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Lin J, Wu Y, Liu G, Cui R, Xu Y. Advances of ultrasound in tumor immunotherapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 134:112233. [PMID: 38735256 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a revolutionary method for treating tumors, offering new hope to cancer patients worldwide. Immunotherapy strategies such as checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, and cancer vaccines have shown significant potential in clinical trials. Despite the promising results, there are still limitations that impede the overall effectiveness of immunotherapy; the response to immunotherapy is uneven, the response rate of patients is still low, and systemic immune toxicity accompanied with tumor cell immune evasion is common. Ultrasound technology has evolved rapidly in recent years and has become a significant player in tumor immunotherapy. The introductions of high intensity focused ultrasound and ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles have opened doors for new therapeutic strategies in the fight against tumor. This paper explores the revolutionary advancements of ultrasound combined with immunotherapy in this particular field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lin
- Department of Ultrasound, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine-Zhuhai Hospital, Zhuhai, PR China.
| | - Yuwei Wu
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao, PR China
| | - Guangde Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine-Zhuhai Hospital, Zhuhai, PR China
| | - Rui Cui
- Department of Ultrasonography, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, PR China; Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, PR China
| | - Youhua Xu
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao, PR China; Macau University of Science and Technology Zhuhai MUST Science and Technology Research Institute, Hengqin, Zhuhai, PR China.
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2
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Zhang Y, Guo F, Wang Y. Hypoxic tumor microenvironment: Destroyer of natural killer cell function. Chin J Cancer Res 2024; 36:138-150. [PMID: 38751439 PMCID: PMC11090795 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2024.02.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, immunotherapy has made remarkable progress in treating certain tumors and hematological malignancies. However, the efficacy of natural killer (NK) cells, which are an important subset of innate lymphocytes used in anticancer immunotherapy, remains limited. Hypoxia, a critical characteristic of the tumor microenvironment (TME), is involved in tumor development and resistance to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Moreover, hypoxia contributes to the impairment of NK cell function and may be a significant factor that limits their therapeutic effects. Targeted hypoxia therapy has emerged as a promising research area for enhancing the efficacy of NK cell therapy. Therefore, understanding how the hypoxic TME influences NK cell function is crucial for improving antitumor treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfei Zhang
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Feifei Guo
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
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3
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Yang D, Dang S, Wang Z, Xie M, Li X, Ding X. Vessel co-option: a unique vascular-immune niche in liver cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1386772. [PMID: 38737903 PMCID: PMC11082301 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1386772] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor vasculature is pivotal in regulating tumor perfusion, immune cell infiltration, metastasis, and invasion. The vascular status of the tumor is intricately linked to its immune landscape and response to immunotherapy. Vessel co-option means that tumor tissue adeptly exploits pre-existing blood vessels in the para-carcinoma region to foster its growth rather than inducing angiogenesis. It emerges as a significant mechanism contributing to anti-angiogenic therapy resistance. Different from angiogenic tumors, vessel co-option presents a distinctive vascular-immune niche characterized by varying states and distribution of immune cells, including T-cells, tumor-associated macrophages, neutrophils, and hepatic stellate cells. This unique composition contributes to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that is crucial in modulating the response to cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we systematically reviewed the evidence and molecular mechanisms of vessel co-option in liver cancer, while also exploring its implications for anti-angiogenic drug resistance and the immune microenvironment, to provide new ideas and clues for screening patients with liver cancer who are effective in immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xiangming Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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4
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Yarahmadi A, Zare M, Aghayari M, Afkhami H, Jafari GA. Therapeutic bacteria and viruses to combat cancer: double-edged sword in cancer therapy: new insights for future. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:239. [PMID: 38654309 PMCID: PMC11040964 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01622-w] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer, ranked as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, leads to the death of approximately seven million people annually, establishing itself as one of the most significant health challenges globally. The discovery and identification of new anti-cancer drugs that kill or inactivate cancer cells without harming normal and healthy cells and reduce adverse effects on the immune system is a potential challenge in medicine and a fundamental goal in Many studies. Therapeutic bacteria and viruses have become a dual-faceted instrument in cancer therapy. They provide a promising avenue for cancer treatment, but at the same time, they also create significant obstacles and complications that contribute to cancer growth and development. This review article explores the role of bacteria and viruses in cancer treatment, examining their potential benefits and drawbacks. By amalgamating established knowledge and perspectives, this review offers an in-depth examination of the present research landscape within this domain and identifies avenues for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aref Yarahmadi
- Department of Biology, Khorramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Mitra Zare
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Aghayari
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Hamed Afkhami
- Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Gholam Ali Jafari
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
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5
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Harkos C, Stylianopoulos T. Investigating the synergistic effects of immunotherapy and normalization treatment in modulating tumor microenvironment and enhancing treatment efficacy. J Theor Biol 2024; 583:111768. [PMID: 38401748 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2024.111768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
We developed a comprehensive mathematical model of cancer immunotherapy that takes into account: i) Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) and the interactions between cancer cells and the immune system, ii) characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, such as the tumor hydraulic conductivity, interstitial fluid pressure, and vascular permeability, iii) spatial and temporal variations of the modeled components within the tumor and the surrounding host tissue, iv) the transport of modeled components through the vasculature and between the tumor-host tissue with convection and diffusion, and v) modeling of the tumor draining lymph nodes were the antigen presentation and the development of cytotoxic immune cells take place. Our model successfully reproduced experimental data from various murine tumor types and predicted immune system profiling, which is challenging to achieve experimentally. It showed that combination of ICB therapy and normalization treatments, that aim to improve tumor perfusion, decreases interstitial fluid pressure and increases the concentration of both innate and adaptive immune cells at the tumor center rather than the periphery. Furthermore, using the model, we investigated the impact of modeled components on treatment outcomes. The analysis found that the number of functional vessels inside the tumor region and the ICB dose administered have the largest impact on treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantinos Harkos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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Pan X, Ni S, Hu K. Nanomedicines for reversing immunosuppressive microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomaterials 2024; 306:122481. [PMID: 38286109 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122481] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Although immunotherapeutic strategies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have gained promising advances, their limited efficacy and significant toxicity remain great challenges for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) immunotherapy. The tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment (TIME) with insufficient T-cell infiltration and low immunogenicity accounts for most HCC patients' poor response to ICIs. Worse still, the current immunotherapeutics without precise delivery may elicit enormous autoimmune side effects and systemic toxicity in the clinic. With a better understanding of the TIME in HCC, nanomedicines have emerged as an efficient strategy to achieve remodeling of the TIME and superadditive antitumor effects via targeted delivery of immunotherapeutics or multimodal synergistic therapy. Based on the typical characteristics of the TIME in HCC, this review summarizes the recent advancements in nanomedicine-based strategies for TIME-reversing HCC treatment. Additionally, perspectives on the awaiting challenges and opportunities of nanomedicines in modulating the TIME of HCC are presented. Acquisition of knowledge of nanomedicine-mediated TIME reversal will provide researchers with a better opportunity for clinical translation of HCC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xier Pan
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Shuting Ni
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Kaili Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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7
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Sharma A, Verwilst P, Li M, Ma D, Singh N, Yoo J, Kim Y, Yang Y, Zhu JH, Huang H, Hu XL, He XP, Zeng L, James TD, Peng X, Sessler JL, Kim JS. Theranostic Fluorescent Probes. Chem Rev 2024; 124:2699-2804. [PMID: 38422393 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00778] [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: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The ability to gain spatiotemporal information, and in some cases achieve spatiotemporal control, in the context of drug delivery makes theranostic fluorescent probes an attractive and intensely investigated research topic. This interest is reflected in the steep rise in publications on the topic that have appeared over the past decade. Theranostic fluorescent probes, in their various incarnations, generally comprise a fluorophore linked to a masked drug, in which the drug is released as the result of certain stimuli, with both intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli being reported. This release is then signaled by the emergence of a fluorescent signal. Importantly, the use of appropriate fluorophores has enabled not only this emerging fluorescence as a spatiotemporal marker for drug delivery but also has provided modalities useful in photodynamic, photothermal, and sonodynamic therapeutic applications. In this review we highlight recent work on theranostic fluorescent probes with a particular focus on probes that are activated in tumor microenvironments. We also summarize efforts to develop probes for other applications, such as neurodegenerative diseases and antibacterials. This review celebrates the diversity of designs reported to date, from discrete small-molecule systems to nanomaterials. Our aim is to provide insights into the potential clinical impact of this still-emerging research direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Sharma
- Amity School of Chemical Sciences, Amity University Punjab, Sector 82A, Mohali 140 306, India
| | - Peter Verwilst
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 1041, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mingle Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Dandan Ma
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Nem Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Jiyoung Yoo
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Yujin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Ying Yang
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Jing-Hui Zhu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Haiqiao Huang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xi-Le Hu
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiao-Peng He
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, the International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Lintao Zeng
- School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Tony D James
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Xiaojun Peng
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jonathan L Sessler
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
| | - Jong Seung Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- TheranoChem Incorporation, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea
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8
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Shaw P, Dwivedi SKD, Bhattacharya R, Mukherjee P, Rao G. VEGF signaling: Role in angiogenesis and beyond. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189079. [PMID: 38280470 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189079] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a crucial process for tissue development, repair, and tumor survival. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key driver secreted by cancer cells, promoting neovascularization. While VEGF's role in angiogenesis is well-documented, its influence on the other aspects in tumor microenvironemt is less discussed. This review elaborates on VEGF's impact on intercellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment, including how VEGF affects pericyte proliferation and migration and mediates interactions between tumor-associated macrophages and cancer cells, resulting in PDL-1-mediated immunosuppression and Nrf2-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The review discusses VEGF's involvement in intra-organelle crosstalk, tumor metabolism, stemness, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. It also provides insights into current anti-VEGF therapies and their limitations in cancer treatment. Overall, this review aims to provide a thorough overview of the current state of knowledge concerning VEGF signaling and its impact, not only on angiogenesis but also on various other oncogenic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallab Shaw
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Shailendra Kumar Dhar Dwivedi
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Resham Bhattacharya
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Priyabrata Mukherjee
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Geeta Rao
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
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Hato L, Vizcay A, Eguren I, Pérez-Gracia JL, Rodríguez J, Gállego Pérez-Larraya J, Sarobe P, Inogés S, Díaz de Cerio AL, Santisteban M. Dendritic Cells in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:981. [PMID: 38473341 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050981] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy modulates the immune system, overcomes immune escape and stimulates immune defenses against tumors. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional promoters of immune responses against tumor antigens with the outstanding ability to coordinate the innate and adaptive immune systems. Evidence suggests that there is a decrease in both the number and function of DCs in cancer patients. Therefore, they represent a strong scaffold for therapeutic interventions. DC vaccination (DCV) is safe, and the antitumoral responses induced are well established in solid tumors. Although the addition of checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) to chemotherapy has provided new options in the treatment of cancer, they have shown no clinical benefit in immune desert tumors or in those tumors with dysfunctional or exhausted T-cells. In this way, DC-based therapy has demonstrated the ability to modify the tumor microenvironment for immune enriched tumors and to potentiate systemic host immune responses as an active approach to treating cancer patients. Application of DCV in cancer seeks to obtain long-term antitumor responses through an improved T-cell priming by enhancing previous or generating de novo immune responses. To date, DCV has induced immune responses in the peripheral blood of patients without a significant clinical impact on outcome. Thus, improvements in vaccines formulations, selection of patients based on biomarkers and combinations with other antitumoral therapies are needed to enhance patient survival. In this work, we review the role of DCV in different solid tumors with their strengths and weaknesses, and we finally mention new trends to improve the efficacy of this immune strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Hato
- Immunology, Riberalab, 03203 Alicante, Spain
| | - Angel Vizcay
- Medical Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Iñaki Eguren
- Medical Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Javier Rodríguez
- Medical Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Sarobe
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- CIBEREHD, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Susana Inogés
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Cell Therapy Unit, Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ascensión López Díaz de Cerio
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Cell Therapy Unit, Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta Santisteban
- Medical Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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10
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Clark GC, Lai A, Agarwal A, Liu Z, Wang XY. Biopterin metabolism and nitric oxide recoupling in cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1321326. [PMID: 38469569 PMCID: PMC10925643 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1321326] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Tetrahydrobiopterin is a cofactor necessary for the activity of several enzymes, the most studied of which is nitric oxide synthase. The role of this cofactor-enzyme relationship in vascular biology is well established. Recently, tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism has received increasing attention in the field of cancer immunology and immunotherapy due to its involvement in the cytotoxic T cell response. Past research has demonstrated that when the availability of BH4 is low, as it is in chronic inflammatory conditions and tumors, electron transfer in the active site of nitric oxide synthase becomes uncoupled from the oxidation of arginine. This results in the production of radical species that are capable of a direct attack on tetrahydrobiopterin, further depleting its local availability. This feedforward loop may act like a molecular switch, reinforcing low tetrahydrobiopterin levels leading to altered NO signaling, restrained immune effector activity, and perpetual vascular inflammation within the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we discuss the evidence for this underappreciated mechanism in different aspects of tumor progression and therapeutic responses. Furthermore, we discuss the preclinical evidence supporting a clinical role for tetrahydrobiopterin supplementation to enhance immunotherapy and radiotherapy for solid tumors and the potential safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gene Chatman Clark
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Alan Lai
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | | | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Xiang-Yang Wang
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
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11
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Chew V, Chuang CH, Hsu C. Translational research on drug development and biomarker discovery for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:22. [PMID: 38368324 PMCID: PMC10874078 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01011-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: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Translational research plays a key role in drug development and biomarker discovery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, unique challenges exist in this field because of the limited availability of human tumor samples from surgery, the lack of homogenous oncogenic driver mutations, and the paucity of adequate experimental models. In this review, we provide insights into these challenges and review recent advancements, with a particular focus on the two main agents currently used as mainstream therapies for HCC: anti-angiogenic agents and immunotherapy. First, we examine the pre-clinical and clinical studies to highlight the challenges of determining the optimal therapeutic combinations with biologically effective dosage for HCC. Second, we discuss biomarker studies focusing on anti-PD1/anti-PD-L1-based combination therapy. Finally, we discuss the progress made in our collective understanding of tumor immunology and in multi-omics analysis technology, which enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying immunotherapy, characterize different patient subgroups, and facilitate the development of novel combination approaches to improve treatment efficacy. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive overview of efforts in translational research aiming at advancing our understanding of and improving the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Chew
- Translational Immunology Institute, SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chien-Huai Chuang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chiun Hsu
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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12
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West J, Rentzeperis F, Adam C, Bravo R, Luddy KA, Robertson-Tessi M, Anderson ARA. Tumor-immune metaphenotypes orchestrate an evolutionary bottleneck that promotes metabolic transformation. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1323319. [PMID: 38426105 PMCID: PMC10902449 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1323319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Metabolism plays a complex role in the evolution of cancerous tumors, including inducing a multifaceted effect on the immune system to aid immune escape. Immune escape is, by definition, a collective phenomenon by requiring the presence of two cell types interacting in close proximity: tumor and immune. The microenvironmental context of these interactions is influenced by the dynamic process of blood vessel growth and remodelling, creating heterogeneous patches of well-vascularized tumor or acidic niches. Methods Here, we present a multiscale mathematical model that captures the phenotypic, vascular, microenvironmental, and spatial heterogeneity which shapes acid-mediated invasion and immune escape over a biologically-realistic time scale. The model explores several immune escape mechanisms such as i) acid inactivation of immune cells, ii) competition for glucose, and iii) inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor expression (PD-L1). We also explore the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 and sodium bicarbonate buffer agents for treatment. To aid in understanding immune escape as a collective cellular phenomenon, we define immune escape in the context of six collective phenotypes (termed "meta-phenotypes"): Self-Acidify, Mooch Acid, PD-L1 Attack, Mooch PD-L1, Proliferate Fast, and Starve Glucose. Results Fomenting a stronger immune response leads to initial benefits (additional cytotoxicity), but this advantage is offset by increased cell turnover that leads to accelerated evolution and the emergence of aggressive phenotypes. This creates a bimodal therapy landscape: either the immune system should be maximized for complete cure, or kept in check to avoid rapid evolution of invasive cells. These constraints are dependent on heterogeneity in vascular context, microenvironmental acidification, and the strength of immune response. Discussion This model helps to untangle the key constraints on evolutionary costs and benefits of three key phenotypic axes on tumor invasion and treatment: acid-resistance, glycolysis, and PD-L1 expression. The benefits of concomitant anti-PD-L1 and buffer treatments is a promising treatment strategy to limit the adverse effects of immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey West
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | | | - Casey Adam
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rafael Bravo
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Kimberly A. Luddy
- Cancer Biology and Evolution Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Mark Robertson-Tessi
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Alexander R. A. Anderson
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
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13
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Femel J, Hill C, Illa Bochaca I, Booth JL, Asnaashari TG, Steele MM, Moshiri AS, Do H, Zhong J, Osman I, Leachman SA, Tsujikawa T, White KP, Chang YH, Lund AW. Quantitative multiplex immunohistochemistry reveals inter-patient lymphovascular and immune heterogeneity in primary cutaneous melanoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1328602. [PMID: 38361951 PMCID: PMC10867179 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1328602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Quantitative, multiplexed imaging is revealing complex spatial relationships between phenotypically diverse tumor infiltrating leukocyte populations and their prognostic implications. The underlying mechanisms and tissue structures that determine leukocyte distribution within and around tumor nests, however, remain poorly understood. While presumed players in metastatic dissemination, new preclinical data demonstrates that blood and lymphatic vessels (lymphovasculature) also dictate leukocyte trafficking within tumor microenvironments and thereby impact anti-tumor immunity. Here we interrogate these relationships in primary human cutaneous melanoma. Methods We established a quantitative, multiplexed imaging platform to simultaneously detect immune infiltrates and tumor-associated vessels in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded patient samples. We performed a discovery, retrospective analysis of 28 treatment-naïve, primary cutaneous melanomas. Results Here we find that the lymphvasculature and immune infiltrate is heterogenous across patients in treatment naïve, primary melanoma. We categorized five lymphovascular subtypes that differ by functionality and morphology and mapped their localization in and around primary tumors. Interestingly, the localization of specific vessel subtypes, but not overall vessel density, significantly associated with the presence of lymphoid aggregates, regional progression, and intratumoral T cell infiltrates. Discussion We describe a quantitative platform to enable simultaneous lymphovascular and immune infiltrate analysis and map their spatial relationships in primary melanoma. Our data indicate that tumor-associated vessels exist in different states and that their localization may determine potential for metastasis or immune infiltration. This platform will support future efforts to map tumor-associated lymphovascular evolution across stage, assess its prognostic value, and stratify patients for adjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Femel
- Department of Cell, Developmental, & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Cameron Hill
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Irineu Illa Bochaca
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jamie L. Booth
- Department of Cell, Developmental, & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Tina G. Asnaashari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Biology Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Maria M. Steele
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ata S. Moshiri
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hyungrok Do
- Department of Population Health, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Judy Zhong
- Department of Population Health, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University (NYU) Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Iman Osman
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University (NYU) Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sancy A. Leachman
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Takahiro Tsujikawa
- Department of Cell, Developmental, & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kevin P. White
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Young H. Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Biology Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Amanda W. Lund
- Department of Cell, Developmental, & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Biology Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University (NYU) Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Pathology, New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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14
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Meo C, de Nigris F. Clinical Potential of YY1-Hypoxia Axis for Vascular Normalization and to Improve Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:491. [PMID: 38339244 PMCID: PMC10854702 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030491] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal vasculature in solid tumors causes poor blood perfusion, hypoxia, low pH, and immune evasion. It also shapes the tumor microenvironment and affects response to immunotherapy. The combination of antiangiogenic therapy and immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach to normalize vasculature and unlock the full potential of immunotherapy. However, the unpredictable and redundant mechanisms of vascularization and immune suppression triggered by tumor-specific hypoxic microenvironments indicate that such combination therapies need to be further evaluated to improve patient outcomes. Here, we provide an overview of the interplay between tumor angiogenesis and immune modulation and review the function and mechanism of the YY1-HIF axis that regulates the vascular and immune tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of targeting YY1 and other strategies, such as nanocarrier delivery systems and engineered immune cells (CAR-T), to normalize tumor vascularization and re-establish an immune-permissive microenvironment to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Filomena de Nigris
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
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15
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Han H, Qian C, Song M, Zhong C, Zhao Y, Lu Y. Fibroblasts: invigorated targets in pre-metastatic niche formation. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:1110-1124. [PMID: 38322116 PMCID: PMC10845297 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.87680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
At present, tumor metastasis still remains the leading contributor to high recurrence and mortality in cancer patients. There have been no clinically effective therapeutic strategies for treating patients with metastatic cancer. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has shown that the pre-metastatic niche (PMN) plays a crucial role in driving tumor metastasis. Nevertheless, a clear and detailed understanding of the formation of PMN is still lacking given the fact that PMN formation involves in a wealth of complicated communications and underlying mechanisms between primary tumors and metastatic target organs. Despite that the roles of numerous components including tumor exosomes and extracellular vesicles in influencing the evolution of PMN have been well documented, the involvement of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment for controlling PMN formation is frequently overlooked. It has been increasingly recognized that fibroblasts trigger the formation of PMN by virtue of modulating exosomes, metabolism and so on. In this review, we mainly summarize the underlying mechanisms of fibroblasts from diverse origins in exerting impacts on PMN evolution, and further highlight the prospective strategies for targeting fibroblasts to prevent PMN formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkuan Han
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Cheng Qian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Mengyao Song
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Chongjin Zhong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yin Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
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16
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Hachey SJ, Hatch CJ, Gaebler D, Mocherla A, Nee K, Kessenbrock K, Hughes CCW. Targeting tumor-stromal interactions in triple-negative breast cancer using a human vascularized micro-tumor model. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:5. [PMID: 38183074 PMCID: PMC10768273 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-023-01760-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: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly aggressive with limited available treatments. Stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are crucial in TNBC progression; however, understanding the molecular basis of stromal cell activation and tumor-stromal crosstalk in TNBC is limited. To investigate therapeutic targets in the TNBC stromal niche, we used an advanced human in vitro microphysiological system called the vascularized micro-tumor (VMT). Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we revealed that normal breast tissue stromal cells activate neoplastic signaling pathways in the TNBC TME. By comparing interactions in VMTs with clinical data, we identified therapeutic targets at the tumor-stromal interface with potential clinical significance. Combining treatments targeting Tie2 signaling with paclitaxel resulted in vessel normalization and increased efficacy of paclitaxel in the TNBC VMT. Dual inhibition of HER3 and Akt also showed efficacy against TNBC. These data demonstrate the potential of inducing a favorable TME as a targeted therapeutic approach in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J Hachey
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | | | - Daniela Gaebler
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Aneela Mocherla
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kevin Nee
- Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kai Kessenbrock
- Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Christopher C W Hughes
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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17
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Mpekris F, Papaphilippou PC, Panagi M, Voutouri C, Michael C, Charalambous A, Marinov Dinev M, Katsioloudi A, Prokopi-Demetriades M, Anayiotos A, Cabral H, Krasia-Christoforou T, Stylianopoulos T. Pirfenidone-Loaded Polymeric Micelles as an Effective Mechanotherapeutic to Potentiate Immunotherapy in Mouse Tumor Models. ACS NANO 2023; 17:24654-24667. [PMID: 38054429 PMCID: PMC10753878 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing research is actively exploring the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat solid tumors by inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and reactivating the function of cytotoxic T effector cells. Many types of solid tumors, however, are characterized by a dense and stiff stroma and are difficult to treat. Mechanotherapeutics have formed a recent class of drugs that aim to restore biomechanical abnormalities of the tumor microenvironment, related to increased stiffness and hypo-perfusion. Here, we have developed a polymeric formulation containing pirfenidone, which has been successful in restoring the tumor microenvironment in breast tumors and sarcomas. We found that the micellar formulation can induce similar mechanotherapeutic effects to mouse models of 4T1 and E0771 triple negative breast tumors and MCA205 fibrosarcoma tumors but with a dose 100-fold lower than that of the free pirfenidone. Importantly, a combination of pirfenidone-loaded micelles with immune checkpoint inhibition significantly delayed primary tumor growth, leading to a significant improvement in overall survival and in a complete cure for the E0771 tumor model. Furthermore, the combination treatment increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration and suppressed myeloid-derived suppressor cells, creating favorable immunostimulatory conditions, which led to immunological memory. Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) was able to monitor changes in tumor stiffness during treatment, suggesting optimal treatment conditions. Micellar encapsulation is a promising strategy for mechanotherapeutics, and imaging methods, such as SWE, can assist their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fotios Mpekris
- Cancer
Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Petri Ch. Papaphilippou
- Polymers
and Polymer Processing Laboratories, Department of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering, University of
Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Myrofora Panagi
- Cancer
Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Chrysovalantis Voutouri
- Cancer
Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christina Michael
- Cancer
Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Antonia Charalambous
- Cancer
Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Mariyan Marinov Dinev
- Polymers
and Polymer Processing Laboratories, Department of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering, University of
Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Marianna Prokopi-Demetriades
- Theramir
Ltd, R&D Laboratory, 4101 Limassol, Cyprus
- Biomechanics
and Living Systems Analysis Laboratory, Cyprus University of Technology, 3036 Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Andreas Anayiotos
- Biomechanics
and Living Systems Analysis Laboratory, Cyprus University of Technology, 3036 Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Horacio Cabral
- Department
of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, 113-8656 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Theodora Krasia-Christoforou
- Polymers
and Polymer Processing Laboratories, Department of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering, University of
Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer
Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
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18
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Thapa K, Khan H, Kaur G, Kumar P, Singh TG. Therapeutic targeting of angiopoietins in tumor angiogenesis and cancer development. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 687:149130. [PMID: 37944468 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The formation and progression of tumors in humans are linked to the abnormal development of new blood vessels known as neo-angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is a broad word that encompasses endothelial cell migration, proliferation, tube formation, and intussusception, as well as peri-EC recruitment and extracellular matrix formation. Tumor angiogenesis is regulated by angiogenic factors, out of which some of the most potent angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor and Angiopoietins (ANGs) in the body are produced by macrophages and other immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. ANGs have a distinct function in tumor angiogenesis and behavior. ANG1, ANG 2, ANG 3, and ANG 4 are the family members of ANG out of which ANG2 has been extensively investigated owing to its unique role in modifying angiogenesis and its tight association with tumor progression, growth, and invasion/metastasis, which makes it an excellent candidate for therapeutic intervention in human malignancies. ANG modulators have demonstrated encouraging outcomes in the treatment of tumor development, either alone or in conjunction with VEGF inhibitors. Future development of more ANG modulators targeting other ANGs is needed. The implication of ANG1, ANG3, and ANG4 as probable therapeutic targets for anti-angiogenesis treatment in tumor development should be also evaluated. The article has described the role of ANG in tumor angiogenesis as well as tumor growth and the treatment strategies modulating ANGs in tumor angiogenesis as demonstrated in clinical studies. The pharmacological modulation of ANGs and ANG-regulated pathways that are responsible for tumor angiogenesis and cancer development should be evaluated for the development of future molecular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Thapa
- Chitkara School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, 174103, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Heena Khan
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, 140401, Punjab, India
| | - Gagandeep Kaur
- Chitkara School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, 174103, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Puneet Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, 151401, Bathinda, India
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19
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Harkos C, Stylianopoulos T, Jain RK. Mathematical modeling of intratumoral immunotherapy yields strategies to improve the treatment outcomes. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011740. [PMID: 38113269 PMCID: PMC10763956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011740] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Intratumoral injection of immunotherapy aims to maximize its activity within the tumor. However, cytokines are cleared via tumor vessels and escape from the tumor periphery into the host-tissue, reducing efficacy and causing toxicity. Thus, understanding the determinants of the tumor and immune response to intratumoral immunotherapy should lead to better treatment outcomes. In this study, we developed a mechanistic mathematical model to determine the efficacy of intratumorally-injected conjugated-cytokines, accounting for properties of the tumor microenvironment and the conjugated-cytokines. The model explicitly incorporates i) the tumor vascular density and permeability and the tumor hydraulic conductivity, ii) conjugated-cytokines size and binding affinity as well as their clearance via the blood vessels and the surrounding tissue, and iii) immune cells-cancer cells interactions. Model simulations show how the properties of the tumor and of the conjugated-cytokines determine treatment outcomes and how selection of proper parameters can optimize therapy. A high tumor tissue hydraulic permeability allows for the uniform distribution of the cytokines into the tumor, whereas uniform tumor perfusion is required for sufficient access and activation of immune cells. The permeability of the tumor vessels affects the blood clearance of the cytokines and optimal values depend on the size of the conjugates. A size >5 nm in radius was found to be optimal, whereas the binding of conjugates should be high enough to prevent clearance from the tumor into the surrounding tissue. In conclusion, development of strategies to improve vessel perfusion and tissue hydraulic conductivity by reprogramming the microenvironment along with optimal design of conjugated-cytokines can enhance intratumoral immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantinos Harkos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Rakesh K. Jain
- Edwin L Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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20
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Chen H, Zhang Y, Chen X, Xu R, Zhu Y, He D, Cheng Y, Wang Z, Qing X, Cao K. Hypoxia is correlated with the tumor immune microenvironment: Potential application of immunotherapy in bladder cancer. Cancer Med 2023; 12:22333-22353. [PMID: 38063246 PMCID: PMC10757107 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6617] [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: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hypoxia, which can considerably affect the tumor microenvironment, hinders the use of immunotherapy in bladder cancer (BLCA). Therefore, we aimed to identify reliable hypoxia-related biomarkers to guide clinical immunotherapy in BLCA. METHODS Using data downloaded from TCGA-BLCA cohort, we determined BLCA subtypes which divide 408 samples into different subtypes. Tumor immune infiltration levels of two clusters were quantified using ssGSEA, MCPcounter, EPIC, ESTIMATE, and TIMER algorithms. Next, we constructed a hypoxia score based on the expression of hypoxia-related genes. The IMvigor210 cohort and SubMap analysis were used to predict immunotherapeutic responses in patients with different hypoxia scores. Hub genes were screened using cytoscape, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and multispectral immunofluorescence were used to detect the spatial distribution of immune markers. RESULTS Patients with BLCA were categorized into cluster1 (n = 227) and Cluster2 (n = 181). Immune infiltration and expression of immune markers were higher in Cluster1. Immune infiltration was also more obvious in the high-hypoxia score group which related to a better predicted response to immunotherapy. IHC, and multispectral immunofluorescence confirmed the importance of TLR8 in immune infiltration and immune phenotype. CONCLUSIONS BLCA subtype can evaluate the infiltration of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment of different patients. Hypoxia score in this study could effectively predict immunotherapeutic responses in patients with BLCA. TLR8 may be a potential target for clinical immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Chen
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xingyu Chen
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Runshi Xu
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Yuxing Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dong He
- Department of Respiration, The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - YaXin Cheng
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhanwang Wang
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiang Qing
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ke Cao
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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21
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Jain R, Hadjigeorgiou A, Harkos C, Mishra A, Morad G, Johnson S, Ajami N, Wargo J, Munn L, Stylianopoulos T. Dissecting the Impact of the Gut Microbiome on Cancer Immunotherapy. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3647386. [PMID: 38076985 PMCID: PMC10705708 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3647386/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiome has emerged as a key regulator of response to cancer immunotherapy. However, there is a gap in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which the microbiome influences immunotherapy. To this end, we developed a mathematical model based on i) gut microbiome data derived from preclinical studies on melanomas after fecal microbiota transplant, ii) mechanistic modeling of antitumor immune response, and iii) robust association analysis of murine and human microbiome profiles with model-predicted immune profiles. Using our model, we could distill the complexity of these murine and human studies on microbiome modulation in terms of just two model parameters: the activation and killing rate constants of immune cells. We further investigated associations between specific bacterial taxonomies and antitumor immunity and immunotherapy efficacy. This model can guide the design of studies to refine and validate mechanistic links between the microbiome and immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Jain
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | | | | | | | - Golnaz Morad
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
| | | | - Nadim Ajami
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
| | | | - Lance Munn
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
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22
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Dejmek M, Brazdova A, Otava T, Polidarova MP, Klíma M, Smola M, Vavrina Z, Buděšínský M, Dračínský M, Liboska R, Boura E, Birkuš G, Nencka R. Vinylphosphonate-based cyclic dinucleotides enhance STING-mediated cancer immunotherapy. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 259:115685. [PMID: 37567057 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115685] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) trigger the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway, which plays a key role in cytosolic DNA sensing and thus in immunomodulation against infections, cell damage and cancer. However, cancer immunotherapy trials with CDNs have shown immune activation, but not complete tumor regression. Nevertheless, we designed a novel class of CDNs containing vinylphosphonate based on a STING-affinity screening assay. In vitro, acyloxymethyl phosphate/phosphonate prodrugs of these vinylphosphonate CDNs were up to 1000-fold more potent than the clinical candidate ADU-S100. In vivo, the lead prodrug induced tumor-specific T cell priming and facilitated tumor regression in the 4T1 syngeneic mouse model of breast cancer. Moreover, we solved the crystal structure of this ligand bound to the STING protein. Therefore, our findings not only validate the therapeutic potential of vinylphosphonate CDNs but also open up opportunities for drug development in cancer immunotherapy bridging innate and adaptive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Dejmek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Brazdova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic; Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Průmyslová 595, Vestec, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Otava
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic; Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Marketa Pimkova Polidarova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic; Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Průmyslová 595, Vestec, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Klíma
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Smola
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Vavrina
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague 2, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Miloš Buděšínský
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Dračínský
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Liboska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Evzen Boura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Gabriel Birkuš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic.
| | - Radim Nencka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10, Czech Republic.
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Gacche RN. Changing landscape of anti-angiogenic therapy: Novel approaches and clinical perspectives. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:189020. [PMID: 37951481 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189020] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Targeting angiogenesis has remained one of the important aspects in disease biology in general and cancer in particular. Currently (June 2023), over 593 clinical trials have been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov having inference of term 'angiogenesis'. A panel of 14 anti-angiogenic drugs have been approved by FDA for the treatment of variety of cancers and other human ailments. Although the anti-angiogenic therapy (AAT) has gained significant clinical attention as a promising approach in the treatment of various diseases, particularly cancer, however, sizable literature has accumulated in the recent past describing the aggressive nature of tumours after the drug holidays, evolving drug resistance and off-target toxicities. Nevertheless, the emergence of inscrutable compensatory or alternative angiogenic mechanisms is limiting the efficacy of anti-angiogenic drugs and focussing the therapeutic regime as a puzzle of 'Lernaean hydra'. This review offers an overview of recent updates on the efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy and the current clinical performance of aaRTK inhibitors. Additionally, it also explores the changing application landscape of AAT, focusing on its role in diabetic nephropathy, age-related macular degeneration and other neovascular ocular disorders. Combination therapy with antiangiogenic drugs and immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) has emerged as a potential strategy to enhance the therapeutic index of cancer immunotherapy. While clinical studies have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of this approach, they also highlight the complex and sometimes unpredictable adverse events associated with it. Normalizing tumour vasculature has been identified as a key factor in unlocking the full potential of ICIs, thereby providing hope for improved treatment outcomes. The future prospects and challenges of AAT have been described with special reference to integration of technological advances for enhancing its efficacy and applications beyond its discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh N Gacche
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, MS, India.
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Kumar V. Editorial: Manipulation of immune-vascular crosstalk in solid tumors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1295953. [PMID: 37868975 PMCID: PMC10585256 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1295953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
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Baker JHE, Moosvi F, Kyle AH, Püspöky Banáth J, Saatchi K, Häfeli UO, Reinsberg SA, Minchinton AI. Radiosensitizing oxygenation changes in murine tumors treated with VEGF-ablation therapy are measurable using oxygen enhanced-MRI (OE-MRI). Radiother Oncol 2023; 187:109795. [PMID: 37414252 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109795] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is a significant need for a widely available, translatable, sensitive and non-invasive imaging biomarker for tumor hypoxia in radiation oncology. Treatment-induced changes in tumor tissue oxygenation can alter the sensitivity of cancer tissues to radiation, but the relative difficulty in monitoring the tumor microenvironment results in scarce clinical and research data. Oxygen-Enhanced MRI (OE-MRI) uses inhaled oxygen as a contrast agent to measure tissue oxygenation. Here we investigate the utility of dOE-MRI, a previously validated imaging approach employing a cycling gas challenge and independent component analysis (ICA), to detect VEGF-ablation treatment-induced changes in tumor oxygenation that result in radiosensitization. METHODS Murine squamous cell carcinoma (SCCVII) tumor-bearing mice were treated with 5 mg/kg anti-VEGF murine antibody B20 (B20-4.1.1, Genentech) 2-7 days prior to radiation treatment, tissue collection or MR imaging using a 7 T scanner. dOE-MRI scans were acquired for a total of three repeated cycles of air (2 min) and 100% oxygen (2 min) with responding voxels indicating tissue oxygenation. DCE-MRI scans were acquired using a high molecular weight (MW) contrast agent (Gd-DOTA based hyperbranched polygylcerol; HPG-GdF, 500 kDa) to obtain fractional plasma volume (fPV) and apparent permeability-surface area product (aPS) parameters derived from the MR concentration-time curves. Changes to the tumor microenvironment were evaluated histologically, with cryosections stained and imaged for hypoxia, DNA damage, vasculature and perfusion. Radiosensitizing effects of B20-mediated increases in oxygenation were evaluated by clonogenic survival assays and by staining for DNA damage marker γH2AX. RESULTS Tumors from mice treated with B20 exhibit changes to their vasculature that are consistent with a vascular normalization response, and result in a temporary period of reduced hypoxia. DCE-MRI using injectable contrast agent HPG-GDF measured decreased vessel permeability in treated tumors, while dOE-MRI using inhaled oxygen as a contrast agent showed greater tissue oxygenation. These treatment-induced changes to the tumor microenvironment result in significantly increased radiation sensitivity, illustrating the utility of dOE-MRI as a non-invasive biomarker of treatment response and tumor sensitivity during cancer interventions. CONCLUSIONS VEGF-ablation therapy-mediated changes to tumor vascular function measurable using DCE-MRI techniques may be monitored using the less invasive approach of dOE-MRI, an effective biomarker of tissue oxygenation that can monitor treatment response and predict radiation sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Firas Moosvi
- University of British Columbia, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Alastair Hugh Kyle
- Integrative Oncology - Radiation Biology Unit, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Judit Püspöky Banáth
- Integrative Oncology - Radiation Biology Unit, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Katayoun Saatchi
- University of British Columbia, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Urs Otto Häfeli
- University of British Columbia, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | | - Andrew Ivor Minchinton
- Integrative Oncology - Radiation Biology Unit, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
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Matsuo K, Hayashi R, Iwasa Y. Multiple colonies of cancer involved in mutual suppression with the immune system. J Theor Biol 2023; 572:111577. [PMID: 37423483 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2023.111577] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
We study the effects of the immune system on multiple cancer colonies. When cancer cells proliferate, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) reactive to the cancer-specific antigens are activated, suppressing the growth of cancer colonies. The immune reaction activated by a large cancer colony may suppress and eliminate smaller colonies. However, cancer cells mitigate immune reactions by slowing down the activation of CTLs in dendritic cells with regulatory T cells and by inactivating CTLs attacking cancer cells with immune checkpoints. If cancer cells strongly suppress the immune reaction, the system may become bistable, where both the cancer-dominated and immunity-dominated states are locally stable. We study several models differing in the distance between colonies and the migration speeds of CTLs and regulatory T cells. We examine how the domains of attraction for multiple equilibria change with parameters. Nonlinear cancer-immunity dynamics may produce a sharp transition from a state with a small number of colonies and strong immunity to one with many colonies and weak immunity, resulting in the rapid emergence of many cancer colonies in the same organ or metastatic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosei Matsuo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0035, Japan
| | - Rena Hayashi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0035, Japan
| | - Yoh Iwasa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0035, Japan; Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University, Komaki, Ueda, Nagano 386-0031, Japan.
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27
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Onuoha E, Smith AD, Cannon R, Khushman M, Kim H. Perfusion Change of Hepatocellular Carcinoma During Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab Treatment: A Pilot Study. J Gastrointest Cancer 2023; 54:776-781. [PMID: 36030519 PMCID: PMC9971356 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-022-00858-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate whether the early perfusion change in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) predicts the long-term therapeutic response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. METHODS We retrospectively selected 19 subjects (median age: 62 years, 4 females, and 15 males) having advanced HCC and treated with atezolizumab alone (n = 3) or in combination with bevacizumab (n = 16). The 4-phased CT or MRI imaging was performed for each subject before and at 9 ± 2 and 21 ± 5 weeks after therapy initiation. The tumor-to-liver signal ratio in the arterial phase was used to estimate the tumor perfusion. The change in tumor perfusion from the baseline to the 1st follow-up exam was correlated with the tumor response evaluated using mRECIST at the 2nd follow-up exam. The difference between favorably responding and non-responding groups was statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS The mean tumor long axis in the baseline image was 59 ± 47 mm. The HCC perfusion changes were -26 ± 18% for complete (or partial) response (CR/PR, n = 8), -24 ± 12% for stable disease (SD, n = 8), and 9 ± 13% for progressive disease (PD, n = 3). The HCC perfusion change of the CR/PR groups was significantly lower than that of the PD group (p = 0.0040). The HCC perfusion changes between the SD and PD groups were also significantly different (p = 0.0135). The sensitivity and specificity of the early perfusion change to predict the long-term progression of the disease were 100 and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSION The early change in HCC perfusion may predict the long-term therapeutic response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, promoting personalized treatment for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezinwanne Onuoha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Andrew D Smith
- Department of Radiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Robert Cannon
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Moh'd Khushman
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Harrison Kim
- Department of Radiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
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Huang H, Weng Y, Tian W, Lin X, Chen J, Luo L. Molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis and its role in anti-tumor immunity. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:4166-4180. [PMID: 37705746 PMCID: PMC10496503 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.86855] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyroptosis is a form of cell death that is characterized by the destruction of the cell, and it has implications in both the immune system and cancer immunotherapy. The gasdermin family is responsible for the activation of pyroptosis, which involves the formation of pores in the cellular membrane that permit the discharge of inflammatory factors. The inflammasome response is a powerful mechanism that helps to eliminate bacteria and cancer cells when cellular damage occurs. As tumor cells become more resilient to apoptosis, other treatments for cancer are becoming more popular. It is essential to gain a thorough understanding of pyroptosis in order to use it in cancer treatment, considering the intricate association between pyroptosis and the immune system's defensive reaction against tumors. This review offers an overview of the mechanisms of pyroptosis, the relationship between the gasdermin family and pyroptosis, and the interplay between pyroptosis and anti-tumor immunity. In addition, the potential implications of pyroptosis in cancer immunotherapy are discussed. Additionally, we explore future research possibilities and introduce a novel approach to tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyong Huang
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanmin Weng
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen Tian
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, Guangdong, China
| | - Xian Lin
- Department of Rheumatism and Immunology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518036, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Inflammatory and Immunology Diseases, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518036, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Rheumatism and Immunology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518036, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Inflammatory and Immunology Diseases, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518036, China
| | - Lianxiang Luo
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, Guangdong, China
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Guangdong Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, 524023, Guangdong, China
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Voutouri C, Mpekris F, Panagi M, Krolak C, Michael C, Martin JD, Averkiou MA, Stylianopoulos T. Ultrasound stiffness and perfusion markers correlate with tumor volume responses to immunotherapy. Acta Biomater 2023:S1742-7061(23)00332-X. [PMID: 37321529 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of dozens of cancers and became a standard of care for some tumor types. However, the majority of patients do not benefit from current immunotherapeutics and many develop severe toxicities. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers to classify patients as likely responders or non-responders to immunotherapy is a timely task. Here, we test ultrasound imaging markers of tumor stiffness and perfusion. Ultrasound imaging is non-invasive and clinically available and can be used both for stiffness and perfusion evaluation. In this study, we employed syngeneic orthotopic models of two breast cancers, a fibrosarcoma and melanoma, to demonstrate that ultrasound-derived measures of tumor stiffness and perfusion (i.e., blood volume) correlate with the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) in terms of changes in primary tumor volume. To modulate tumor stiffness and perfusion and thus, get a range of therapeutic outcomes, we employed the mechanotherapeutic tranilast. Mechanotherapeutics combined with ICI are advancing through clinical trials, but biomarkers of response have not been tested until now. We found the existence of linear correlations between tumor stiffness and perfusion imaging biomarkers as well as strong linear correlations between the stiffness and perfusion markers with ICI efficacy on primary tumor growth rates. Our findings set the basis for ultrasound imaging biomarkers predictive of ICI therapy in combination with mechanotherapeutics. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Hypothesis: Monitoring Tumor Microenvironment (TME) mechanical abnormalities can predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) and provide biomarkers predictive of response. Tumor stiffening and solid stress elevation are hallmarks of tumor patho-physiology in desmoplastic tumors. They induce hypo-perfusion and hypoxia by compressing tumor vessels, posing major barriers to immunotherapy. Mechanotherapeutics is a new class of drugs that target the TME to reduce stiffness and improve perfusion and oxygenation. In this study, we show that measures of stiffness and perfusion derived from ultrasound shear wave elastography and contrast enhanced ultrasound can provide biomarkers of tumor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysovalantis Voutouri
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus
| | - Fotios Mpekris
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus
| | - Myrofora Panagi
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus
| | - Connor Krolak
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Christina Michael
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus
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Zhang J, Zou Z, Tan J, Shi J, Yang H, Wang H, Zhou J, Xue J. Efficacy and Safety Analysis of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors plus Angiogenesis Inhibitors for the Treatment of Advanced Driver-negative NSCLC in Elderly Patients: A Retrospective Study. J Cancer 2023; 14:1623-1634. [PMID: 37325057 PMCID: PMC10266243 DOI: 10.7150/jca.83719] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with angiogenesis inhibitors may have synergistic effects in elderly patients with advanced driver-negative NSCLC, but its true efficacy remains unclear. In addition, chemotherapy tolerance in elderly NSCLC patients is poor, and the precise identification of the population that may benefit from ICIs combined with angiogenesis inhibitors is also the focus of current research. Methods: We retrospectively compared the efficacy and safety of ICIs combined with or without antiangiogenic agents in elderly patients with advanced driver-gene negative NSCLC ≥65 years of age in the Cancer Center of Suzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University. The primary endpoint was PFS. Secondary endpoints were OS, ORR, and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Results: A total of 36 patients in the IA group (immune checkpoint inhibitors plus angiogenesis inhibitors group) and 43 patients in the NIA group (immune checkpoint inhibitors without angiogenesis inhibitors group) were enrolled in the study between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. The median follow-up time for patients in the IA group and NIA group was 18.2 months (95%CI: 14 - 22.5 months) and 21.4 months (95%CI: 16.7 -26.1 months), respectively. The median PFS and median OS were longer in the IA group compared to the NIA group (8.1 months vs 5.3 months; HR for PFS: 0.778, 95%CI: 0.474-1.276, P=0.32; NA vs 30.9 months; HR for OS: 0.795, 95%CI: 0.396-1.595, P=0.519). There were no significant differences in median PFS and median OS between the two groups. Subgroup analysis showed that patients in the IA group had significantly longer PFS in the subgroup with PD-L1 expression ≥50% (P=0.017), and the association between different groups and disease progression was still different in the two subgroups (P for interaction = 0.002). There was no significant difference in ORR between the two groups (23.3% vs 30.5%, P=0.465). The incidence of irAEs in the IA group was lower than that in the NIA group (39.5% vs 19.4%, P=0.05), and the cumulative incidence of treatment interruptions due to irAEs was significantly reduced (P=0.045). Conclusion: In elderly patients with advanced driver-negative NSCLC, the addition of antiangiogenic agents to ICIs therapy did not provide significant clinical benefit, but the incidence of irAEs and treatment interruptions due to irAEs was significantly reduced. In the subgroup analysis, we found that the clinical benefit of this combination therapy was observed in patients with PD-L1 expression ≥50%, which warrants further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215001, China
| | - Zhonghua Zou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215001, China
| | - Jie Tan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215001, China
| | - Jianping Shi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215001, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215001, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Jundong Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215001, China
| | - Jing Xue
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215001, China
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Mortezaee K, Majidpoor J, Kharazinejad E. The impact of hypoxia on tumor-mediated bypassing anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114646. [PMID: 37011483 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Extending the durability of response is the current focus in cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, factors like non-immunogenic tumor microenvironment (TME) along with aberrant angiogenesis and dysregulated metabolic systems are negative contributors. Hypoxia is a key TME condition and a critical promoter of tumor hallmarks. It acts on immune and non-immune cells within TME in order for promoting immune evasion and therapy resistance. Extreme hypoxia is a major promoter of resistance to the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor therapy. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) acts as a key mediator of hypoxia and a critical promoter of resistance to the anti-PD-(L)1. Targeting hypoxia or HIF-1 can thus be an effective strategy for reinvigoration of cellular immunity against cancer. Among various strategies presented so far, the key focus is over vascular normalization, which is an approach highly effective for reducing the rate of hypoxia, increasing drug delivery into the tumor area, and boosting the efficacy of anti-PD-(L)1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keywan Mortezaee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
| | - Jamal Majidpoor
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Infectious Disease Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Ebrahim Kharazinejad
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Xia L, Liu X, Mao W, Guo Y, Huang J, Hu Y, Jin L, Liu X, Fu H, Du Y, Shou Q. Panax notoginseng saponins normalises tumour blood vessels by inhibiting EphA2 gene expression to modulate the tumour microenvironment of breast cancer. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 114:154787. [PMID: 37060724 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), the main active component of Panax notoginseng, can promote vascular microcirculation. PNS exhibits antitumor effects in various cancers. However, the molecular basis of the relationship between PNS and tumor blood vessels remains unclear. PURPOSE To study the relationship between PNS inhibiting the growth and metastasis of breast cancer and promoting the normalization of blood vessels. METHODS We performed laser speckle imaging of tumor microvessels and observed the effects of PNS on tumor growth and metastasis of MMTV-PyMT (FVB) spontaneous breast cancer in a transgenic mouse model. Immunohistochemical staining of Ki67 and CD31 was performed for tumors, scanning electron microscopy was used to observe tumor vascular morphology, and flow cytometry was used to detect tumor tissue immune microenvironment (TME). RNA-seq analysis was performed using the main vessels of the tumor tissues of the mice. HUVECs were cultured in tumor supernatant in vitro to simulate tumor microenvironment and verify the sequencing differential key genes. RESULTS After treatment with PNS, we observed that tumor growth was suppressed, the blood perfusion of the systemic tumor microvessels in the mice increased, and the number of lung metastases decreased. Moreover, the vascular density of the primary tumor increased, and the vascular epidermis was smoother and flatter. Moreover, the number of tumor-associated macrophages in the tumor microenvironment was reduced, and the expression levels of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were reduced in the tumor tissues. PNS downregulated the expression of multiple genes associated with tumor angiogenesis, migration, and adhesion. In vitro tubule formation experiments revealed that PNS promoted the formation and connection of tumor blood vessels and normalized the vessel morphology primarily by inhibiting EphA2 expression. In addition, PNS inhibited the expression of tumor vascular marker proteins and vascular migration adhesion-related proteins in vivo. CONCLUSION In this study, we found that PNS promoted the generation and connection of tumor vascular endothelial cells, revealing the key role of EphA2 in endothelial cell adhesion and tumor blood vessel morphology. PNS can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer by inhibiting EphA2, improving the immune microenvironment of breast cancer and promoting the normalization of tumor blood vessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linying Xia
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Jinghua Academy of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Jinghua 321015, PR China
| | - XianLi Liu
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Jinghua Academy of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Jinghua 321015, PR China
| | - Weiye Mao
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Jinghua Academy of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Jinghua 321015, PR China
| | - Yingxue Guo
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Jie Huang
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Yingnan Hu
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Lu Jin
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Sexual function of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Xia Liu
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Sexual function of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Huiying Fu
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Sexual function of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Jinghua Academy of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Jinghua 321015, PR China.
| | - Yueguang Du
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China.
| | - Qiyang Shou
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Sexual function of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Jinghua Academy of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Jinghua 321015, PR China.
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Shi H, Wang K, Tang S, Zhai S, Shi J, Su C, Liu L. Large Range Atomic Force Microscopy with High Aspect Ratio Micropipette Probe for Deep Trench Imaging. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2201401. [PMID: 36811166 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202201401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been adopted in both industry and academia for high-fidelity, full-profile topographic characterization. Typically, the tiny tip of the cantilever and the limited traveling range of the scanner restrict AFM measurement to relatively flat samples (recommend 1 µm). The primary objective of this work is to address these limitations using a large-range AFM (measuring height >10 µm) system consisting of a novel repairable high aspect ratio probe (HARP) with a nested-proportional-integral-derivative (nested-PID) AFM system. The HARP is fabricated using a reliable, cost-efficient bench-top process. The tip is then fused by pulling the end of the micropipette cantilever with a length up to hundreds of micrometers and a tip diameter of 30 nm. The design, simulation, fabrication, and performance of the HARP are described herein. This instrument is then tested using polymer trenches which reveals superior image fidelity compared to standard silicon tips. Finally, a nested-PID system is developed and employed to facilitate 3D characterization of 50-µm-step samples. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed bench-top technique for the fabrication of low-cost, simple HAR AFM probes that facilitate the imaging of samples with deep trenches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110016, Shenyang, P. R. China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110169, Shenyang, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Kaixuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110016, Shenyang, P. R. China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110169, Shenyang, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Si Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110016, Shenyang, P. R. China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110169, Shenyang, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Shenghang Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110016, Shenyang, P. R. China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110169, Shenyang, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Jialin Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110016, Shenyang, P. R. China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110169, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Chanmin Su
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110016, Shenyang, P. R. China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110169, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Lianqing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110016, Shenyang, P. R. China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110169, Shenyang, P. R. China
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Xue L, Zhang H, Zheng X, Sun W, Lei J. Treatment of melanoma with dendritic cell vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors: A mathematical modeling study. J Theor Biol 2023; 568:111489. [PMID: 37054970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2023.111489] [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: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC) vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) play critical roles in shaping the immune responses of tumor cells (TCs) and are widely used in cancer immunotherapies. Quantitatively evaluating the effectiveness of these therapies are essential for the optimization of treatment strategies. Here, based on the combined therapy of melanoma with DC vaccines and ICIs, we formulated a mathematical model to investigate the dynamic interactions between TCs and the immune system and understand the underlying mechanisms of immunotherapy. First, we obtained a threshold parameter for the growth of TCs, which is given by the ratio of spontaneous proliferation to immune inhibition. Next, we proved the existence and locally asymptotic stability of steady states of tumor-free, tumor-dominant, and tumor-immune coexistent equilibrium, and identified the existence of Hopf bifurcation of the proposed model. Furthermore, global sensitivity analysis showed that the growth of TCs strongly correlates with the injection rate of DC vaccines, the activation rate of CTLs, and the killing rate of TCs. Finally, we tested the efficacy of multiple monotherapies and combined therapies with model simulations. Our results indicate that DC vaccines can decelerate the growth of TCs, and ICIs can inhibit the growth of TCs. Besides, both therapies can prolong the lifetime of patients, and the combined therapy of DC vaccines and ICIs can effectively eradicate TCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Xue
- College of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, China; College of Mathematical Sciences, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- College of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, China; College of Mathematical Sciences, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, China
| | - Xiaoming Zheng
- Department of Mathematics, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, United States of America
| | - Wei Sun
- College of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, China; College of Mathematical Sciences, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, China.
| | - Jinzhi Lei
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Center for Applied Mathematics, Tiangong University, Tianjin, 300387, China.
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Abbasi M, Sohail M, Minhas MU, Mahmood A, Shah SA, Munir A, Kashif MUR. Folic acid-decorated alginate nanoparticles loaded hydrogel for the oral delivery of diferourylmethane in colorectal cancer. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 233:123585. [PMID: 36758757 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The disease-related suffering in colorectal cancer remains prevalent despite advancements in the field of drug delivery. Chemotherapy-related side effects and non-specificity remain a challenge in drug delivery. The great majority of hydrophobic drugs cannot be successfully delivered to the colon orally mainly due to poor solubility, low bioavailability, pH differences, and food interactions. Polymeric nanoparticles are potential drug delivery candidates but there are numerous limitations to their usefulness in colon cancer. The nanoparticles are removed from the body rapidly by p-glycoprotein efflux, inactivation, or breakdown by enzymes limiting their efficiency. Furthermore, there is a lack of selectivity in targeting cancer cells; nanoparticles may also target healthy cells, resulting in toxicity and adverse effects. The study aimed to use nanoparticles for specific targeting of the colorectal tumor cells via the oral route of administration without adverse effects. Folic acid (FA), a cancer-targeting ligand possessing a high affinity for folate receptors overexpressed in colorectal cancers was conjugated to sodium alginate- nanoparticles by NH2-linkage. The folic-acid conjugated nanoparticles (FNPs) were delivered to the colon by a pH-sensitive hydrogel synthesized by the free radical polymerization method to provide sustained drug release. The developed system referred to as the "Hydrogel-Nano (HN) drug delivery system," was specifically capable of delivering diferourylmethane to the colon. The HN system was characterized by DLS, FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM. The FNPs size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential were measured. The folic acid-conjugation to nanoparticles' surface was studied by UV-visible spectroscopy using Beer-Lambert's law. In-vitro studies, including sol-gel, porosity, drug loading, entrapment efficiency, etc., revealed promising results. The swelling and release studies showed pH-dependent release of the drug in colonic pH 7.4. Cellular uptake and cytotoxicity studies performed on FR-overexpressed Hela cell lines and FR-negative A-549 cell lines showed facilitated uptake of nanoparticles by folate receptors. A threefold increase in Cmax and prolongation of the mean residence time (MRT) to 14.52 +/- 0.217 h indicated sustained drug release by the HN system. The findings of the study can provide a sufficient ground that the synergistic approach of the HN system can deliver hydrophobic drugs to colorectal cancer cells via the oral route, but further in-vivo animal cancer model studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudassir Abbasi
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, KPK, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Sohail
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, KPK, Pakistan; Faculty of Pharmacy, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, 99258, North Cyprus.
| | | | - Arshad Mahmood
- Collage of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Syed Ahmed Shah
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, KPK, Pakistan; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Superior University, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
| | - Abubakar Munir
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Superior University, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
| | - Mehboob-Ur-Rehman Kashif
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, KPK, Pakistan
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Rosellini M, Marchetti A, Mollica V, Rizzo A, Santoni M, Massari F. Prognostic and predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy in advanced renal cell carcinoma. Nat Rev Urol 2023; 20:133-157. [PMID: 36414800 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-022-00676-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The therapeutic algorithm of renal cell carcinoma has been revolutionized by the approval of immunotherapy agents by regulatory agencies. However, objective and durable responses are still not observed in a large number of patients, and prognostic and predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response are urgently needed. Prognostic models used in clinical practice are based on clinical and laboratory factors (such as hypercalcaemia, neutrophil count or Karnofsky Performance Status), but, with progress in molecular biology and genome sequencing techniques, new renal cell carcinoma molecular features that might improve disease course and outcomes prediction have been highlighted. An implementation of current models is needed to improve the accuracy of prognosis in the immuno-oncology era. Moreover, several potential biomarkers are currently under evaluation, but effective markers to select patients who might benefit from immunotherapy and to guide therapeutic strategies are still far from validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Rosellini
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Marchetti
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica Mollica
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rizzo
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico "Don Tonino Bello", I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Massari
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
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Xu D, Li C, Li W, Lin B, Lv R. Recent advances in lanthanide-doped up-conversion probes for theranostics. Front Chem 2023; 11:1036715. [PMID: 36846851 PMCID: PMC9949555 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1036715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Up-conversion (or anti-Stokes) luminescence refers to the phenomenon whereby materials emit high energy, short-wavelength light upon excitation at longer wavelengths. Lanthanide-doped up-conversion nanoparticles (Ln-UCNPs) are widely used in biomedicine due to their excellent physical and chemical properties such as high penetration depth, low damage threshold and light conversion ability. Here, the latest developments in the synthesis and application of Ln-UCNPs are reviewed. First, methods used to synthesize Ln-UCNPs are introduced, and four strategies for enhancing up-conversion luminescence are analyzed, followed by an overview of the applications in phototherapy, bioimaging and biosensing. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of Ln-UCNPs are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bi Lin
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
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Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas are distinguished by their robust desmoplasia, or fibroinflammatory response. Dominated by non-malignant cells, the mutated epithelium must therefore combat, cooperate with or co-opt the surrounding cells and signalling processes in its microenvironment. It is proposed that an invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma represents the coordinated evolution of malignant and non-malignant cells and mechanisms that subvert and repurpose normal tissue composition, architecture and physiology to foster tumorigenesis. The complex kinetics and stepwise development of pancreatic cancer suggests that it is governed by a discrete set of organizing rules and principles, and repeated attempts to target specific components within the microenvironment reveal self-regulating mechanisms of resistance. The histopathological and genetic progression models of the transforming ductal epithelium must therefore be considered together with a programme of stromal progression to create a comprehensive picture of pancreatic cancer evolution. Understanding the underlying organizational logic of the tumour to anticipate and pre-empt the almost inevitable compensatory mechanisms will be essential to eradicate the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil R Hingorani
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Mortezaee K, Majidpoor J, Najafi S, Tasa D. Bypassing anti-PD-(L)1 therapy: Mechanisms and management strategies. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114150. [PMID: 36577330 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is a major issue of the current era in cancer immunotherapy. Immune evasion is a multi-factorial event, which occurs generally at a base of cold immunity. Despite advances in the field, there are still unsolved challenges about how to combat checkpoint hijacked by tumor cells and what are complementary treatment strategies to render durable anti-tumor outcomes. A point is that anti-programed death-1 receptor (PD-1)/anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is not the solo path of immune escape, and responses in many types of solid tumors to the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are not satisfactory. Thus, seeking mechanisms inter-connecting tumor with its immune ecosystem nearby unravel more about resistance mechanisms so as to develop methods for sustained reinvigoration of immune activity against cancer. In this review, we aimed to discuss about common and specific paths taken by tumor cells to evade immune surveillance, describing novel detection strategies, as well as suggesting some approaches to recover tumor sensitivity to the anti-PD-(L)1 therapy based on the current knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keywan Mortezaee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
| | - Jamal Majidpoor
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
| | - Sajad Najafi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Tasa
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Fellowship, Organ Transplantation Group, Massih Daneshvari Educational Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
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Mechanistic model for booster doses effectiveness in healthy, cancer, and immunosuppressed patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2211132120. [PMID: 36623200 PMCID: PMC9934028 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211132120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are effective at limiting disease severity, but effectiveness is lower among patients with cancer or immunosuppression. Effectiveness wanes with time and varies by vaccine type. Moreover, previously prescribed vaccines were based on the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein that emerging variants may evade. Here, we describe a mechanistic mathematical model for vaccination-induced immunity. We validate it with available clinical data and use it to simulate the effectiveness of vaccines against viral variants with lower antigenicity, increased virulence, or enhanced cell binding for various vaccine platforms. The analysis includes the omicron variant as well as hypothetical future variants with even greater immune evasion of vaccine-induced antibodies and addresses the potential benefits of the new bivalent vaccines. We further account for concurrent cancer or underlying immunosuppression. The model confirms enhanced immunogenicity following booster vaccination in immunosuppressed patients but predicts ongoing booster requirements for these individuals to maintain protection. We further studied the impact of variants on immunosuppressed individuals as a function of the interval between multiple booster doses. Our model suggests possible strategies for future vaccinations and suggests tailored strategies for high-risk groups.
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Li H, Luo Q, Zhang H, Ma X, Gu Z, Gong Q, Luo K. Nanomedicine embraces cancer radio-immunotherapy: mechanism, design, recent advances, and clinical translation. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:47-96. [PMID: 36427082 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00437b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cancer radio-immunotherapy, integrating external/internal radiation therapy with immuno-oncology treatments, emerges in the current management of cancer. A growing number of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials have recently validated the synergistic antitumor effect of radio-immunotherapy, far beyond the "abscopal effect", but it suffers from a low response rate and toxicity issues. To this end, nanomedicines with an optimized design have been introduced to improve cancer radio-immunotherapy. Specifically, these nanomedicines are elegantly prepared by incorporating tumor antigens, immuno- or radio-regulators, or biomarker-specific imaging agents into the corresponding optimized nanoformulations. Moreover, they contribute to inducing various biological effects, such as generating in situ vaccination, promoting immunogenic cell death, overcoming radiation resistance, reversing immunosuppression, as well as pre-stratifying patients and assessing therapeutic response or therapy-induced toxicity. Overall, this review aims to provide a comprehensive landscape of nanomedicine-assisted radio-immunotherapy. The underlying working principles and the corresponding design strategies for these nanomedicines are elaborated by following the concept of "from bench to clinic". Their state-of-the-art applications, concerns over their clinical translation, along with perspectives are covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haonan Li
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Qiang Luo
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Hu Zhang
- Amgen Bioprocessing Centre, Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Xuelei Ma
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Zhongwei Gu
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China. .,Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province and Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Kui Luo
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China. .,Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province and Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
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He Z, Yue C, Chen X, Li X, Zhang L, Tan S, Yi X, Luo G, Zhou Y. Integrative Analysis Identified CD38 As a Key Node That Correlates Highly with Immunophenotype, Chemoradiotherapy Resistance, And Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer. J Cancer 2023; 14:72-87. [PMID: 36605482 PMCID: PMC9809333 DOI: 10.7150/jca.59730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is mainly treated by surgery, radiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy; however, the prognosis of some patients with HNC is poor because of radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance. In recent years, anti‑PD‑1 monoclonal antibodies have shown certain efficacy, and a change of the tumor immune microenvironment is the main reason for the failure of HNC immunotherapy. The present study aimed to identify and verify that CD38, which is closely related to the prognosis of HNC, is a potential biological marker of radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance and PD-L1 immunotherapy resistance via a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis in The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. According to the UALCAN database, the transcript level of CD38 in HNC was analyzed using cluster analysis, and the expression of CD38 mRNA in HNC was detected using the Oncomine database. The characteristics of CD38-related oncogenes were identified by gene cluster enrichment analysis in LinkedOmics. The R2 and SEER databases were used to further evaluate the prognostic significance of the CD38 gene in HNC using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival and the clinical characteristics of the subjects. The protein-protein interaction network of the top 50 genes showing significant positive correlations with CD38 in HNC was analyzed using STRING. Finally, we used a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line to verify the biological function. The results showed that the levels of CD38 mRNA expression in patients with HNC were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. The levels of CD38 mRNA expression in patients with HNC of different ages, sexes, and races were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls. CD38 is an independent prognostic factor for HNC, and high expression of CD38 indicates poor prognosis. CD38 expression correlated positively with the markers of many kinds of immune cells, and correlated significantly with the expression of PD-L1. We found that the high expression of CD38 suggested a poor prognosis in the subgroup of tumors treated with chemotherapeutic drugs in the G1/S phase. We used HNC cell lines to verify that the high expression of CD38 promoted the proliferation of NPC cells and produced radiotherapy tolerance. Through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, we suggested that CD38 is a key gene involved in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immune drug resistance in HNC. This study provides a reliable biomarker to predict the prognosis of patients with HNC and a reference for clinical comprehensive treatment of HNC. Individualization combined with CD38 monoclonal antibodies might provide a promising treatment strategy for this fatal disease, and this comprehensive treatment might reduce the damage to normal tissue and improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients with HNC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengxi He
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.,Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Basic School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Chunxue Yue
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, 250022, China
| | - Xiuwen Chen
- Teaching and Research Section of Clinical Nursing, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Xin Li
- Breast Cancer Center, Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan, 410219, China
| | - Shan Tan
- Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan, 410219, China
| | - Xia Yi
- Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan, 410219, China
| | - Gengqiu Luo
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Basic School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.,✉ Corresponding author: Professor Yanhong Zhou, NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China; E-mail: . Dr Gengqiu Luo, Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Basic School of Medicine, Central South University, 88 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China; E-mail:
| | - Yanhong Zhou
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.,Cancer Research Institute, Basic School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.,✉ Corresponding author: Professor Yanhong Zhou, NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China; E-mail: . Dr Gengqiu Luo, Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Basic School of Medicine, Central South University, 88 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China; E-mail:
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Translational nanomedicine potentiates immunotherapy in sarcoma by normalizing the microenvironment. J Control Release 2023; 353:956-964. [PMID: 36516902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nanocarrier-based chemo-immunotherapy has succeeded in clinical trials and understanding its effect on the tumor microenvironment could facilitate development of strategies to increase efficacy of these regimens further. NC-6300 (epirubicin micelle) demonstrates anti-tumor activity in sarcoma patients, but whether it is combinable with immune checkpoint inhibition is unclear. Here, we tested NC-6300 combined with anti-PD-L1 antibody in mouse models of osteosarcoma and fibrosarcoma. We found that sarcoma responds to NC-6300 in a dose-dependent manner, while anti-PD-L1 efficacy is potentiated even at a dose of NC-6300 less than 10% of the maximum tolerated dose. Furthermore, NC-6300 is more effective than the maximum tolerated dose of doxorubicin in increasing the tumor growth delay induced by anti-PD-L1 antibody. We investigated the mechanism of action of this combination. NC-6300 induces immunogenic cell death and its effect on the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 antibody is dependent on T cells. Also, NC-6300 normalized the tumor microenvironment (i.e., ameliorated pathophysiology towards normal phenotype) as evidenced through increased blood vessel maturity and reduced fibrosis. As a result, the combination with anti-PD-L1 antibody increased the intratumor density and proliferation of T cells. In conclusion, NC-6300 potentiates immune checkpoint inhibition in sarcoma, and normalization of the tumor microenvironment should be investigated when developing nanocarrier-based chemo-immunotherapy regimens.
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Liu L, Qu Y, Cheng L, Yoon CW, He P, Monther A, Guo T, Chittle S, Wang Y. Engineering chimeric antigen receptor T cells for solid tumour therapy. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e1141. [PMID: 36495108 PMCID: PMC9736813 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-based immunotherapy, for example, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell immunotherapy, has revolutionized cancer treatment, particularly for blood cancers. However, factors such as insufficient T cell tracking, tumour heterogeneity, inhibitory tumour microenvironment (TME) and T cell exhaustion limit the broad application of CAR-based immunotherapy for solid tumours. In particular, the TME is a complex and evolving entity, which is composed of cells of different types (e.g., cancer cells, immune cells and stromal cells), vasculature, soluble factors and extracellular matrix (ECM), with each component playing a critical role in CAR-T immunotherapy. Thus, developing approaches to mitigate the inhibitory TME factors is critical for future success in applying CAR-T cells for solid tumour treatment. Accordingly, understanding the bilateral interaction of CAR-T cells with the TME is in pressing need to pave the way for more efficient therapeutics. In the following review, we will discuss TME-associated aspects with an emphasis on T cell trafficking, ECM barriers, abnormal vasculature, solid tumour heterogenicity and immune suppressive microenvironment. We will then summarize current engineering strategies to overcome the challenges posed by the TME-associated factors. Lastly, the future directions for engineering efficient CAR-T cells for solid tumour therapy will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longwei Liu
- Department of BioengineeringInstitute of Engineering in MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Yunjia Qu
- Department of BioengineeringInstitute of Engineering in MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Leonardo Cheng
- Department of BioengineeringInstitute of Engineering in MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Chi Woo Yoon
- Department of BioengineeringInstitute of Engineering in MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Peixiang He
- Department of BioengineeringInstitute of Engineering in MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Abdula Monther
- Department of BioengineeringInstitute of Engineering in MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Tianze Guo
- Department of BioengineeringInstitute of Engineering in MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sarah Chittle
- Department of BioengineeringInstitute of Engineering in MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Department of BioengineeringInstitute of Engineering in MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
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Butner JD, Dogra P, Chung C, Pasqualini R, Arap W, Lowengrub J, Cristini V, Wang Z. Mathematical modeling of cancer immunotherapy for personalized clinical translation. NATURE COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 2:785-796. [PMID: 38126024 PMCID: PMC10732566 DOI: 10.1038/s43588-022-00377-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Encouraging advances are being made in cancer immunotherapy modeling, especially in the key areas of developing personalized treatment strategies based on individual patient parameters, predicting treatment outcomes and optimizing immunotherapy synergy when used in combination with other treatment approaches. Here we present a focused review of the most recent mathematical modeling work on cancer immunotherapy with a focus on clinical translatability. It can be seen that this field is transitioning from pure basic science to applications that can make impactful differences in patients' lives. We discuss how researchers are integrating experimental and clinical data to fully inform models so that they can be applied for clinical predictions, and present the challenges that remain to be overcome if widespread clinical adaptation is to be realized. Lastly, we discuss the most promising future applications and areas that are expected to be the focus of extensive upcoming modeling studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Butner
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Prashant Dogra
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Caroline Chung
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Renata Pasqualini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Cancer Biology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Wadih Arap
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - John Lowengrub
- Department of Mathematics, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Vittorio Cristini
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Physiology, Biophysics, and Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhihui Wang
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Tatarova Z, Blumberg DC, Korkola JE, Heiser LM, Muschler JL, Schedin PJ, Ahn SW, Mills GB, Coussens LM, Jonas O, Gray JW. A multiplex implantable microdevice assay identifies synergistic combinations of cancer immunotherapies and conventional drugs. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:1823-1833. [PMID: 35788566 PMCID: PMC9750874 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01379-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Systematically identifying synergistic combinations of targeted agents and immunotherapies for cancer treatments remains difficult. In this study, we integrated high-throughput and high-content techniques-an implantable microdevice to administer multiple drugs into different sites in tumors at nanodoses and multiplexed imaging of tumor microenvironmental states-to investigate the tumor cell and immunological response signatures to different treatment regimens. Using a mouse model of breast cancer, we identified effective combinations from among numerous agents within days. In vivo studies in three immunocompetent mammary carcinoma models demonstrated that the predicted combinations synergistically increased therapeutic efficacy. We identified at least five promising treatment strategies, of which the panobinostat, venetoclax and anti-CD40 triple therapy was the most effective in inducing complete tumor remission across models. Successful drug combinations increased spatial association of cancer stem cells with dendritic cells during immunogenic cell death, suggesting this as an important mechanism of action in long-term breast cancer control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Tatarova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Portland, OR, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dylan C Blumberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Portland, OR, USA
| | - James E Korkola
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Portland, OR, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Laura M Heiser
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Portland, OR, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - John L Muschler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Portland, OR, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Pepper J Schedin
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sebastian W Ahn
- Department of Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Division of Oncologic Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lisa M Coussens
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Oliver Jonas
- Department of Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Joe W Gray
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Portland, OR, USA.
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
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Li C, Xiao C, Zhan L, Zhang Z, Xing J, Zhai J, Zhou Z, Tan G, Piao J, Zhou Y, Qi S, Wang Z, Yu P, Ning C. Wireless electrical stimulation at the nanoscale interface induces tumor vascular normalization. Bioact Mater 2022; 18:399-408. [PMID: 35415302 PMCID: PMC8965767 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological angiogenesis frequently occurs in tumor tissue, limiting the efficiency of chemotherapeutic drug delivery and accelerating tumor progression. However, traditional vascular normalization strategies are not fully effective and limited by the development of resistance. Herein, inspired by the intervention of endogenous bioelectricity in vessel formation, we propose a wireless electrical stimulation therapeutic strategy, capable of breaking bioelectric homeostasis within cells, to achieve tumor vascular normalization. Polarized barium titanate nanoparticles with high mechano-electrical conversion performance were developed, which could generate pulsed open-circuit voltage under low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. We demonstrated that wireless electrical stimulation significantly inhibited endothelial cell migration and differentiation in vitro. Interestingly, we found that the angiogenesis-related eNOS/NO pathway was inhibited, which could be attributed to the destruction of the intracellular calcium ion gradient by wireless electrical stimulation. In vivo tumor-bearing mouse model indicated that wireless electrical stimulation normalized tumor vasculature by optimizing vascular structure, enhancing blood perfusion, reducing vascular leakage, and restoring local oxygenation. Ultimately, the anti-tumor efficacy of combination treatment was 1.8 times that of the single chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin group. This work provides a wireless electrical stimulation strategy based on the mechano-electrical conversion performance of piezoelectric nanoparticles, which is expected to achieve safe and effective clinical adjuvant treatment of malignant tumors. Wireless electrical stimulation was proposed for tumor vascular normalization. Polarized ferroelectric nanoparticles were developed for wireless stimulation. Wireless stimulation inhibited endothelial cell migration and differentiation. The intracellular Ca2+ gradient and eNOS/NO pathway of cells were disturbed. In vivo vascular normalization and anti-tumor efficacy were significantly enhanced.
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Wu J, Jin Z, Lin J, Fu Y, Wang J, Shen Y. Vessel state and immune infiltration of the angiogenesis subgroup and construction of a prediction model in osteosarcoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:992266. [PMID: 36405691 PMCID: PMC9666676 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.992266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis has been recognized as a pivotal contributor to tumorigenesis and progression. However, the role of angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) in vessel state, immune infiltration, and prognosis remains unknown in osteosarcoma (OS). Bulk RNA sequencing data of osteosarcoma patients were obtained from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) database, and patients were divided into two angiogenesis subgroups according to the expression of ARGs. We compared their vessel state and used two independent algorithms to evaluate the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the two subgroups. Furthermore, hub genes of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the two subgroups were selected to perform LASSO regression and multivariate Cox stepwise regression, and two prognostic hub genes were found. An ARG_score based on prognostic hub genes was calculated and proved to be reliable in the overall survival prediction in OS patients. Furthermore, the ARG_score was significantly associated with ARGs, immune infiltration, response to immunotherapy, and drug sensitivity. To make our prediction model perform well, clinical features were added and a highly accurate interactive nomogram was constructed. Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were utilized to verify the expression of prognostic hub genes. GSE21257 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used as a validation dataset to verify its robustness. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis of angiogenesis subgroups in OS illustrated that angiogenesis may lead to different vessel states and further affect immune infiltration and prognosis of OS patients. Our findings may bring a novel perspective for the immunotherapy strategies for OS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintao Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijian Jin
- Department of Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianwei Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yucheng Fu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhui Shen
- Department of Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Multiplexed imaging mass cytometry reveals distinct tumor-immune microenvironments linked to immunotherapy responses in melanoma. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2022; 2:131. [PMID: 36281356 PMCID: PMC9587266 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-022-00197-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Single-cell technologies have enabled extensive analysis of complex immune composition, phenotype and interactions within tumor, which is crucial in understanding the mechanisms behind cancer progression and treatment resistance. Unfortunately, knowledge on cell phenotypes and their spatial interactions has only had limited impact on the pathological stratification of patients in the clinic so far. We explore the relationship between different tumor environments (TMEs) and response to immunotherapy by deciphering the composition and spatial relationships of different cell types. Methods Here we used imaging mass cytometry to simultaneously quantify 35 proteins in a spatially resolved manner on tumor tissues from 26 melanoma patients receiving anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) therapy. Using unsupervised clustering, we profiled 662,266 single cells to identify lymphocytes, myeloid derived monocytes, stromal and tumor cells, and characterized TME of different melanomas. Results Combined single-cell and spatial analysis reveals highly dynamic TMEs that are characterized with variable tumor and immune cell phenotypes and their spatial organizations in melanomas, and many of these multicellular features are associated with response to anti-PD-1 therapy. We further identify six distinct TME archetypes based on their multicellular compositions, and find that patients with different TME archetypes responded differently to anti-PD-1 therapy. Finally, we find that classifying patients based on the gene expression signature derived from TME archetypes predicts anti-PD-1 therapy response across multiple validation cohorts. Conclusions Our results demonstrate the utility of multiplex proteomic imaging technologies in studying complex molecular events in a spatially resolved manner for the development of new strategies for patient stratification and treatment outcome prediction.
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Ye X, Liu M, Lv C, Li Y, Chen L, Zhang J, Mu J, Deng Q. Synergistic Effects of Zanubrutinib Combined With CD19 CAR-T Cells in Raji Cells in Vitro and in Vivo. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2022; 21:15330338221133224. [PMID: 36254554 PMCID: PMC9580088 DOI: 10.1177/15330338221133224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objects: Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors are commonly used and effective for lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Ibrutinib might improve the effect of anti-cluster of differentiation 19 (CD19) chimeric antigen receptor (CD19 CAR) T-cell therapy in lymphoma, but the effects of zanubrutinib combined with CAR-T cells is unclear. Methods: We selected a low effect-target ratio (E:T = 1:3) to study this synergistic effect in vitro. The programed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) expression in CD19 CAR-T cells and immune phenotype of T lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). We selected CD19 CAR-T cells of a patient with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) to study the synergistic effect of zanubrutinib with CAR-T cells by bioluminescence imaging monitoring. The CD19 CAR-T cells expansion in mice was compared by FCM. Results: Zanubrutinib and ibrutinib had dose-dependent toxicity on both CAR-T cells and lymphoma cells. But there was no significant synergistic effect of the CD19 CAR-T cells combined with zanubrutinib/ibrutinib in vitro. The PD-1 expression in CD19 CAR-T cells increased when the CD19 CAR-T cells were co-cultured with Raji cells and decreased when ibrutinib was added in culture, but zanubrutinib had no such effect. The extinction of luciferase expression was more obvious in the polytherapy group of ibrutinib and CD19 CAR-T cell than that in the other groups. Moreover, the proportion of CAR-T cells in the combination therapy group of CD19 CAR-T cells and ibrutinib was higher than that of the polytherapy group of CD19 CAR-T cells with zanubrutinib group. The synergistic effect could be observed obviously in mice receiving ibrutinib combined with CD19 CAR-T cells. But zanubrutinib cannot perform joint therapy effect either in vitro or in mice. Conclusion: Zanubrutinib might have no joint therapy effect with CD19 CAR-T cells neither in vitro nor in mice, but the mechanism of different curative effects requires our further research and exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiupeng Ye
- People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan City, China,Qi Deng, Department of Hematology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, No.24 Fukang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
| | - Meijing Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Cuicui Lv
- Department of Hematology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yeqiong Li
- People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan City, China
| | - Lan Chen
- People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan City, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan City, China
| | - Juan Mu
- Department of Hematology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qi Deng
- Department of Hematology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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