1
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Guasp P, Reiche C, Sethna Z, Balachandran VP. RNA vaccines for cancer: Principles to practice. Cancer Cell 2024:S1535-6108(24)00168-5. [PMID: 38848720 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Vaccines are the most impactful medicines to improve health. Though potent against pathogens, vaccines for cancer remain an unfulfilled promise. However, recent advances in RNA technology coupled with scientific and clinical breakthroughs have spurred rapid discovery and potent delivery of tumor antigens at speed and scale, transforming cancer vaccines into a tantalizing prospect. Yet, despite being at a pivotal juncture, with several randomized clinical trials maturing in upcoming years, several critical questions remain: which antigens, tumors, platforms, and hosts can trigger potent immunity with clinical impact? Here, we address these questions with a principled framework of cancer vaccination from antigen detection to delivery. With this framework, we outline features of emergent RNA technology that enable rapid, robust, real-time vaccination with somatic mutation-derived neoantigens-an emerging "ideal" antigen class-and highlight latent features that have sparked the belief that RNA could realize the enduring vision for vaccines against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Guasp
- Immuno-Oncology Service, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charlotte Reiche
- Immuno-Oncology Service, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zachary Sethna
- Immuno-Oncology Service, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vinod P Balachandran
- Immuno-Oncology Service, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Lacher SB, Dörr J, de Almeida GP, Hönninger J, Bayerl F, Hirschberger A, Pedde AM, Meiser P, Ramsauer L, Rudolph TJ, Spranger N, Morotti M, Grimm AJ, Jarosch S, Oner A, Gregor L, Lesch S, Michaelides S, Fertig L, Briukhovetska D, Majed L, Stock S, Busch DH, Buchholz VR, Knolle PA, Zehn D, Dangaj Laniti D, Kobold S, Böttcher JP. PGE 2 limits effector expansion of tumour-infiltrating stem-like CD8 + T cells. Nature 2024; 629:417-425. [PMID: 38658748 PMCID: PMC11078747 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07254-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-specific TCF1+ stem-like CD8+ T cells can drive protective anticancer immunity through expansion and effector cell differentiation1-4; however, this response is dysfunctional in tumours. Current cancer immunotherapies2,5-9 can promote anticancer responses through TCF1+ stem-like CD8+ T cells in some but not all patients. This variation points towards currently ill-defined mechanisms that limit TCF1+CD8+ T cell-mediated anticancer immunity. Here we demonstrate that tumour-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) restricts the proliferative expansion and effector differentiation of TCF1+CD8+ T cells within tumours, which promotes cancer immune escape. PGE2 does not affect the priming of TCF1+CD8+ T cells in draining lymph nodes. PGE2 acts through EP2 and EP4 (EP2/EP4) receptor signalling in CD8+ T cells to limit the intratumoural generation of early and late effector T cell populations that originate from TCF1+ tumour-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes (TILs). Ablation of EP2/EP4 signalling in cancer-specific CD8+ T cells rescues their expansion and effector differentiation within tumours and leads to tumour elimination in multiple mouse cancer models. Mechanistically, suppression of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) signalling pathway underlies the PGE2-mediated inhibition of TCF1+ TIL responses. Altogether, we uncover a key mechanism that restricts the IL-2 responsiveness of TCF1+ TILs and prevents anticancer T cell responses that originate from these cells. This study identifies the PGE2-EP2/EP4 axis as a molecular target to restore IL-2 responsiveness in anticancer TILs to achieve cancer immune control.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Dinoprostone/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha/metabolism
- Interleukin-2
- Lymph Nodes/cytology
- Lymph Nodes/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/cytology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Neoplasms/immunology
- Neoplasms/prevention & control
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype/deficiency
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype/metabolism
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype/deficiency
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Stem Cells/cytology
- Stem Cells/immunology
- Stem Cells/metabolism
- Tumor Escape/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian B Lacher
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Janina Dörr
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gustavo P de Almeida
- Division of Animal Physiology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, TUM, Freising, Germany
| | - Julian Hönninger
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, School of Medicine and Health, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Felix Bayerl
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Hirschberger
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Anna-Marie Pedde
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Philippa Meiser
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Ramsauer
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas J Rudolph
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Nadine Spranger
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Matteo Morotti
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and UNIL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alizee J Grimm
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and UNIL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Jarosch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, School of Medicine and Health, TUM, Munich, Germany
- Boehringer Ingelheim, Biberach, Germany
| | - Arman Oner
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Gregor
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Lesch
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanos Michaelides
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Luisa Fertig
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daria Briukhovetska
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lina Majed
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sophia Stock
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, a partnership between DKFZ and LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk H Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, School of Medicine and Health, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Veit R Buchholz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, School of Medicine and Health, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Percy A Knolle
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Dietmar Zehn
- Division of Animal Physiology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, TUM, Freising, Germany
| | - Denarda Dangaj Laniti
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and UNIL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, a partnership between DKFZ and LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Munich, Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jan P Böttcher
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany.
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3
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Shi H, Chen S, Chi H. Immunometabolism of CD8 + T cell differentiation in cancer. Trends Cancer 2024:S2405-8033(24)00059-1. [PMID: 38693002 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are central mediators of tumor immunity and immunotherapies. Upon tumor antigen recognition, CTLs differentiate from naive/memory-like toward terminally exhausted populations with more limited function against tumors. Such differentiation is regulated by both immune signals, including T cell receptors (TCRs), co-stimulation, and cytokines, and metabolism-associated processes. These immune signals shape the metabolic landscape via signaling, transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, while metabolic processes in turn exert spatiotemporal effects to modulate the strength and duration of immune signaling. Here, we review the bidirectional regulation between immune signals and metabolic processes, including nutrient uptake and intracellular metabolic pathways, in shaping CTL differentiation and exhaustion. We also discuss the mechanisms underlying how specific nutrient sources and metabolite-mediated signaling events orchestrate CTL biology. Understanding how metabolic programs and their interplay with immune signals instruct CTL differentiation and exhaustion is crucial to uncover tumor-immune interactions and design novel immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Shi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sidi Chen
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; System Biology Institute, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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4
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Srirat T, Hayakawa T, Mise-Omata S, Nakagawara K, Ando M, Shichino S, Ito M, Yoshimura A. NR4a1/2 deletion promotes accumulation of TCF1 + stem-like precursors of exhausted CD8 + T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113898. [PMID: 38451819 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell exhaustion impairs tumor immunity and contributes to resistance against immune checkpoint inhibitors. The nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A (NR4a) family of nuclear receptors plays a crucial role in driving T cell exhaustion. In this study, we observe that NR4a1 and NR4a2 deficiency in CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) results in potent tumor eradication and exhibits not only reduced exhaustion characteristics but also an increase in the precursors/progenitors of exhausted T (Pre-Tex) cell fraction. Serial transfers of NR4a1-/-NR4a2-/-CD8+ TILs into tumor-bearing mice result in the expansion of TCF1+ (Tcf7+) stem-like Pre-Tex cells, whereas wild-type TILs are depleted upon secondary transfer. NR4a1/2-deficient CD8+ T cells express higher levels of stemness/memory-related genes and illustrate potent mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Collectively, these findings suggest that inhibiting NR4a in tumors represents a potent immuno-oncotherapy strategy by increasing stem-like Pre-Tex cells and reducing exhaustion of CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanakorn Srirat
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Taeko Hayakawa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Setsuko Mise-Omata
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kensuke Nakagawara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Makoto Ando
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shigeyuki Shichino
- Division of Molecular Regulation of Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2669 Yamazaki, Noda City, Chiba 278-0022, Japan
| | - Minako Ito
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshimura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
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5
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Klobuch S, Seijkens TTP, Schumacher TN, Haanen JBAG. Tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy for patients with advanced-stage melanoma. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:173-184. [PMID: 38191921 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00848-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and targeted therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of melanoma over the past decade. Despite these breakthroughs, the 5-year survival rate of patients with advanced-stage melanoma is at most 50%, emphasizing the need for additional therapeutic strategies. Adoptive cell therapy with tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is a therapeutic modality that has, in the past few years, demonstrated long-term clinical benefit in phase II/III trials involving patients with advanced-stage melanoma, including those with disease progression on ICIs and/or BRAF/MEK inhibitors. In this Review, we summarize the current status of TIL therapies for patients with advanced-stage melanoma, including potential upcoming marketing authorization, the characteristics of TIL therapy products, as well as future strategies that are expected to increase the efficacy of this promising cellular immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Klobuch
- Division of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tom T P Seijkens
- Division of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ton N Schumacher
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - John B A G Haanen
- Division of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
- Melanoma Clinic, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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6
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M. S. Barron A, Fabre T, De S. Distinct fibroblast functions associated with fibrotic and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and their implications for therapeutic development. F1000Res 2024; 13:54. [PMID: 38681509 PMCID: PMC11053351 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.143472.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts are ubiquitous cells that can adopt many functional states. As tissue-resident sentinels, they respond to acute damage signals and shape the earliest events in fibrotic and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Upon sensing an insult, fibroblasts produce chemokines and growth factors to organize and support the response. Depending on the size and composition of the resulting infiltrate, these activated fibroblasts may also begin to contract or relax thus changing local stiffness within the tissue. These early events likely contribute to the divergent clinical manifestations of fibrotic and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Further, distinct changes to the cellular composition and signaling dialogue in these diseases drive progressive fibroblasts specialization. In fibrotic diseases, fibroblasts support the survival, activation and differentiation of myeloid cells, granulocytes and innate lymphocytes, and produce most of the pathogenic extracellular matrix proteins. Whereas, in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, sequential accumulation of dendritic cells, T cells and B cells programs fibroblasts to support local, destructive adaptive immune responses. Fibroblast specialization has clear implications for the development of effective induction and maintenance therapies for patients with these clinically distinct diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M. S. Barron
- Inflammation & Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | - Thomas Fabre
- Inflammation & Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | - Saurav De
- Inflammation & Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
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7
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Dallmann J, Freitag J, Jung C, Khinvasara K, Merz L, Peters D, Schork M, Beck J. CIMT 2023: report on the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association for Cancer Immunotherapy. IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 2023; 20:100397. [PMID: 37876518 PMCID: PMC10590812 DOI: 10.1016/j.iotech.2023.100397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
The Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT) celebrated the 20th anniversary of the CIMT Annual Meeting. CIMT2023 was held 3-5 May 2023 in Mainz, Germany. 1051 academic and clinical professionals from over 30 countries attended the meeting and discussed the latest advances in cancer immunology and immunotherapy research. This report summarizes the highlights of CIMT2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Dallmann
- Immunotherapies & Preclinical Research, BioNTech SE, Mainz
| | - J. Freitag
- TRON-Translational Oncology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - C. Jung
- BioNTech Cell & Gene Therapies GmbH, Mainz
| | - K. Khinvasara
- TRON-Translational Oncology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - L. Merz
- TRON-Translational Oncology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - D. Peters
- Immunotherapies & Preclinical Research, BioNTech SE, Mainz
| | - M. Schork
- TRON-Translational Oncology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - J.D. Beck
- Immunotherapies & Preclinical Research, BioNTech SE, Mainz
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8
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Giardino Torchia ML, Moody G. DIALing-up the preclinical characterization of gene-modified adoptive cellular immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1264882. [PMID: 38090585 PMCID: PMC10713823 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1264882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The preclinical characterization of gene modified adoptive cellular immunotherapy candidates for clinical development often requires the use of mouse models. Gene-modified lymphocytes (GML) incorporating chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) and T-cell receptors (TCR) into immune effector cells require in vivo characterization of biological activity, mechanism of action, and preclinical safety. Typically, this characterization involves the assessment of dose-dependent, on-target, on-tumor activity in severely immunocompromised mice. While suitable for the purpose of evaluating T cell-expressed transgene function in a living host, this approach falls short in translating cellular therapy efficacy, safety, and persistence from preclinical models to humans. To comprehensively characterize cell therapy products in mice, we have developed a framework called "DIAL". This framework aims to enable an end-to-end understanding of genetically engineered cellular immunotherapies in vivo, from infusion to tumor clearance and long-term immunosurveillance. The acronym DIAL stands for Distribution, Infiltration, Accumulation, and Longevity, compartmentalizing the systemic attributes of gene-modified cellular therapy and providing a platform for optimization with the ultimate goal of improving therapeutic efficacy. This review will discuss both existent and emerging examples of DIAL characterization in mouse models, as well as opportunities for future development and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gordon Moody
- Cell Therapy Unit, Oncology Research, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
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9
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Abstract
T cells can acquire a broad spectrum of differentiation states following activation. At the extreme ends of this continuum are short-lived cells equipped with effector machinery and more quiescent, long-lived cells with heightened proliferative potential and stem cell-like developmental plasticity. The latter encompass stem-like exhausted T cells and memory T cells, both of which have recently emerged as key determinants of cancer immunity and response to immunotherapy. Here, we discuss key similarities and differences in the regulation and function of stem-like exhausted CD8+ T cells and memory CD8+ T cells, and consider their context-specific contributions to protective immunity in diverse outcomes of cancer, including tumour escape, long-term control and eradication. Finally, we emphasize how recent advances in the understanding of the molecular regulation of stem-like exhausted T cells and memory T cells are being explored for clinical benefit in cancer immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibition, adoptive cell therapy and vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Gebhardt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Simone L Park
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ian A Parish
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
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10
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Niederlova V, Tsyklauri O, Kovar M, Stepanek O. IL-2-driven CD8 + T cell phenotypes: implications for immunotherapy. Trends Immunol 2023; 44:890-901. [PMID: 37827864 PMCID: PMC7615502 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of interleukin (IL)-2 in cancer treatment has been known for decades, yet its widespread adoption in clinical practice remains limited. Recently, chimeric proteins of an anti-PD-1 antibody and suboptimal IL-2 variants were shown to stimulate potent antitumor and antiviral immunity by inducing unique effector CD8+ T cells in mice. A similar subset of cytotoxic T cells is induced by depletion of regulatory T cells (Tregs), suggesting IL-2 sequestration as a major mechanism through which regulatory T cells suppress activated CD8+ T cells. Here, we present our view of how IL-2-based biologicals can boost the antitumor response at a cellular level, and propose that the role of Tregs following such treatments may have been previously overestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Niederlova
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Oksana Tsyklauri
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Kovar
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Stepanek
- Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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11
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Giordano Attianese GMP, Ash S, Irving M. Coengineering specificity, safety, and function into T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:166-198. [PMID: 37548063 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive T-cell transfer (ACT) therapies, including of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and T cells gene-modified to express either a T cell receptor (TCR) or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), have demonstrated clinical efficacy for a proportion of patients and cancer-types. The field of ACT has been driven forward by the clinical success of CD19-CAR therapy against various advanced B-cell malignancies, including curative responses for some leukemia patients. However, relapse remains problematic, in particular for lymphoma. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, relative limited efficacy has been demonstrated for ACT of non-hematological solid tumors. Indeed, in addition to pre-infusion challenges including lymphocyte collection and manufacturing, ACT failure can be attributed to several biological processes post-transfer including, (i) inefficient tumor trafficking, infiltration, expansion and retention, (ii) chronic antigen exposure coupled with insufficient costimulation resulting in T-cell exhaustion, (iii) a range of barriers in the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediated by both tumor cells and suppressive immune infiltrate, (iv) tumor antigen heterogeneity and loss, or down-regulation of antigen presentation machinery, (v) gain of tumor intrinsic mechanisms of resistance such as to apoptosis, and (vi) various forms of toxicity and other adverse events in patients. Affinity-optimized TCRs can improve T-cell function and innovative CAR designs as well as gene-modification strategies can be used to coengineer specificity, safety, and function into T cells. Coengineering strategies can be designed not only to directly support the transferred T cells, but also to block suppressive barriers in the TME and harness endogenous innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we review a selection of the remarkable T-cell coengineering strategies, including of tools, receptors, and gene-cargo, that have been developed in recent years to augment tumor control by ACT, more and more of which are advancing to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Maria Paola Giordano Attianese
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Ash
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melita Irving
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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12
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Singh N, Maus MV. Synthetic manipulation of the cancer-immunity cycle: CAR-T cell therapy. Immunity 2023; 56:2296-2310. [PMID: 37820585 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic immunity to cancer has been pioneered by the application of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineering into autologous T cells. CAR T cell therapy is highly amenable to molecular engineering to bypass barriers of the cancer immunity cycle, such as endogenous antigen presentation, immune priming, and natural checkpoints that constrain immune responses. Here, we review CAR T cell design and the mechanisms that drive sustained CAR T cell effector activity and anti-tumor function. We discuss engineering approaches aimed at improving anti-tumor function through a variety of mechanistic interventions for both hematologic and solid tumors. The ability to engineer T cells in such a variety of ways, including by modifying their trafficking, antigen recognition, costimulation, and addition of synthetic genes, circuits, knockouts and base edits to finely tune complex functions, is arguably the most powerful way to manipulate the cancer immunity cycle in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Singh
- Division of Oncology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| | - Marcela V Maus
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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13
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Moreno-Vicente J, Halim TY. Role of innate lymphoid cells in cancer metastasis. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2023; 163:106465. [PMID: 37666359 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2023.106465] [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: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic spread of cancer accounts for most cancer-related deaths. Cancer seeding in secondary organs requires reprogramming of the local stromal and immune landscape, which ultimately supports tumour growth. Yet, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that promote this tumour-permissive environment remain largely unknown. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have recently been shown to modulate the immune response to cancer in multiple ways. Given their tissue-resident nature, ILCs are well placed to respond to local cues within the early or pre-metastatic niche, and to orchestrate the recruitment of additional immune cells that could either support or dampen metastatic growth. Here, we review the emerging body of evidence supporting a role for ILCs in the establishment and progression of metastasis, whilst discussing the pleiotropic effects that have been attributed to different ILC subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timotheus Yf Halim
- University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
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14
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Jaccard A, Wyss T, Maldonado-Pérez N, Rath JA, Bevilacqua A, Peng JJ, Lepez A, Von Gunten C, Franco F, Kao KC, Camviel N, Martín F, Ghesquière B, Migliorini D, Arber C, Romero P, Ho PC, Wenes M. Reductive carboxylation epigenetically instructs T cell differentiation. Nature 2023; 621:849-856. [PMID: 37730993 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06546-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Protective immunity against pathogens or cancer is mediated by the activation and clonal expansion of antigen-specific naive T cells into effector T cells. To sustain their rapid proliferation and effector functions, naive T cells switch their quiescent metabolism to an anabolic metabolism through increased levels of aerobic glycolysis, but also through mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation, generating energy and signalling molecules1-3. However, how that metabolic rewiring drives and defines the differentiation of T cells remains unclear. Here we show that proliferating effector CD8+ T cells reductively carboxylate glutamine through the mitochondrial enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2). Notably, deletion of the gene encoding IDH2 does not impair the proliferation of T cells nor their effector function, but promotes the differentiation of memory CD8+ T cells. Accordingly, inhibiting IDH2 during ex vivo manufacturing of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells induces features of memory T cells and enhances antitumour activity in melanoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma. Mechanistically, inhibition of IDH2 activates compensating metabolic pathways that cause a disequilibrium in metabolites regulating histone-modifying enzymes, and this maintains chromatin accessibility at genes that are required for the differentiation of memory T cells. These findings show that reductive carboxylation in CD8+ T cells is dispensable for their effector response and proliferation, but that it mainly produces a pattern of metabolites that epigenetically locks CD8+ T cells into a terminal effector differentiation program. Blocking this metabolic route allows the increased formation of memory T cells, which could be exploited to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of CAR T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Jaccard
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland
| | - Tania Wyss
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Translational Data Science (TDS) Group, AGORA Cancer Research Center, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Noelia Maldonado-Pérez
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Pfizer-University of Granada-Junta de Andalucía, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO), Granada, Spain
| | - Jan A Rath
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alessio Bevilacqua
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland
| | - Jhan-Jie Peng
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Anouk Lepez
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Brain Tumor and Immune Cell Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christine Von Gunten
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fabien Franco
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland
| | - Kung-Chi Kao
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Camviel
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francisco Martín
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Pfizer-University of Granada-Junta de Andalucía, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO), Granada, Spain
| | - Bart Ghesquière
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Applied Mass Spectrometry, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Denis Migliorini
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Brain Tumor and Immune Cell Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Arber
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pedro Romero
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Ping-Chih Ho
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Épalinges, Switzerland.
| | - Mathias Wenes
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- AGORA Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Brain Tumor and Immune Cell Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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15
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Conti AG, Roychoudhuri R. Orthogonal engineering of synthetic T cell states to enhance cancer immunotherapy. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:733-735. [PMID: 37081149 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01470-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto G Conti
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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