1
|
Goulielmaki M, Stokidis S, Anagnostou T, Voutsas IF, Gritzapis AD, Baxevanis CN, Fortis SP. Frequencies of an Immunogenic HER-2/ neu Epitope of CD8+ T Lymphocytes Predict Favorable Clinical Outcomes in Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065954. [PMID: 36983028 PMCID: PMC10058793 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065954] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
HER-2/neu is the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, which is associated with the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). HER-2/neu-specific T cell immunity has been shown to predict immunologic and clinical responses in PCa patients treated with HER-2/neu peptide vaccines. However, its prognostic role in PCa patients receiving conventional treatment is unknown, and this was addressed in this study. The densities of CD8+ T cells specific for the HER-2/neu(780-788) peptide in the peripheral blood of PCa patients under standard treatments were correlated with TGF-β/IL-8 levels and clinical outcomes. We demonstrated that PCa patients with high frequencies of HER-2/neu(780-788)-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes had better progression-free survival (PFS) as compared with PCa patients with low frequencies. Increased frequencies of HER-2/neu(780-788)-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes were also associated with lower levels of TGF-β and IL-8. Our data provide the first evidence of the predictive role of HER-2/neu-specific T cell immunity in PCa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Goulielmaki
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Savvas Stokidis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis F Voutsas
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Angelos D Gritzapis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin N Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Sotirios P Fortis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Cancer Research Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Improving potency of Nanoliposomal AE36 peptide vaccine by adding CD4+ T cell helper epitope and MPL in TUBO breast cancer mice model. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2022.103346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
3
|
Adamaki M, Zoumpourlis V. Immunotherapy as a Precision Medicine Tool for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:E173. [PMID: 33419051 PMCID: PMC7825410 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer among Caucasian males over the age of 60 and is characterized by remarkable heterogeneity and clinical behavior, ranging from decades of indolence to highly lethal disease. Despite the significant progress in PCa systemic therapy, therapeutic response is usually transient, and invasive disease is associated with high mortality rates. Immunotherapy has emerged as an efficacious and non-toxic treatment alternative that perfectly fits the rationale of precision medicine, as it aims to treat patients on the basis of patient-specific, immune-targeted molecular traits, so as to achieve the maximum clinical benefit. Antibodies acting as immune checkpoint inhibitors and vaccines entailing tumor-specific antigens seem to be the most promising immunotherapeutic strategies in offering a significant survival advantage. Even though patients with localized disease and favorable prognostic characteristics seem to be the ones that markedly benefit from such interventions, there is substantial evidence to suggest that the survival benefit may also be extended to patients with more advanced disease. The identification of biomarkers that can be immunologically targeted in patients with disease progression is potentially amenable in this process and in achieving significant advances in the decision for precision treatment of PCa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Adamaki
- Biomedical Applications Unit, Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece;
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
McCarthy PM, Clifton GT, Vreeland TJ, Adams AM, O'Shea AE, Peoples GE. AE37: a HER2-targeted vaccine for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 30:5-11. [PMID: 33191799 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1849140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION HER2 is a prevalent growth factor in a variety of malignancies, most prominently breast cancer. Over-expression has been correlated with the poorest overall survival and has been the target of successful therapies such as trastuzumab. AE37 is a novel, HER2-directed vaccine based on the AE36 hybrid peptide (aa776-790), which is derived from the intracellular portion of the HER2 protein, and the core portion of the MHC Class II invariant chain (the Ii-Key peptide). This hybrid peptide is given with GM-CSF immunoadjuvant as the AE37 vaccine. AREAS COVERED This article describes in detail the preclinical science leading to the creation of the AE37 vaccine and examines use of this agent in multiple clinical trials for breast and prostate cancer. The safety profile of AE37 is discussed and opinions on the potential of the vaccine in breast and prostate cancer patient subsets along with other malignancies, are offered. EXPERT OPINION Future trials utilizing the AE37 vaccine to treat other HER2-expressing malignancies are likely to see similar success, and this will be enhanced by combination immunotherapy. Ii-Key modification of other peptides of interest across oncology and virology could yield impressive results over the longer term.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M McCarthy
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | - G Travis Clifton
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | - Timothy J Vreeland
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexandra M Adams
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anne E O'Shea
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center , Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Balhorn R, Balhorn MC. Therapeutic applications of the selective high affinity ligand drug SH7139 extend beyond non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to many other types of solid cancers. Oncotarget 2020; 11:3315-3349. [PMID: 32934776 PMCID: PMC7476732 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
SH7139, the first of a series of selective high affinity ligand (SHAL) oncology drug candidates designed to target and bind to the HLA-DR proteins overexpressed by B-cell lymphomas, has demonstrated exceptional efficacy in the treatment of Burkitt lymphoma xenografts in mice and a safety profile that may prove to be unprecedented for an oncology drug. The aim of this study was to determine how frequently the HLA-DRs targeted by SH7139 are expressed by different subtypes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and by other solid cancers that have been reported to express HLA-DR. Binding studies conducted with SH7129, a biotinylated analog of SH7139, reveal that more than half of the biopsy sections obtained from patients with different types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma express the HLA-DRs targeted by SH7139. Similar analyses of tumor biopsy tissue obtained from patients diagnosed with eighteen other solid cancers show the majority of these tumors also express the HLA-DRs targeted by SH7139. Cervical, ovarian, colorectal and prostate cancers expressed the most HLA-DR. Only a few esophageal and head and neck tumors bound the diagnostic. Within an individual’s tumor, cell to cell differences in HLA-DR target expression varied by only 2 to 3-fold while the expression levels in tumors obtained from different patients varied as much as 10 to 100-fold. The high frequency with which SH7129 was observed to bind to these cancers suggests that many patients diagnosed with B-cell lymphomas, myelomas, and other non-hematological cancers should be considered potential candidates for new therapies such as SH7139 that target HLA-DR-expressing tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rod Balhorn
- SHAL Technologies Inc., Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wistuba-Hamprecht K, Gouttefangeas C, Weide B, Pawelec G. Immune Signatures and Survival of Patients With Metastatic Melanoma, Renal Cancer, and Breast Cancer. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1152. [PMID: 32582215 PMCID: PMC7296133 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite remarkable recent progress in treating solid cancers, especially the success of immunomodulatory antibody therapies for numerous different cancer types, it remains the case that many patients fail to respond to treatment. It is therefore of immense importance to identify biomarkers predicting clinical responses to treatment and patient survival, which would not only assist in targeting treatments to patients most likely to benefit, but might also provide mechanistic insights into the reasons for success or failure of the therapy. Several peripheral blood or tumor tissue diagnostic and predictive biomarkers known to be informative for cancer patient survival may be applicable for this purpose. The use of peripheral blood (“liquid biopsy”) offers numerous advantages not only for predicting treatment responses at baseline but also for monitoring patients on-therapy. Assessment of the tumor microenvironment and infiltrating immune cells also delivers important information on cancer-host interactions but the requirement for tumor tissues makes this more challenging, especially for monitoring sequential changes in the individual patient. In this contribution, we will review our findings on immune signatures potentially informative for clinical outcome in melanoma, breast cancer and renal cell carcinoma, particularly the outcome of checkpoint blockade, by applying multiparametric flow cytometry and mass cytometry, routine clinical monitoring and functional testing for predicting and following individual patient responses to therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Wistuba-Hamprecht
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Immunoguiding Workgroup of the Cancer Immunotherapy Association (CIP/CIMT), Mainz, Germany
- *Correspondence: Kilian Wistuba-Hamprecht
| | - Cécile Gouttefangeas
- Immunoguiding Workgroup of the Cancer Immunotherapy Association (CIP/CIMT), Mainz, Germany
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Weide
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Graham Pawelec
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kumar G, Nandakumar K, Mutalik S, Rao CM. Biologicals to direct nanotherapeutics towards HER2-positive breast cancers. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2020; 27:102197. [PMID: 32275958 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2020.102197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
HER2-positive breast cancer, an aggressive cancer, is treated with combinations of conventional anticancer drugs viz., cytotoxic drugs, nibs, and mAbs. Major limitations associated with this therapy are patient non-compliance due to the adverse drug reactions and rapid development of resistance by the HER2-positive malignant cells. While the former is addressed by the nano-formulations of the anticancer-drugs to some extent, the latter is still at large. This is because the nanocarriers of the anticancer drugs, by and large, lack the target specificity and selectivity. Thus, nowadays, to overcome these problems, various safe and efficacious biological agents are being used to direct the nanotherapeutics towards the HER2-positive breast cancers. The present review describes the potentials of such biological agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Krishnadas Nandakumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Srinivas Mutalik
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Chamallamudi Mallikarjuna Rao
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Barati N, Razazan A, Nicastro J, Slavcev R, Arab A, Mosaffa F, Nikpoor AR, Badiee A, Jaafari MR, Behravan J. Immunogenicity and antitumor activity of the superlytic λF7 phage nanoparticles displaying a HER2/neu-derived peptide AE37 in a tumor model of BALB/c mice. Cancer Lett 2018; 424:109-116. [PMID: 29580807 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Phage display technique has been increasingly researched for vaccine design and delivery strategies in recent years. In this study, the AE37 (Ii-Key/HER-2/neu 776-790) peptide derived from HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor protein) was used as a fused peptide to the lambda phage (λF7) coat protein gpD, and the phage nanoparticles were used to induce antitumor immunogenicity in a TUBO model of breast cancer in mice. Mice were immunized with the AE37 peptide displaying phage, λF7 (gpD::AE37) every 2-week intervals over 6-weeks, then the generated immune responses were evaluated. An induction of CTL immune response by the λF7 (gpD::AE37) construct compared to the control λF7 and buffer groups was observed in vitro. Moreover, in the in vivo studies, the vaccine candidate showed promising prophylactic and therapeutic effects against the HER2 overexpressing cancer in BALB/c mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nastaran Barati
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Atefeh Razazan
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Jessica Nicastro
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, N2L3G1, Canada; Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, N2L3G1, Canada
| | - Roderick Slavcev
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, N2L3G1, Canada; Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, N2L3G1, Canada; Mediphage Bioceuticals, Inc., 661 University Avenue, Suite 1300, MaRS Centre, West Tower, Toronto, M5G0B7, Canada
| | - Atefeh Arab
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mosaffa
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amin Reza Nikpoor
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Badiee
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Reza Jaafari
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Nanotechnology Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Javad Behravan
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, N2L3G1, Canada; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tesfaye AA, Kamgar M, Azmi A, Philip PA. The evolution into personalized therapies in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: challenges and opportunities. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2018; 18:131-148. [PMID: 29254387 PMCID: PMC6121777 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2018.1417844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer related mortality in the United States in 2030, with a 5-year overall survival of less than 10% despite decades of extensive research. Pancreatic cancer is marked by the accumulation of complex molecular changes, complex tumor-stroma interaction, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. PDAC has proven to be resistant to many cytotoxic, targeted and immunologic treatment approaches. Areas covered: In this paper, we review the major areas of research in PDAC, with highlights on the challenges and areas of opportunity for personalized treatment approaches. Expert commentary: The focus of research in pancreatic cancer has moved away from developing conventional cytotoxic combinations. The marked advances in understanding the molecular biology of this disease especially in the areas of the microenvironment, metabolism, and DNA repair have opened new opportunities for developing novel treatment strategies. Improved understanding of molecular abnormalities allows the development of personalized treatment approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anteneh A Tesfaye
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI
| | - Mandana Kamgar
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI
| | - Asfar Azmi
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI
| | - Philip A Philip
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Voutsas IF, Anastasopoulou EA, Tzonis P, Papamichail M, Perez SA, Baxevanis CN. Unraveling the role of preexisting immunity in prostate cancer patients vaccinated with a HER-2/neu hybrid peptide. J Immunother Cancer 2016; 4:75. [PMID: 27891225 PMCID: PMC5109671 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-016-0183-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer vaccines aim at eliciting not only an immune response against specific tumor antigens, but also at enhancing a preexisting immunity against the tumor. In this context, we recently reported on the levels of preexisting immunity in prostate cancer patients vaccinated with the HER-2 hybrid peptide (AE37), during a phase I clinical trial. The purpose of the current study was to correlate between preexisting immunity to the native HER-2 peptide, AE36, and expression of HLA-A2 and -A24 molecules with the clinical outcome. Additionally, we investigated the ability of the AE37 vaccine to induce an antitumor immune response against other tumor associated antigens, not integrated in the vaccine formulation, with respect to the clinical response. Methods We analyzed prostate cancer patients who were vaccinated with the AE37 vaccine [Ii-Key-HER-2/neu(776–790) hybrid peptide vaccine (AE37), which is a MHC class II long peptide vaccine encompassing MHC class I epitopes, during a phase I clinical trial. Preexisting immunity to the native HER-2/neu(776–790) (AE36) peptide was assessed by IFNγ response or dermal reaction at the inoculation site. Antigen specificity against other tumor antigens was defined using multimer analysis. Progression free survival (PFS) was considered as the patients’ clinical outcome. Two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test at 95 % confidence interval was used for statistical evaluation at different time points and Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test were used for the evaluation of PFS. Results Preexisting immunity to AE36, irrespectively of HLA expression, was correlated with longer PFS. Specific CD8+ T cell immunity against E75 and PSA146–151 (HLA-A2 restricted), as well as, PSA153–161 (HLA-A24 restricted) was detected at relatively high frequencies which were further enhanced during vaccinations. Specific immunity against PSA153–161 correlated with longer PFS in HLA-A24+ patients. However, HLA-A2+ patients with high preexisting or vaccine-induced immunity to E75, showed a trend for shorter PFS. Conclusions Our data cast doubt on whether preexisting immunity or epitope spreading specific for HLA-class I-restricted peptides can actually predict a favorable clinical outcome. They also impose that preexisting immunity to long vaccine peptides, encompassing both HLA class II and I epitopes should be considered as an important prerequisite for the improvement of future immunotherapeutic protocols. Protocol ID Code: Generex-06-07 National Organization for Medicines (EOF) ID Code: IS-107-01-06 NEC Study Code: EED107/1/06 EudraCT Number: 2006-003299-37 Date of registration: 07/06/2006 Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: Nov 1st, 2007 Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40425-016-0183-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis F Voutsas
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Panagiotis Tzonis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Papamichail
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Sonia A Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mittendorf EA, Ardavanis A, Symanowski J, Murray JL, Shumway NM, Litton JK, Hale DF, Perez SA, Anastasopoulou EA, Pistamaltzian NF, Ponniah S, Baxevanis CN, von Hofe E, Papamichail M, Peoples GE. Primary analysis of a prospective, randomized, single-blinded phase II trial evaluating the HER2 peptide AE37 vaccine in breast cancer patients to prevent recurrence. Ann Oncol 2016; 27:1241-8. [PMID: 27029708 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdw150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AE37 is the Ii-Key hybrid of the MHC class II peptide, AE36 (HER2 aa:776-790). Phase I studies showed AE37 administered with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to be safe and highly immunogenic. A prospective, randomized, multicenter phase II adjuvant trial was conducted to evaluate the vaccine's efficacy. METHODS Clinically disease-free node-positive and high-risk node-negative breast cancer patients with tumors expressing any degree of HER2 [immunohistochemistry (IHC) 1-3+] were enrolled. Patients were randomized to AE37 + GM-CSF versus GM-CSF alone. Toxicity was monitored. Clinical recurrences were documented and disease-free survival (DFS) analyzed. RESULTS The trial enrolled 298 patients; 153 received AE37 + GM-CSF and 145 received GM-CSF alone. The groups were well matched for clinicopathologic characteristics. Toxicities have been minimal. At the time of the primary analysis, the recurrence rate in the vaccinated group was 12.4% versus 13.8% in the control group [relative risk reduction 12%, HR 0.885, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.472-1.659, P = 0.70]. The Kaplan-Meier estimated 5-year DFS rate was 80.8% in vaccinated versus 79.5% in control patients. In planned subset analyses of patients with IHC 1+/2+ HER2-expressing tumors, 5-year DFS was 77.2% in vaccinated patients (n = 76) versus 65.7% in control patients (n = 78) (P = 0.21). In patients with triple-negative breast cancer (HER2 IHC 1+/2+ and hormone receptor negative) DFS was 77.7% in vaccinated patients (n = 25) versus 49.0% in control patients (n = 25) (P = 0.12). CONCLUSION The overall intention-to-treat analysis demonstrates no benefit to vaccination. However, the results confirm that the vaccine is safe and suggest that vaccination may have clinical benefit in patients with low HER2-expressing tumors, specifically TNBC. Further evaluation in a randomized trial enrolling TNBC patients is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E A Mittendorf
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - A Ardavanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, St Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - J Symanowski
- Department of Cancer Biostatistics, Levine Cancer Institute, Charlotte
| | - J L Murray
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
| | - N M Shumway
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft Sam Houston Cancer Vaccine Development Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda
| | - J K Litton
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
| | - D F Hale
- Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft Sam Houston
| | - S A Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, St Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - E A Anastasopoulou
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, St Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - N F Pistamaltzian
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, St Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - S Ponniah
- Cancer Vaccine Development Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda
| | - C N Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, St Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - M Papamichail
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, St Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - G E Peoples
- Cancer Vaccine Development Program, San Antonio Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Anastasopoulou EA, Voutsas IF, Keramitsoglou T, Gouttefangeas C, Kalbacher H, Thanos A, Papamichail M, Perez SA, Baxevanis CN. A pilot study in prostate cancer patients treated with the AE37 Ii-key-HER-2/neu polypeptide vaccine suggests that HLA-A*24 and HLA-DRB1*11 alleles may be prognostic and predictive biomarkers for clinical benefit. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2015; 64:1123-36. [PMID: 26026288 PMCID: PMC11028543 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-015-1717-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Recently, several types of immunotherapies have been shown to induce encouraging clinical results, though in a restricted number of patients. Consequently, there is a need to identify immune biomarkers to select patients who will benefit from such therapies. Such predictive biomarkers may be also used as surrogates for overall survival (OS). We have recently found correlations between immunologic parameters and clinical outcome in prostate cancer patients who had been vaccinated with a HER-2/neu hybrid polypeptide vaccine (AE37) and received one booster 6 months post-primary vaccinations. Herein, we aimed to expand these retrospective analyses by studying the predictive impact of HLA-A*24 and HLA-DRB1*11 alleles, which are expressed at high frequencies among responders in our vaccinated patients, for clinical and immunological responses to AE37 vaccination. Our data show an increased OS of patients expressing the HLA-DRB1*11 or HLA-A*24 alleles, or both. Vaccine-induced immunological responses, measured as interferon γ (IFN-γ) responses in vitro or delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions in vivo, were also higher in these patients and inversely correlated with suppressor elements. Preexisting (i.e., before vaccinations with AE37) levels of vaccine-specific IFN-γ immunity and plasma TGF-β, among the HLA-A*24 and/or HLA-DRB1*11 positive patients, were strong indicators for immunological responses to AE37 treatment. These data suggest that HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-A*24 are likely to be predictive factors for immunological and clinical responses to vaccination with AE37, though prospective validation in larger cohorts is needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria A. Anastasopoulou
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, “Saint Savas” Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis F. Voutsas
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, “Saint Savas” Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Cécile Gouttefangeas
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, Eberhard-Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hubert Kalbacher
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, Eberhard-Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Michael Papamichail
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, “Saint Savas” Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Sonia A. Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, “Saint Savas” Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin N. Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, “Saint Savas” Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 11522 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Perez SA, Peoples GE, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. Invariant chain-peptide fusion vaccine using HER-2/neu. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1139:321-336. [PMID: 24619690 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0345-0_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A novel method for amplifying the activity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II helper epitopes entails linking a 4-amino-acid moiety (LRMK) from the invariant chain (Ii) of MHC (referred to as Ii-Key) to the N-terminal end of the epitope peptide either directly or using a simple polymethylene spacer (-ava-). Ii-Key catalyzes binding of the linked epitope to the MHC class II molecule, thereby enhancing the overall potency of presentation. HER-2(776-790) (or AE36), which is derived from the intracellular domain of HER-2/neu, has been intensively used as an Ii-key/HER-2(776-790) (or AE37) fusion (hybrid) vaccine in clinical trials. This chapter describes procedures for the synthesis, reconstitution, sterility testing, and storage of both AE36 and AE37 for their use in clinical trials. Also provided is a detailed information about their in vivo administration and analysis of in-depth protocols for monitoring of immune activation upon vaccination with AE37.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/administration & dosage
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Breast Neoplasms/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/chemistry
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cell Proliferation
- Female
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/administration & dosage
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/chemistry
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/genetics
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/immunology
- Humans
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Ovarian Neoplasms/immunology
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Receptor, ErbB-2/administration & dosage
- Receptor, ErbB-2/chemistry
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/administration & dosage
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- Vaccines, Subunit/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Subunit/chemistry
- Vaccines, Subunit/genetics
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia A Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Perez SA, Anastasopoulou EA, Tzonis P, Gouttefangeas C, Kalbacher H, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. AE37 peptide vaccination in prostate cancer: a 4-year immunological assessment updates on a phase I trial. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2013; 62:1599-608. [PMID: 23934022 PMCID: PMC11029046 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-013-1461-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In our recent phase I trial, we demonstrated that the AE37 vaccine is safe and induces HER-2/neu-specific immunity in a heterogeneous population of HER-2/neu (+) prostate cancer patients. Herein, we tested whether one AE37 boost can induce long-lasting immunological memory in these patients. Twenty-three patients from the phase I study received one AE37 boost 6-month post-primary vaccinations. Local/systemic toxicities were evaluated following the booster injection. Immunological responses were monitored 1-month (long-term booster; LTB) and 3-year (long-term immunity; LTI) post-booster by delayed-type hypersensitivity, IFN-γ ELISPOT and proliferation assays. Regulatory T cell (Treg) frequencies, plasma transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and indoleamine 2,3-deoxygenase (IDO) activity levels were also determined at the same time points. The AE37 booster was safe and well tolerated. Immunological monitoring revealed vaccine-specific long-term immunity in most of the evaluated patients during both LTB and LTI, although individual levels of immunity during LTI were decreased compared with those measured 3 years earlier during LTB. This was paralleled with increased Tregs, TGF-β levels and IDO activity. One AE37 booster generated long-term immunological memory in HER-2/neu (+) prostate cancer patients, which was detectable 3 years later, albeit with a tendency to decline. Boosted patients had favorable clinical outcome in terms of overall and/or metastasis-free survival compared with historical groups with similar clinical characteristics at diagnosis. We suggest that more boosters and/or concomitant disarming of suppressor circuits may be necessary to sustain immunological memory, and therefore, further studies to optimize the AE37 booster schedule are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia A Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Building No. 2, 3rd Floor, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 11522, Athens, Greece,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kaumaya PTP, Foy KC. Peptide vaccines and targeting HER and VEGF proteins may offer a potentially new paradigm in cancer immunotherapy. Future Oncol 2012; 8:961-87. [PMID: 22894670 DOI: 10.2217/fon.12.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The ErbB family (HER-1, HER-2, HER-3 and HER-4) of receptor tyrosine kinases has been the focus of cancer immunotherapeutic strategies while antiangiogenic therapies have focused on VEGF and its receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. Agents targeting receptor tyrosine kinases in oncology include therapeutic antibodies to receptor tyrosine kinase ligands or the receptors themselves, and small-molecule inhibitors. Many of the US FDA-approved therapies targeting HER-2 and VEGF exhibit unacceptable toxicities, and show problems of efficacy, development of resistance and unacceptable safety profiles that continue to hamper their clinical progress. The combination of different peptide vaccines and peptidomimetics targeting specific molecular pathways that are dysregulated in tumors may potentiate anticancer immune responses, bypass immune tolerance and circumvent resistance mechanisms. The focus of this review is to discuss efforts in our laboratory spanning two decades of rationally developing peptide vaccines and therapeutics for breast cancer. This review highlights the prospective benefit of a new, untapped category of therapies biologically targeted to EGF receptor (HER-1), HER-2 and VEGF with potential peptide 'blockbusters' that could lay the foundation of a new paradigm in cancer immunotherapy by creating clinical breakthroughs for safe and efficacious cancer cures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pravin T P Kaumaya
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, OSU Wexner Medical Center, James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute & the Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Chornoguz O, Gapeev A, O'Neill MC, Ostrand-Rosenberg S. Major histocompatibility complex class II+ invariant chain negative breast cancer cells present unique peptides that activate tumor-specific T cells from breast cancer patients. Mol Cell Proteomics 2012; 11:1457-67. [PMID: 22942358 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m112.019232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-associated Invariant chain (Ii) is present in professional antigen presenting cells where it regulates peptide loading onto MHC class II molecules and the peptidome presented to CD4+ T lymphocytes. Because Ii prevents peptide loading in neutral subcellular compartments, we reasoned that Ii- cells may present peptides not presented by Ii+ cells. Based on the hypothesis that patients are tolerant to MHC II-restricted tumor peptides presented by Ii+ cells, but will not be tolerant to novel peptides presented by Ii- cells, we generated MHC II vaccines to activate cancer patients' T cells. The vaccines are Ii- tumor cells expressing syngeneic HLA-DR and the costimulatory molecule CD80. We used liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to sequence MHC II-restricted peptides from Ii+ and Ii- MCF10 human breast cancer cells transfected with HLA-DR7 or the MHC Class II transactivator CIITA to determine if Ii- cells present novel peptides. Ii expression was induced in the HLA-DR7 transfectants by transfection of Ii, and inhibited in the CIITA transfectants by RNA interference. Peptides were analyzed and binding affinity predicted by artificial neural net analysis. HLA-DR7-restricted peptides from Ii- and Ii+ cells do not differ in size or in subcellular location of their source proteins; however, a subset of HLA-DR7-restricted peptides of Ii- cells are not presented by Ii+ cells, and are derived from source proteins not used by Ii+ cells. Peptides from Ii- cells with the highest predicted HLA-DR7 binding affinity were synthesized, and activated tumor-specific HLA-DR7+ human T cells from healthy donors and breast cancer patients, demonstrating that the MS-identified peptides are bonafide tumor antigens. These results demonstrate that Ii regulates the repertoire of tumor peptides presented by MHC class II+ breast cancer cells and identify novel immunogenic MHC II-restricted peptides that are potential therapeutic reagents for cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olesya Chornoguz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Truax AD, Thakkar M, Greer SF. Dysregulated recruitment of the histone methyltransferase EZH2 to the class II transactivator (CIITA) promoter IV in breast cancer cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36013. [PMID: 22563434 PMCID: PMC3338556 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Accepted: 03/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
One mechanism frequently utilized by tumor cells to escape immune system recognition and elimination is suppression of cell surface expression of Major Histocompatibility Class II (MHC II) molecules. Expression of MHC II is regulated primarily at the level of transcription by the Class II Transactivator, CIITA, and decreased CIITA expression is observed in multiple tumor types. We investigate here contributions of epigenetic modifications to transcriptional silencing of CIITA in variants of the human breast cancer cell line MDA MB 435. Significant increases in histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation upon IFN-γ stimulation correlate with reductions in transcription factor recruitment to the interferon-γ inducible CIITA promoter, CIITApIV, and with significantly increased CIITApIV occupancy by the histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). Most compelling is evidence that decreased expression of EZH2 in MDA MB 435 variants results in significant increases in CIITA and HLA-DRA mRNA expression, even in the absence of interferon-γ stimulation, as well as increased cell surface expression of MHC II. Together, these data add mechanistic insight to prior observations of increased EZH2 expression and decreased CIITA expression in multiple tumor types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka D. Truax
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Meghna Thakkar
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Susanna F. Greer
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
The surveillance of tumors by the immune system of cancer patients and its impact on disease progression and patient survival have been largely documented over the last years. In parallel, the use of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in oncology has gained a widespread recognition as it has made it possible to increase patient survival and to ameliorate the quality of life in a number of cancers. However, the clinical responses observed following mAb treatment remain largely heterogeneous and their duration is still highly unpredictable. Recently, the concept that the injection of therapeutic antibodies not only triggers early anti-tumor events such as receptor blockade, cytostasis, apoptosis, complement-dependent cytotoxicity and/or antibody-dependent cytotoxicity but also allows the host immune system to fight tumor cells through the development of a long-lasting adaptive immunity has emerged. In the present review, we will examine the arguments that support this concept by detailing the cellular and molecular events likely to underlie the induction of an efficient anti-tumor adaptive immune response by mAbs. We will also discuss the consequences of this induction on the way therapeutic antibodies can be used and inserted in a more global immunotherapeutic approach aiming at strengthening the adaptive anti-tumor immune response developed by cancer patients.
Collapse
|
19
|
Baxevanis CN, Voutsas IF, Gritzapis AD, Perez SA, Papamichail M. HER-2/neu as a target for cancer vaccines. Immunotherapy 2010; 2:213-26. [PMID: 20635929 DOI: 10.2217/imt.09.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel modality toward the treatment of HER-2/neu-positive malignancies, mostly including breast and, more recently prostate carcinomas, has been the use of vaccines targeting HER-2/neu extracellular and intracellular domains. HER-2/neu-specific vaccines have been demonstrated to generate durable T-cell anti-HER-2/neu immunity when tested in Phase I and II clinical trials with no significant toxicity or autoimmunity directed against normal tissues. Targeting of HER-2/neu in active immunotherapy may involve peptide and DNA vaccines. Moreover, active anti-HER-2/neu immunization could facilitate the ex vivo expansion of HER-2/neu-specific T cells for use in adoptive immunotherapy for the treatment of established metastatic disease. In addition, early data from trials examining the potential use of HER-2/neu-based vaccines in the adjuvant setting to prevent the relapse of breast cancer in high-risk patients have shown promising results. Future approaches include multiepitope preventive vaccines and combinatorial treatments for generating the most efficient protective anti-tumor immunity.
Collapse
|
20
|
Circulating regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+FOXP3+) decrease in breast cancer patients after vaccination with a modified MHC class II HER2/neu (AE37) peptide. Vaccine 2010; 28:7476-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2010] [Revised: 09/09/2010] [Accepted: 09/10/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
21
|
Different Patterns of Expression of the erbB Family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in Common Nevi, Dysplastic Nevi, and Primary Malignant Melanomas: An Immunohistochemical Study. Am J Dermatopathol 2010; 32:665-75. [DOI: 10.1097/dad.0b013e3181d1e6f0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
22
|
Perez SA, von Hofe E, Kallinteris NL, Gritzapis AD, Peoples GE, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. A new era in anticancer peptide vaccines. Cancer 2010; 116:2071-80. [PMID: 20187092 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.24988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The use of synthetic peptides as vaccines aimed at the induction of therapeutic CD8-positive T-cell responses against tumor cells initially experienced great enthusiasm, mostly because of advances in vaccine technology, including design, synthesis, and delivery. However, despite impressive results in animal models, the application of such vaccines in humans has met with only limited success. The therapeutic activity of vaccine-stimulated, tumor-specific, CD8-positive T cells can be hampered through the physical burden of the tumor, tolerance mechanisms, and local factors within the tumor microenvironment. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that combining a peptide-based therapeutic vaccination with conventional chemotherapy can uncover the full potential of the antitumor immune response, increasing the success of immunotherapy. In addition, therapeutic vaccination in the preventive setting has been extremely effective in eliciting antitumor responses in preclinical tumor models and has demonstrated good promise clinically in patients with minimal residual disease. The rationale behind preventive vaccination is that patients with minimal tumor burden still have a fully competent immune system capable of developing robust antitumor responses. Finally, therapeutic CD8-positive T-cell peptide vaccines have been improved by coimmunization with T-helper epitopes expressed on long peptides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia A Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, St. Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Perez SA, Kallinteris NL, Bisias S, Tzonis PK, Georgakopoulou K, Varla-Leftherioti M, Papamichail M, Thanos A, von Hofe E, Baxevanis CN. Results from a Phase I Clinical Study of the Novel Ii-Key/HER-2/neu(776–790) Hybrid Peptide Vaccine in Patients with Prostate Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2010; 16:3495-506. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
24
|
Gritzapis AD, Voutsas IF, Lekka E, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. Peptide Vaccination Breaks Tolerance to HER-2/neu by Generating Vaccine-Specific FasL+ CD4+ T Cells: First Evidence for Intratumor Apoptotic Regulatory T Cells. Cancer Res 2010; 70:2686-96. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-2517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
25
|
Vlahopoulos S, Gritzapis AD, Perez SA, Cacoullos N, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. Mannose addition by yeast Pichia Pastoris on recombinant HER-2 protein inhibits recognition by the monoclonal antibody herceptin. Vaccine 2009; 27:4704-8. [PMID: 19520203 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2008] [Revised: 05/11/2009] [Accepted: 05/21/2009] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
We report here the generation of a full-length, highly glycosylated HER-2 oncoprotein using yeast strain, Pichia Pastoris. Upon treatment of secreted HER-2 with alpha-mannosidase, reactivity with the monoclonal antibody Herceptin is significantly increased. This phenomenon is due to glycosylation via mannose of the full-length HER-2 protein that extends over the antigenic epitope, which is recognized by Herceptin. The extensive glycosylation of HER-2 in Pichia Pastoris significantly increases its recognition and uptake by dendritic cells, which could be associated with increased vaccine performance.
Collapse
|
26
|
Xu M, Lu X, Sposato M, Zinckgraf JW, Wu S, von Hofe E. Ii-Key/HPV16 E7 hybrid peptide immunotherapy for HPV16+ cancers. Vaccine 2009; 27:4641-7. [PMID: 19520206 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2009] [Revised: 05/08/2009] [Accepted: 05/21/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Activation of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells is critical for vaccine design. We have advanced a novel technology for enhancing activation of antigen-specific CD4+ T helper cells whereby a fragment of the MHC class II-associated invariant chain (Ii-Key) is linked to an MHC class II epitope. An HLA-DR4-restricted HPV16 E7 epitope, HPV16 E7(8-22), was used to create a homologous series of Ii-Key/HPV16 E7 hybrids testing the influence of spacer length on in vivo enhancement of HPV16 E7(8-22)-specific CD4+ T lymphocyte responses. HLA-DR4-tg mice were immunized with Ii-Key/HPV16 E7(8-22) hybrids or the epitope-only peptide HPV16 E7(8-22). As measured by IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay of splenocytes from immunized mice, one of the Ii-Key/HPV16 E7(8-22) hybrids enhanced epitope-specific CD4+ T cell activation 5-fold compared to the HPV16 E7(8-22) epitope-only peptide. We further demonstrated that enhanced CD4+ T cell activation augments the CTL activity of a H-2D(b)-restricted HPV16 E7(49-57) epitope in HLA-DR4+ mice using an in vivo CTL assay. Binding assays indicated that the Ii-Key/HPV16 hybrid has increased affinity to HLA-DR4+ cells relative to the epitope-only peptide, which may explain its increased potency. In summary, Ii-Key hybrid modification of the HLA-DR4-restricted HPV16 E7(8-22) MHC class II epitope generates a potent immunotherapeutic peptide vaccine that may have potential for treating HPV16+ cancers in HLA-DR4+ patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minzhen Xu
- Antigen Express, Inc., Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Mittendorf EA, Holmes JP, Murray JL, von Hofe E, Peoples GE. CD4+T cells in antitumor immunity: utility of an Ii-Key HER2/neu hybrid peptide vaccine (AE37). Expert Opin Biol Ther 2008; 9:71-8. [DOI: 10.1517/14712590802614538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
28
|
Demirtzoglou FJ, Papadopoulos S, Zografos G. Cytolytic and Cytotoxic Activity of a Human Natural Killer Cell Line Genetically Modified to Specifically Recognize HER-2/neu Overexpressing Tumor Cells. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2008; 28:571-90. [PMID: 17190735 DOI: 10.1080/08923970601066971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
NK92 cells genetically engineered to recognize the HER-2/neu oncoprotein have been previously reported to lyse HER-2/neu positive tumor cell lines through direct cell to cell contact. In the present study we have transduced NK92 cells with a chimeric receptor gene composed of the HER-/neu specific scFv (FRP5) antibody fragment, joined to the peptide CD8 hinge region and the signaling CD3 zeta chain. NK92 cells expressing this chimeric receptor (NK92.HER-2/neu/zeta) specifically recognized and lysed HER-2/neu overexpressing tumor cell lines both in vitro and in preclinical tumor models in vivo. More important we demonstrate that NK92.HER-2/neu/zeta cells constitutively secrete high levels of soluble scFv which mediate strong tumor cytostatic effects by directly binding on cell surface HER-2/neu. Our data uncover an additional mechanism through which NK92.HER-2/neu/zeta cells mediate antitumor effects and further support their use in cell based therapeutics for the treatment of HER-2/neu expressing cancers.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/biosynthesis
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics
- Blotting, Western
- CD3 Complex/genetics
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Cell Survival
- Exotoxins/genetics
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Humans
- Killer Cells, Natural/physiology
- Mice
- Mice, SCID
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Neoplasms/pathology
- Organisms, Genetically Modified
- Receptor, ErbB-2/biosynthesis
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Single-Chain Antibodies
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/physiology
- Transduction, Genetic
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F J Demirtzoglou
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Chiang CLL, Ledermann JA, Aitkens E, Benjamin E, Katz DR, Chain BM. Oxidation of ovarian epithelial cancer cells by hypochlorous acid enhances immunogenicity and stimulates T cells that recognize autologous primary tumor. Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14:4898-907. [PMID: 18676764 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-07-4899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hypochlorous acid, a product of neutrophil myeloperoxidase, is a powerful enhancer of antigen processing and presentation. In this study, we examine whether ovarian epithelial cells (SK-OV-3) exposed to hypochlorous acid can stimulate T cells from patients with ovarian epithelial cancer that recognize common tumor antigens as well as autologous tumor. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN T cells from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2(+) and HLA-A2(-) patients or healthy controls were stimulated with autologous dendritic cells cocultured with the generic ovarian tumor line SK-OV-3, previously exposed to hypochlorous acid. RESULTS Hypochlorous acid-treated SK-OV-3 cells drove expansion of CD8(+) T cells from HLA-A2(+) individuals, which recognized the HLA-A2-restricted tumor antigen epitopes of HER-2/neu (E75 and GP2) and MUC1 (M1.1 and M1.2). Up to 4.1% of the T cells were positive for the HER-2/neu KIFGSLAFL epitope using pentamer staining. Dendritic cells loaded with oxidized SK-OV-3 cells and further matured with CD40 agonistic antibody or monophosphoryl lipid A additionally induced CD4(+) class II-restricted responses. Critically, T cells stimulated with mature oxidized SK-OV-3 (but not a control oxidized melanoma cell line) directly recognized autologous tumor cells isolated from patient ascites. CONCLUSIONS Immunization with mature dendritic cells loaded with a generic oxidized tumor cell line stimulates a polyclonal antitumor response that recognizes autologous tumor. These findings suggest a new immunotherapeutic strategy to extend remission in ovarian cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl L-L Chiang
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Voutsas IF, Gritzapis AD, Mahaira LG, Salagianni M, Hofe EV, Kallinteris NL, Baxevanis CN. Induction of potent CD4+ T cell-mediated antitumor responses by a helper HER-2/neu peptide linked to the Ii-Key moiety of the invariant chain. Int J Cancer 2007; 121:2031-2041. [PMID: 17634957 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The Ii-Key fragment from the MHC class II-associated invariant chain (or Ii protein) has been shown to facilitate direct charging of MHC class II epitopes to the peptide binding groove. The purpose of the present study was to test the potential of a series of Ii-Key/HER-2/neu776-790 hybrid peptides to generate increased frequencies of peptide-specific CD4+ T cells over the native peptide in mice transgenic (Tg) for a chimeric human mouse class II molecule (DR4-IE) (H-2b) as well as their antitumor potency. Following in vivo priming, such hybrid peptides induced increased proliferation and frequencies of IFN-gamma producing CD4+ T cells in response to either syngeneic dendritic cells pulsed with native peptide, or HLA-DR4+ human tumor cell lines expressing HER-2/neu. Hybrid peptides were more stable in an off-rate kinetics assay compared to the native peptide. In addition, antigen-specific CD4+ T cells from hybrid peptide immunized DR4-IE Tg mice synergized with HER-2/neu(435-443)-specific CD8+ T cells from HLA-A2.1 Tg HHD (H-2b) mice in producing antitumor immunity into SCID mice xenografted with the HER-2/neu+, HLA-A2.1+ and HLA-DR4+ FM3 human melanoma cell line. High proportions of these adoptively transferred HER-2/neu peptide-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infiltrated FM3-induced tumors (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes; TIL) in SCID mice. CD8+ TIL exhibited long-lasting antitumor activity when cotransferred with CD4+ TIL, inducing regression of FM3 tumors in a group of untreated, tumor-bearing SCID mice, following adoptive transfer. Our data show that Ii-Key modified HER-2/neu776-790 hybrid peptides are sufficiently potent to provide antigen-specific CD4+ TH cells with therapeutic antitumor activity.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Proliferation
- Cells, Cultured
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/metabolism
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/chemistry
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/genetics
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/immunology
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/metabolism
- Humans
- Kinetics
- Mice
- Mice, SCID
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neoplasms/immunology
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Neoplasms/pathology
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Peptide Fragments/metabolism
- Protein Binding
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis F Voutsas
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelos D Gritzapis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Louisa G Mahaira
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Salagianni
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Eric von Hofe
- Antigen Express Inc., Biotech III, One Innovation Drive, Worcester, MA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Larrieu P, Ouisse LH, Guilloux Y, Jotereau F, Fonteneau JF. A HLA-DQ5 restricted Melan-A/MART-1 epitope presented by melanoma tumor cells to CD4+ T lymphocytes. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2007; 56:1565-75. [PMID: 17318652 PMCID: PMC11031014 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-007-0300-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2006] [Accepted: 02/08/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Melan-A/MART1 is a melanocytic differentiation antigen expressed by tumor cells of the majority of melanoma patients and, as such, is considered as a good target for melanoma immunotherapy. Nonetheless, the number of class I and II restricted Melan-A epitopes identified so far remains limited. Here we describe a new Melan-A/MART-1 epitope recognized in the context of HLA-DQa1*0101 and HLA-DQb1*0501, -DQb1*0502 or -DQb1*0504 molecules by a CD4+ T cell clone. This clone was obtained by in vitro stimulation of PBMC from a healthy donor by the Melan-A51-73 peptide previously reported to contain a HLA-DR4 epitope. The Melan-A51-73 peptide, therefore contains both HLA-DR4 and HLA-DQ5 restricted epitope. We further show that Melan-A51-63 is the minimal peptide optimally recognized by the HLA-DQ5 restricted CD4+ clone. Importantly, this clone specifically recognizes and kills tumor cell lines expressing Melan-A and either HLA-DQb1*0501, -DQb1*0504 or -DQb1*0502 molecules. Moreover, we could detect CD4+ T cells secreting IFN-gamma in response to Melan-A51-63 and Melan-A51-73 peptides among tumor infiltrating and blood lymphocytes from HLA-DQ5+ patients. This suggests that spontaneous CD4+ T cell responses against this HLA-DQ5 epitope occur in vivo. Together these data significantly increase the fraction of melanoma patients susceptible to benefit from a Melan-A class II restricted vaccine approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Larrieu
- INSERM U601, Institut de biologie, 9 quai moncousu, 44093 Nantes cedex, France
| | - Laure-Hélène Ouisse
- INSERM U601, Institut de biologie, 9 quai moncousu, 44093 Nantes cedex, France
| | - Yannick Guilloux
- INSERM U601, Institut de biologie, 9 quai moncousu, 44093 Nantes cedex, France
- Université de Nantes, 44322 Nantes, France
| | - Francine Jotereau
- INSERM U601, Institut de biologie, 9 quai moncousu, 44093 Nantes cedex, France
- Université de Nantes, 44322 Nantes, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Champine PJ, Michaelson J, Weimer BC, Welch DR, DeWald DB. Microarray analysis reveals potential mechanisms of BRMS1-mediated metastasis suppression. Clin Exp Metastasis 2007; 24:551-65. [PMID: 17896182 PMCID: PMC2214901 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-007-9092-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2007] [Accepted: 07/27/2007] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We used Affymetrix microarrays to compare gene expression profiles of the metastatic parental breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435 (435) and the non-metastatic daughter cell line created by the stable expression of the BReast cancer Metastasis Suppressor 1 (BRMS1) gene in 435 cells, MDA-MB-435-BRMS1 (435/BRMS1). Analysis of microarray data provided insight into some of the potential mechanisms by which BRMS1 inhibits tumor formation at secondary sites. Furthermore, due to the importance of the microenvironment, we also examined gene expression under different growth conditions (i.e., plus or minus serum). Expression of 565 genes was significantly (adjusted P-value <0.05) altered regardless of in vitro growth conditions. BRMS1 expression significantly increased multiple major histocompatability complex (MHC) genes and significantly decreased expression of several genes associated with protein localization and secretion. The pattern of gene expression associated with BRMS1 expression suggests that metastasis suppression may be mediated by enhanced immune recognition, altered transport, and/or secretion of metastasis-associated proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia J. Champine
- Center for Integrated BioSystems, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-4700, USA
| | - Jacob Michaelson
- Center for Integrated BioSystems, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-4700, USA
| | - Bart C. Weimer
- Center for Integrated BioSystems, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-4700, USA
| | - Danny R. Welch
- Department of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019, USA
- National Foundation for Cancer Research, Center for Metastasis Research, Logan, Utah 84322-5305, USA
| | - Daryll B. DeWald
- National Foundation for Cancer Research, Center for Metastasis Research, Logan, Utah 84322-5305, USA
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-5305, USA
- Correspondence to: D.B. DeWald, Department of Biology and Center for Integrated BioSystems, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-5305 (435)-797-1909
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Bosch JJ, Thompson JA, Srivastava MK, Iheagwara UK, Murray TG, Lotem M, Ksander BR, Ostrand-Rosenberg S. MHC class II-transduced tumor cells originating in the immune-privileged eye prime and boost CD4(+) T lymphocytes that cross-react with primary and metastatic uveal melanoma cells. Cancer Res 2007; 67:4499-506. [PMID: 17483366 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-3770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma, the most common malignancy of the eye, has a 50% rate of liver metastases among patients with large primary tumors. Several therapies prolong survival of metastatic patients; however, none are curative and no patients survive. Therefore, we are exploring immunotherapy as an alternative or adjunctive treatment. Uveal melanoma may be particularly appropriate for immunotherapy because primary tumors arise in an immune-privileged site and may express antigens to which the host is not tolerized. We are developing MHC class II (MHC II)-matched allogeneic, cell-based uveal melanoma vaccines that activate CD4(+) T lymphocytes, which are key cells for optimizing CD8(+) T-cell immunity, facilitating immune memory, and preventing tolerance. Our previous studies showed that tumor cells genetically modified to express costimulatory and MHC II molecules syngeneic to the recipient are potent inducers of antitumor immunity. Because the MHC II-matched allogeneic vaccines do not express the accessory molecule, Invariant chain, they present MHC II-restricted peptides derived from endogenously encoded tumor antigens. We now report that MHC II-matched allogeneic vaccines, prepared from primary uveal melanomas that arise in the immune-privileged eye, prime and boost IFNgamma-secreting CD4(+) T cells from the peripheral blood of either healthy donors or uveal melanoma patients that cross-react with primary uveal melanomas from other patients and metastatic tumors. In contrast, vaccines prepared from metastatic cells in the liver are less effective at activating CD4(+) T cells, suggesting that tumor cells originating in immune-privileged sites may have enhanced capacity for inducing antitumor immunity and for serving as immunotherapeutic agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacobus J Bosch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Sotiriadou NN, Kallinteris NL, Gritzapis AD, Voutsas IF, Papamichail M, von Hofe E, Humphreys RE, Pavlis T, Perez SA, Baxevanis CN. Ii-Key/HER-2/neu(776-790) hybrid peptides induce more effective immunological responses over the native peptide in lymphocyte cultures from patients with HER-2/neu+ tumors. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2007; 56:601-13. [PMID: 16960693 PMCID: PMC11030832 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-006-0213-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2006] [Accepted: 07/20/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We have demonstrated that coupling an immunoregulatory segment of the MHC class II-associated invariant chain (Ii), the Ii-Key peptide, to a promiscuous MHC class II epitope significantly enhances its presentation to CD4+ T cells. Here, a series of homologous Ii-Key/HER-2/neu(776-790) hybrid peptides, varying systematically in the length of the epitope(s)-containing segment, are significantly more potent than the native peptide in assays using T cells from patients with various types of tumors overexpressing HER-2/neu. In particular, priming normal donor and patient PBMCs with Ii-Key hybrid peptides enhances recognition of the native peptide either pulsed onto autologous dendritic cells (DCs) or naturally presented by IFN-gamma-treated autologous tumor cells. Moreover, patient-derived CD4+ T cells primed with the hybrid peptides provide a significantly stronger helper effect to autologous CD8+ T cells specific for the HER-2/neu(435-443) CTL epitope, as illustrated by either IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays or specific autologous tumor cell lysis. Hybrid peptide-specific CD4+ T cells strongly enhanced the antitumor efficacy of HER-2/neu(435-443) peptide-specific CTL in the therapy of xenografted SCID mice inoculated with HER-2/neu overexpressing human tumor cell lines. Our data indicate that the promiscuously presented vaccine peptide HER-2/neu(776-790) is amenable to Ii-Key-enhancing effects and supports the therapeutic potential of vaccinating patients with HER-2/neu+ tumors with such Ii-Key/HER-2/neu(776-790) hybrid peptides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nectaria N. Sotiriadou
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Angelos D. Gritzapis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis F. Voutsas
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Papamichail
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - Eric von Hofe
- Antigen Express Inc., 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606-2478 USA
| | | | - Theodoros Pavlis
- Surgical Clinic “Mitera-Hospital, Erythrou Stavrou 6, Marousi, Greece
| | - Sonia A. Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin N. Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
|
36
|
Thompson JA, Dissanayake SK, Ksander BR, Knutson KL, Disis ML, Ostrand-Rosenberg S. Tumor cells transduced with the MHC class II Transactivator and CD80 activate tumor-specific CD4+ T cells whether or not they are silenced for invariant chain. Cancer Res 2006; 66:1147-54. [PMID: 16424052 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-05-2289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The specificity and potency of the immune system make immunotherapy a potential strategy for the treatment of cancer. To exploit this potential, we have developed cell-based cancer vaccines consisting of tumor cells expressing syngeneic MHC class II and costimulatory molecules. The vaccines mediate tumor regression in mice and activate human CD4+ T cells in vitro. Previous vaccines were generated by transducing MHC II negative tumor cells with a single HLA-DR allele. Because expression of multiple MHC II alleles would facilitate presentation of a broader repertoire of tumor antigens, we have now transduced tumor cells with the MHC class II transactivator (CIITA), a regulatory gene that coordinately increases expression of all MHC II alleles. Previous studies in mice indicated that coexpression of the MHC II accessory molecule invariant chain (Ii) inhibited presentation of endogenously synthesized tumor antigens and reduced vaccine efficacy. To determine if Ii expression affects presentation of MHC class II-restricted endogenously synthesized tumor antigens in human tumor cells, HLA-DR-MCF10 breast cancer cells were transduced with the CIITA, CD80 costimulatory molecule gene, and with or without small interfering RNAs (siRNA) specific for Ii. Ii expression is silenced >95% in CIITA/CD80/siRNA transductants; down-regulation of Ii does not affect HLA-DR expression or stability; and Ii(+) and Ii(-) transductants activate human CD4+ T cells to DRB1*0701-restricted HER-2/neu epitopes. Therefore, tumor cells transduced with the CIITA, CD80, and with or without Ii siRNA present endogenously synthesized tumor antigens and are potential vaccines for activating tumor-specific CD4+ T cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A Thompson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Baxevanis CN, Sotiriadou NN, Gritzapis AD, Sotiropoulou PA, Perez SA, Cacoullos NT, Papamichail M. Immunogenic HER-2/neu peptides as tumor vaccines. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2006; 55:85-95. [PMID: 15948002 PMCID: PMC11030617 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-005-0692-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2004] [Accepted: 02/18/2005] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
During the last decade, a large number of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) have been identified, which can be recognized by T cells. This has led to renewed interest in the use of active immunization as a modality for the treatment of cancer. HER-2/neu is a 185-KDa receptor-like glycoprotein that is overexpressed by a variety of tumors including breast, ovarian, lung, prostate and colorectal carcinomata. Several immunogenic HER-2/neu peptides recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) or helper T lymphocytes (TH) have been identified thus far. Patients with HER-2/neu over-expressing cancers exhibit increased frequencies of peripheral blood T cells recognizing immunogenic HER-2/neu peptides. Various protocols for generating T cell-mediated immune responses specific for HER-2/neu peptides have been examined in pre-clinical models or in clinical trials. Vaccination studies in animals utilizing HER-2/neu peptides have been successful in eliminating tumor growth. In humans, however, although immunological responses have been detected against the peptides used for vaccination, no clinical responses have been described. Because HER-2/neu is a self-antigen, functional immune responses against it may be limited through tolerance mechanisms. Therefore, it would be interesting to determine whether abrogation of tolerance to HER-2/neu using appropriate adjuvants and/or peptide analogs may lead to the development of immune responses to HER-2/neu epitopes that can be of relevance to cancer immunotherapy. Vaccine preparations containing mixtures of HER-2/neu peptides and peptide from other tumor-related antigens might also enhance efficacy of therapeutic vaccination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Constantin N Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, St. Savas Hospital, 171 Alexandras Ave, 11522, Athens, Greece.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Nikou KN, Stivaktakis N, Avgoustakis K, Sotiropoulou PA, Perez SA, Baxevanis CN, Papamichail M, Leondiadis L. A HER-2/neu peptide admixed with PLA microspheres induces a Th1-biased immune response in mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2005; 1725:182-9. [PMID: 16126344 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2005.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2005] [Revised: 07/13/2005] [Accepted: 07/14/2005] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The elimination of cancer cells requires strong cellular immune responses, and these responses are induced by the activation of Th1 lymphocytes. In this work, the possibility of inducing a Th1 type of immune response in vivo by mixing a HER-2/neu synthetic CTL (cytotoxic T lymphocyte) peptide [HER-2/neu (789-797)], with poly-lactide (PLA) microspheres was investigated. Various formulations of the peptide were administered to HLA-A2.1 transgenic (HHD) mice. Cellular experiments, assessing proliferation and cytokine determination in splenocyte culture supernatants, were carried out in order to evaluate the type of immune response to the antigen. The in vivo administration of the peptide antigen admixed with the PLA microspheres induced a potent immune response which was comparable to that induced by the combination of the antigen in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Furthermore, the cytokine profile produced by the T lymphocytes of the immunized animals indicated that the combination of the peptide antigen with the PLA microspheres induced a strong Th1 biased immune response to the antigen. The time of peptide incubation with the microspheres prior to administration did not affect the immune response, which further simplifies the preparation of this type of vaccine. The results justify further investigation of the possibility of inducing effective cellular immune responses against cancer cells overexpressing HER-2/neu molecules by simply mixing appropriate HER-2/neu peptide antigens with PLA microspheres.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina N Nikou
- Mass Spectrometry and Dioxin Analysis Laboratory, IRRP, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Liu Y, Chiriva-Internati M, You C, Luo R, You H, Prasad CK, Grizzi F, Cobos E, Klimberg VS, Kay H, Mehta JL, Hermonat PL. Use and specificity of breast cancer antigen/milk protein BA46 for generating anti-self-cytotoxic T lymphocytes by recombinant adeno-associated virus-based gene loading of dendritic cells. Cancer Gene Ther 2005; 12:304-12. [PMID: 15565181 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Antigen-targeted immunotherapy is an emerging treatment for breast cancer. However, useful breast cancer antigens are only found in a subset of cancer patients. BA46, also known as lactadherin, is a membrane-associated glycoprotein that is expressed in most breast cancer cells but not in general hematopoietic cell populations. Moreover, it is much more difficult to generate CTLs against self-antigens. We wished to determine if the use of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) type 2 vectors for gene-loading of dendritic cells (DCs) could generate rapid, effective cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against BA46. We were able to demonstrate that AAV/BA46/Neo-loading of DCs resulted in: (1) BA46 expression in DCs, (2) chromosomal integration of the AAV/BA46/Neo vector within DCs, (3) strong, rapid BA46-specific, MHC class I-restricted CTLs in only 1 week, (4) T-cell populations with significant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) expression but low IL-4 expression, (5) high CD80 and CD86 expression in DCs, and (6) high CD8:CD4 and CD8:CD56 T cell ratios. These data suggest that rAAV-loading of DCs may be useful for immunotherapeutic protocols against self-antigens in addition to viral antigens and that the BA46 antigen is potentially appropriate for cell-mediated immunotherapeutic protocols addressing ductal breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St., Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Parkhurst MR, Riley JP, Robbins PF, Rosenberg SA. Induction of CD4+ Th1 lymphocytes that recognize known and novel class II MHC restricted epitopes from the melanoma antigen gp100 by stimulation with recombinant protein. J Immunother 2004; 27:79-91. [PMID: 14770079 PMCID: PMC2275328 DOI: 10.1097/00002371-200403000-00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
CD4+ T helper cells may play a critical role in the induction and maintenance of a therapeutic immune response to cancer. To evaluate the efficacy with which a recombinant tumor-associated protein can induce antigen-reactive CD4+ T cells, we stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with melanoma in vitro with the purified melanoma antigen gp100 produced in Escherichia coli. In preliminary experiments, we observed that peripheral blood mononuclear cells could process and present known HLA-DRbeta1*0401 and HLA-DRbeta1*0701 restricted epitopes to gp100-reactive CD4+ T cell lines after being loaded exogenously with protein. Therefore, we used autologous protein-loaded peripheral blood mononuclear cells as antigen presenting cells. From four of nine patients who expressed both HLA-DRbeta1*0401 and HLA-DRbeta1*0701, we raised five gp100-reactive CD4+ T cell populations that secreted TH1 type cytokines in response to exogenously loaded protein as well as target cells that endogenously expressed gp100 and MHC class II molecules, including transfectants and melanoma cells. Four of the five cultures specifically recognized the known HLA-DRbeta1*0401 and HLA-DRbeta1*0701 restricted epitopes gp100:44-59 and gp100:170-190, respectively. The fifth culture, and 30 T cell clones derived from it, specifically recognized a new peptide, gp100:420-435, in the context of HLA-DRbeta1*0701. These results suggest that recombinant tumor-associated proteins may be clinically applicable for the generation of CD4+ T helper cells in active vaccination strategies or adoptive cellular immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria R Parkhurst
- Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1502, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Takeuchi N, Hiraoka SI, Zhou XY, Nagafuku M, Ono S, Tsujimura T, Nakazawa M, Yura Y, Hamaoka T, Fujiwara H. Anti–HER-2/neu Immune Responses Are Induced before the Development of Clinical Tumors but Declined following Tumorigenesis in HER-2/neu Transgenic Mice. Cancer Res 2004; 64:7588-95. [PMID: 15492286 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-1081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
HER-2/neu oncogene products have been implicated as a potential target of T cell-mediated immune responses to HER-2/neu-induced tumors. Using HER-2/neu transgenic mice (oncomice), we investigated whether, and if so how, anti-HER-2/neu immune responses are induced and modulated in these oncomice from birth to tumor initiation. Female oncomice carrying the activated HER-2/neu oncogene displayed apparent hyperplasia in mammary glands at 10 weeks of age and developed mammary carcinomas around an average age of 26 weeks. Unfractionated spleen cells from 10- to 15-week-old oncomice that were cultured without any exogenous stimuli exhibited cytotoxicity against the F31 tumor cell line established from an HER-2/neu-induced mammary carcinoma mass. The final antitumor effectors were a macrophage lineage of cells. However, this effector population was activated, depending on the stimulation of oncomouse CD4(+) T cells with oncomouse-derived antigen-presenting cell (APC) alone or with wild-type mouse APC in the presence of F31 membrane fractions, suggesting the presence of HER-2/neu-primed CD4(+) T cells and HER-2/neu-presenting APC in 10- to 15-week-old oncomice. These antitumor cytotoxic responses were detected at approximately 5 weeks of age and peaked at age 10 to 15 weeks. However, the responses then declined at tumor-bearing stages in which the expression of target proteins could progressively increase. This resulted from the dysfunction of CD4(+) T cells but not of APC or effector macrophages. These results indicate that an anti-HER-2/neu CD4(+) T cell-mediated immune response was generated at the pretumorigenic stage but did not prevent tumorigenesis and declined after the development of clinical tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noritami Takeuchi
- Department of Oncology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Liu G, Ying H, Zeng G, Wheeler CJ, Black KL, Yu JS. HER-2, gp100, and MAGE-1 are expressed in human glioblastoma and recognized by cytotoxic T cells. Cancer Res 2004; 64:4980-6. [PMID: 15256472 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-03-3504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
It has recently been demonstrated that malignant glioma cells express certain known tumor-associated antigens, such as HER-2, gp100, and MAGE-1. To further determine the possible utilization of these antigens for glioma immunotherapy and as surrogate markers for specific tumor antigen cytotoxicity, we characterized the presence of mRNA and protein expression in 43 primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines and 7 established human GBM cell lines. HER-2, gp100, and MAGE-1 mRNA expression was detected in 81.4%, 46.5%, and 39.5% of the GBM primary cell lines, respectively. Using immunoreactive staining analysis by flow cytometry, HER-2, gp100, and MAGE-1 protein expression was detected in 76%, 45%, and 38% of the GBM primary cell lines, respectively. HLA-A1-restricted epitope specific for MAGE-1 peptide (EADPTGHSY) CTL clone B07 and HLA-A2-restricted epitope specific for HER-2 peptide (KIFGSLAFL) CTL clone A05 and gp100 peptide (ITDQVPFSV) CTL clone CK3H6 were used in this study. The specificity of CTL clone was verified by HLA/peptide tetramer staining. Three CTL clones could efficiently recognize GBM tumor cells in an antigen-specific and MHC class I-restricted manner. IFN-gamma treatment can dramatically increase MHC class I expression of GBM tumor cells and significantly increase CTL recognition of tumor cells. Treatment with the DNA hypomethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine induced and up-regulated the mRNA expression of MAGE-1 and epitope presentation by autologous MHC. These data indicate that HER-2, gp100, and MAGE-1 could be used as tumor antigen targets for surrogate assays for antigen-specific CTLs or to develop antigen-specific active immunotherapy strategies for glioma patients.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigen Presentation
- Antigens, Neoplasm
- Azacitidine/analogs & derivatives
- Azacitidine/immunology
- Azacitidine/pharmacology
- Brain Neoplasms/genetics
- Brain Neoplasms/immunology
- Brain Neoplasms/metabolism
- COS Cells
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- DNA Methylation
- Decitabine
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Glioblastoma/genetics
- Glioblastoma/immunology
- Glioblastoma/metabolism
- Humans
- Interferon-gamma/immunology
- Interferon-gamma/pharmacology
- Melanoma-Specific Antigens
- Membrane Glycoproteins/biosynthesis
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Membrane Glycoproteins/immunology
- Neoplasm Proteins/biosynthesis
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/immunology
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/biosynthesis
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- gp100 Melanoma Antigen
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gentao Liu
- Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8631 West Third Street, Suite 800E, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Gillogly ME, Kallinteris NL, Xu M, Gulfo JV, Humphreys RE, Murray JL. Ii-Key/HER-2/neu MHC class-II antigenic epitope vaccine peptide for breast cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2004; 53:490-6. [PMID: 14740174 PMCID: PMC11032913 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-003-0463-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2003] [Accepted: 09/15/2003] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)- and T-helper cell-specific, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I and class-II peptides, respectively, of the HER-2/ neu protein, induce immune responses in patients. A major challenge in developing cancer peptide vaccines is breaking tolerance to tumor-associated antigens which are functionally self-proteins. An adequate CD4+ T-helper response is required for effective and lasting responses. METHODS Stimulating anti-cancer CD4+ T cell responses by MHC class-II epitope peptides has been limited by their weak potency, at least compared with tight-binding MHC class-I epitope peptides. Previously, a potent T-cell response to a MHC class-II epitope was engineered by coupling the N-terminus of the pigeon cytochrome C [PGCC(95-104)] MHC class-II epitope to the C-terminus of an immunoregulatory segment of the Ii protein (hIi77-81, the Ii-Key peptide) through a polymethylene spacer. RESULTS In vitro presentation of the MHC class-II epitope to a T hybridoma was enhanced greatly (>250 times). Now, an Ii-Key/HER-2/neu (777-789) MHC class-II epitope hybrid peptide stimulated lymphocytes from both a healthy donor and a patient with metastatic breast carcinoma. The in vitro primary stimulation with the hybrid peptide strongly activated IFN-gamma release, whereas the epitope-only peptide was weakly active. In fact, the hybrid stimulated IFN-gamma release as well as the wild-type peptide when augmented with IL-12; however, the hybrid was comparable to free peptide in stimulating IL-4 release. This pattern is consistent with preferential activation along a non-tolerogenic Th1 pathway. CONCLUSION Such Ii-Key/MHC class-II epitope hybrid peptides have both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Minzhen Xu
- Antigen Express Inc., 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606-8783 USA
| | - Joseph V. Gulfo
- Antigen Express Inc., 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606-8783 USA
| | | | - James L. Murray
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1525 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030 USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Baxevanis CN, Sotiropoulou PA, Sotiriadou NN, Papamichail M. Immunobiology of HER-2/neu oncoprotein and its potential application in cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2004; 53:166-75. [PMID: 14685781 PMCID: PMC11041985 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-003-0475-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2003] [Accepted: 10/24/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
HER-2/neu (also known as HER2 or c-erb-B2) is a 185-kDa protein receptor with tyrosine kinase activity and extensive homology to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. HER-2/neu is expressed in many epithelial tumors and known to be overexpressed in approximately 20-25% of all ovarian and breast cancers, 35-45% of all pancreatic adenocarcinomas, and up to 90% of colorectal carcinomas. HER-2/neu overexpression represents a marker of poor prognosis. HER-2/neu-positive tumor cells are potentially good targets for tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes which have been utilized in immunotherapeutic trials. In addition, the "humanized" monoclonal antibody Herceptin has been tested in several clinical trials and proved to be an effective adjuvant therapy for HER-2/neu-positive breast and ovarian cancers. Vaccinations aiming at generating T-cell responses are being examined in both experimental and clinical trials. Natural immunity at the level of T and B cells has been observed in patients with HER-2/neu-positive tumors confirming the immunogenicity of HER-2/neu and encouraging vaccination trials with HER-2 protein-derived subunits or synthetic peptides. This review summarizes recent data from patients with various types of HER-2/neu-overexpressing cancers carrying different HLA alleles and exhibiting preexistent immunity to HER-2/neu-derived synthetic peptides. It also discusses potential advantages of the various vaccination approaches to immunotherapy targeting the HER-2/neu molecule.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Constantin N Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22, Athens, Greece.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Nelson EL, Prieto D, Alexander TG, Pushko P, Lofts LA, Rayner JO, Kamrud KI, Fralish B, Smith JF. Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Replicon Immunization Overcomes Intrinsic Tolerance and Elicits Effective Anti-tumor Immunity to the ‘Self’ tumor-associated antigen, neu in a Rat Mammary Tumor Model. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2003; 82:169-83. [PMID: 14703064 DOI: 10.1023/b:brea.0000004373.09678.bb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Many tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) represent 'self' antigens and as such, are subject to the constraints of immunologic tolerance. There are significant barriers to eliciting anti-tumor immune responses of sufficient magnitude. We have taken advantage of a Venezuelan equine encephalitis-derived alphavirus replicon vector system with documented in vivo tropism for immune system dendritic cells. We have overcome the intrinsic tolerance to the 'self' TAA rat neu and elicited an effective anti-tumor immune response using this alphavirus replicon vector system and a designed target antigen in a rigorous rat mammary tumor model. We have demonstrated the capacity to generate 50% protection in tumor challenge experiments (p = 0.004) and we have confirmed the establishment of immunologic memory by both second tumor challenge and Winn Assay (p = 0.009). Minor antibody responses were identified and supported the establishment of T helper type 1 (Th1) anti-tumor immune responses by isotype. Animals surviving in excess of 300 days with established effective anti-tumor immunity showed no signs of autoimmune phenomena. Together these experiments support the establishment of T lymphocyte dependent, Th1-biased anti-tumor immune responses to a non-mutated 'self' TAA in an aggressive tumor model. Importantly, this tumor model is subject to the constraints of immunologic tolerance present in animals with normal developmental, temporal, and anatomical expression of a non-mutated TAA. These data support the continued development and potential clinical application of this alphaviral replicon vector system and the use of appropriately designed target antigen sequences for anti-tumor immunotherapy.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine/genetics
- Female
- Genetic Vectors/immunology
- Genetic Vectors/therapeutic use
- Humans
- Immunization
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Neoplasm Proteins/immunology
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred F344
- Receptor, ErbB-2/chemistry
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Replicon/immunology
- Self Tolerance
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward L Nelson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 97697-4060, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Sotiropoulou PA, Perez SA, Voelter V, Echner H, Missitzis I, Tsavaris NB, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. Natural CD8+ T-cell responses against MHC class I epitopes of the HER-2/ neu oncoprotein in patients with epithelial tumors. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2003; 52:771-9. [PMID: 13680193 PMCID: PMC11034260 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-003-0420-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2003] [Accepted: 05/28/2003] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
HER-2/ neu is an immunogenic protein eliciting both humoral and cellular immune responses in patients with HER-2/ neu-positive ((+)) tumors. Preexisting cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immunity to HER-2/ neu has so far been mainly evaluated in terms of detection of CTL precursor (CTLp) frequencies to the immunogenic HLA-A2-binding nona-peptide 369-377 (HER-2(9(369))). In the present study, we examined patients with HER-2/ neu(+) breast, ovarian, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers for preexisting CTL immunity to four recently described HER-2/ neu-derived and HLA-A2-restricted "cytotoxic" peptides and to a novel one spanning amino acids 777-785 also with HLA-A2-binding motif. We utilized enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assay, which allows a quantitative and functional assessment of T cells directed against specific peptides after only brief in vitro incubation. CTL reactivity was determined with an interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) ELISpot assay detecting T cells at the single cell level secreting IFN-gamma. CTLp were defined as peptide-specific precursors per 10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Patients' PBMCs with increased CTLp were also tested against autologous tumor targets and peptide-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) in cytotoxicity assays. We also studied patients with HER-2/ neu-negative ((-)) tumors and healthy individuals. Of the HER-2/neu(+) patients examined, 31% had increased CTLp to HER-2(9(952)), 19% to HER-2(9(665)), 16% to HER-2(9(689)), and 12.5% HER-2(9(435)), whereas only 2 of 32 patients (6%) responded to HER-2(9(777)). The CTLp recognizing HER-2(9(952)) were extremely high in two patients with breast cancer, one with lung cancer, and one with prostate cancer. None of the HER-2/neu(-) patients or healthy donors exhibited increased CTLp to any of these peptides. Besides IFN-gamma production, preexisting CTL immunity to all five HER-2/ neu peptides was also shown in cytotoxicity assays where patients' PBMCs with increased CTLp specifically lysed autologous tumor targets and autologous peptide-pulsed DCs. Our results demonstrate for the first time that (1) preexisting immunity to peptides HER-2(9(435)), HER-2(9(952)), HER-2(9(689)), HER-2(9(665)), and HER-2(9(777)) is present in patients with HER-2/ neu(+) tumors of distinct histology, (2) HER-2(9(777)) is a naturally processed peptide expressed on the surface of HER-2/ neu(+) tumors, as are the other four peptides, and (3) HER-2/ neu(+) prostate tumor cells can be recognized and lysed by autologous HER-2 peptide-specific CTL. Our findings broaden the potential application of HER-2/ neu-based immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota A. Sotiropoulou
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - Sonia A. Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - Volfgang Voelter
- Abteilung Fuer Physicalische Biochemie des Physiologisch-Chemisches Institut der Universitaet, 4 Hoppe-Seyler Strasse, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Hartmut Echner
- Abteilung Fuer Physicalische Biochemie des Physiologisch-Chemisches Institut der Universitaet, 4 Hoppe-Seyler Strasse, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ioannis Missitzis
- Breast Cancer Clinic, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - Nick B. Tsavaris
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Laikon General Hospital, Greece
| | - Michael Papamichail
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin N. Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Sotiropoulou PA, Perez SA, Iliopoulou EG, Missitzis I, Voelter V, Echner H, Baxevanis CN, Papamichail M. Cytotoxic T-cell precursor frequencies to HER-2 (369-377) in patients with HER-2/neu-positive epithelial tumours. Br J Cancer 2003; 89:1055-61. [PMID: 12966425 PMCID: PMC2376937 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
HER-2/neu oncoprotein contains several major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted epitopes, which are recognised by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) on autologous tumours and therefore can be used in immune-based cancer therapies. Of these, the most extensively studied is HER-2(9(369)). In the present report, we used dendritic cells pulsed with HER-2(9(369)) to stimulate, in the presence of IL-7 and IL-12, the production of IFN-gamma by patients' CTL detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-assay. Frequencies of peptide-specific precursors were estimated in HLA-A2, HLA-A3 and HLA-A26 patients with HER-2/neu-positive (+) breast, ovarian, lung, colorectal and prostate cancers and healthy individuals. We found increased percentages of such precursors in HLA-A2 (25%) and HLA-A26 (30%) patients, which were significantly higher (60%) in HLA-A3 patients. Our results demonstrate for the first time that pre-existing immunity to HER-2(9(369)) occurs in patients with colorectal, lung and prostate cancer. They also suggest that HER-2(9(369)) can be recognised by CTL, besides HLA-A2, also in the context of HLA-A3 and HLA-A26, thus increasing the applicability of HER-2(9(369))-based vaccinations in a considerably broader patients' population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P A Sotiropoulou
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - S A Perez
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - E G Iliopoulou
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - I Missitzis
- Breast Cancer Clinic, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| | - V Voelter
- Abteilung Fuer Physicalische Biochemie des Physiologisch-Chemisches Institut der Universitat, 4 Hoppe-Seyler Strasse, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - H Echner
- Abteilung Fuer Physicalische Biochemie des Physiologisch-Chemisches Institut der Universitat, 4 Hoppe-Seyler Strasse, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - C N Baxevanis
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece. E-mail:
| | - M Papamichail
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Mamalaki A, Gritzapis AD, Kretsovali A, Belimezi M, Papamatheakis J, Perez SA, Papamichail M, Baxevanis CN. In vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of a mouse CTL hybridoma expressing chimeric receptors bearing the single chain Fv from HER-2/neu- specific antibody and the gamma-chain from Fc(epsilon) RI. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2003; 52:513-22. [PMID: 12715240 PMCID: PMC11034336 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-002-0371-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2002] [Accepted: 11/28/2003] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
To broaden the applicability of adoptive cellular immunotherapy against HER-2/neu overexpressing human cancers, we constructed a chimeric scFv/gamma gene composed of the variable regions of a HER-2/neu specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) joined to the signaling gamma-chain of the Fc(epsilon)RI receptor. The scFv(anti-HER-2/neu)/gamma chimeric gene was successfully expressed as functional surface receptor in the MD.45 cytolytic T-cell (CTL) hybridoma (MD.45-HER/gamma). Expression of the chimeric protein triggered IL-2 and IFN-gamma secretion in vitro upon encountering cell surface HER-2/neu and mediated non-major-histocompatibility-complex (MHC)-restricted HER-2/neu-specific target cell lysis. We also examined the in vivo activity of the MD.45-HER/gamma transduced cells. Severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) mice that were given HER-2/neu positive (+) human tumor cell lines had significantly increased survival compared to mice treated with saline only, or with MD.45 cells transduced with a control anti-trinitrophenyl (anti-TNP) chimeric receptor gene (MD.45-TNP/gamma). These results demonstrate the feasibility of redirecting MD.45 CTL to react in vitro and in vivo with a variety of HER-2/neu(+) tumor cells by our gene transduction protocol. Moreover, they open the possibility of using the same chimeric gene for transducing primary lymphocytes and thus allowing adoptive immunotherapy against HER-2/neu(+) cancers.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Base Sequence
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Hybridomas/immunology
- Immunoglobulin Fragments/genetics
- Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains/genetics
- Immunotherapy
- Interferon-gamma/metabolism
- Interleukin-2/metabolism
- Melanoma, Experimental/genetics
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, SCID
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology
- Receptors, IgE/immunology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Skin Neoplasms/genetics
- Skin Neoplasms/immunology
- Skin Neoplasms/therapy
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Transfection
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Avgi Mamalaki
- />Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelos D. Gritzapis
- />Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Ave., 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Androniki Kretsovali
- />Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
- />Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Ave., 11522 Athens, Greece
- />Foundation for Research and Technology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Crete
| | - Maria Belimezi
- />Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Joseph Papamatheakis
- />Foundation for Research and Technology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Crete
| | - Sonia A. Perez
- />Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Ave., 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Papamichail
- />Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Ave., 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin N. Baxevanis
- />Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Ave., 11522 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Gritzapis AD, Mamalaki A, Kretsovali A, Papamatheakis J, Belimezi M, Perez SA, Baxevanis CN, Papamichail M. Redirecting mouse T hybridoma against human breast and ovarian carcinomas: in vivo activity against HER-2/neu expressing cancer cells. Br J Cancer 2003; 88:1292-300. [PMID: 12698199 PMCID: PMC2747561 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric receptors comprising of the T-cell receptor-zeta cytoplasmic signalling chain fused to an extracellular ligand-binding domain of a single-chain antibody (scFv) have served as effective tools for redirecting cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against tumour cells. In this report, we constructed a chimeric scFv/zeta gene composed of the variable regions of an HER-2/neu-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) joined to the TCR-zeta chain. The scFv(anti-HER-2/neu)/zeta chimeric gene was successfully expressed as a functional surface receptor in the MD.45 CTL hybridoma (MD.45-HER/zeta). More importantly, the scFv(anti-HER-2/neu)/zeta receptor was functionally active, since it triggered cytokine secretion by the MD.45-HER/zeta cells upon recognition of HER-2/neu-positive (+) tumour cell lines, or primary tumour cells from patients with HER-2/neu(+) cancers. The MD.45-HER/zeta-transduced cells also lysed HER-2/neu(+) target cells in vitro with high specificity. We tested the antitumour efficacy of scFv(anti-HER-2/neu)/zeta expressing MD.45 cells in severe combined immunodeficiency disease mice/human and murine tumour models. The adoptively transferred MD.45-HER/zeta cells both slowed significantly the growth of human FM3 melanoma or murine ALC leukaemic cells both transfected to express HER-2/neu. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of redirecting MD.45 CTL with the scFv(anti-HER-2/neu)/zeta chimeric receptor to respond specifically against HER-2/neu expressing tumour cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, they make it likely that T cells transduced with the same chimeric gene might be utilised in the treatment of patients with HER-2/neu(+) tumours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A D Gritzapis
- Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, 171 Alexandras Ave, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - A Mamalaki
- Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - A Kretsovali
- Foundation for Research and Technology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Crete
| | - J Papamatheakis
- Foundation for Research and Technology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Crete
| | - M Belimezi
- Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - S A Perez
- Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, 171 Alexandras Ave, 11522 Athens, Greece
| | - C N Baxevanis
- Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, 171 Alexandras Ave, 11522 Athens, Greece
- Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, 171 Alexandras Ave, 11522 Athens, Greece. E-mail:
| | - M Papamichail
- Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, 171 Alexandras Ave, 11522 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Kiessling R, Wei WZ, Herrmann F, Lindencrona JA, Choudhury A, Kono K, Seliger B. Cellular immunity to the Her-2/neu protooncogene. Adv Cancer Res 2003; 85:101-44. [PMID: 12374283 DOI: 10.1016/s0065-230x(02)85004-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Her-2/neu (HER-2) is a 185-kDa receptor-like glycoprotein that is overexpressed by a variety of tumors such as breast, ovarian, gastric, and colorectal carcinomas. Overexpression of this oncogene is directly associated with malignant transformation of epithelial cells. The frequency of HER-2 overexpression varies among the different types of cancers, but universally represents a marker of poor prognosis. The critical role of HER-2 in epithelial oncogenesis as well as its selective overexpression on malignant tissues makes it an ideal target for immunotherapy. Antibodies and T cells reactive to HER-2 are known to naturally occur in patients with HER-2 positive tumors, confirming the immunogenicity of the molecule. Both antibodies as well as T cells reactive to HER-2 have been utilized for immunotherapy of HER-2 positive tumors. The "humanized" monoclonal antibody Herceptin has been tested in several clinical trials and found to be an effective adjuvant therapy for HER-2 positive breast and ovarian cancer patients. However, the frequency of patients responding to Herceptin is limited and a majority of patients initially responding to Herceptin develop resistance within a year of treatment. The use of vaccination strategies that generate T cell responses with or without accompanying antibody responses may serve to mitigate the problem. Various strategies for generating T cell-mediated responses against HER-2 are currently being examined in animal models or in clinical trials. The potential advantages of the various approaches to immunotherapy, their pitfalls, and the mechanisms by which HER-2 positive tumors can evade immune responses are discussed in this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Kiessling
- Department of Oncology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|