapy is surgery, with or without the addition of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. These treatment modalities are associated, in many cases, with significant morbidity and, given the heterogeneity of tumor histologies encompassed by the term "STS", have not uniformly improved outcomes. Moreover, some subgroups of STSs appear to be more, and others less, responsive to conventional chemotherapy agents. Over the last two decades, our understanding of the biology of STSs is slowly increasing, allowing for the development of more targeted therapies. We review the new treatment modalities that have been tested on patients with STSs, with a special focus on adolescents and young adults, a group of patients that is often underrepresented in clinical trials and has not received the dedicated attention it deserves, given the significant differences in biology and treatment response in comparison to children and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana A Steppan
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christine A Pratilas
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David M Loeb
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Nada MH, Wang H, Workalemahu G, Tanaka Y, Morita CT. Enhancing adoptive cancer immunotherapy with Vγ2Vδ2 T cells through pulse zoledronate stimulation. J Immunother Cancer 2017; 5:9. [PMID: 28239463 PMCID: PMC5319075 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-017-0209-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human γδ T cells expressing Vγ2Vδ2 T cell receptors monitor foreign- and self-prenyl pyrophosphate metabolites in isoprenoid biosynthesis to mediate immunity to microbes and tumors. Adoptive immunotherapy with Vγ2Vδ2 T cells has been used to treat cancer patients with partial and complete remissions. Most clinical trials and preclinical studies have used continuous zoledronate exposure to expand Vγ2Vδ2 cells where zoledronate is slowly diluted over the course of the culture. Zoledronate inhibits farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDPS) in monocytes causing isopentenyl pyrophosphate to accumulate that then stimulates Vγ2Vδ2 cells. Because zoledronate inhibition of FDPS is also toxic for T cells, we hypothesized that a short period of exposure would reduce T cell toxicity but still be sufficient for monocytes uptake. Additionally, IL-15 increases the anti-tumor activity of murine αβ T cells in mice but its effect on the in vivo anti-tumor activity of human Vγ2Vδ2 cells has not been assessed. Methods Human Vγ2Vδ2 T cells were expanded by pulse or continuous zoledronate stimulation with IL-2 or IL-15. Expanded Vγ2Vδ2 cells were tested for their expression of effector molecules and killing of tumor cells as well as their in vivo control of human prostate cancer tumors in immunodeficient NSG mice. Results Pulse zoledronate stimulation with either IL-2 or IL-15 resulted in more uniform expansion of Vγ2Vδ2 cells with higher purity and cell numbers as compared with continuous exposure. The Vγ2Vδ2 cells had higher levels of CD107a and perforin and increased tumor cytotoxicity. Adoptive immunotherapy with Vγ2Vδ2 cells derived by pulse stimulation controlled human PC-3 prostate cancer tumors in NSG mice significantly better than those derived by continuous stimulation, halting tumor growth. Although pulse zoledronate stimulation with IL-15 preserved early memory subsets, adoptive immunotherapy with IL-15-derived Vγ2Vδ2 cells equally inhibited PC-3 tumor growth as those derived with IL-2. Conclusions Pulse zoledronate stimulation maximizes the purity, quantity, and quality of expanded Vγ2Vδ2 cells for adoptive immunotherapy but there is no advantage to using IL-15 over IL-2 in our humanized mouse model. Pulse zoledronate stimulation is a simple modification to existing protocols that will enhance the effectiveness of adoptively transferred Vγ2Vδ2 cells by increasing their numbers and anti-tumor activity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40425-017-0209-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohanad H Nada
- Division of Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Iowa City Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52246 USA.,Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Tikrit University, Tikrit, Iraq
| | - Hong Wang
- Division of Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Iowa City Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52246 USA
| | - Grefachew Workalemahu
- Division of Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Iowa City Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52246 USA
| | - Yoshimasa Tanaka
- Center for Bioinformatics and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523 Japan
| | - Craig T Morita
- Division of Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Iowa City Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52246 USA.,Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
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Beavis PA, Henderson MA, Giuffrida L, Mills JK, Sek K, Cross RS, Davenport AJ, John LB, Mardiana S, Slaney CY, Johnstone RW, Trapani JA, Stagg J, Loi S, Kats L, Gyorki D, Kershaw MH, Darcy PK. Targeting the adenosine 2A receptor enhances chimeric antigen receptor T cell efficacy. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:929-941. [PMID: 28165340 DOI: 10.1172/jci89455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been highly successful in treating hematological malignancies, including acute and chronic lymphoblastic leukemia. However, treatment of solid tumors using CAR T cells has been largely unsuccessful to date, partly because of tumor-induced immunosuppressive mechanisms, including adenosine production. Previous studies have shown that adenosine generated by tumor cells potently inhibits endogenous antitumor T cell responses through activation of adenosine 2A receptors (A2ARs). Herein, we have observed that CAR activation resulted in increased A2AR expression and suppression of both murine and human CAR T cells. This was reversible using either A2AR antagonists or genetic targeting of A2AR using shRNA. In 2 syngeneic HER2+ self-antigen tumor models, we found that either genetic or pharmacological targeting of the A2AR profoundly increased CAR T cell efficacy, particularly when combined with PD-1 blockade. Mechanistically, this was associated with increased cytokine production of CD8+ CAR T cells and increased activation of both CD8+ and CD4+ CAR T cells. Given the known clinical relevance of the CD73/adenosine pathway in several solid tumor types, and the initiation of phase I trials for A2AR antagonists in oncology, this approach has high translational potential to enhance CAR T cell efficacy in several cancer types.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Female
- Humans
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Mice
- Receptor, Adenosine A2A/genetics
- Receptor, Adenosine A2A/immunology
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
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Hendry SA, Farnsworth RH, Solomon B, Achen MG, Stacker SA, Fox SB. The Role of the Tumor Vasculature in the Host Immune Response: Implications for Therapeutic Strategies Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2016; 7:621. [PMID: 28066431 PMCID: PMC5168440 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently developed cancer immunotherapy approaches including immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cell transfer are showing promising results both in trials and in clinical practice. These approaches reflect increasing recognition of the crucial role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer development and progression. Cancer cells do not act alone, but develop a complex relationship with the environment in which they reside. The host immune response to tumors is critical to the success of immunotherapy; however, the determinants of this response are incompletely understood. The immune cell infiltrate in tumors varies widely in density, composition, and clinical significance. The tumor vasculature is a key component of the microenvironment that can influence tumor behavior and treatment response and can be targeted through the use of antiangiogenic drugs. Blood vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells have important roles in the trafficking of immune cells, controlling the microenvironment, and modulating the immune response. Improving access to the tumor through vascular alteration with antiangiogenic drugs may prove an effective combinatorial strategy with immunotherapy approaches and might be applicable to many tumor types. In this review, we briefly discuss the host's immune response to cancer and the treatment strategies utilizing this response, before focusing on the pathological features of tumor blood and lymphatic vessels and the contribution these might make to tumor immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shona A Hendry
- Department of Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Rae H Farnsworth
- Tumour Angiogenesis and Microenvironment Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre , Melbourne, VIC , Australia
| | - Benjamin Solomon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre , Melbourne, VIC , Australia
| | - Marc G Achen
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Tumour Angiogenesis and Microenvironment Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Steven A Stacker
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Tumour Angiogenesis and Microenvironment Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen B Fox
- Department of Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre , Melbourne, VIC , Australia
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Moyes KW, Lieberman NAP, Kreuser SA, Chinn H, Winter C, Deutsch G, Hoglund V, Watson R, Crane CA. Genetically Engineered Macrophages: A Potential Platform for Cancer Immunotherapy. Hum Gene Ther 2016; 28:200-215. [PMID: 27758144 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2016.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In spite of their successes against hematologic malignancies, immunotherapeutic interventions for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) have thus far been unsuccessful. This is in part due to the presence of a tumor microenvironment that fosters neoplastic growth and protects the tumor from destruction by the immune system. A novel genetically engineered macrophage-based platform has been developed with the potential to minimize the effects of the suppressive tumor microenvironment and improve innate and adaptive antitumor immune responses. A newly described lentiviral expression system was validated for the generation of transduced monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages, and transgene expression was shown to be stable over the course of weeks to months, both in vitro and in a mouse xenograft model of GBM. Furthermore, the genetically engineered macrophages (GEMs) neither caused morbidity in animals nor contributed to accelerated tumor growth. The versatility of GEMs is also highlighted by showing that they can be engineered to secrete proteins that either reduce immune suppression, such as the soluble transforming growth factor beta receptor II, or promote immune cell activation, by expressing interleukin 21. There is also the potential to prevent GEM-mediated immune suppression by using the CRISPR system to knock out genes responsible for dysfunction of cytotoxic cells, including interleukin 10 and programmed death-ligand 1. Together, these results suggest that GEMs are an ideal cell type for transforming the tumor microenvironment and enhancing antitumor immunity. Importantly, it is anticipated that these findings will have broad applicability to other types of tumors with microenvironments that currently preclude successful immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara W Moyes
- 1 Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington
| | - Nicole A P Lieberman
- 1 Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington
| | - Shannon A Kreuser
- 1 Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington
| | - Harrison Chinn
- 1 Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington
| | - Conrad Winter
- 2 Department of Pathology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
| | - Gail Deutsch
- 2 Department of Pathology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
| | - Virginia Hoglund
- 1 Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington
| | - Reid Watson
- 1 Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington
| | - Courtney A Crane
- 1 Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle, Washington
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Zhang H, Ye ZL, Yuan ZG, Luo ZQ, Jin HJ, Qian QJ. New Strategies for the Treatment of Solid Tumors with CAR-T Cells. Int J Biol Sci 2016; 12:718-29. [PMID: 27194949 PMCID: PMC4870715 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.14405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent years, we have witnessed significant progresses in both basic and clinical studies regarding novel therapeutic strategies with genetically engineered T cells. Modification with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) endows T cells with tumor specific cytotoxicity and thus induce anti-tumor immunity against malignancies. However, targeting solid tumors is more challenging than targeting B-cell malignancies with CAR-T cells because of the histopathological structure features, specific antigens shortage and strong immunosuppressive environment of solid tumors. Meanwhile, the on-target/off-tumor toxicity caused by relative expression of target on normal tissues is another issue that should be reckoned. Optimization of the design of CAR vectors, exploration of new targets, addition of safe switches and combination with other treatments bring new vitality to the CAR-T cell based immunotherapy against solid tumors. In this review, we focus on the major obstacles limiting the application of CAR-T cell therapy toward solid tumors and summarize the measures to refine this new cancer therapeutic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- 1. Laboratory of Viral and Gene Therapy, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Zhen-Long Ye
- 1. Laboratory of Viral and Gene Therapy, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Zhen-Gang Yuan
- 1. Laboratory of Viral and Gene Therapy, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Zheng-Qiang Luo
- 2. Xinyuan Institute of Medicine and Biotechnology College of Life Science, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Hua-Jun Jin
- 1. Laboratory of Viral and Gene Therapy, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Qi-Jun Qian
- 1. Laboratory of Viral and Gene Therapy, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China;; 2. Xinyuan Institute of Medicine and Biotechnology College of Life Science, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China;; 3. Ningbo NO.5 Hospital (Ningbo Cancer Hospital), Ningbo 315201, China
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Steven A, Fisher SA, Robinson BW. Immunotherapy for lung cancer. Respirology 2016; 21:821-33. [PMID: 27101251 DOI: 10.1111/resp.12789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of lung cancer remains a challenge, and lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Immunotherapy has previously failed in lung cancer but has recently emerged as a very effective new therapy, and there is now growing worldwide enthusiasm in cancer immunotherapy. We summarize why immune checkpoint blockade therapies have generated efficacious and durable responses in clinical trials and why this has reignited interest in this field. Cancer vaccines have also been explored in the past with marginal success. Identification of optimal candidate neoantigens may improve cancer vaccine efficacy and may pave the way to personalized immunotherapy, alone or in combination with other immunotherapy such as immune checkpoint blockade. Understanding the steps in immune recognition and eradication of cancer cells is vital to understanding why previous immunotherapies failed and how current therapies can be used optimally. We hold an optimistic view for the future prospect in lung cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonius Steven
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases (NCARD), Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Scott A Fisher
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases (NCARD), Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Bruce W Robinson
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases (NCARD), Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Adoptive cellular therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and B cell malignancies. CARs and more. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 2016; 29:15-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beha.2016.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Zhang Y, Ertl HCJ. Starved and Asphyxiated: How Can CD8(+) T Cells within a Tumor Microenvironment Prevent Tumor Progression. Front Immunol 2016; 7:32. [PMID: 26904023 PMCID: PMC4748049 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although cancer immunotherapy has achieved significant breakthroughs in recent years, its overall efficacy remains limited in the majority of patients. One major barrier is exhaustion of tumor antigen-specific CD8(+) tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which conventionally has been attributed to persistent stimulation with antigen within the tumor microenvironment (TME). A series of recent studies have highlighted that the TME poses significant metabolic challenges to TILs, which may contribute to their functional exhaustion. Hypoxia increases the expression of coinhibitors on activated CD8(+) T cells, which in general reduces the T cells' effector functions. It also impairs the cells' ability to gain energy through oxidative phosphorylation. Glucose limitation increases the expression of programed cell death protein-1 and reduces functions of activated CD8(+) T cells. A combination of hypoxia and hypoglycemia, as is common in solid tumors, places CD8(+) TILs at dual metabolic jeopardy by affecting both major pathways of energy production. Recently, a number of studies addressed the effects of metabolic stress on modulating CD8(+) T cell metabolism, differentiation, and functions. Here, we discuss recent findings on how different types of metabolic stress within the TME shape the tumor-killing capacity of CD8(+) T cells. We propose that manipulating the metabolism of TILs to more efficiently utilize nutrients, especially during intermittent periods of hypoxia could maximize their performance, prolong their survival and improve the efficacy of active cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Gene Therapy and Vaccines Program, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Wistar Institute Vaccine Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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