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Aparicio B, Theunissen P, Hervas-Stubbs S, Fortes P, Sarobe P. Relevance of mutation-derived neoantigens and non-classical antigens for anticancer therapies. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2303799. [PMID: 38346926 PMCID: PMC10863374 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2303799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Efficacy of cancer immunotherapies relies on correct recognition of tumor antigens by lymphocytes, eliciting thus functional responses capable of eliminating tumor cells. Therefore, important efforts have been carried out in antigen identification, with the aim of understanding mechanisms of response to immunotherapy and to design safer and more efficient strategies. In addition to classical tumor-associated antigens identified during the last decades, implementation of next-generation sequencing methodologies is enabling the identification of neoantigens (neoAgs) arising from mutations, leading to the development of new neoAg-directed therapies. Moreover, there are numerous non-classical tumor antigens originated from other sources and identified by new methodologies. Here, we review the relevance of neoAgs in different immunotherapies and the results obtained by applying neoAg-based strategies. In addition, the different types of non-classical tumor antigens and the best approaches for their identification are described. This will help to increase the spectrum of targetable molecules useful in cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belen Aparicio
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Patrick Theunissen
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Sandra Hervas-Stubbs
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Puri Fortes
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Spanish Network for Advanced Therapies (TERAV ISCIII), Spain
| | - Pablo Sarobe
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
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2
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Vanclooster P, Seghers S, Prenen H. State-of-the-art and upcoming trends in RAS-directed therapies in gastrointestinal malignancies. Curr Opin Oncol 2024; 36:313-319. [PMID: 38726828 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000001042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Overall, the review underscores the evolving landscape of KRAS-targeted therapy and the potential for these approaches to improve outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. It highlights the importance of ongoing research and clinical trials in advancing precision medicine strategies for KRAS-driven cancers. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the RAS signaling pathway and its significance in gastrointestinal malignancies. RECENT FINDINGS The introduction of KRAS inhibitor represents a significant advancement in the treatment landscape for KRAS-mutant cancers. In this review, we discuss upcoming trends in KRAS-targeted therapy, including the development of mutant-specific direct KRAS inhibitors like MRTX1133 and pan-RAS inhibitors such as RMC-6236. It also explores indirect RAS inhibitors targeting upstream and downstream components of the RAS pathway. Additionally, the review examines other upcoming strategies like combination therapies, such as CDK4/6 and ERK MAPK inhibitors, as well as adoptive cell therapy and cancer vaccines targeting KRAS-mutant cancers. SUMMARY Targeting RAS has become an important strategy in treating gastrointestinal cancer. These findings in this review underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, integrating advances in molecular profiling, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and clinical research to optimize treatment strategies for patients with KRAS-mutant gastrointestinal malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sofie Seghers
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
| | - Hans Prenen
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
- Integrated Personalized & Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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3
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Sueangoen N, Thuwajit P, Yenchitsomanus PT, Thuwajit C. Public neoantigens in breast cancer immunotherapy (Review). Int J Mol Med 2024; 54:65. [PMID: 38904202 PMCID: PMC11188978 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2024.5388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Among women globally, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and the leading cause of cancer‑related death. Interestingly, though genetic mutations contribute to the disease, <15% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease, suggesting a prevalence of sporadic genetic mutations in breast cancer development. In the rapidly rising field of cancer genomics, neoantigen‑based immunotherapy has come to the fore. The investigation of novel proteins arising from unique somatic mutations or neoantigens have opened a new pathway for both individualized and public cancer treatments. Because they are shared among individuals with similar genetic changes, public neoantigens provide an opportunity for 'off‑the‑shelf' anticancer therapies, potentially extending the benefits to a wider patient group. The present review aimed to highlight the role of shared or public neoantigens as therapeutic targets for patients with breast cancer, emphasizing common hotspot mutations of certain genes identified in breast cancer. The clinical utilization of public neoantigen‑based therapies for breast cancer treatment were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natthaporn Sueangoen
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Peti Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Pa-Thai Yenchitsomanus
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Chanitra Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
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4
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Girard E, Lopes P, Spoerner M, Dhaussy AC, Prangé T, Kalbitzer HR, Colloc'h N. High Pressure Promotes Binding of the Allosteric Inhibitor Zn 2+-Cyclen in Crystals of Activated H-Ras. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400304. [PMID: 38647362 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
In this work, we experimentally investigate the potency of high pressure to drive a protein toward an excited state where an inhibitor targeted for this state can bind. Ras proteins are small GTPases cycling between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound states. Various states of GTP-bound Ras in active conformation coexist in solution, amongst them, state 2 which binds to effectors, and state 1, weakly populated at ambient conditions, which has a low affinity for effectors. Zn2+-cyclen is an allosteric inhibitor of Ras protein, designed to bind specifically to the state 1. In H-Ras(wt).Mg2+.GppNHp crystals soaked with Zn2+-cyclen, no binding could be observed, as expected in the state 2 conformation which is the dominant state at ambient pressure. Interestingly, Zn2+-cyclen binding is observed at 500 MPa pressure, close to the nucleotide, in Ras protein that is driven by pressure to a state 1 conformer. The unknown binding mode of Zn2+-cyclen to H-Ras can thus be fully characterized in atomic details. As a more general conjunction from our study, high pressure x-ray crystallography turns out to be a powerful method to induce transitions allowing drug binding in proteins that are in low-populated conformations at ambient conditions, enabling the design of specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Girard
- CEA, CNRS, IBS, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Pedro Lopes
- Institute for Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael Spoerner
- Institute for Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Thierry Prangé
- CiTCoM, CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - Hans Robert Kalbitzer
- Institute for Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nathalie Colloc'h
- ISTCT UMR6030, Centre Cyceron, CNRS - Université de Caen Normandie - Normandie Université, Caen, France
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5
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Guasp P, Reiche C, Sethna Z, Balachandran VP. RNA vaccines for cancer: Principles to practice. Cancer Cell 2024:S1535-6108(24)00168-5. [PMID: 38848720 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Vaccines are the most impactful medicines to improve health. Though potent against pathogens, vaccines for cancer remain an unfulfilled promise. However, recent advances in RNA technology coupled with scientific and clinical breakthroughs have spurred rapid discovery and potent delivery of tumor antigens at speed and scale, transforming cancer vaccines into a tantalizing prospect. Yet, despite being at a pivotal juncture, with several randomized clinical trials maturing in upcoming years, several critical questions remain: which antigens, tumors, platforms, and hosts can trigger potent immunity with clinical impact? Here, we address these questions with a principled framework of cancer vaccination from antigen detection to delivery. With this framework, we outline features of emergent RNA technology that enable rapid, robust, real-time vaccination with somatic mutation-derived neoantigens-an emerging "ideal" antigen class-and highlight latent features that have sparked the belief that RNA could realize the enduring vision for vaccines against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Guasp
- Immuno-Oncology Service, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charlotte Reiche
- Immuno-Oncology Service, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zachary Sethna
- Immuno-Oncology Service, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vinod P Balachandran
- Immuno-Oncology Service, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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6
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Shen M, Chen S, Han X, Hao Y, Wang J, Li L, Chen T, Wang B, Zou L, Zhang T, Zhang W, Han X, Wang W, Yu H, Li K, Liu S, Jin A. Identification of an HLA-A*11:01-restricted neoepitope of mutant PIK3CA and its specific T cell receptors for cancer immunotherapy targeting hotspot driver mutations. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:150. [PMID: 38832948 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03729-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Hotspot driver mutations presented by human leukocyte antigens might be recognized by anti-tumor T cells. Based on their advantages of tumor-specificity and immunogenicity, neoantigens derived from hotspot mutations, such as PIK3CAH1047L, may serve as emerging targets for cancer immunotherapies. NetMHCpan V4.1 was utilized for predicting neoepitopes of PIK3CA hotspot mutation. Using in vitro stimulation, antigen-specific T cells targeting the HLA-A*11:01-restricted PIK3CA mutation were isolated from healthy donor-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells. T cell receptors (TCRs) were cloned using single-cell PCR and sequencing. Their functionality was assessed through T cell activation markers, cytokine production and cytotoxic response to cancer cell lines pulsed with peptides or transduced genes of mutant PIK3CA. Immunogenic mutant antigens from PIK3CA and their corresponding CD8+ T cells were identified. These PIK3CA mutation-specific CD8+ T cells were subsequently enriched, and their TCRs were isolated. The TCR clones exhibited mutation-specific and HLA-restricted reactivity, demonstrating varying degrees of functional avidity. Identified TCR genes were transferred into CD8+ Jurkat cells and primary T cells deficient of endogenous TCRs. TCR-expressing cells demonstrated specific recognition and reactivity against the PIK3CAH1047L peptide presented by HLA-A*11:01-expressing K562 cells. Furthermore, mutation-specific TCR-T cells demonstrated an elevation in cytokine production and profound cytotoxic effects against HLA-A*11:01+ malignant cell lines harboring PIK3CAH1047L. Our data demonstrate the immunogenicity of an HLA-A*11:01-restricted PIK3CA hotspot mutation and its targeting therapeutic potential, together with promising candidates of TCR-T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiying Shen
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Siyin Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaojian Han
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanan Hao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Junfan Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Luo Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bozhi Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Zou
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wanli Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaxia Han
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wang Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haochen Yu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kang Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shengchun Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Aishun Jin
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research of Tumor Immunology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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7
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Yao P, Gao M, Hu W, Wang J, Wang Y, Wang Q, Ji J. Proteogenomic analysis identifies neoantigens and bacterial peptides as immunotherapy targets in colorectal cancer. Pharmacol Res 2024; 204:107209. [PMID: 38740147 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Considerable progress has recently been made in cancer immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade, cancer vaccine, and adoptive T cell methods. The lack of effective targets is a major cause of the low immunotherapy response rate in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we used a proteogenomic strategy comprising immunopeptidomics, whole exome sequencing, and 16 S ribosomal DNA sequencing analyses of 8 patients with CRC to identify neoantigens and bacterial peptides that can serve as antitumor targets. This study directly identified several personalized neoantigens and bacterial immunopeptides. Immunoassays showed that all neoantigens and 5 of 8 bacterial immunopeptides could be recognized by autologous T cells. Additionally, T cell receptor (TCR) αβ sequencing revealed the TCR repertoire of epitope-reactive CD8+ T cells. Functional studies showed that T cell receptor-T (TCR-T) could be activated by epitope pulsed lymphoblastoid cells. Overall, this study comprehensively profiled the CRC immunopeptidome, revealing several neoantigens and bacterial peptides with potential to serve as immunotherapy targets in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengju Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingjie Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiyi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qingsong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianguo Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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8
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Inamdar VV, Hao S, Stephan SB, Stephan MT. Biomaterial-based scaffolds for direct in situ programming of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes. J Control Release 2024; 370:310-317. [PMID: 38677524 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy with tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs) has generated exciting clinical trial results for the treatment of unresectable solid tumors. However, solid tumors remain difficult targets for adoptively transferred T cells, due in part to poor migration of TILs to the tumor, physical barriers to infiltration, and active suppression of TILs by the tumor. Furthermore, a highly skilled team is required to obtain tumor tissue, isolate and expand the TILs ex vivo, and reinfuse them into the patient, which drives up costs and limits patient access. Here, we describe a cell-free polymer implant designed to recruit, genetically reprogram and expand host T cells at tumor lesions in situ. Importantly, the scaffold can be fabricated on a large scale and is stable to lyophilization. Using a mouse breast cancer model, we show that the implants quickly and efficiently amass cancer-specific host lymphocytes at the tumor site in quantities sufficient to bring about long-term tumor regression. Given that surgical care is the mainstay of cancer treatment for many patients, this technology could be easily implemented in a clinical setting as an add-on to surgery for solid tumors. Furthermore, the approach could be broadened to recruit and genetically reprogram other therapeutically desirable host cells, such as macrophages, natural killer cells or dendritic cells, potentially boosting the antitumor effectiveness of the implant even more.
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Affiliation(s)
- V V Inamdar
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - S Hao
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - S B Stephan
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - M T Stephan
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA; Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA; Department of Bioengineering and Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
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9
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Levin N, Kim SP, Marquardt CA, Vale NR, Yu Z, Sindiri S, Gartner JJ, Parkhurst M, Krishna S, Lowery FJ, Zacharakis N, Levy L, Prickett TD, Benzine T, Ray S, Masi RV, Gasmi B, Li Y, Islam R, Bera A, Goff SL, Robbins PF, Rosenberg SA. Neoantigen-specific stimulation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes enables effective TCR isolation and expansion while preserving stem-like memory phenotypes. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008645. [PMID: 38816232 PMCID: PMC11141192 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) targeting neoantigens can effectively treat a selected set of metastatic solid cancers. However, harnessing TILs for cancer treatments remains challenging because neoantigen-reactive T cells are often rare and exhausted, and ex vivo expansion can further reduce their frequencies. This complicates the identification of neoantigen-reactive T-cell receptors (TCRs) and the development of TIL products with high reactivity for patient treatment. METHODS We tested whether TILs could be in vitro stimulated against neoantigens to achieve selective expansion of neoantigen-reactive TILs. Given their prevalence, mutant p53 or RAS were studied as models of human neoantigens. An in vitro stimulation method, termed "NeoExpand", was developed to provide neoantigen-specific stimulation to TILs. 25 consecutive patient TILs from tumors harboring p53 or RAS mutations were subjected to NeoExpand. RESULTS We show that neoantigenic stimulation achieved selective expansion of neoantigen-reactive TILs and broadened the neoantigen-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ TIL clonal repertoire. This allowed the effective isolation of novel neoantigen-reactive TCRs. Out of the 25 consecutive TIL samples, neoantigenic stimulation enabled the identification of 16 unique reactivities and 42 TCRs, while conventional TIL expansion identified 9 reactivities and 14 TCRs. Single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed that neoantigenic stimulation increased neoantigen-reactive TILs with stem-like memory phenotypes expressing IL-7R, CD62L, and KLF2. Furthermore, neoantigenic stimulation improved the in vivo antitumor efficacy of TILs relative to the conventional OKT3-induced rapid TIL expansion in p53-mutated or KRAS-mutated xenograft mouse models. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, neoantigenic stimulation of TILs selectively expands neoantigen-reactive TILs by frequencies and by their clonal repertoire. NeoExpand led to improved phenotypes and functions of neoantigen-reactive TILs. Our data warrant its clinical evaluation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT00068003, NCT01174121, and NCT03412877.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Levin
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sanghyun P Kim
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Charles A Marquardt
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nolan R Vale
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhiya Yu
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sivasish Sindiri
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jared J Gartner
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Maria Parkhurst
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sri Krishna
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Frank J Lowery
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nikolaos Zacharakis
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lior Levy
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Todd D Prickett
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tiffany Benzine
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Satyajit Ray
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert V Masi
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Billel Gasmi
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yong Li
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Rafiqul Islam
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alakesh Bera
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephanie L Goff
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul F Robbins
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven A Rosenberg
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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10
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Jiang J, Shu W, Yao Q. Research advances on TIL therapy for colorectal cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03530-4. [PMID: 38806995 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03530-4] [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: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent gastrointestinal malignancy. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, a form of adoptive cellular therapy (ACT), involves isolating T lymphocytes from tumor tissues, in vitro expansion, and reintroduction into the body to target and eliminate tumor cells. This article presents an overview of the development and application of TIL therapy in CRC, as well as the associated challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Jiang
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenxi Shu
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qinghua Yao
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Xinhua Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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11
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Wu D, Yin R, Chen G, Ribeiro-Filho HV, Cheung M, Robbins PF, Mariuzza RA, Pierce BG. Structural characterization and AlphaFold modeling of human T cell receptor recognition of NRAS cancer neoantigens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.21.595215. [PMID: 38826362 PMCID: PMC11142219 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.21.595215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
T cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize cancer neoantigens are important for anti-cancer immune responses and immunotherapy. Understanding the structural basis of TCR recognition of neoantigens provides insights into their exquisite specificity and can enable design of optimized TCRs. We determined crystal structures of a human TCR in complex with NRAS Q61K and Q61R neoantigen peptides and HLA-A1 MHC, revealing the molecular underpinnings for dual recognition and specificity versus wild-type NRAS peptide. We then used multiple versions of AlphaFold to model the corresponding complex structures, given the challenge of immune recognition for such methods. Interestingly, one implementation of AlphaFold2 (TCRmodel2) was able to generate accurate models of the complexes, while AlphaFold3 also showed strong performance, although success was lower for other complexes. This study provides insights into TCR recognition of a shared cancer neoantigen, as well as the utility and practical considerations for using AlphaFold to model TCR-peptide-MHC complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daichao Wu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Laboratory of Structural Immunology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Rui Yin
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Guodong Chen
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Laboratory of Structural Immunology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Helder V. Ribeiro-Filho
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas 13083-100, Brazil
| | - Melyssa Cheung
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Paul F. Robbins
- Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Roy A. Mariuzza
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Brian G. Pierce
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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12
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Li C, Zhang Z, Cai Q, Zhao Q, Wu H, Li J, Liu Y, Zhao X, Liu J, Ping Y, Shan J, Yang S, Zhang Y. Peripheral CX3CR1 + T cells combined with PD-1 blockade therapy potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy for lung cancer. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2355684. [PMID: 38798746 PMCID: PMC11123541 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2024.2355684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Identifying tumor-relevant T cell subsets in the peripheral blood (PB) has become a potential strategy for cancer treatment. However, the subset of PB that could be used to treat cancer remains poorly defined. Here, we found that the CX3CR1+ T cell subset in the blood of patients with lung cancer exhibited effector properties and had a higher TCR matching ratio with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) compared to CX3CR1- T cells, as determined by paired single-cell RNA and TCR sequencing. Meanwhile, the anti-tumor activities, effector cytokine production, and mitochondrial function were enhanced in CX3CR1+ T cells both in vitro and in vivo. However, in the co-culture system of H322 cells with T cells, the percentages of apoptotic cells and Fas were substantially higher in CX3CR1+ T cells than those in CX3CR1- T cells. Fas-mediated apoptosis was rescued by treatment with an anti-PD-1 antibody. Accordingly, the combination of adoptive transfer of CX3CR1+ T cells and anti-PD-1 treatment considerably decreased Fas expression and improved the survival of lung xenograft mice. Moreover, an increased frequency of CX3CR1+ T cells in the PB correlated with a better response and prolonged survival of patients with lung cancer who received anti-PD-1 therapy. These findings indicate the promising potential of adoptive transfer of peripheral CX3CR1+ T cells as an individual cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Li
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qianfeng Cai
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qitai Zhao
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Han Wu
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - JunRu Li
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yaqing Liu
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xuan Zhao
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jinyan Liu
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yu Ping
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jiqi Shan
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shengli Yang
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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13
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Lang X, Wang X, Han M, Guo Y. Nanoparticle-Mediated Synergistic Chemoimmunotherapy for Cancer Treatment. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:4533-4568. [PMID: 38799699 PMCID: PMC11127654 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s455213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Until now, there has been a lack of effective strategies for cancer treatment. Immunotherapy has high potential in treating several cancers but its efficacy is limited as a monotherapy. Chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) holds promise to be widely used in cancer treatment. Therefore, identifying their involvement and potential synergy in CIT approaches is decisive. Nano-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) are ideal delivery systems because they can simultaneously target immune cells and cancer cells, promoting drug accumulation, and reducing the toxicity of the drug. In this review, we first introduce five current immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint blocking (ICB), adoptive cell transfer therapy (ACT), cancer vaccines, oncolytic virus therapy (OVT) and cytokine therapy. Subsequently, the immunomodulatory effects of chemotherapy by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD), promoting tumor killer cell infiltration, down-regulating immunosuppressive cells, and inhibiting immune checkpoints have been described. Finally, the NDDSs-mediated collaborative drug delivery systems have been introduced in detail, and the development of NDDSs-mediated CIT nanoparticles has been prospected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Lang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiangtao Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meihua Han
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yifei Guo
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery Based on Classic Chinese Medicine Prescription, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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14
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Guo J, Wang C, Luo N, Wu Y, Huang W, Zhu J, Shi W, Ding J, Ge Y, Liu C, Lu Z, Bast RC, Ai G, Yang W, Wang R, Li C, Chen R, Liu S, Jin H, Zhao B, Cheng Z. IL-2-free tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy with PD-1 blockade demonstrates potent efficacy in advanced gynecologic cancer. BMC Med 2024; 22:207. [PMID: 38769543 PMCID: PMC11106999 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03420-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy has been restricted by intensive lymphodepletion and high-dose intravenous interleukin-2 (IL-2) administration. To address these limitations, we conducted preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate the safety, antitumor activity, and pharmacokinetics of an innovative modified regimen in patients with advanced gynecologic cancer. METHODS Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) were established from a local recurrent cervical cancer patient. TILs were expanded ex vivo from minced tumors without feeder cells in the modified TIL therapy regimen. Patients underwent low-dose cyclophosphamide lymphodepletion followed by TIL infusion without intravenous IL-2. The primary endpoint was safety; the secondary endpoints included objective response rate, duration of response, and T cell persistence. RESULTS In matched patient-derived xenografts (PDX) models, homologous TILs efficiently reduced tumor size (p < 0.0001) and underwent IL-2 absence in vivo. In the clinical section, all enrolled patients received TIL infusion using a modified TIL therapy regimen successfully with a manageable safety profile. Five (36%, 95% CI 16.3-61.2) out of 14 evaluable patients experienced objective responses, and three complete responses were ongoing at 19.5, 15.4, and 5.2 months, respectively. Responders had longer overall survival (OS) than non-responders (p = 0.036). Infused TILs showed continuous proliferation and long-term persistence in all patients and showed greater proliferation in responders which was indicated by the Morisita overlap index (MOI) of TCR clonotypes between infused TILs and peripheral T cells on day 14 (p = 0.004) and day 30 (p = 0.004). Higher alteration of the CD8+/CD4+ ratio on day 14 indicated a longer OS (p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS Our modified TIL therapy regimen demonstrated manageable safety, and TILs could survive and proliferate without IL-2 intravenous administration, showing potent efficacy in patients with advanced gynecologic cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT04766320, Jan 04, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Luo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuliang Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jihui Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihui Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinye Ding
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunhong Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Lu
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robert C Bast
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guihai Ai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihong Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Military Health Statistics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Caixia Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shupeng Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huajun Jin
- Shanghai Juncell Therapeutics, Shanghai, China
| | - Binghui Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongping Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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15
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Ciucci G, Braga L, Zacchigna S. Discovery platforms for RNA therapeutics. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38760893 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA therapeutics are emerging as a unique opportunity to drug currently "undruggable" molecules and diseases. While their advantages over conventional, small molecule drugs, their therapeutic implications and the tools for their effective in vivo delivery have been extensively reviewed, little attention has been so far paid to the technological platforms exploited for the discovery of RNA therapeutics. Here, we provide an overview of the existing platforms and ex vivo assays for RNA discovery, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their main fields of application, with specific focus on RNA therapies that have reached either phase 3 or market approval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Ciucci
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Luca Braga
- Functional Cell Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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16
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Shen H, Li C. Global research trends in immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer patients with KRAS mutations: a bibliometric analysis. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1385761. [PMID: 38817907 PMCID: PMC11137258 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1385761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Immunotherapy, frequently combined with conventional chemotherapy, is crucial for treating NSCLC. Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) is a poor prognostic factor in patients with NSCLC, particularly lung adenocarcinoma, where binding of conventional inhibitors to mutated KRAS proteins is challenging. Field profiles, research hotspots, and prospects for immunotherapy for patients with NSCLC-carrying KRAS mutations were uncovered in this study. Methods Microsoft Excel 2019, Bibliometrix, VOSviewer software, and Citespace were utilized to conduct a comprehensive scientometric analysis and understand a specific research field's knowledge base and frontiers aided by bibliometrics. Results Between 2014 and 2023, 398 eligible documents in the English language were acquired using the WoSCC database, of which 113 and 285 were reviews and articles, respectively. The growth rate per year was 34.25 %. The most cited articles were from the United States, and China published the highest number of articles. Cancers was the journal, with increased publications in recent years. The keywords with the strongest citation bursts were analyzed using Citespace. "Immune checkpoint inhibitors," "co-occurring genomic alterations," and "KRAS" are among the research hotspots in this field. Conclusion Using bibliometric and visual analyses, we examined immunotherapy for patients with KRAS-mutant NSCLC over the previous decade. The whole analysis showed a steady, quick increase in yearly publications in this area. Our findings will provide a roadmap for future research on the mechanisms of immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor action in treating KRAS-mutant NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyu Shen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Huishan Hospital of Xinglin College, Nantong University, Wuxi Huishan District People’s Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunxiao Li
- Department of Surgery, Wuxi Huishan No.2 People’s Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
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17
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Linette GP, Bear AS, Carreno BM. Facts and Hopes in Immunotherapy Strategies Targeting Antigens Derived from KRAS Mutations. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:2017-2024. [PMID: 38266167 PMCID: PMC11094419 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-1212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
In this commentary, we advance the notion that mutant KRAS (mKRAS) is an ideal tumor neoantigen that is amenable for targeting by the adaptive immune system. Recent progress highlights key advances on various fronts that validate mKRAS as a molecular target and support further pursuit as an immunological target. Because mKRAS is an intracellular membrane localized protein and not normally expressed on the cell surface, we surmise that proteasome degradation will generate short peptides that bind to HLA class I (HLA-I) molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum for transport through the Golgi for display on the cell surface. T-cell receptors (TCR)αβ and antibodies have been isolated that specifically recognize mKRAS encoded epitope(s) or haptenated-mKRAS peptides in the context of HLA-I on tumor cells. Case reports using adoptive T-cell therapy provide proof of principle that KRAS G12D can be successfully targeted by the immune system in patients with cancer. Among the challenges facing investigators is the requirement of precision medicine to identify and match patients to available mKRAS peptide/HLA therapeutics and to increase the population coverage by targeting additional mKRAS epitopes. Ultimately, we envision mKRAS-directed immunotherapy as an effective treatment option for selected patients that will complement and perhaps synergize with small-molecule mKRAS inhibitors and targeted mKRAS degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald P. Linette
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Adham S. Bear
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Beatriz M. Carreno
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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18
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Sahin IH, Saridogan T, Ayasun R, Syed MP, Gorantla V, Malhotra M, Thomas R, Rhee J, Zhang J, Hsu D, Singhi AD, Saeed A. Targeting KRAS Oncogene for Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A New Step Toward Precision Medicine. JCO Oncol Pract 2024:OP2300787. [PMID: 38739872 DOI: 10.1200/op.23.00787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
KRAS mutations are common driver oncogenes associated with the development of several solid tumors. KRAS oncogene has been considered a highly challenging target for drug development because of structural features, including the lack of deep groove on its catalytic unit. However, by leveraging cysteine residues, covalent KRAS inhibitors irreversibly trap KRAS G12C mutants in their inactive GDP-bound state. These agents have resulted in significant clinical responses among patients with KRAS G12C-mutant solid tumors, including patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Other allele-specific inhibitors of KRAS oncogene and panKRAS and panRAS inhibitors are also currently being investigated in clinical trials. This review article overviews recent clinical progress on KRAS G12C targeting for the management of patients with KRAS G12C-mutant CRC and provides an update on other RAS targeting approaches. We also discuss the unique biological features of RAS-mutant CRC, which require the combination of KRAS inhibitors and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy, and elaborate on resistance mechanisms and novel therapeutic avenues that may define future treatment paradigms of patients with RAS-mutant CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Halil Sahin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | - Ruveyda Ayasun
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Masood Pasha Syed
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | | | - Roby Thomas
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - John Rhee
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Janie Zhang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Dennis Hsu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Anwaar Saeed
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
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Zhang C, Li S, Shen L, Teng X, Xiao Y, Yang W, Lu Z. Single-cell sequencing of tumour infiltrating T cells efficiently identifies tumour-specific T cell receptors based on the T cell activation score. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:123. [PMID: 38727812 PMCID: PMC11087383 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03710-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Adoptively transferred T cell receptor-engineered T cells are a promising cancer treatment strategy, and the identification of tumour-specific TCRs is essential. Previous studies reported that tumour-reactive T cells and TCRs could be isolated based on the expression of activation markers. However, since T cells with different cell states could not respond uniformly to activation but show a heterogeneous expression profile of activation and effector molecules, isolation of tumour-reactive T cells based on single activation or effector molecules could result in the absence of tumour-reactive T cells; thus, combinations of multiple activation and effector molecules could improve the efficiency of isolating tumour-specific TCRs. We enrolled two patients with lung adenocarcinoma and obtained their tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and autologous tumour cells (ATCs). TILs were cocultured with the corresponding ATCs for 12 h and subjected to single-cell RNA sequencing. First, we identified three TCRs with the highest expression levels of IFNG and TNFRSF9 mRNA for each patient, yet only the top one or two recognized the corresponding ATCs in each patient. Next, we defined the activation score based on normalized expression levels of IFNG, IL2, TNF, IL2RA, CD69, TNFRSF9, GZMB, GZMA, GZMK, and PRF1 mRNA for each T cell and then identified three TCRs with the highest activation score for each patient. We found that all three TCRs in each patient could specifically identify corresponding ATCs. In conclusion, we established an efficient approach to isolate tumour-reactive TCRs based on combinations of multiple activation and effector molecules through single-cell RNA sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Shance Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Luyan Shen
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xia Teng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yefei Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Wenjun Yang
- The Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570102, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
| | - Zheming Lu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China.
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Li Y, Zheng Y, Liu T, Liao C, Shen G, He Z. The potential and promise for clinical application of adoptive T cell therapy in cancer. J Transl Med 2024; 22:413. [PMID: 38693513 PMCID: PMC11064426 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05206-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, especially for hematologic malignancies. T cells are the most extensively utilized cells in adoptive cell therapy. Currently, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, T cell receptor-transgenic T cells and chimeric antigen receptor T cells are the three main adoptive T cell therapies. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes kill tumors by reinfusing enlarged lymphocytes that naturally target tumor-specific antigens into the patient. T cell receptor-transgenic T cells have the ability to specifically destroy tumor cells via the precise recognition of exogenous T cell receptors with major histocompatibility complex. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells transfer genes with specific antigen recognition structural domains and T cell activation signals into T cells, allowing T cells to attack tumors without the assistance of major histocompatibility complex. Many barriers have been demonstrated to affect the clinical efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy, such as tumor heterogeneity and antigen loss, hard trafficking and infiltration, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and T cell exhaustion. Several strategies to improve the efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy have been explored, including multispecific chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, combination with immune checkpoint blockade, targeting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, etc. In this review, we will summarize the current status and clinical application, followed by major bottlenecks in adoptive T cell therapy. In addition, we will discuss the promising strategies to improve adoptive T cell therapy. Adoptive T cell therapy will result in even more incredible advancements in solid tumors if the aforementioned problems can be handled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinqi Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yeteng Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Taiqing Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chuanyun Liao
- Department of Pharmacy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Guobo Shen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Zhiyao He
- Department of Pharmacy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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21
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Upadhye A, Meza Landeros KE, Ramírez-Suástegui C, Schmiedel BJ, Woo E, Chee SJ, Malicki D, Coufal NG, Gonda D, Levy ML, Greenbaum JA, Seumois G, Crawford J, Roberts WD, Schoenberger SP, Cheroutre H, Ottensmeier CH, Vijayanand P, Ganesan AP. Intra-tumoral T cells in pediatric brain tumors display clonal expansion and effector properties. NATURE CANCER 2024; 5:791-807. [PMID: 38228835 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00706-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Brain tumors in children are a devastating disease in a high proportion of patients. Owing to inconsistent results in clinical trials in unstratified patients, the role of immunotherapy remains unclear. We performed an in-depth survey of the single-cell transcriptomes and clonal relationship of intra-tumoral T cells from children with brain tumors. Our results demonstrate that a large fraction of T cells in the tumor tissue are clonally expanded with the potential to recognize tumor antigens. Such clonally expanded T cells display enrichment of transcripts linked to effector function, tissue residency, immune checkpoints and signatures of neoantigen-specific T cells and immunotherapy response. We identify neoantigens in pediatric brain tumors and show that neoantigen-specific T cell gene signatures are linked to better survival outcomes. Notably, among the patients in our cohort, we observe substantial heterogeneity in the degree of clonal expansion and magnitude of T cell response. Our findings suggest that characterization of intra-tumoral T cell responses may enable selection of patients for immunotherapy, an approach that requires prospective validation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Upadhye
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kevin E Meza Landeros
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Genomic Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | | | | | - Edwin Woo
- Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Serena J Chee
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Denise Malicki
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Nicole G Coufal
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David Gonda
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael L Levy
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - John Crawford
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Children's Hospital Orange County, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - William D Roberts
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Christian H Ottensmeier
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Clatterbridge Cancer Center NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pandurangan Vijayanand
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Anusha-Preethi Ganesan
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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22
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Feng M, Chan KC, Zhong Q, Zhou R. In silico design of high-affinity antigenic peptides for HLA-B44. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 267:131356. [PMID: 38574928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cell-killing by CD8+ T cells demands effective tumor antigen presentation by human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) molecules. Screening and designing highly immunogenic neoantigens require quantitative computations to reliably predict HLA-peptide binding affinities. Here, with all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and free energy perturbation (FEP) methods, we design a collection of antigenic peptide candidates through in silico mutagenesis studies on immunogenic neoantigens, yielding enhanced binding affinities to HLA-B*44:02. In-depth structural dissection shows that introducing positively charged residues such as arginine to position 6 or lysine to position 7 of the candidates triggers conformational shifts in both peptides and the antigen-binding groove of the HLA, following the "induced-fit" mechanism. Enhancement in binding affinities compared to the wild-type was found in three out of five mutated candidates. The HLA pocket, capable of accommodating positively charged residues in positions from 5 to 7, is designated as the "dynamic pocket". Taken together, we showcase an effective structure-based binding affinity optimization framework for antigenic peptides of HLA-B*44:02 and underscore the importance of dynamic nature of the antigen-binding groove in concert with the anchoring motifs. This work provides structural insights for rational design of favorable HLA-peptide bindings and future developments in neoantigen-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Feng
- Lanzhou Center for Theoretical Physics, Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China; Institute of Quantitative Biology, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study, Zhejiang University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Kevin C Chan
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study, Zhejiang University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qinglu Zhong
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study, Zhejiang University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ruhong Zhou
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study, Zhejiang University, Shanghai 201203, China; The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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23
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Perurena N, Situ L, Cichowski K. Combinatorial strategies to target RAS-driven cancers. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:316-337. [PMID: 38627557 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00679-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Although RAS was formerly considered undruggable, various agents that inhibit RAS or specific RAS oncoproteins have now been developed. Indeed, the importance of directly targeting RAS has recently been illustrated by the clinical success of mutant-selective KRAS inhibitors. Nevertheless, responses to these agents are typically incomplete and restricted to a subset of patients, highlighting the need to develop more effective treatments, which will likely require a combinatorial approach. Vertical strategies that target multiple nodes within the RAS pathway to achieve deeper suppression are being investigated and have precedence in other contexts. However, alternative strategies that co-target RAS and other therapeutic vulnerabilities have been identified, which may mitigate the requirement for profound pathway suppression. Regardless, the efficacy of any given approach will likely be dictated by genetic, epigenetic and tumour-specific variables. Here we discuss various combinatorial strategies to treat KRAS-driven cancers, highlighting mechanistic concepts that may extend to tumours harbouring other RAS mutations. Although many promising combinations have been identified, clinical responses will ultimately depend on whether a therapeutic window can be achieved and our ability to prospectively select responsive patients. Therefore, we must continue to develop and understand biologically diverse strategies to maximize our likelihood of success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Perurena
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa Situ
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karen Cichowski
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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24
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Sun W, Xie S, Liu SF, Hu X, Xing D. Evolving Tumor Characteristics and Smart Nanodrugs for Tumor Immunotherapy. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:3919-3942. [PMID: 38708176 PMCID: PMC11070166 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s453265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Typical physiological characteristics of tumors, such as weak acidity, low oxygen content, and upregulation of certain enzymes in the tumor microenvironment (TME), provide survival advantages when exposed to targeted attacks by drugs and responsive nanomedicines. Consequently, cancer treatment has significantly progressed in recent years. However, the evolution and adaptation of tumor characteristics still pose many challenges for current treatment methods. Therefore, efficient and precise cancer treatments require an understanding of the heterogeneity degree of various factors in cancer cells during tumor evolution to exploit the typical TME characteristics and manage the mutation process. The highly heterogeneous tumor and infiltrating stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular components collectively form a unique TME, which plays a crucial role in tumor malignancy, including proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and immune escape. Therefore, the development of new treatment methods that can adapt to the evolutionary characteristics of tumors has become an intense focus in current cancer treatment research. This paper explores the latest understanding of cancer evolution, focusing on how tumors use new antigens to shape their "new faces"; how immune system cells, such as cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells, help tumors become "invisible", that is, immune escape; whether the diverse cancer-associated fibroblasts provide support and coordination for tumors; and whether it is possible to attack tumors in reverse. This paper discusses the limitations of targeted therapy driven by tumor evolution factors and explores future strategies and the potential of intelligent nanomedicines, including the systematic coordination of tumor evolution factors and adaptive methods, to meet this therapeutic challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshe Sun
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaowei Xie
- Department of Ultrasound, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shi Feng Liu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaokun Hu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dongming Xing
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China
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25
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Torres-Jiménez J, Espinar JB, de Cabo HB, Berjaga MZ, Esteban-Villarrubia J, Fraile JZ, Paz-Ares L. Targeting KRAS G12C in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Current Standards and Developments. Drugs 2024; 84:527-548. [PMID: 38625662 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-024-02030-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Among the most common molecular alterations detected in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are mutations in Kristen Rat Sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS). KRAS mutant NSCLC is a heterogenous group of diseases, different from other oncogene-driven tumors in terms of biology and response to therapies. Despite efforts to develop drugs aimed at inhibiting KRAS or its signaling pathways, KRAS had remained undruggable for decades. The discovery of a small pocket in the binding switch II region of KRASG12C has revolutionized the treatment of KRASG12C-mutated NSCLC patients. Sotorasib and adagrasib, direct KRASG12C inhibitors, have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies for patients with previously treated KRASG12C-mutated NSCLC, and these advances have become practice changing. However, first-line treatment in KRASG12C-mutated NSCLC does not differ from NSCLC without actionable driver genomic alterations. Treatment with KRASG12C inhibitors is not curative and patients develop progressive disease, so understanding associated mechanisms of drug resistance is key. New KRASG12C inhibitors and several combination therapy strategies, including with immune checkpoint inhibitors, are being studied in clinical trials. The aim of this review is to explore the clinical impact of KRAS, and outline different treatment approaches, focusing on the novel treatment of KRASG12C-mutated NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Torres-Jiménez
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avda de Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Javier Baena Espinar
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avda de Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena Bote de Cabo
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avda de Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Zurera Berjaga
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avda de Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Esteban-Villarrubia
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avda de Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jon Zugazagoitia Fraile
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avda de Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain
- Lung Cancer Group, Clinical Research Program, CNIO (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) and Instituto de Investigación i+12, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Paz-Ares
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avda de Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain
- Lung Cancer Group, Clinical Research Program, CNIO (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) and Instituto de Investigación i+12, Madrid, Spain
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26
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Zhang M, Xu W, Luo L, Guan F, Wang X, Zhu P, Zhang J, Zhou X, Wang F, Ye S. Identification and affinity enhancement of T-cell receptor targeting a KRAS G12V cancer neoantigen. Commun Biol 2024; 7:512. [PMID: 38684865 PMCID: PMC11058820 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06209-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Neoantigens derived from somatic mutations in Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (KRAS), the most frequently mutated oncogene, represent promising targets for cancer immunotherapy. Recent research highlights the potential role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele A*11:01 in presenting these altered KRAS variants to the immune system. In this study, we successfully generate and identify murine T-cell receptors (TCRs) that specifically recognize KRAS8-16G12V from three predicted high affinity peptides. By determining the structure of the tumor-specific 4TCR2 bound to KRASG12V-HLA-A*11:01, we conduct structure-based design to create and evaluate TCR variants with markedly enhanced affinity, up to 15.8-fold. This high-affinity TCR mutant, which involved only two amino acid substitutions, display minimal conformational alterations while maintaining a high degree of specificity for the KRASG12V peptide. Our research unveils the molecular mechanisms governing TCR recognition towards KRASG12V neoantigen and yields a range of affinity-enhanced TCR mutants with significant potential for immunotherapy strategies targeting tumors harboring the KRASG12V mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Wei Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100101, China
- Department of Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lingjie Luo
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Fenghui Guan
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, China
| | - Xiangyao Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Pei Zhu
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100101, China
- Department of Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xuyu Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100101, China.
- Department of Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Feng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Sheng Ye
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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27
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Kannen V, Grant DM, Matthews J. The mast cell-T lymphocyte axis impacts cancer: Friend or foe? Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216805. [PMID: 38462035 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Crosstalk between mast cells (MCs) and T lymphocytes (TLs) releases specific signals that create an environment conducive to tumor development. Conversely, they can protect against cancer by targeting tumor cells for destruction. Although their role in immunity and cancer is complex, their potential in anticancer strategies is often underestimated. When peripheral MCs are activated, they can affect cancer development. Tumor-infiltrating TLs may malfunction and contribute to aggressive cancer and poor prognoses. One promising approach for cancer patients is TL-based immunotherapies. Recent reports suggest that MCs modulate TL activity in solid tumors and may be a potential therapeutic layer in multitargeting anticancer strategies. Pharmacologically modulating MC activity can enhance the anticancer cytotoxic TL response in tumors. By identifying tumor-specific targets, it has been possible to genetically alter patients' cells into fully humanized anticancer cellular therapies for autologous transplantation, including the engineering of TLs and MCs to target and kill cancer cells. Hence, recent scientific evidence provides a broader understanding of MC-TL activity in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius Kannen
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Denis M Grant
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason Matthews
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Nutrition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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28
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Emilius L, Bremm F, Binder AK, Schaft N, Dörrie J. Tumor Antigens beyond the Human Exome. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4673. [PMID: 38731892 PMCID: PMC11083240 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
With the advent of immunotherapeutics, a new era in the combat against cancer has begun. Particularly promising are neo-epitope-targeted therapies as the expression of neo-antigens is tumor-specific. In turn, this allows the selective targeting and killing of cancer cells whilst healthy cells remain largely unaffected. So far, many advances have been made in the development of treatment options which are tailored to the individual neo-epitope repertoire. The next big step is the achievement of efficacious "off-the-shelf" immunotherapies. For this, shared neo-epitopes propose an optimal target. Given the tremendous potential, a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms which lead to the formation of neo-antigens is of fundamental importance. Here, we review the various processes which result in the formation of neo-epitopes. Broadly, the origin of neo-epitopes can be categorized into three groups: canonical, noncanonical, and viral neo-epitopes. For the canonical neo-antigens that arise in direct consequence of somatic mutations, we summarize past and recent findings. Beyond that, our main focus is put on the discussion of noncanonical and viral neo-epitopes as we believe that targeting those provides an encouraging perspective to shape the future of cancer immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisabeth Emilius
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Franziska Bremm
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Amanda Katharina Binder
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Niels Schaft
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Dörrie
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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29
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Choi S, Hossain M, Lee H, Baek J, Park HS, Lim CL, Han D, Park T, Kim JH, Gong G, Kweon MN, Lee HJ. Expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to assess the potential of adoptive cell therapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:101. [PMID: 38630265 PMCID: PMC11024072 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03691-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adoptive transfer of in vitro expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has been effective in regressing several types of malignant tumors. This study assessed the yield and factors influencing the successful expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), along with their immune phenotypes. METHODS TILs were expanded from 47 surgically resected HNSCC specimens and their metastasized lymph nodes. The cancer tissues were cut into small pieces (1-2 mm) and underwent initial expansion for 2 weeks. Tumor location, smoking history, stromal TIL percentage, human papillomavirus infection, and programmed death-ligand 1 score were examined for their impact on successful expansion of TILs. Expanded TILs were evaluated by flow cytometry using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. A second round of TIL expansion following the rapid expansion protocol was performed on a subset of samples with successful TIL expansion. RESULTS TILs were successfully expanded from 36.2% samples. Failure was due to contamination (27.6%) or insufficient expansion (36.2%). Only the stromal TIL percentage was significantly associated with successful TIL expansion (p = 0.032). The stromal TIL percentage also displayed a correlation with the expanded TILs per fragment (r = 0.341, p = 0.048). On flow cytometry analysis using 13 samples with successful TIL expansion, CD4 + T cell dominancy was seen in 69.2% of cases. Effector memory T cells were the major phenotype of expanded CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in all cases. CONCLUSION We could expand TILs from approximately one-third of HNSCC samples. TIL expansion could be applicable in HNSCC samples with diverse clinicopathological characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangjoon Choi
- Department of Pathology, Brain Korea 21 project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro, 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Mofazzal Hossain
- Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 project, AMIST, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Lee
- Department of Pathology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jina Baek
- Department of Pathology, Brain Korea 21 project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro, 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - DoYeon Han
- Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 project, AMIST, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Taehyun Park
- Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 project, AMIST, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hyeok Kim
- Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 project, AMIST, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyungyub Gong
- Department of Pathology, Brain Korea 21 project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro, 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
| | - Mi-Na Kweon
- Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Department of Convergence Medicine, Brain Korea 21 project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hee Jin Lee
- Department of Pathology, Brain Korea 21 project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro, 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
- NeogenTC Corp, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Radu P, Zurzu M, Tigora A, Paic V, Bratucu M, Garofil D, Surlin V, Munteanu AC, Coman IS, Popa F, Strambu V, Ramboiu S. The Impact of Cancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4140. [PMID: 38673727 PMCID: PMC11050141 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite incessant research, colorectal cancer (CRC) is still one of the most common causes of fatality in both men and women worldwide. Over time, advancements in medical treatments have notably enhanced the survival rates of patients with colorectal cancer. Managing metastatic CRC involves a complex tradeoff between the potential benefits and adverse effects of treatment, considering factors like disease progression, treatment toxicity, drug resistance, and the overall impact on the patient's quality of life. An increasing body of evidence highlights the significance of the cancer stem cell (CSC) concept, proposing that CSCs occupy a central role in triggering cancer. CSCs have been a focal point of extensive research in a variety of cancer types, including CRC. Colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSCs) play a crucial role in tumor initiation, metastasis, and therapy resistance, making them potential treatment targets. Various methods exist for isolating CCSCs, and understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance associated with them is crucial. This paper offers an overview of the current body of research pertaining to the comprehension of CSCs in colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petru Radu
- Tenth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (P.R.); (A.T.); (V.P.); (M.B.); (D.G.); (I.S.C.); (F.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Mihai Zurzu
- Tenth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (P.R.); (A.T.); (V.P.); (M.B.); (D.G.); (I.S.C.); (F.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Anca Tigora
- Tenth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (P.R.); (A.T.); (V.P.); (M.B.); (D.G.); (I.S.C.); (F.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Vlad Paic
- Tenth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (P.R.); (A.T.); (V.P.); (M.B.); (D.G.); (I.S.C.); (F.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Mircea Bratucu
- Tenth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (P.R.); (A.T.); (V.P.); (M.B.); (D.G.); (I.S.C.); (F.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Dragos Garofil
- Tenth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (P.R.); (A.T.); (V.P.); (M.B.); (D.G.); (I.S.C.); (F.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Valeriu Surlin
- Sixth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova Emergency Clinical 7 Hospital, 200642 Craiova, Romania; (V.S.); (A.C.M.); (S.R.)
| | - Alexandru Claudiu Munteanu
- Sixth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova Emergency Clinical 7 Hospital, 200642 Craiova, Romania; (V.S.); (A.C.M.); (S.R.)
| | - Ionut Simion Coman
- Tenth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (P.R.); (A.T.); (V.P.); (M.B.); (D.G.); (I.S.C.); (F.P.); (V.S.)
- General Surgery Department, “Bagdasar-Arseni” Clinical Emergency Hospital, 12 Berceni Road, 041915 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Florian Popa
- Tenth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (P.R.); (A.T.); (V.P.); (M.B.); (D.G.); (I.S.C.); (F.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Victor Strambu
- Tenth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (P.R.); (A.T.); (V.P.); (M.B.); (D.G.); (I.S.C.); (F.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Sandu Ramboiu
- Sixth Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova Emergency Clinical 7 Hospital, 200642 Craiova, Romania; (V.S.); (A.C.M.); (S.R.)
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Mehrotra S, Kupani M, Kaur J, Kaur J, Pandey RK. Immunotherapy guided precision medicine in solid tumors. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2024; 140:249-292. [PMID: 38762271 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is no longer recognized as a single disease but a collection of diseases each with its defining characteristics and behavior. Even within the same cancer type, there can be substantial heterogeneity at the molecular level. Cancer cells often accumulate various genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations over time, leading to a coexistence of distinct subpopulations of cells within the tumor. This tumor heterogeneity arises not only due to clonal outgrowth of cells with genetic mutations, but also due to interactions of tumor cells with the tumor microenvironment (TME). The latter is a dynamic ecosystem that includes cancer cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, stromal cells, blood vessels, and extracellular matrix components, tumor-associated macrophages and secreted molecules. The complex interplay between tumor heterogeneity and the TME makes it difficult to develop one-size-fits-all treatments and is often the cause of therapeutic failure and resistance in solid cancers. Technological advances in the post-genomic era have given us cues regarding spatial and temporal tumor heterogeneity. Armed with this knowledge, oncologists are trying to target the unique genomic, epigenetic, and molecular landscape in the tumor cell that causes its oncogenic transformation in a particular patient. This has ushered in the era of personalized precision medicine (PPM). Immunotherapy, on the other hand, involves leveraging the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells and spare healthy cells from the damage induced by radiation and chemotherapy. Combining PPM and immunotherapy represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment and has emerged as a promising treatment modality for several solid cancers. In this chapter, we summarise major types of cancer immunotherapy and discuss how they are being used for precision medicine in different solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana Mehrotra
- Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
| | - Manu Kupani
- Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Jaismeen Kaur
- Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Jashandeep Kaur
- Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Rajeev Kumar Pandey
- Research and Development-Protein Biology, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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32
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Slieker RC, Warmerdam DO, Vermeer MH, van Doorn R, Heemskerk MHM, Scheeren FA. Reassessing human MHC-I genetic diversity in T cell studies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7966. [PMID: 38575727 PMCID: PMC10995142 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58777-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The Major Histocompatibility Complex class I (MHC-I) system plays a vital role in immune responses by presenting antigens to T cells. Allele specific technologies, including recombinant MHC-I technologies, have been extensively used in T cell analyses for COVID-19 patients and are currently used in the development of immunotherapies for cancer. However, the immense diversity of MHC-I alleles presents challenges. The genetic diversity serves as the foundation of personalized medicine, yet it also poses a potential risk of exacerbating healthcare disparities based on MHC-I alleles. To assess potential biases, we analysed (pre)clinical publications focusing on COVID-19 studies and T cell receptor (TCR)-based clinical trials. Our findings reveal an underrepresentation of MHC-I alleles associated with Asian, Australian, and African descent. Ensuring diverse representation is vital for advancing personalized medicine and global healthcare equity, transcending genetic diversity. Addressing this disparity is essential to unlock the full potential of T cells for enhancing diagnosis and treatment across all individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roderick C Slieker
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Center for Computational Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Daniël O Warmerdam
- Centre for Future Affordable & Sustainable Therapy Development (FAST), The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten H Vermeer
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Remco van Doorn
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Dermatology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ferenc A Scheeren
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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33
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Ash LJ, Busia-Bourdain O, Okpattah D, Kamel A, Liberchuk A, Wolfe AL. KRAS: Biology, Inhibition, and Mechanisms of Inhibitor Resistance. Curr Oncol 2024; 31:2024-2046. [PMID: 38668053 PMCID: PMC11049385 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31040150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
KRAS is a small GTPase that is among the most commonly mutated oncogenes in cancer. Here, we discuss KRAS biology, therapeutic avenues to target it, and mechanisms of resistance that tumors employ in response to KRAS inhibition. Several strategies are under investigation for inhibiting oncogenic KRAS, including small molecule compounds targeting specific KRAS mutations, pan-KRAS inhibitors, PROTACs, siRNAs, PNAs, and mutant KRAS-specific immunostimulatory strategies. A central challenge to therapeutic effectiveness is the frequent development of resistance to these treatments. Direct resistance mechanisms can involve KRAS mutations that reduce drug efficacy or copy number alterations that increase the expression of mutant KRAS. Indirect resistance mechanisms arise from mutations that can rescue mutant KRAS-dependent cells either by reactivating the same signaling or via alternative pathways. Further, non-mutational forms of resistance can take the form of epigenetic marks, transcriptional reprogramming, or alterations within the tumor microenvironment. As the possible strategies to inhibit KRAS expand, understanding the nuances of resistance mechanisms is paramount to the development of both enhanced therapeutics and innovative drug combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard J. Ash
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Subprogram of the Biology Ph.D. Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Ottavia Busia-Bourdain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Daniel Okpattah
- Biochemistry Ph.D. Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Avrosina Kamel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ariel Liberchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Andrew L. Wolfe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Subprogram of the Biology Ph.D. Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
- Biochemistry Ph.D. Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
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Shao W, Yao Y, Yang L, Li X, Ge T, Zheng Y, Zhu Q, Ge S, Gu X, Jia R, Song X, Zhuang A. Novel insights into TCR-T cell therapy in solid neoplasms: optimizing adoptive immunotherapy. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:37. [PMID: 38570883 PMCID: PMC10988985 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00504-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy in the T cell landscape exhibits efficacy in cancer treatment. Over the past few decades, genetically modified T cells, particularly chimeric antigen receptor T cells, have enabled remarkable strides in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Besides, extensive exploration of multiple antigens for the treatment of solid tumors has led to clinical interest in the potential of T cells expressing the engineered T cell receptor (TCR). TCR-T cells possess the capacity to recognize intracellular antigen families and maintain the intrinsic properties of TCRs in terms of affinity to target epitopes and signal transduction. Recent research has provided critical insight into their capability and therapeutic targets for multiple refractory solid tumors, but also exposes some challenges for durable efficacy. In this review, we describe the screening and identification of available tumor antigens, and the acquisition and optimization of TCRs for TCR-T cell therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the complete flow from laboratory to clinical applications of TCR-T cells. Last, we emerge future prospects for improving therapeutic efficacy in cancer world with combination therapies or TCR-T derived products. In conclusion, this review depicts our current understanding of TCR-T cell therapy in solid neoplasms, and provides new perspectives for expanding its clinical applications and improving therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihuan Shao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiran Yao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Ludi Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoran Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Tongxin Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiuyi Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengfang Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xin Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ai Zhuang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
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Rappaport AR, Kyi C, Lane M, Hart MG, Johnson ML, Henick BS, Liao CY, Mahipal A, Shergill A, Spira AI, Goldman JW, Scallan CD, Schenk D, Palmer CD, Davis MJ, Kounlavouth S, Kemp L, Yang A, Li YJ, Likes M, Shen A, Boucher GR, Egorova M, Veres RL, Espinosa JA, Jaroslavsky JR, Kraemer Tardif LD, Acrebuche L, Puccia C, Sousa L, Zhou R, Bae K, Hecht JR, Carbone DP, Johnson B, Allen A, Ferguson AR, Jooss K. A shared neoantigen vaccine combined with immune checkpoint blockade for advanced metastatic solid tumors: phase 1 trial interim results. Nat Med 2024; 30:1013-1022. [PMID: 38538867 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02851-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccines that elicit cytotoxic T cell responses targeting tumor-specific neoantigens hold promise for providing long-term clinical benefit to patients with cancer. Here we evaluated safety and tolerability of a therapeutic vaccine encoding 20 shared neoantigens derived from selected common oncogenic driver mutations as primary endpoints in an ongoing phase 1/2 study in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors. Secondary endpoints included immunogenicity, overall response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival. Eligible patients were selected if their tumors expressed one of the human leukocyte antigen-matched tumor mutations included in the vaccine, with the majority of patients (18/19) harboring a mutation in KRAS. The vaccine regimen, consisting of a chimp adenovirus (ChAd68) and self-amplifying mRNA (samRNA) in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab and nivolumab, was shown to be well tolerated, with observed treatment-related adverse events consistent with acute inflammation expected with viral vector-based vaccines and immune checkpoint blockade, the majority grade 1/2. Two patients experienced grade 3/4 serious treatment-related adverse events that were also dose-limiting toxicities. The overall response rate was 0%, and median progression-free survival and overall survival were 1.9 months and 7.9 months, respectively. T cell responses were biased toward human leukocyte antigen-matched TP53 neoantigens encoded in the vaccine relative to KRAS neoantigens expressed by the patients' tumors, indicating a previously unknown hierarchy of neoantigen immunodominance that may impact the therapeutic efficacy of multiepitope shared neoantigen vaccines. These data led to the development of an optimized vaccine exclusively targeting KRAS-derived neoantigens that is being evaluated in a subset of patients in phase 2 of the clinical study. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT03953235 .
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chrisann Kyi
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Brian S Henick
- Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chih-Yi Liao
- University of Chicago Medical Center and Biological Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Ardaman Shergill
- University of Chicago Medical Center and Biological Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David P Carbone
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
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Singhal A, Li BT, O'Reilly EM. Targeting KRAS in cancer. Nat Med 2024; 30:969-983. [PMID: 38637634 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02903-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
RAS family variants-most of which involve KRAS-are the most commonly occurring hotspot mutations in human cancers and are associated with a poor prognosis. For almost four decades, KRAS has been considered undruggable, in part due to its structure, which lacks small-molecule binding sites. But recent developments in bioengineering, organic chemistry and related fields have provided the infrastructure to make direct KRAS targeting possible. The first successes occurred with allele-specific targeting of KRAS p.Gly12Cys (G12C) in non-small cell lung cancer, resulting in regulatory approval of two agents-sotorasib and adagrasib. Inhibitors targeting other variants beyond G12C have shown preliminary antitumor activity in highly refractory malignancies such as pancreatic cancer. Herein, we outline RAS pathobiology with a focus on KRAS, illustrate therapeutic approaches across a variety of malignancies, including emphasis on the 'on' and 'off' switch allele-specific and 'pan' RAS inhibitors, and review immunotherapeutic and other key combination RAS targeting strategies. We summarize mechanistic understanding of de novo and acquired resistance, review combination approaches, emerging technologies and drug development paradigms and outline a blueprint for the future of KRAS therapeutics with anticipated profound clinical impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupriya Singhal
- Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bob T Li
- Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Early Drug Development Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eileen M O'Reilly
- Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Jiani W, Qin T, Jie M. Tumor neoantigens and tumor immunotherapies. Aging Med (Milton) 2024; 7:224-230. [PMID: 38725698 PMCID: PMC11077340 DOI: 10.1002/agm2.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
As a high-risk group of patients with cancer, the elderly exhibit limited efficacy with traditional treatments. Immunotherapy emerges as a promising adjunctive therapeutic approach that holds potential in addressing the needs of geriatric patients with cancer. Neoantigens, a unique class of tumor-specific antigens generated by non-synonymous mutations, are garnering increasing attention as targets for immunotherapy in clinical applications. Newly developed technologies, such as second-generation gene sequencing and mass spectrometry, have provided powerful technical support for the identification and prediction of neoantigens. At present, neoantigen-based immunotherapy has been extensively applied in clinical trials and has demonstrated both safety and efficacy, marking the beginning of a new era for cancer immunotherapy. This article reviews the conception, classification, inducers, and screening process of tumor neoantigens, as well as the application prospects and combination therapy strategies of neoantigen-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Jiani
- Department of Biotherapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of GerontologyInstitute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Tan Qin
- Department of Biotherapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of GerontologyInstitute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Ma Jie
- Department of Biotherapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of GerontologyInstitute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
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Imodoye SO, Adedokun KA, Bello IO. From complexity to clarity: unravelling tumor heterogeneity through the lens of tumor microenvironment for innovative cancer therapy. Histochem Cell Biol 2024; 161:299-323. [PMID: 38189822 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-023-02258-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Despite the tremendous clinical successes recorded in the landscape of cancer therapy, tumor heterogeneity remains a formidable challenge to successful cancer treatment. In recent years, the emergence of high-throughput technologies has advanced our understanding of the variables influencing tumor heterogeneity beyond intrinsic tumor characteristics. Emerging knowledge shows that drivers of tumor heterogeneity are not only intrinsic to cancer cells but can also emanate from their microenvironment, which significantly favors tumor progression and impairs therapeutic response. Although much has been explored to understand the fundamentals of the influence of innate tumor factors on cancer diversity, the roles of the tumor microenvironment (TME) are often undervalued. It is therefore imperative that a clear understanding of the interactions between the TME and other tumor intrinsic factors underlying the plastic molecular behaviors of cancers be identified to develop patient-specific treatment strategies. This review highlights the roles of the TME as an emerging factor in tumor heterogeneity. More particularly, we discuss the role of the TME in the context of tumor heterogeneity and explore the cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that could be used to resolve this recurring clinical conundrum. We conclude by speculating on exciting research questions that can advance our understanding of tumor heterogeneity with the goal of developing customized therapeutic solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sikiru O Imodoye
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - Kamoru A Adedokun
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
| | - Ibrahim O Bello
- Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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Linehan A, O’Reilly M, McDermott R, O’Kane GM. Targeting KRAS mutations in pancreatic cancer: opportunities for future strategies. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1369136. [PMID: 38576709 PMCID: PMC10991798 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1369136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeting the RAS pathway remains the holy grail of precision oncology. In the case of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), 90-92% harbor mutations in the oncogene KRAS, triggering canonical MAPK signaling. The smooth structure of the altered KRAS protein without a binding pocket and its affinity for GTP have, in the past, hampered drug development. The emergence of KRASG12C covalent inhibitors has provided renewed enthusiasm for targeting KRAS. The numerous pathways implicated in RAS activation do, however, lead to the development of early resistance. In addition, the dense stromal niche and immunosuppressive microenvironment dictated by oncogenic KRAS can influence treatment responses, highlighting the need for a combination-based approach. Given that mutations in KRAS occur early in PDAC tumorigenesis, an understanding of its pleiotropic effects is key to progress in this disease. Herein, we review current perspectives on targeting KRAS with a focus on PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Linehan
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary O’Reilly
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ray McDermott
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Grainne M. O’Kane
- Department of Medical Oncology, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Albarrán Fernández V, Ballestín Martínez P, Stoltenborg Granhøj J, Borch TH, Donia M, Marie Svane I. Biomarkers for response to TIL therapy: a comprehensive review. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008640. [PMID: 38485186 PMCID: PMC10941183 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has demonstrated durable clinical responses in patients with metastatic melanoma, substantiated by recent positive results of the first phase III trial on TIL therapy. Being a demanding and logistically complex treatment, extensive preclinical and clinical effort is required to optimize patient selection by identifying predictive biomarkers of response. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the current evidence regarding the potential impact of tumor-related factors (such as mutational burden, neoantigen load, immune infiltration, status of oncogenic driver genes, and epigenetic modifications), patient characteristics (including disease burden and location, baseline cytokines and lactate dehydrogenase serum levels, human leucocyte antigen haplotype, or prior exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors and other anticancer therapies), phenotypic features of the transferred T cells (mainly the total cell count, CD8:CD4 ratio, ex vivo culture time, expression of exhaustion markers, costimulatory signals, antitumor reactivity, and scope of target tumor-associated antigens), and other treatment-related factors (such as lymphodepleting chemotherapy and postinfusion administration of interleukin-2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Albarrán Fernández
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
- Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Ballestín Martínez
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
- Clínico San Carlos University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joachim Stoltenborg Granhøj
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Troels Holz Borch
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Marco Donia
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
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41
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Molina-Arcas M, Downward J. Exploiting the therapeutic implications of KRAS inhibition on tumor immunity. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:338-357. [PMID: 38471457 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, RAS oncogenic proteins have transitioned from being deemed undruggable to having two clinically approved drugs, with several more in advanced stages of development. Despite the initial benefit of KRAS-G12C inhibitors for patients with tumors harboring this mutation, the rapid emergence of drug resistance underscores the urgent need to synergize these inhibitors with other therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes. RAS mutant tumor cells can create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), suggesting an increased susceptibility to immunotherapies following RAS inhibition. This provides a rationale for combining RAS inhibitory drugs with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, achieving this synergy in the clinical setting has proven challenging. Here, we explore how understanding the impact of RAS mutant tumor cells on the TME can guide innovative approaches to combining RAS inhibition with immunotherapies, review progress in both pre-clinical and clinical stages, and discuss challenges and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julian Downward
- Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
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Finnigan JP, Newman JH, Patskovsky Y, Patskovska L, Ishizuka AS, Lynn GM, Seder RA, Krogsgaard M, Bhardwaj N. Structural basis for self-discrimination by neoantigen-specific TCRs. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2140. [PMID: 38459027 PMCID: PMC10924104 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46367-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell receptors (TCR) are pivotal in mediating tumour cell cytolysis via recognition of mutation-derived tumour neoantigens (neoAgs) presented by major histocompatibility class-I (MHC-I). Understanding the factors governing the emergence of neoAg from somatic mutations is a major focus of current research. However, the structural and cellular determinants controlling TCR recognition of neoAgs remain poorly understood. This study describes the multi-level analysis of a model neoAg from the B16F10 murine melanoma, H2-Db/Hsf2 p.K72N68-76, as well as its cognate TCR 47BE7. Through cellular, molecular and structural studies we demonstrate that the p.K72N mutation enhances H2-Db binding, thereby improving cell surface presentation and stabilizing the TCR 47BE7 epitope. Furthermore, TCR 47BE7 exhibited high functional avidity and selectivity, attributable to a broad, stringent, binding interface enabling recognition of native B16F10 despite low antigen density. Our findings provide insight into the generation of anchor-residue modified neoAg, and emphasize the value of molecular and structural investigations of neoAg in diverse MHC-I contexts for advancing the understanding of neoAg immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Finnigan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Pl., New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave., New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jenna H Newman
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Pl., New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave., New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yury Patskovsky
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Larysa Patskovska
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew S Ishizuka
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Barinthus Biotherapeutics, Germantown, MD, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Lynn
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Barinthus Biotherapeutics, Germantown, MD, USA
| | - Robert A Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michelle Krogsgaard
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Nina Bhardwaj
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Pl., New York, NY, USA.
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave., New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Francisco, CA, USA.
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Barr T, Ma S, Li Z, Yu J. Recent advances and remaining challenges in lung cancer therapy. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:533-546. [PMID: 38321811 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer death. Given the continued research into new drugs and combination therapies, outcomes in lung cancer have been improved, and clinical benefits have been expanded to a broader patient population. However, the overall cure and survival rates for lung cancer patients remain low, especially in metastatic cases. Among the available lung cancer treatment options, such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and alternative therapies, immunotherapy has shown to be the most promising. The exponential progress in immuno-oncology research and recent advancements made in the field of immunotherapy will further increase the survival and quality of life for lung cancer patients. Substantial progress has been made in targeted therapies using tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibody immune checkpoint inhibitors with many US Food And Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs targeting the programmed cell death ligand-1 protein (e.g., durvalumab, atezolizumab), the programmed cell death-1 receptor (e.g., nivolumab, pembrolizumab), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (e.g., tremelimumab, ipilimumab). Cytokines, cancer vaccines, adoptive T cell therapies, and Natural killer cell mono- and combinational therapies are rapidly being studied, yet to date, there are currently none that are FDA-approved for the treatment of lung cancer. In this review, we discuss the current lung cancer therapies with an emphasis on immunotherapy, including the challenges for future research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasha Barr
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 91010, USA
| | - Shoubao Ma
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 91010, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, California 91010, USA
| | - Zhixin Li
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 91010, USA
| | - Jianhua Yu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 91010, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, California 91010, USA
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, California 91010, USA
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Dougé A, El Ghazzi N, Lemal R, Rouzaire P. Adoptive T Cell Therapy in Solid Tumors: State-of-the Art, Current Challenges, and Upcoming Improvements. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:272-284. [PMID: 37903371 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
In solid tumors, three main complementary approaches of adoptive T-cell therapies were successively developed: tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, chimeric antigen receptor engineered T cells, and high-affinity T-cell receptor engineered T cells. In this review, we summarized rational and main results of these three adoptive T-cell therapies in solid tumors field and gave an overview of encouraging data and their limits. Then, we listed the major remaining challenges (including tumor antigen loss, on-target/off-tumor effect, tumor access difficulties and general/local immunosubversion) and their lines of research. Finally, we gave insight into the ongoing trials in solid tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Dougé
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- EA(UR)7453 CHELTER - Clermont Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Nathan El Ghazzi
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Richard Lemal
- EA(UR)7453 CHELTER - Clermont Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Histocompatibility and Immunogenetic Department, University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Paul Rouzaire
- EA(UR)7453 CHELTER - Clermont Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Histocompatibility and Immunogenetic Department, University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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45
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Manzar GS, Alam MBE, Lynn EJ, Karpinets TV, Harris T, Lo D, Yoshida-Court K, Napravnik TC, Sammouri J, Lin D, Andring LM, Bronk J, Wu X, Sims TT, Mathew G, Schmeler KM, Eifel PJ, Jhingran A, Lin LL, Joyner MM, Zhang J, Futreal A, Klopp AH, Colbert LE. Exploratory analysis of the cervix tumoral HPV antigen-specific T-cell repertoire during chemoradiation and after brachytherapy. Brachytherapy 2024; 23:123-135. [PMID: 38129211 DOI: 10.1016/j.brachy.2023.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemoradiation (CRT) may modulate the immune milieu as an in-situ vaccine. Rapid dose delivery of brachytherapy has unclear impact on T-cell repertoires. HPV-associated cancers express viral oncoproteins E6/E7, which enable tracking antigen/tumor-specific immunity during CRT. METHODS Thirteen cervical cancer patients on a multi-institutional prospective protocol from 1/2020-1/2023 underwent standard-of-care CRT with pulsed-dose-rate brachytherapy boost (2 fractions). Cervix swabs at various timepoints underwent multiplex DNA deep sequencing of the TCR-β/CDR3 region with immunoSEQ. Separately, HPV-responsive T-cell clones were also expanded ex vivo. Statistical analysis was via Mann-Whitney-U. RESULTS TCR productive clonality, templates, frequency, or rearrangements increased post-brachytherapy in 8 patients. Seven patients had E6/E7-responsive evolution over CRT with increased productive templates (ranges: 1.2-50.2 fold-increase from baseline), frequency (1.2-1.7), rearrangements (1.2-40.2), and clonality (1.2-15.4). Five patients had HPV-responsive clonal expansion post-brachytherapy, without changes in HPV non-responsive clones. Epitope mapping revealed VDJ rearrangements targeting cervical cancer-associated antigens in 5 patients. The only two patients with disease recurrence lacked response in all metrics. A lack of global TCR remodeling correlated with worse recurrence-free survival, p = 0.04. CONCLUSION CRT and brachytherapy alters the cervical cancer microenvironment to facilitate the expansion of specific T-cell populations, which may contribute to treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gohar S Manzar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Molly B El Alam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Erica J Lynn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Tatiana V Karpinets
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Timothy Harris
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - David Lo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Kyoko Yoshida-Court
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | - Julie Sammouri
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Daniel Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Lauren M Andring
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Julianna Bronk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Xiaogang Wu
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Travis T Sims
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Geena Mathew
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Kathleen M Schmeler
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Patricia J Eifel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Anuja Jhingran
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Lilie L Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Melissa M Joyner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Andrew Futreal
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Ann H Klopp
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Lauren E Colbert
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
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Betof Warner A, Hamid O, Komanduri K, Amaria R, Butler MO, Haanen J, Nikiforow S, Puzanov I, Sarnaik A, Bishop MR, Schoenfeld AJ. Expert consensus guidelines on management and best practices for tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008735. [PMID: 38423748 PMCID: PMC11005706 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy with autologous, ex vivo-expanded, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is being investigated for treatment of solid tumors and has shown robust responses in clinical trials. Based on the encouraging efficacy, tolerable safety profile, and advancements in a central manufacturing process, lifileucel is now the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved TIL cell therapy product. To this end, treatment management and delivery practice guidance is needed to ensure successful integration of this modality into clinical care. This review includes clinical and toxicity management guidelines pertaining to the TIL cell therapy regimen prepared by the TIL Working Group, composed of internationally recognized hematologists and oncologists with expertize in TIL cell therapy, and relates to patient care and operational aspects. Expert consensus recommendations for patient management, including patient eligibility, screening tests, and clinical and toxicity management with TIL cell therapy, including tumor tissue procurement surgery, non-myeloablative lymphodepletion, TIL infusion, and IL-2 administration, are discussed in the context of potential standard of care TIL use. These recommendations provide practical guidelines for optimal clinical management during administration of the TIL cell therapy regimen, and recognition of subsequent management of toxicities. These guidelines are focused on multidisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, and stakeholders involved in the care of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Omid Hamid
- The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute - West Los Angeles Office, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Krishna Komanduri
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Rodabe Amaria
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marcus O Butler
- Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John Haanen
- Medical Oncology, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Nederlands Kanker Instituut, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Igor Puzanov
- Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute
| | | | - Michael R Bishop
- The David and Etta Jonas Center for Cellular Therapy, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Adam J Schoenfeld
- Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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47
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Wang C, Chen J, Li J, Xu Z, Huang L, Zhao Q, Chen L, Liang X, Hu H, Li G, Xiong C, Wu B, You H, Du D, Wang X, Li H, Wang Z, Chen L. An EBV-related CD4 TCR immunotherapy inhibits tumor growth in an HLA-DP5+ nasopharyngeal cancer mouse model. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e172092. [PMID: 38412034 PMCID: PMC11014665 DOI: 10.1172/jci172092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T cell receptor-engineered T cells (TCR-T) is a promising strategy for immunotherapy against solid tumors. However, the potential of CD4+ T cells in mediating tumor regression has been neglected. Nasopharyngeal cancer is consistently associated with EBV. Here, to evaluate the therapeutic potential of CD4 TCR-T in nasopharyngeal cancer, we screened for CD4 TCRs recognizing EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) presented by HLA-DP5. Using mass spectrometry, we identified EBNA1567-581, a peptide naturally processed and presented by HLA-DP5. We isolated TCR135, a CD4 TCR with high functional avidity, that can function in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and recognizes HLA-DP5-restricted EBNA1567-581. TCR135-transduced T cells functioned in two ways: directly killing HLA-DP5+EBNA1+ tumor cells after recognizing EBNA1 presented by tumor cells and indirectly killing HLA-DP5-negative tumor cells after recognizing EBNA1 presented by antigen-presenting cells. TCR135-transduced T cells preferentially infiltrated into the tumor microenvironment and significantly inhibited tumor growth in xenograft nasopharyngeal tumor models. Additionally, we found that 62% of nasopharyngeal cancer patients showed 50%-100% expression of HLA-DP on tumor cells, indicating that nasopharyngeal cancer is well suited for CD4 TCR-T therapy. These findings suggest that TCR135 may provide a new strategy for EBV-related nasopharyngeal cancer immunotherapy in HLA-DP5+ patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenwei Wang
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiewen Chen
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingyao Li
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhihong Xu
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lihong Huang
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaolong Liang
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hai Hu
- Department of Pathology, Air Force Hospital of Southern Theater Command, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Huiqiao Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chengjie Xiong
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Bin Wu
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hua You
- Laboratory for Excellence in Systems Biomedicine of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Danyi Du
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Precision Medical Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoling Wang
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongle Li
- Department of Immunotherapy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zibing Wang
- Department of Immunotherapy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Guangzhou Medical University–Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GMU-GIBH) Joint School of Life Sciences and Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Sahu P, Mitra A, Ganguly A. Targeting KRAS and SHP2 signaling pathways for immunomodulation and improving treatment outcomes in solid tumors. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 386:167-222. [PMID: 38782499 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Historically, KRAS has been considered 'undruggable' inspite of being one of the most frequently altered oncogenic proteins in solid tumors, primarily due to the paucity of pharmacologically 'druggable' pockets within the mutant isoforms. However, pioneering developments in drug design capable of targeting the mutant KRAS isoforms especially KRASG12C-mutant cancers, have opened the doors for emergence of combination therapies comprising of a plethora of inhibitors targeting different signaling pathways. SHP2 signaling pathway, primarily known for activation of intracellular signaling pathways such as KRAS has come up as a potential target for such combination therapies as it emerged to be the signaling protein connecting KRAS and the immune signaling pathways and providing the link for understanding the overlapping regions of RAS/ERK/MAPK signaling cascade. Thus, SHP2 inhibitors having potent tumoricidal activity as well as role in immunomodulation have generated keen interest in researchers to explore its potential as combination therapy in KRAS mutant solid tumors. However, the excitement with these combination therapies need to overcome challenges thrown up by drug resistance and enhanced toxicity. In this review, we will discuss KRAS and SHP2 signaling pathways and their roles in immunomodulation and regulation of tumor microenvironment and also analyze the positive effects and drawbacks of the different combination therapies targeted at these signaling pathways along with their present and future potential to treat solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Sahu
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ankita Mitra
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anirban Ganguly
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, Jharkhand, India.
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Wang X, Yuan Z, Li Z, He X, Zhang Y, Wang X, Su J, Wu X, Li M, Du F, Chen Y, Deng S, Zhao Y, Shen J, Yi T, Xiao Z. Key oncogenic signaling pathways affecting tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma: basic principles and recent advances. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1354313. [PMID: 38426090 PMCID: PMC10902128 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1354313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks first among primary liver cancers, and its mortality rate exhibits a consistent annual increase. The treatment of HCC has witnessed a significant surge in recent years, with the emergence of targeted immune therapy as an adjunct to early surgical resection. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has shown promising results in other types of solid tumors. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the intricate interactions between different types of TILs and their impact on HCC, elucidate strategies for targeting neoantigens through TILs, and address the challenges encountered in TIL therapies along with potential solutions. Furthermore, this article specifically examines the impact of oncogenic signaling pathways activation within the HCC tumor microenvironment on the infiltration dynamics of TILs. Additionally, a concise overview is provided regarding TIL preparation techniques and an update on clinical trials investigating TIL-based immunotherapy in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zijun Yuan
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhengbo Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Longmatan District People’s Hospital, Luzhou, China
| | - Xinyu He
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yinping Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xingyue Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jiahong Su
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xu Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingxing Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Fukuan Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuai Deng
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yueshui Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Tao Yi
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy and Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
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50
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Drakes DJ, Abbas AM, Shields J, Steinbuck MP, Jakubowski A, Seenappa LM, Haqq CM, DeMuth PC. Lymph Node-Targeted Vaccine Boosting of TCR T-cell Therapy Enhances Antitumor Function and Eradicates Solid Tumors. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:214-231. [PMID: 38270373 PMCID: PMC10835214 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
T-cell receptor (TCR)-modified T-cell therapies have shown promise against solid tumors, but overall therapeutic benefits have been modest due in part to suboptimal T-cell persistence and activation in vivo, alongside potential tumor antigen escape. In this study, we demonstrate an approach to enhance the in vivo persistence and function of TCR T cells through combination with Amphiphile (AMP) vaccination including cognate TCR T peptides. AMP modification improves lymph node targeting of conjugated tumor immunogens and adjuvants, thereby coordinating a robust T cell-activating endogenous immune response. AMP vaccine combination with TCR T-cell therapy led to complete eradication and durable responses against established murine solid tumors refractory to TCR T-cell monotherapy. Enhanced antitumor efficacy was correlated with simultaneous in vivo invigoration of adoptively transferred TCR T cells and in situ expansion of the endogenous antitumor T-cell repertoire. Long-term protection against tumor recurrence in AMP-vaccinated mice was associated with antigen spreading to additional tumor-associated antigens not targeted by vaccination. AMP vaccination further correlated with pro-inflammatory lymph node transcriptional reprogramming and increased antigen presenting-cell maturation, resulting in TCR T-cell expansion and functional enhancement in lymph nodes and solid tumor parenchyma without lymphodepletion. In vitro evaluation of AMP peptides with matched human TCR T cells targeting NY-ESO-1, mutant KRAS, and HPV16 E7 illustrated the clinical potential of AMP vaccination to enhance human TCR T-cell proliferation, activation, and antitumor activity. Taken together, these studies provide rationale and evidence to support clinical evaluation of combining AMP vaccination with TCR T-cell therapies to augment antitumor activity.
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