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Yu L, Ji T, Liao W, Xu Y, Fang Y, Zhu Q, Nie J, Yang D. H4-methylation regulators mediated epitranscriptome patterns and tumor microenvironment infiltration characterization in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:43. [PMID: 36932439 PMCID: PMC10024435 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01460-6] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are involved in the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the regulation of immune response. Nonetheless, the role of histone H4 methylation (H4M) modification in the TME and immune regulation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. As a result, the purpose of this research is to discover H4M-mediated modification patterns and their effects on TME and immunologic characteristics in HCC. A total of 2305 samples were enrolled from 13 different cohorts. With the help of consensus clustering analysis, three distinct H4M modification patterns were identified. The cell-infiltrating characteristics of TME under these three patterns were highly consistent with their enriched biological processes and clinical outcome. The H4Mscore was then created using principal component analysis algorithm to quantify the H4M modification pattern of each individual tumor and was systematically correlated with representative tumor characteristics. We found that analyzing H4M modification patterns within individual tumors could predict TME infiltration, homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), intratumor heterogeneity, proliferation activity, mRNA stemness index, and prognosis. The group with a low H4Mscore had an inflamed TME phenotype and a better immunotherapy response, as well as a better survival outcome. The prognostic value of H4Mscore was validated in three internal cohorts and five external cohorts, respectively. In external immunotherapy cohorts, the low H4Mscore was also linked to an enhanced response to anti-PD-1/L1 and anti-CTLA4 immunotherapy and a better prognosis. This study revealed that H4M modification played an important role in forming TME diversity and complexity. Evaluating the H4M modification pattern of individual tumors could help us learn more about TME and develop more effective immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyuan Yu
- grid.416466.70000 0004 1757 959XUnit of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong Province China
| | - Tao Ji
- grid.416466.70000 0004 1757 959XUnit of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong Province China
| | - Wei Liao
- grid.416466.70000 0004 1757 959XUnit of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong Province China
| | - Yuyan Xu
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471General Surgery Center, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Organ and Tissue Engineering, Guangzhou Clinical Research and Transformation Center for Artificial Liver, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province China
| | - Yinghao Fang
- grid.416466.70000 0004 1757 959XUnit of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong Province China
| | - Qing Zhu
- grid.416466.70000 0004 1757 959XUnit of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong Province China
| | - Jianmin Nie
- grid.416466.70000 0004 1757 959XUnit of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong Province China
| | - Dinghua Yang
- grid.416466.70000 0004 1757 959XUnit of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong Province China
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Cancer Vaccines: Antigen Selection Strategy. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020085. [PMID: 33503926 PMCID: PMC7911511 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike traditional cancer therapies, cancer vaccines (CVs) harness a high specificity of the host’s immunity to kill tumor cells. CVs can train and bolster the patient’s immune system to recognize and eliminate malignant cells by enhancing immune cells’ identification of antigens expressed on cancer cells. Various features of antigens like immunogenicity and avidity influence the efficacy of CVs. Therefore, the choice and application of antigens play a critical role in establishing and developing CVs. Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), a group of proteins expressed at elevated levels in tumor cells but lower levels in healthy normal cells, have been well-studied and developed in CVs. However, immunological tolerance, HLA restriction, and adverse events are major obstacles that threaten TAA-based CVs’ efficacy due to the “self-protein” characteristic of TAAs. As “abnormal proteins” that are completely absent from normal cells, tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) can trigger a robust immune response against tumor cells with high specificity and without going through central tolerance, contributing to cancer vaccine development feasibility. In this review, we focus on the unique features of TAAs and TSAs and their application in vaccines, summarizing their performance in preclinical and clinical trials.
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Fazio C, Covre A, Cutaia O, Lofiego MF, Tunici P, Chiarucci C, Cannito S, Giacobini G, Lowder JN, Ferraldeschi R, Taverna P, Di Giacomo AM, Coral S, Maio M. Immunomodulatory Properties of DNA Hypomethylating Agents: Selecting the Optimal Epigenetic Partner for Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1443. [PMID: 30581389 PMCID: PMC6293200 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA hypomethylating agents (DHAs) play a well-acknowledged role in potentiating the immunogenicity and the immune recognition of neoplastic cells. This immunomodulatory activity of DHAs is linked to their ability to induce or to up-regulate on neoplastic cells the expression of a variety of immune molecules that play a crucial role in host-tumor immune interactions. To further investigate the clinical potential of diverse epigenetic compounds when combined with immunotherapeutic strategies, we have now compared the tumor immunomodulatory properties of the first generation DHAs, azacytidine (AZA) and decitabine (DAC) and of the next generation DHA, guadecitabine. To this end, human melanoma and hematological cancer cells were treated in vitro with 1 μM guadecitabine, DAC or AZA and then studied by molecular and flow cytometry analyses for changes in their baseline expression of selected immune molecules involved in different mechanism(s) of immune recognition. Results demonstrated a stronger DNA hypomethylating activity of guadecitabine and DAC, compared to AZA that associated with stronger immunomodulatory activities. Indeed, the mRNA expression of cancer testis antigens, immune-checkpoint blocking molecules, immunostimulatory cytokines, involved in NK and T cell signaling and recruiting, and of genes involved in interferon pathway was higher after guadecitabine and DAC compared to AZA treatment. Moreover, a stronger up-regulation of the constitutive expression of HLA class I antigens and of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 was observed with guadecitabine and DAC compared to AZA. Guadecitabine and DAC seem to represent the optimal combination partners to improve the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapeutic agents in combination/sequencing clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Fazio
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessia Covre
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ornella Cutaia
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Fortunata Lofiego
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Patrizia Tunici
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Carla Chiarucci
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Sara Cannito
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Giacobini
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - James N Lowder
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pleasanton, CA, United States
| | | | - Pietro Taverna
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pleasanton, CA, United States
| | - Anna Maria Di Giacomo
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Coral
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Michele Maio
- Department of Oncology, Center for Immuno-Oncology, Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Chacon JA, Schutsky K, Powell DJ. The Impact of Chemotherapy, Radiation and Epigenetic Modifiers in Cancer Cell Expression of Immune Inhibitory and Stimulatory Molecules and Anti-Tumor Efficacy. Vaccines (Basel) 2016; 4:E43. [PMID: 27854240 PMCID: PMC5192363 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines4040043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Revised: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic destabilizers, such as radiation and chemotherapy, and epigenetic modifiers are used for the treatment of cancer due to their apoptotic effects on the aberrant cells. However, these therapies may also induce widespread changes within the immune system and cancer cells, which may enable tumors to avoid immune surveillance and escape from host anti-tumor immunity. Genomic destabilizers can induce immunogenic death of tumor cells, but also induce upregulation of immune inhibitory ligands on drug-resistant cells, resulting in tumor progression. While administration of immunomodulatory antibodies that block the interactions between inhibitory receptors on immune cells and their ligands on tumor cells can mediate cancer regression in a subset of treated patients, it is crucial to understand how genomic destabilizers alter the immune system and malignant cells, including which inhibitory molecules, receptors and/or ligands are upregulated in response to genotoxic stress. Knowledge gained in this area will aid in the rational design of trials that combine genomic destabilizers, epigenetic modifiers and immunotherapeutic agents that may be synergized to improve clinical responses and prevent tumor escape from the immune system. Our review article describes the impact genomic destabilizers, such as radiation and chemotherapy, and epigenetic modifiers have on anti-tumor immunity and the tumor microenvironment. Although genomic destabilizers cause DNA damage on cancer cells, these therapies can also have diverse effects on the immune system, promote immunogenic cell death or survival and alter the cancer cell expression of immune inhibitor molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Ann Chacon
- Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Keith Schutsky
- Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Daniel J Powell
- Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Scarpa M, Scarpa M, Castagliuolo I, Erroi F, Basato S, Brun P, Angriman I, Castoro C. CD80 down-regulation is associated to aberrant DNA methylation in non-inflammatory colon carcinogenesis. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:388. [PMID: 27377375 PMCID: PMC4932699 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2405-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The lack of positive costimulatory molecules represents one of the mechanisms by which tumor cells evade immune surveillance. Promoter hypermethylation plays a major role in cancer development through transcriptional silencing of critical genes. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of the costimulatory molecule CD80 in relationship with genomic methylation in non-inflammatory colon carcinogenesis. Methods Colonic mucosal samples were collected from healthy subjects (n = 30) and from dysplastic adenoma (n = 14), and colon adenocarcinoma (n = 10). DNA methyltransferases-1, −3a, −3b and CD80 mRNA expression were quantified by real time qRT-PCR. The methylation status of CDH13, APC, MLH1, MGMT1 and RUNX3 gene promoters was assessed by methylation-specific PCR. CD80 expression was assessed in HT29, HCT-15 and LoVo cell lines after treatment with the DNA-methyltransferase inhibitor 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine. Results CD80 mRNA levels were significantly lower in the non-inflammatory dysplastic colonic mucosa of patients with one or more methylated genes and inversely correlated with patients’ methylation scores (τ = −0.41, p = 0.05 and τ = −0.37, p = 0.05, respectively). Treatment with 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine significantly increased CD80 expression both in terms of the level of CD80 mRNA (p = 0.007) and of CD80+ cells (p = 0.003). Conclusions These results indicate that the failure of immune surveillance mechanisms in non-inflammatory colon carcinogenesis may be linked to genomic methylation directly or indirectly affecting CD80 expression. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2405-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Scarpa
- Esophageal and Digestive Tract Surgery Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
| | - Melania Scarpa
- Esophageal and Digestive Tract Surgery Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Erroi
- Esophageal and Digestive Tract Surgery Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Basato
- Esophageal and Digestive Tract Surgery Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Brun
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Imerio Angriman
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology DISCOG, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Carlo Castoro
- Esophageal and Digestive Tract Surgery Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
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Oncogenic cancer/testis antigens: prime candidates for immunotherapy. Oncotarget 2016; 6:15772-87. [PMID: 26158218 PMCID: PMC4599236 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent developments have set the stage for immunotherapy as a supplement to conventional cancer treatment. Consequently, a significant effort is required to further improve efficacy and specificity, particularly the identification of optimal therapeutic targets for clinical testing. Cancer/testis antigens are immunogenic, highly cancer-specific, and frequently expressed in various types of cancer, which make them promising candidate targets for cancer immunotherapy, including cancer vaccination and adoptive T-cell transfer with chimeric T-cell receptors. Our current understanding of tumor immunology and immune escape suggests that targeting oncogenic antigens may be beneficial, meaning that identification of cancer/testis antigens with oncogenic properties is of high priority. Recent work from our lab and others provide evidence that many cancer/testis antigens, in fact, have oncogenic functions, including support of growth, survival and metastasis. This novel insight into the function of cancer/testis antigens has the potential to deliver more effective cancer vaccines. Moreover, immune targeting of oncogenic cancer/testis antigens in combination with conventional cytotoxic therapies or novel immunotherapies such as checkpoint blockade or adoptive transfer, represents a highly synergistic approach with the potential to improve patient survival.
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7
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Cancer immunotherapy utilizing gene-modified T cells: From the bench to the clinic. Mol Immunol 2015; 67:46-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2014.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Vlková V, Štěpánek I, Hrušková V, Šenigl F, Mayerová V, Šrámek M, Šímová J, Bieblová J, Indrová M, Hejhal T, Dérian N, Klatzmann D, Six A, Reiniš M. Epigenetic regulations in the IFNγ signalling pathway: IFNγ-mediated MHC class I upregulation on tumour cells is associated with DNA demethylation of antigen-presenting machinery genes. Oncotarget 2015; 5:6923-35. [PMID: 25071011 PMCID: PMC4196173 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Downregulation of MHC class I expression on tumour cells, a common mechanism by which tumour cells can escape from specific immune responses, can be associated with coordinated silencing of antigen-presenting machinery genes. The expression of these genes can be restored by IFNγ. In this study we documented association of DNA demethylation of selected antigen-presenting machinery genes located in the MHC genomic locus (TAP-1, TAP-2, LMP-2, LMP-7) upon IFNγ treatment with MHC class I upregulation on tumour cells in several MHC class I-deficient murine tumour cell lines (TC-1/A9, TRAMP-C2, MK16 and MC15). Our data also documented higher methylation levels in these genes in TC-1/A9 cells, as compared to their parental MHC class I-positive TC-1 cells. IFNγ-mediated DNA demethylation was relatively fast in comparison with demethylation induced by DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine, and associated with increased histone H3 acetylation in the promoter regions of APM genes. Comparative transcriptome analysis in distinct MHC class I-deficient cell lines upon their treatment with either IFNγ or epigenetic agents revealed that a set of genes, significantly enriched for the antigen presentation pathway, was regulated in the same manner. Our data demonstrate that IFNγ acts as an epigenetic modifier when upregulating the expression of antigen-presenting machinery genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Vlková
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Ivan Štěpánek
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Veronika Hrušková
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Filip Šenigl
- Department of Viral and Cellular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Veronika Mayerová
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Martin Šrámek
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Jana Šímová
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Jana Bieblová
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Marie Indrová
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Tomáš Hejhal
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
| | - Nicolas Dérian
- UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; CNRS, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; INSERM, UMR_S 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, CIC-BTi Biotherapy & Département Hospitalo-Universitaire (DHU) Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy (i2B), Paris, France
| | - David Klatzmann
- UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; CNRS, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; INSERM, UMR_S 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, CIC-BTi Biotherapy & Département Hospitalo-Universitaire (DHU) Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy (i2B), Paris, France
| | - Adrien Six
- UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; CNRS, UMR 7211, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; INSERM, UMR_S 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (I3), Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, CIC-BTi Biotherapy & Département Hospitalo-Universitaire (DHU) Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy (i2B), Paris, France
| | - Milan Reiniš
- Department of Tumour Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Prague
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Liu JH, Bian YM, Xie Y, Lu DP. Epigenetic modification and preliminary investigation of the mechanism of the immune evasion of HL-60 cells. Mol Med Rep 2015; 12:1059-65. [PMID: 25815463 PMCID: PMC4438930 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.3526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of epigenetic modification of class II transactivator (CIITA) methylation on histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression and the immune evasion of leukemia HL-60 cells. HL-60 cells were treated with various concentrations of 5-aza-2′deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) and 0.5 μmol/l suberoyl-anilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) for 24 h and then stimulated by interferon γ (IFN-γ) for 48 h. The mRNA levels of MHC class I, II and co-stimulatory molecules were quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The levels of CIITA protein were determined by western blot analysis, and the CpG island methylation ratios in the CIITA promoter IV (CIITApIV) were analyzed by bisulfite-sequencing PCR (BSP). MHC I as well as the co-stimulatory molecules CD40 and CD80 were significantly increased following treatment with 5-Aza-CdR + SAHA + IFN-γ (epigenetic groups) compared with those in the control group and IFN-γ group (P<0.05). The expression of MHC class II and CIITA was restored and increased in an 5-Aza-CdR concentration-dependent manner in the three epigenetic groups. The results of the BSP assay showed that the methylation rate of CIITApIV CpG sites decreased with the treatment of epigenetic modification and negatively correlated to the 5-Aza-CdR concentration. This demonstrated that the negative expression of CIITA protein was the key reason for the loss of MHC II expression in HL-60 cells. The results of the present study may help to illustrate the mechanism of immune evasion in HL-60 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Hong Liu
- Department of Hematology, The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai 200240, P.R. China
| | - Yong Mei Bian
- Department of Pediatrics, Minhang District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai 201102, P.R. China
| | - Yi Xie
- Department of Hematology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Dao Pei Lu
- Department of Hematology, The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai 200240, P.R. China
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Tsimberidou AM, Said R, Culotta K, Wistuba I, Jelinek J, Fu S, Falchook G, Naing A, Piha-Paul S, Zinner R, Siddik ZH, He G, Hess K, Stewart DJ, Kurzrock R, Issa JPJ. Phase I study of azacitidine and oxaliplatin in patients with advanced cancers that have relapsed or are refractory to any platinum therapy. Clin Epigenetics 2015; 7:29. [PMID: 25806091 PMCID: PMC4371799 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-015-0065-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Demethylation process is necessary for the expression of various factors involved in chemotherapy cytotoxicity or resistance. Platinum-resistant cells may have reduced expression of the copper/platinum transporter CTR1. We hypothesized that azacitidine and oxaliplatin combination therapy may restore platinum sensitivity. We treated patients with cancer relapsed/refractory to any platinum compounds (3 + 3 study design) with azacitidine (20 to 50 mg/m2/day intravenously (IV) over 15 to 30 min, D1 to 5) and oxaliplatin (15 to 30 mg/m2/day, IV over 2 h, D2 to 5) (maximum, six cycles). Platinum content, LINE1 methylation (surrogate of global DNA methylation), and CTR1 expression changes (pre- vs. post-treatment) were assessed. Drug pharmacokinetics were analyzed. Results Thirty-seven patients were treated. No dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was noted at the maximum dose. The most common adverse events were anemia and fatigue. Two (5.4%) patients had stable disease and completed six cycles of therapy. Oxaliplatin (D2) and azacitidine (D1 and 5) mean systemic exposure based on plasma AUCall showed dose-dependent interaction whereby increasing the dose of oxaliplatin reduced the mean azacitidine exposure and vice versa; however, no significant differences in other non-compartmental modeled parameters were observed. Blood samples showed universal reduction in global DNA methylation. In tumor samples, hypomethylation was only observed in four out of seven patients. No correlation between blood and tumor demethylation was seen. The mean cytoplasmic CTR1 score decreased. The pre-dose tumor oxaliplatin levels ranged from <0.25 to 5.8 μg/g tumor. The platinum concentration increased 3- to 18-fold. No correlation was found between CTR1 score and oxaliplatin level, which was found to have a trend toward correlation with progression-free survival. Conclusions Oxaliplatin and azacitidine combination therapy was safe. CTR1 expression was not correlated with methylation status or tissue platinum concentration. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13148-015-0065-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apostolia M Tsimberidou
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 455, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Rabih Said
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 455, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA ; Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6410 Fannin Street, Suite 722, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Kirk Culotta
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Ignacio Wistuba
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Jaroslav Jelinek
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, 3307 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140 USA
| | - Siqing Fu
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 455, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Gerald Falchook
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 455, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Aung Naing
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 455, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Sarina Piha-Paul
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 455, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Ralph Zinner
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 455, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Zahid H Siddik
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Guangan He
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Kenneth Hess
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - David J Stewart
- Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8 L6 Canada
| | - Razelle Kurzrock
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 455, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA ; Department of Internal Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, 3855 Health Sciences Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Jean-Pierre J Issa
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, 3307 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140 USA
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11
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Li X, Mei Q, Nie J, Fu X, Han W. Decitabine: a promising epi-immunotherapeutic agent in solid tumors. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2015; 11:363-75. [DOI: 10.1586/1744666x.2015.1002397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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12
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Odunsi K, Matsuzaki J, James SR, Mhawech-Fauceglia P, Tsuji T, Miller A, Zhang W, Akers SN, Griffiths EA, Miliotto A, Beck A, Batt CA, Ritter G, Lele S, Gnjatic S, Karpf AR. Epigenetic potentiation of NY-ESO-1 vaccine therapy in human ovarian cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2014; 2:37-49. [PMID: 24535937 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-13-0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The cancer-testis/cancer-germline antigen NY-ESO-1 is a vaccine target in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), but its limited expression is a barrier to vaccine efficacy. As NY-ESO-1 is regulated by DNA methylation, we hypothesized that DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors may augment NY-ESO-1 vaccine therapy. In agreement, global DNA hypomethylation in EOC was associated with the presence of circulating antibodies to NY-ESO-1. Pre-clinical studies using EOC cell lines showed that decitabine treatment enhanced both NY-ESO-1 expression and NY-ESO-1-specific CTL-mediated responses. Based on these observations, we performed a phase I dose-escalation trial of decitabine, as an addition to NY-ESO-1 vaccine and doxorubicin liposome (doxorubicin) chemotherapy, in 12 patients with relapsed EOC. The regimen was safe, with limited and clinically manageable toxicities. Both global and promoter-specific DNA hypomethylation occurred in blood and circulating DNAs, the latter of which may reflect tumor cell responses. Increased NY-ESO-1 serum antibodies and T cell responses were observed in the majority of patients, and antibody spreading to additional tumor antigens was also observed. Finally, disease stabilization or partial clinical response occurred in 6/10 evaluable patients. Based on these encouraging results, evaluation of similar combinatorial chemo-immunotherapy regimens in EOC and other tumor types is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunle Odunsi
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263 ; Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263 ; Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Junko Matsuzaki
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263 ; Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Smitha R James
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | | | - Takemasa Tsuji
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263 ; Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Austin Miller
- Department of Biostatistics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Wa Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263 ; Eppley Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198
| | - Stacey N Akers
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | | | - Anthony Miliotto
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Amy Beck
- Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Carl A Batt
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853
| | - Gerd Ritter
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, NY Branch at Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, NY, 10021
| | - Shashikant Lele
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263
| | - Sacha Gnjatic
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, 68198
| | - Adam R Karpf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263 ; Eppley Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198
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13
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Nicolay HJM, Sigalotti L, Fonsatti E, Covre A, Parisi G, Fratta E, Coral S, Maio M. Epigenetically regulated tumor-associated antigens in melanoma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1586/edm.09.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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14
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Abstract
Besides 5-azacytidine (azacitidine, Vidaza®), 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine, Dacogen®) is the most widely used inhibitor of DNA methylation, which triggers demethylation leading to consecutive reactivation of epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor genes in vitro and in vivo. Although antileukemic activity of decitabine is known for almost 40 years, its therapeutic potential in hematologic malignancies has only recently led to its approval in higher-risk MDS patients and as first-line treatment in AML patients>65 years who are not candidates for intensive chemotherapy. Several clinical trials showed promising activity of low-dose decitabine also in CML and hemoglobinopathies, whereas its efficacy in solid tumors is very limited. Clinical responses appear to be exerted both by epigenetic alterations and by induction of cell-cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Recent and ongoing clinical trials investigate new dosing schedules, routes of administration, and combination of decitabine with other agents, including histone deacetylase inhibitors.
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15
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Sigalotti L, Fratta E, Coral S, Maio M. Epigenetic drugs as immunomodulators for combination therapies in solid tumors. Pharmacol Ther 2013; 142:339-50. [PMID: 24384533 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Continuously improving knowledge of the fine mechanisms regulating cross-talk between immune cells, and of their multi-faceted interactions with cancer cells, has prompted the development of several novel immunotherapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Among these, modulation of the host's immune system by targeting immunological synapses has shown notable clinical efficacy in different tumor types. Despite this, objective clinical responses and, more importantly, long-term survival are achieved only by a fraction of patients; therefore, identification of the mechanism(s) responsible for the differential effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade in specific patient populations is an area of intense investigation. Neoplastic cells can activate multiple mechanisms to escape from immune control; among these, epigenetic reprogramming is emerging as a key player. Selected tumor-associated antigens, Human Leukocyte Antigens, and accessory/co-stimulatory molecules required for efficient recognition of neoplastic cells by the immune system have been shown to be epigenetically silenced or down-regulated in cancer. Consistent with the inherent reversibility of epigenetic silencing, "epigenetic" drugs, such as inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases and of histone deacetylases, can restore the functional expression of these down-regulated molecules, thus improving the recognition of cancer cells by both the innate and adaptive immune responses. This review focuses on the immunomodulatory activity of epigenetic drugs and on their proposed clinical use in novel combined chemo-immunotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Sigalotti
- Cancer Bioimmunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Aviano, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Fratta
- Cancer Bioimmunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Aviano, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | - Sandra Coral
- Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy
| | - Michele Maio
- Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy.
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16
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Fratta E, Sigalotti L, Covre A, Parisi G, Coral S, Maio M. Epigenetics of melanoma: implications for immune-based therapies. Immunotherapy 2013; 5:1103-16. [DOI: 10.2217/imt.13.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a complex disease that arises and evolves due to a myriad of genetic and epigenetic events. Among these, the interaction between epigenetic alterations (i.e., histone modifications, DNA methylation, mRNA silencing by miRNAs and nucleosome repositioning) has been recently identified as playing an important role in melanoma development and progression by affecting key cellular pathways such as cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, apoptosis, invasion and immune recognition. Differently to genetic lesions, epigenetic changes are potentially pharmacologically reversible by using epigenetic drugs. Along this line, preclinical and clinical findings indicate that these drugs, given alone or in combination therapies, can efficiently modulate the immunophenotype of melanoma cells. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of melanoma epigenetics and the current use of epigenetic drugs in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Fratta
- Cancer Bioimmunotherapy Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Aviano, Italy
| | - Luca Sigalotti
- Cancer Bioimmunotherapy Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Aviano, Italy
| | - Alessia Covre
- Division of Medical Oncology & Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Strada delle Scotte 14, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giulia Parisi
- Division of Medical Oncology & Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Strada delle Scotte 14, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Coral
- Division of Medical Oncology & Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Strada delle Scotte 14, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Michele Maio
- Division of Medical Oncology & Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Strada delle Scotte 14, 53100 Siena, Italy
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17
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Du XZ, Li QY, Du FW, He ZG, Wang J. Sodium Valproate Sensitizes Non-Small Lung Cancer A549 Cells to γδ T-Cell-Mediated Killing through Upregulating the Expression of MICA. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2013; 27:492-8. [PMID: 23918508 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.21513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xian-zhi Du
- Department of Respiratory Medicine; The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University; Chongqing 400010 People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong-ya Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine; The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University; Chongqing 400010 People's Republic of China
| | - Fa-wang Du
- Department of Respiratory Medicine; Suining Central Hospital; Suining 629000 People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng-guang He
- Department of Respiratory Medicine; Suining Central Hospital; Suining 629000 People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine; The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University; Chongqing 400010 People's Republic of China
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18
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Cartron PF, Blanquart C, Hervouet E, Gregoire M, Vallette FM. HDAC1-mSin3a-NCOR1, Dnmt3b-HDAC1-Egr1 and Dnmt1-PCNA-UHRF1-G9a regulate the NY-ESO1 gene expression. Mol Oncol 2013; 7:452-63. [PMID: 23312906 PMCID: PMC5528493 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2012.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Revised: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The NY-ESO1 gene is a cancer/testis antigen considered to be suitable target for the immunotherapy of human malignancies. Despite the identification of the epigenetical silencing of the NY-ESO1 gene in a large variety of tumors, the molecular mechanism involved in this phenomenon is not fully elucidated. In two non epithelial cancers (glioma and mesothelioma), we found that the epigenetic regulation of the NY-ESO1 gene requires the sequential recruitment of the HDAC1-mSin3a-NCOR, Dnmt3b-HDAC1-Egr1 and Dnmt1-PCNA-UHRF1-G9a complexes. Thus, our data illustrate the orchestration of a sequential epigenetic mechanism including the histone deacetylation and methylation, and the DNA methylation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-François Cartron
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie Nantes-Angers, INSERM U892, Equipe Apoptose et Progression Tumorale, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, 8 Quai Moncousu, BP 7021, 44007 Nantes, France.
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19
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Low dose decitabine treatment induces CD80 expression in cancer cells and stimulates tumor specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62924. [PMID: 23671644 PMCID: PMC3650049 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lack of immunogenicity of cancer cells has been considered a major reason for their failure in induction of a tumor specific T cell response. In this paper, we present evidence that decitabine (DAC), a DNA methylation inhibitor that is currently used for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other malignant neoplasms, is capable of eliciting an anti-tumor cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response in mouse EL4 tumor model. C57BL/6 mice with established EL4 tumors were treated with DAC (1.0 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 5 days. We found that DAC treatment resulted in infiltration of IFN-γ producing T lymphocytes into tumors and caused tumor rejection. Depletion of CD8+, but not CD4+ T cells resumed tumor growth. DAC-induced CTL response appeared to be elicited by the induction of CD80 expression on tumor cells. Epigenetic evidence suggests that DAC induces CD80 expression in EL4 cells via demethylation of CpG dinucleotide sites in the promoter of CD80 gene. In addition, we also showed that a transient, low-dose DAC treatment can induce CD80 gene expression in a variety of human cancer cells. This study provides the first evidence that epigenetic modulation can induce the expression of a major T cell co-stimulatory molecule on cancer cells, which can overcome immune tolerance, and induce an efficient anti-tumor CTL response. The results have important implications in designing DAC-based cancer immunotherapy.
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20
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Thrombospondin-1 expression in melanoma is blocked by methylation and targeted reversal by 5-Aza-deoxycytidine suppresses angiogenesis. Matrix Biol 2012. [PMID: 23202046 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2012.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reversibility of aberrant methylation via pharmacological means is an attractive target for therapies through epigenetic reprogramming. To establish that pharmacologic reversal of methylation could result in functional inhibition of angiogenesis, we undertook in vitro and in vivo studies of thrombospondin-1 (TSP1), a known inhibitor of angiogenesis. TSP1 is methylated in several malignancies, and can inhibit angiogenesis in melanoma xenografts. We analyzed effects of 5-Aza-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) on melanoma cells in vitro to confirm reversal of promoter hypermethylation and restoration of TSP1 expression. We then investigated the effects of TSP1 expression on new blood vessel formation and tumor growth in vivo. Finally, to determine potential for clinical translation, the methylation status of TSP1 promoter regions of nevi and melanoma tissues was investigated. RESULTS 5-Aza-dC reduced DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) protein, reversed promoter hypermethylation, and restored TSP1 expression in five melanoma cell lines, while having no effect on TSP1 protein levels in normal human melanocytes. In in vivo neovascularization studies, mice were implanted with melanoma cells (A375) either untreated or treated with 5Aza-dC. Vessels at tumor sites were counted by an observer blinded to treatments and the number of tumor vessels was significantly decreased at pretreated tumor sites. This difference occurred before a significant difference in tumor volumes was seen, yet in further studies the average tumor volume in mice treated in vivo with 5-Aza-dC was decreased by 55% compared to untreated controls. Knockdown of TSP1 expression with shRNA enhanced tumor-induced angiogenesis by 68%. Analyses of promoter methylation status of TSP1 in tumors derived from untreated and treated mice identified 67% of tumors from untreated and 17% of tumors from treated mice with partial methylation consistent with the methylation specific PCR analysis of A375 cells. Examination of methylation patterns in the promoter of TSP1 and comparison of aberrantly methylated TSP1 in melanoma with non-malignant nevi identified a significantly higher frequency of promoter methylation in tumor samples from melanoma patients. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacological reversal of methylation silenced TSP1 had functional biological consequences in enhancing angiogenesis inhibition and inducing antitumor effects to decrease murine melanoma growth. Angiogenesis inhibition is an additional mechanism by which epigenetic modulators can have antitumor effects.
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21
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Cowan LA, Talwar S, Yang AS. Will DNA methylation inhibitors work in solid tumors? A review of the clinical experience with azacitidine and decitabine in solid tumors. Epigenomics 2012; 2:71-86. [PMID: 22122748 DOI: 10.2217/epi.09.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent approval of azacitidine (Vidaza®), decitabine (Dacogen®) and vorinostat (Zolinza™) for myelodysplastic syndrome and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma has led to a wave of interest in epigenetic therapy. These DNA methylation inhibitors and the histone deacetylase inhibitor clearly have demonstrated activity in hematologic malignancies, but the future role of epigenetic therapy in solid tumors is still unknown. What is not commonly known is that azacitidine and decitabine were originally developed as cytotoxic nucleoside analogs and clinical trials were previously conducted in a variety of cancer types prior to the knowledge of their ability to inhibit DNA methylation. We review the experience of azacitidine and decitabine in early clinical trials and demonstrate the activity of epigenetic therapy in solid tumors.
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22
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Amatori S, Bagaloni I, Donati B, Fanelli M. DNA demethylating antineoplastic strategies: a comparative point of view. Genes Cancer 2011; 1:197-209. [PMID: 21779447 DOI: 10.1177/1947601910365081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the involvement of genetic alterations in neoplastic cell transformation, it is increasingly evident that abnormal epigenetic patterns, such as those affecting DNA methylation and histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs), play an essential role in the early stages of tumor development. This finding, together with the evidence that epigenetic changes are reversible, enabled the development of new antineoplastic therapeutic approaches known as epigenetic therapies. Epigenetic modifications are involved in the control of gene expression, and their aberrant distribution is thought to participate in neoplastic transformation by causing the deregulation of crucial cellular pathways. Epigenetic drugs are able to revert the defective gene expression profile of cancer cells and, consequently, reestablish normal molecular pathways. Considering the emerging interest in epigenetic therapeutics, this review focuses on the approaches affecting DNA methylation, evaluates novel strategies and those already approved for clinical use, and compares their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Amatori
- Molecular Pathology and Oncology Lab. "PaoLa," Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Fano, Italy
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23
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Kalbasi A, Fonsatti E, Natali PG, Altomonte M, Bertocci E, Cutaia O, Calabrò L, Chiou M, Tap W, Chmielowski B, Maio M, Ribas A. CD40 expression by human melanocytic lesions and melanoma cell lines and direct CD40 targeting with the therapeutic anti-CD40 antibody CP-870,893. J Immunother 2011; 33:810-6. [PMID: 20842056 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0b013e3181ee73a7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Anti-CD40 antibodies are in clinical development in patients with metastatic melanoma, a cancer that has been reported earlier to express CD40. The antitumor activity of anti-CD40 antibodies may be mediated by direct cytotoxic effects on CD40-positive melanoma cells or indirectly through modulation of host cells. In these studies, biopsies of patients with primary and metastatic melanoma, short-term cultures, and established melanoma cell lines were analyzed for CD40 expression using a combination of methods including immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and gene expression profiling, and the cytotoxic effects of the anti-CD40 antibody CP-870,893 on melanoma cell lines were tested using cell viability assays. CD40 was expressed at a higher frequency in metastatic melanoma lesions compared with primary melanomas. There was a variable expression of CD40 in synchronous and metachronous melanoma metastases. Expression of CD40 was present in slightly over half of a large panel of short-term primary melanoma cultures, with a wide range of expression levels by flow cytometry. Similar results were obtained in established melanoma cell lines when analyzed at the mRNA level or by surface protein staining. In approximately one-third of cell lines, the expression of CD40 could be up-regulated with a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Treatment with increasing concentrations of CP-870,893 had no antitumor activity against either CD40-positive or negative melanoma cell lines. In conclusion, approximately one-third to one-half of melanomas expresses CD40 at variable levels. Direct exposure to a CD40-activating antibody does not lead to antitumor activity in melanoma cell lines, suggesting that the antitumor effects of these antibodies in the clinic may be indirectly mediated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Kalbasi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
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24
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Serrano A, Castro-Vega I, Redondo M. Role of gene methylation in antitumor immune response: implication for tumor progression. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:1672-90. [PMID: 24212778 PMCID: PMC3757384 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3021672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2010] [Revised: 03/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunosurveillance theory has emphasized the role of escape mechanisms in tumor growth. In this respect, a very important factor is the molecular characterization of the mechanisms by which tumor cells evade immune recognition and destruction. Among the many escape mechanisms identified, alterations in classical and non-classical HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigens) class I and class II expression by tumor cells are of particular interest. In addition to the importance of HLA molecules, tumor-associated antigens and accessory/co-stimulatory molecules are also involved in immune recognition. The loss of HLA class I antigen expression and of co-stimulatory molecules can occur at genetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Epigenetic defects are involved in at least some mechanisms that preclude mounting a successful host-antitumor response involving the HLA system, tumor-associated antigens, and accessory/co-stimulatory molecules. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of methylation in the regulation of molecules involved in the tumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Serrano
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Campus Universitario Teatinos S/N, 29010 Malaga, Spain.
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25
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Immunotherapy for lung cancers. J Biomed Biotechnol 2011; 2011:250860. [PMID: 21318107 PMCID: PMC3035001 DOI: 10.1155/2011/250860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2010] [Revised: 11/15/2010] [Accepted: 12/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although treatment methods in surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy have improved, prognosis remains unsatisfactory and developing new therapeutic strategies is still an urgent demand. Immunotherapy is a novel therapeutic approach wherein activated immune cells can specifically kill tumor cells by recognition of tumor-associated antigens without damage to normal cells. Several lung cancer vaccines have demonstrated prolonged survival time in phase II and phase III trials, and several clinical trials are under investigation. However, many clinical trials involving cancer vaccination with defined tumor antigens work in only a small number of patients. Cancer immunotherapy is not completely effective in eradicating tumor cells because tumor cells escape from host immune scrutiny. Understanding of the mechanism of immune evasion regulated by tumor cells is required for the development of more effective immunotherapeutic approaches against lung cancer. This paper discusses the identification of tumor antigens in lung cancer, tumor immune escape mechanisms, and clinical vaccine trials in lung cancer.
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26
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Gjerstorff MF, Burns J, Ditzel HJ. Cancer-germline antigen vaccines and epigenetic enhancers: future strategies for cancer treatment. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2010; 10:1061-75. [PMID: 20420535 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2010.485188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD Immunotherapy holds great potential for disseminated cancer, and cancer-germline (CG) antigens are among the most promising tumor targets. They are widely expressed in different cancer types and are essentially tumor-specific, since their expression in normal tissues is largely restricted to immune-privileged sites. Although the therapeutic potential of these antigens may be compromised by their highly heterogeneous expression in many tumors and low frequency in some cancers, recent developments suggest that tumor-cell-selective enhancement of CG antigen gene expression can be achieved using epigenetic modifiers. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW We provide an overview of the potential of CG antigens as targets for cancer immunotherapy, including advantages and disadvantages. We also discuss the current state of development of CG antigen vaccines, and the potential synergistic effect of combining CG antigen immunotherapeutic strategies with epigenetic modifiers. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN The reader will gain an overview of the past, present and future role of CG antigens in cancer immunotherapy. TAKE HOME MESSAGE Chemoimmunotherapy using epigenetic drugs and CG antigen vaccines may be a useful approach for treating cancer.
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27
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Abstract
The pyrimidine analogs, 5-azacytidine (azacitidine, Vidaza) and its deoxy derivative, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine, Dacogen, are the most widely used inhibitors of DNA methylation which trigger demethylation leading to a consecutive reactivation of epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor genes in vitro and in vivo. Although the antileukemic capacity of decitabine has been known for almost 40 years, its therapeutic potential in hematologic malignancies is still under intensive investigation. Multiple clinical trials have shown the promising activity of low-dose decitabine in AML, MDS, CML, and hemoglobinopathies, whereas its efficacy in solid tumors is rather limited.Clinical responses appear to be induced by both epigenetic alterations and the induction of cell-cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Recent clinical trials have been investigating new dosing schedules, routes of administration, and combination of decitabine with other agents, including histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Daskalakis
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Hugstetterstrasse 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
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Lung cancer-associated tumor antigens and the present status of immunotherapy against non-small-cell lung cancer. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009; 57:449-57. [DOI: 10.1007/s11748-008-0433-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2008] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Link PA, Gangisetty O, James SR, Woloszynska-Read A, Tachibana M, Shinkai Y, Karpf AR. Distinct roles for histone methyltransferases G9a and GLP in cancer germ-line antigen gene regulation in human cancer cells and murine embryonic stem cells. Mol Cancer Res 2009; 7:851-62. [PMID: 19531572 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-08-0497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The H3K9me2 histone methyltransferases G9a and GLP repress Mage-a class cancer germ-line (CG) antigen gene expression in murine embryonic stem (ES) cells, but the role of these enzymes in CG antigen gene regulation in human cancer cells is unknown. Here we show that whereas independent or dual knockdown of G9a and GLP in human cancer cells leads to reduced global and CG antigen promoter-associated H3K9me2 levels, it does not activate CG antigen gene expression. Moreover, CG antigen gene repression is maintained following pharmacologic targeting of G9a or treatment of G9a knockdown cells with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. However, G9a knockdown cells display increased sensitivity to CG antigen gene activation mediated by the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine. To account for these findings, we examined DNA methylation at CG antigen gene promoters in both cell types. We found robust DNA hypomethylation in G9a/GLP targeted murine ES cells but a lack of DNA methylation changes in G9a/GLP targeted human cancer cells; intriguingly, this distinction also extended to markers of global DNA methylation. These data reveal that G9a/GLP is required for DNA methylation of CG antigen genes and genomic DNA in murine ES cells, but not human cancer cells, and implicate DNA methylation status as the key epigenetic mechanism involved in CG antigen gene repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra A Link
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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30
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Søreide K, Nedrebø BS, Knapp JC, Glomsaker TB, Søreide JA, Kørner H. Evolving molecular classification by genomic and proteomic biomarkers in colorectal cancer: Potential implications for the surgical oncologist. Surg Oncol 2009; 18:31-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2008.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2008] [Revised: 06/13/2008] [Accepted: 06/16/2008] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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De Lerma Barbaro A, De Ambrosis A, Banelli B, Li Pira G, Aresu O, Romani M, Ferrini S, Accolla RS. Methylation of CIITA promoter IV causes loss of HLA-II inducibility by IFN-gamma in promyelocytic cells. Int Immunol 2008; 20:1457-66. [PMID: 18829986 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxn103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The human promyelocytic cell line THP-1 expresses high level of HLA class II (HLA-II) molecules after IFN-gamma treatment. Here, we report a variant of THP-1 that does not express HLA-II after IFN-gamma. The variant's HLA-II phenotype is constant over time in culture and it is not related to a defective IFN-gamma-signalling pathway. Transfection of CIITA, the HLA-II transcriptional activator, under the control of a cytomegalovirus promoter rescues high level of HLA-DR surface expression in the variant indicating that the biosynthetic block resides in the expression of CIITA and not in the CIITA-dependent transactivation of the HLA-II promoters. Treatment of the variant with 5-azacytidine (5-aza), which inhibits CpG methylation, restores inducibility of HLA-II by IFN-gamma both at transcriptional and phenotypic level and antigen presenting and processing function of the variant. DNA studies demonstrate that the molecular defect of the THP-1 variant originates from the methylation of the CIITA promoter IV. Furthermore, treatment with 5-aza produces a substantial demethylation of CIITA promoter IV and a significant increase of IFN-gamma-dependent HLA-II expression in another myelomonocytic cell line, U937. Therefore hyper-methylation of CIITA promoter IV may be a relevant mechanism of epigenetic control preventing HLA-II IFN-gamma inducibility in the myelomonocytic cell lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea De Lerma Barbaro
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Università of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
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Kato Y, Yoshimura K, Shin T, Verheul H, Hammers H, Sanni TB, Salumbides BC, Van Erp K, Schulick R, Pili R. Synergistic in vivo antitumor effect of the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 in combination with interleukin 2 in a murine model of renal cell carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:4538-46. [PMID: 17671140 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-07-0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE High-dose interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a Food and Drug Administration-approved regimen for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, the toxicity and limited clinical benefit associated with IL-2 has hampered its use. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been shown to have antitumor activity in different tumor models including renal cell carcinoma, and to have immunomodulatory properties. In our study, we tested the effectiveness of combination therapy of IL-2 with the HDAC inhibitor MS-275 in a murine renal cell carcinoma (RENCA) model. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN RENCA luciferase-expressing cells were implanted in the left kidney of BALB/C mice. Animals were randomly divided into four groups and treated with either vehicle, 150,000 IU of IL-2 twice daily by i.p. injections (twice weekly), 5 mg/kg of MS-275 daily by oral gavage (5 d/wk), or its combination. Treatment was started either 3 or 9 days following tumor cell injection. RESULTS Weekly luciferase images and tumor weight after 2 weeks of treatment showed significant tumor inhibition (>80%) in the combination treatment as compared with the IL-2 (no significant inhibition) or MS-275 (approximately 40% inhibition) treatment groups. Spontaneous lung metastases were also inhibited in the combination treatment (>90% inhibition) as compared with the single treatment group. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed statistically significant increased survival in the combination group as compared with controls and single agents. Splenocytes from mice treated with combination treatment showed greater lysis of RENCA cells than splenocytes from mice treated with single agents. The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells and Foxp3(+) T cells (T regulatory cells) was increased or reduced, respectively, in lymph nodes from tumor-bearing animals treated with the combination of MS-275 and IL-2 as compared with control and single agents. Depletion of CD8(+) T cells abrogated the survival benefit from MS-275 + IL-2 combination. CONCLUSIONS These results show that the combination of IL-2 and MS-275 has a synergistic antitumor effect in vivo in an immunocompetent murine model of renal cell carcinoma. The antitumor effect was associated with the decreased number of T regulatory cells and the increased antitumor cytotoxicity by splenocytes. In conclusion, these preclinical data provide the rationale for clinical testing of the combination of IL-2 and HDAC inhibitors in the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukihiko Kato
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA
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Sigalotti L, Fratta E, Coral S, Cortini E, Covre A, Nicolay HJM, Anzalone L, Pezzani L, Di Giacomo AM, Fonsatti E, Colizzi F, Altomonte M, Calabrò L, Maio M. Epigenetic drugs as pleiotropic agents in cancer treatment: biomolecular aspects and clinical applications. J Cell Physiol 2007; 212:330-44. [PMID: 17458893 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In the last three decades huge efforts have been made to characterize genetic defects responsible for cancer development and progression, leading to the comprehensive identification of distinct cellular pathways affected by the alteration of specific genes. Despite the undoubtable role of genetic mechanisms in triggering neoplastic cell transformation, epigenetic modifications (i.e., heritable changes of gene expression that do not derive from alterations of the nucleotide sequence of DNA) are rapidly emerging as frequent alterations that often occur in the early phases of tumorigenesis and that play an important role in tumor development and progression. Epigenetic alterations, such as modifications in DNA methylation patterns and post-translational modifications of histone tails, behave extremely different from genetic modifications, being readily revertable by "epigenetic drugs" such as inhibitors of DNA methyl transferases and inhibitors of histone deacetylases. Since epigenetic alterations in cancer cells affect virtually all cellular pathways that have been associated to tumorigenesis, it is not surprising that epigenetic drugs display pleiotropic activities, being able to concomitantly restore the defective expression of genes involved in cell cycle control, apoptosis, cell signaling, tumor cell invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis and immune recognition. Prompted by this emerging clinical relevance of epigenetic drugs, this review will focus on the large amount of available data, deriving both from in vitro experimentations and in vivo pre-clinical and clinical studies, which clearly indicate epigenetic drugs as effective modifiers of cancer phenotype and as positive regulators of tumor cell biology with a relevant therapeutic potential in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Sigalotti
- Cancer Bioimmunotherapy Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Aviano, Italy
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Fonsatti E, Nicolay HJM, Sigalotti L, Calabrò L, Pezzani L, Colizzi F, Altomonte M, Guidoboni M, Marincola FM, Maio M. Functional Up-regulation of Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Antigens Expression by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine in Cutaneous Melanoma: Immunotherapeutic Implications. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:3333-8. [PMID: 17545540 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-3091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the potential of the DNA hypomethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic approaches against melanocyte differentiation antigens. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The effect of 5-aza-CdR on the constitutive expression of gp100 was investigated in 11 human melanoma cell lines by real-time reverse transcription-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) analyses. 5-aza-CdR-mediated changes in the levels of expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigens and HLA-A2 allospecificity, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and leukocyte-function-associated antigen-3 were investigated by IIF analysis on melanoma cells under study. The recognition of gp100-positive Mel 275 melanoma cells, treated or not with 5-aza-CdR, by HLA-A2-restricted gp100((209-217))-specific CTL was investigated by (51)Cr-release assays, IFN-gamma release and IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays. RESULTS The constitutive expression of gp100 was not affected by 5-aza-CdR on all melanoma cells investigated. Compared with untreated cells, the exposure of Mel 275 melanoma cells to 5-aza-CdR significantly (P < 0.05) up-regulated their expression of HLA class I antigens and of ICAM-1. These phenotypic changes significantly (P < 0.05) increased the lysis of 5-aza-CdR-treated Mel 275 melanoma cells by gp100-specific CTL and increased their IFN-gamma release. 5-aza-CdR treatment of Mel 275 cells also induced a higher number of gp100-specific CTL to secrete IFN-gamma. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with 5-aza-CdR improves the recognition of melanoma cells by gp100-specific CTL through the up-regulation of HLA class I antigens expression; ICAM-1 also contributes to this phenomenon. These findings highlight a broader range of therapeutic implications of 5-aza-CdR when used in association with active or adoptive immunotherapeutic approaches against a variety of melanoma-associated antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Fonsatti
- Division of Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy
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Mora-García MDL, Duenas-González A, Hernández-Montes J, De la Cruz-Hernández E, Pérez-Cárdenas E, Weiss-Steider B, Santiago-Osorio E, Ortíz-Navarrete VF, Rosales VH, Cantú D, Lizano-Soberón M, Rojo-Aguilar MP, Monroy-García A. Up-regulation of HLA class-I antigen expression and antigen-specific CTL response in cervical cancer cells by the demethylating agent hydralazine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid. J Transl Med 2006; 4:55. [PMID: 17192185 PMCID: PMC1781077 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-4-55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2006] [Accepted: 12/27/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background DNA hypermethylation and histone deacetylation are epigenetic events that contribute to the absence or downregulated expression of different components of the tumor recognition complex. These events affect the processing and presentation of antigenic peptides to CTLs by HLA class-I molecules. In this work evaluated the effect of the DNA hypomethylating agent hydralazine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid, on the expression of HLA class-I molecules and on the antigen-specific immune recognition of cervical cancer cells. Methods Cell lines C33A (HPV-), CaSki (HPV-16+) and MS751 (HPV-18+) were treated with hydralazine and valproic acid to assess the expression of HLA class-I molecules by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. Promoter methylation of HLA class-I -A, -B and C, was also evaluated by Methylation-Specific PCR. Primary cervical tumors of four HLA-A*0201 allele patients were typed for HPV and their CTL's stimulated in vitro with the T2 cell line previously loaded with 50 μM of the HPV peptides. Cytotoxicity of stimulated CTL's was assayed against Caski and MS751 cells pre-treated with hydralazine and valproic acid. Results Valproic acid and hydralazine/valproic acid up-regulated the constitutive HLA class-I expression as evaluated by flow cytometry and RT-PCR despite constitutive promoter demethylation at these loci. Hydralazine and valproic acid in combination but no IFN-gamma hyperacetylated histone H4 as evaluated by ChiP assay. The antigenic immune recognition of CaSki and MS751 cells by CTLs specific to HPV-16/18 E6 and E7-derived epitopes, was increased by VA and H/VA and the combination of H/VA/IFN-gamma. Conclusion These results support the potential use of hydralazine and valproic acid as an adjuvant for immune intervention in cervical cancer patients whenever clinical protocols based on tumor antigen recognition is desirable, like in those cases where the application of E6 and E7 based therapeutic vaccines is used.
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Affiliation(s)
- María de Lourdes Mora-García
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología, Unidad de Investigación en Diferenciación Celular y Cáncer. FES-Zaragoza, UNAM, México
| | - Alfonso Duenas-González
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México
| | - Jorge Hernández-Montes
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología, Unidad de Investigación en Diferenciación Celular y Cáncer. FES-Zaragoza, UNAM, México
- Alumno del Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas UNAM, México
| | - Erick De la Cruz-Hernández
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México
| | - Enrique Pérez-Cárdenas
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México
| | - Benny Weiss-Steider
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología, Unidad de Investigación en Diferenciación Celular y Cáncer. FES-Zaragoza, UNAM, México
| | - Edelmiro Santiago-Osorio
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Cáncer, Unidad de Investigación en Diferenciación Celular y Cáncer, FES-Zaragoza, UNAM, México
| | | | | | - David Cantú
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México
| | - Marcela Lizano-Soberón
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México
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Reu FJ, Bae SI, Cherkassky L, Leaman DW, Lindner D, Beaulieu N, MacLeod AR, Borden EC. Overcoming Resistance to Interferon-Induced Apoptosis of Renal Carcinoma and Melanoma Cells by DNA Demethylation. J Clin Oncol 2006; 24:3771-9. [PMID: 16801630 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2005.03.4074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic editing of gene expression by aberrant methylation of DNA may help tumor cells escape attack from the innate and acquired immune systems. Resistance to antiproliferative effects and apoptosis induction by interferons (IFNs) was postulated to result from silencing of IFN response genes by promoter hypermethylation. Treatment of human ACHN renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and A375 melanoma cells with the DNA demethylating nucleoside analog 5-AZA-2′-deoxycytidine (5-AZA-dC) synergistically augmented antiproliferative effects of IFN- alpha (α) 2 and IFN-beta (β). Either 5-AZA-dC or an antisense to DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) overcame resistance to apoptosis induction by IFNs with up to 85% apoptotic cells resulting from the combinations. No similar potentiation occurred in normal kidney epithelial cells. IFN response genes were augmented more than 10 times in expression by 5-AZA-dC. Demethylation by 5-AZA-dC of the promoter of the prototypic, apoptosis-associated IFN response gene XAF1 was confirmed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. siRNA to XAF1 inhibited IFN-induced apoptosis; conversely, overexpression of XAF1 overcame resistance to apoptosis induction by IFN-β. As occurred with apoptosis-resistant melanoma cells in vitro, tumor growth inhibition in the nude mouse of human A375 melanoma xenografts resulted from treatment with 5-AZA-dC in combination with IFN-β, an effect not resulting from either single agent. The importance of epigenetic remodeling of expression of immune-modifying genes in tumor cells was further suggested by identifying reactivation of the cancer-testis antigens MAGE and RAGE in ACHN cells after DNMT1 depletion. Thus, inhibitors of DNMT1 may have clinical relevance for immune modulation by augmentation of cytokine effects and/or expression of tumor-associated antigens.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
- Animals
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/pharmacology
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
- Azacitidine/analogs & derivatives
- Azacitidine/pharmacology
- Blotting, Western
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/drug effects
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/metabolism
- DNA Methylation/drug effects
- DNA Modification Methylases/pharmacology
- Decitabine
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Synergism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Interferon-alpha/pharmacology
- Interferon-beta/pharmacology
- Interferons/pharmacology
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
- Kidney Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Melanoma, Experimental/drug therapy
- Melanoma, Experimental/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Nude
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Transplantation, Heterologous
- Up-Regulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic J Reu
- Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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Guo ZS, Hong JA, Irvine KR, Chen GA, Spiess PJ, Liu Y, Zeng G, Wunderlich JR, Nguyen DM, Restifo NP, Schrump DS. De novo induction of a cancer/testis antigen by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine augments adoptive immunotherapy in a murine tumor model. Cancer Res 2006; 66:1105-13. [PMID: 16424047 PMCID: PMC2242843 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-05-3020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that immunotherapy targeting specific tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) may be beneficial in cancer patients. However, most of these TAAs are tumor type specific and heterogeneous among patients, thus limiting their applications. Here, we describe the de novo induction of a cancer/testis antigen (CTA) for immunotherapy of tumors of various histologies. The murine CTA P1A, normally expressed only in a few tumor lines, could be induced de novo in all P1A-negative cancer lines of eight histologic origins in vitro and in various murine xenografts by systemic administration of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. The induction of P1A expression correlated strongly with demethylation of the CpG island in the promoter region of this gene. The induced antigen was processed and presented properly for recognition by H-2L(d)-restricted P1A-specific CTLs. The combination of a demethylating agent and adoptive transfer of P1A-specific CTL effectively treated lung metastases in syngeneic mice challenged with P1A-negative 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells. These data show a novel strategy of combined chemoimmunotherapy of cancer targeting a CTA induced de novo in a broad range of tumor histologies, and support further evaluation of chromatin-remodeling agents for human cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Sheng Guo
- Thoracic Oncology Section and Tumor Immunology Section, Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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