1
|
Mitra A, Kumar A, Amdare NP, Pathak R. Current Landscape of Cancer Immunotherapy: Harnessing the Immune Arsenal to Overcome Immune Evasion. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:307. [PMID: 38785789 PMCID: PMC11118874 DOI: 10.3390/biology13050307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immune evasion represents a leading hallmark of cancer, posing a significant obstacle to the development of successful anticancer therapies. However, the landscape of cancer treatment has significantly evolved, transitioning into the era of immunotherapy from conventional methods such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. Immunotherapy has emerged as a pivotal component in cancer treatment, harnessing the body's immune system to combat cancer and offering improved prognostic outcomes for numerous patients. The remarkable success of immunotherapy has spurred significant efforts to enhance the clinical efficacy of existing agents and strategies. Several immunotherapeutic approaches have received approval for targeted cancer treatments, while others are currently in preclinical and clinical trials. This review explores recent progress in unraveling the mechanisms of cancer immune evasion and evaluates the clinical effectiveness of diverse immunotherapy strategies, including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and antibody-based treatments. It encompasses both established treatments and those currently under investigation, providing a comprehensive overview of efforts to combat cancer through immunological approaches. Additionally, the article emphasizes the current developments, limitations, and challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, by integrating analyses of cancer immunotherapy resistance mechanisms and exploring combination strategies and personalized approaches, it offers valuable insights crucial for the development of novel anticancer immunotherapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Mitra
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Anoop Kumar
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, National Institute of Biologicals, Noida 201309, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nitin P. Amdare
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Rajiv Pathak
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang B, Zhou B, Chen J, Sun X, Yang W, Yang T, Yu H, Chen P, Chen K, Huang X, Fan X, He W, Huang J, Lin T. Type III interferon inhibits bladder cancer progression by reprogramming macrophage-mediated phagocytosis and orchestrating effective immune responses. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e007808. [PMID: 38589249 PMCID: PMC11015199 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007808] [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: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interferons (IFNs) are essential for activating an effective immune response and play a central role in immunotherapy-mediated immune cell reactivation for tumor regression. Type III IFN (λ), related to type I IFN (α), plays a crucial role in infections, autoimmunity, and cancer. However, the direct effects of IFN-λ on the tumor immune microenvironment have not been thoroughly investigated. METHODS We used mouse MB49 bladder tumor models, constructed a retroviral vector expressing mouse IFN-λ3, and transduced tumor cells to evaluate the antitumor action of IFN-λ3 in immune-proficient tumors and T cell-deficient tumors. Furthermore, human bladder cancer samples (cohort 1, n=15) were used for immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunoflurescence analysis to assess the expression pattern of IFN-λ3 in human bladder cancer and correlate it with immune cells' infiltration. Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed in neoadjuvant immunotherapy cohort (cohort 2, n=20) to assess the correlation between IFN-λ3 expression and the pathological complete response rate. RESULTS In immune-proficient tumors, ectopic Ifnl3 expression in tumor cells significantly increased the infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, Th1 cells, natural killer cells, proinflammatory macrophages, and dendritic cells, but reduced neutrophil infiltration. Transcriptomic analyses revealed significant upregulation of many genes associated with effective immune response, including lymphocyte recruitment, activation, and phagocytosis, consistent with increased antitumor immune infiltrates and tumor inhibition. Furthermore, IFN-λ3 activity sensitized immune-proficient tumors to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. In T cell-deficient tumors, increased Ly6G-Ly6C+I-A/I-E+ macrophages still enhanced tumor cell phagocytosis in Ifnl3 overexpressing tumors. IFN-λ3 is expressed by tumor and stromal cells in human bladder cancer, and high IFN-λ3 expression was positively associated with effector immune infiltrates and the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicated that IFN-λ3 enables macrophage-mediated phagocytosis and antitumor immune responses and suggests a rationale for using Type III IFN as a predictive biomarker and potential immunotherapeutic candidate for bladder cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bingkun Zhou
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junyu Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjuan Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Hematology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tenghao Yang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinxiang Fan
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wang He
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tianxin Lin
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kim IK, Diamond MS, Yuan S, Kemp SB, Kahn BM, Li Q, Lin JH, Li J, Norgard RJ, Thomas SK, Merolle M, Katsuda T, Tobias JW, Baslan T, Politi K, Vonderheide RH, Stanger BZ. Plasticity-induced repression of Irf6 underlies acquired resistance to cancer immunotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1532. [PMID: 38378697 PMCID: PMC10879147 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46048-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Acquired resistance to immunotherapy remains a critical yet incompletely understood biological mechanism. Here, using a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to study tumor relapse following immunotherapy-induced responses, we find that resistance is reproducibly associated with an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), with EMT-transcription factors ZEB1 and SNAIL functioning as master genetic and epigenetic regulators of this effect. Acquired resistance in this model is not due to immunosuppression in the tumor immune microenvironment, disruptions in the antigen presentation machinery, or altered expression of immune checkpoints. Rather, resistance is due to a tumor cell-intrinsic defect in T-cell killing. Molecularly, EMT leads to the epigenetic and transcriptional silencing of interferon regulatory factor 6 (Irf6), rendering tumor cells less sensitive to the pro-apoptotic effects of TNF-α. These findings indicate that acquired resistance to immunotherapy may be mediated by programs distinct from those governing primary resistance, including plasticity programs that render tumor cells impervious to T-cell killing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Il-Kyu Kim
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mark S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Salina Yuan
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Samantha B Kemp
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin M Kahn
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qinglan Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Lin
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert J Norgard
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stacy K Thomas
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Maria Merolle
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Takeshi Katsuda
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John W Tobias
- Penn Genomic Analysis Core, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Timour Baslan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katerina Politi
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Robert H Vonderheide
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Abramson Cancer Center and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ali LR, Lenehan PJ, Cardot-Ruffino V, Dias Costa A, Katz MH, Bauer TW, Nowak JA, Wolpin BM, Abrams TA, Patel A, Clancy TE, Wang J, Mancias JD, Reilley MJ, Stucky CCH, Bekaii-Saab TS, Elias R, Merchant N, Slingluff CL, Rahma OE, Dougan SK. PD-1 Blockade Induces Reactivation of Nonproductive T-Cell Responses Characterized by NF-κB Signaling in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:542-553. [PMID: 37733830 PMCID: PMC10831338 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-1444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) trials have evaluated CTLA-4 and/or PD-(L)1 blockade in patients with advanced disease in which bulky tumor burden and limited time to develop antitumor T cells may have contributed to poor clinical efficacy. Here, we evaluated peripheral blood and tumor T cells from patients with PDAC receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation plus anti-PD-1 (pembrolizumab) versus chemoradiation alone. We analyzed whether PD-1 blockade successfully reactivated T cells in the blood and/or tumor to determine whether lack of clinical benefit could be explained by lack of reactivated T cells versus other factors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used single-cell transcriptional profiling and TCR clonotype tracking to identify TCR clonotypes from blood that match clonotypes in the tumor. RESULTS PD-1 blockade increases the flux of TCR clonotypes entering cell cycle and induces an IFNγ signature like that seen in patients with other GI malignancies who respond to PD-1 blockade. However, these reactivated T cells have a robust signature of NF-κB signaling not seen in cases of PD-1 antibody response. Among paired samples between blood and tumor, several of the newly cycling clonotypes matched activated T-cell clonotypes observed in the tumor. CONCLUSIONS Cytotoxic T cells in the blood of patients with PDAC remain sensitive to reinvigoration by PD-1 blockade, and some have tumor-recognizing potential. Although these T cells proliferate and have a signature of IFN exposure, they also upregulate NF-κB signaling, which potentially counteracts the beneficial effects of anti-PD-1 reinvigoration and marks these T cells as non-productive contributors to antitumor immunity. See related commentary by Lander and DeNardo, p. 474.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lestat R. Ali
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Patrick J. Lenehan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Victoire Cardot-Ruffino
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andressa Dias Costa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Matthew H.G. Katz
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Todd W. Bauer
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jonathan A. Nowak
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brian M. Wolpin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thomas A. Abrams
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anuj Patel
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thomas E. Clancy
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jiping Wang
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph D. Mancias
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Matthew J. Reilley
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | | | | | - Rawad Elias
- Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute, Hartford, Connecticut
| | - Nipun Merchant
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Craig L. Slingluff
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Osama E. Rahma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Stephanie K. Dougan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lecoultre M, Chliate S, Espinoza FI, Tankov S, Dutoit V, Walker PR. Radio-chemotherapy of glioblastoma cells promotes phagocytosis by macrophages in vitro. Radiother Oncol 2024; 190:110049. [PMID: 38072365 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110049] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Immunotherapy is actively explored in glioblastoma (GBM) to improve patient prognosis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are abundant in GBM and harnessing their function for anti-tumor immunity is of interest. They are plastic cells that are influenced by the tumor microenvironment, by radio-chemotherapy and by their own phagocytic activity. Indeed, the engulfment of necrotic cells promotes pro-inflammatory (and anti-tumoral) functions while the engulfment of apoptotic cells promotes anti-inflammatory (and pro-tumoral) functions through efferocytosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS To model the effect of radio-chemotherapy on the GBM microenvironment, we exposed human macrophages to supernatant of treated GBM cells in vitro. Macrophages were derived from human monocytes and GBM cells from patient-resected tumors. GBM cells were exposed to therapeutically relevant doses of irradiation and chemotherapy. Apoptosis and phagocytic activity were assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS The phagocytic activity of macrophages was increased, and it was correlated with the proportion of apoptotic GBM cells producing the supernatant. Whether uptake of apoptotic tumor cells could occur would depend upon the expression of efferocytosis-associated receptors. Indeed, we showed that efferocytosis-associated receptors, such as AXL, were upregulated. CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES We showed that macrophage phagocytic activity increased when exposed to supernatant from GBM cells treated by radio-chemotherapy. However, as efferocytosis-associated receptors were up-regulated, this effect could be deleterious for the anti-GBM immune response. We speculate that by inducing GBM cell apoptosis in parallel to an increase in efferocytosis receptor expression, the impact of radio-chemotherapy on phagocytic activity could promote anti-inflammatory and pro-tumoral TAM functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Lecoultre
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland; Division of General Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Chliate
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland
| | - Felipe I Espinoza
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland
| | - Stoyan Tankov
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland
| | - Valérie Dutoit
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Center of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul R Walker
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Immunobiology of Brain Tumours Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mempel TR, Lill JK, Altenburger LM. How chemokines organize the tumour microenvironment. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:28-50. [PMID: 38066335 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00635-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
For our immune system to contain or eliminate malignant solid tumours, both myeloid and lymphoid haematopoietic cells must not only extravasate from the bloodstream into the tumour tissue but also further migrate to various specialized niches of the tumour microenvironment to functionally interact with each other, with non-haematopoietic stromal cells and, ultimately, with cancer cells. These interactions regulate local immune cell survival, proliferative expansion, differentiation and their execution of pro-tumour or antitumour effector functions, which collectively determine the outcome of spontaneous or therapeutically induced antitumour immune responses. None of these interactions occur randomly but are orchestrated and critically depend on migratory guidance cues provided by chemokines, a large family of chemotactic cytokines, and their receptors. Understanding the functional organization of the tumour immune microenvironment inevitably requires knowledge of the multifaceted roles of chemokines in the recruitment and positioning of its cellular constituents. Gaining such knowledge will not only generate new insights into the mechanisms underlying antitumour immunity or immune tolerance but also inform the development of biomarkers (or 'biopatterns') based on spatial tumour tissue analyses, as well as novel strategies to therapeutically engineer immune responses in patients with cancer. Here we will discuss recent observations on the role of chemokines in the tumour microenvironment in the context of our knowledge of their physiological functions in development, homeostasis and antimicrobial responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten R Mempel
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Julia K Lill
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lukas M Altenburger
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kureshi R, Bello E, Kureshi CT, Walsh MJ, Lippert V, Hoffman MT, Dougan M, Longmire T, Wichroski M, Dougan SK. DGKα/ζ inhibition lowers the TCR affinity threshold and potentiates antitumor immunity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadk1853. [PMID: 38000024 PMCID: PMC10672170 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk1853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) attenuate diacylglycerol (DAG) signaling by converting DAG to phosphatidic acid, thereby suppressing pathways downstream of T cell receptor signaling. Using a dual DGKα/ζ inhibitor (DGKi), tumor-specific CD8 T cells with different affinities (TRP1high and TRP1low), and altered peptide ligands, we demonstrate that inhibition of DGKα/ζ can lower the signaling threshold for T cell priming. TRP1high and TRP1low CD8 T cells produced more effector cytokines in the presence of cognate antigen and DGKi. Effector TRP1high- and TRP1low-mediated cytolysis of tumor cells with low antigen load required antigen recognition, was mediated by interferon-γ, and augmented by DGKi. Adoptive T cell transfer into mice bearing pancreatic or melanoma tumors synergized with single-agent DGKi or DGKi and antiprogrammed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), with increased expansion of low-affinity T cells and increased cytokine production observed in tumors of treated mice. Collectively, our findings highlight DGKα/ζ as therapeutic targets for augmenting tumor-specific CD8 T cell function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rakeeb Kureshi
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisa Bello
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Courtney T.S. Kureshi
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael J. Walsh
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victoria Lippert
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan T. Hoffman
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Dougan
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Stephanie K. Dougan
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Qiang L, Hoffman MT, Ali LR, Castillo JI, Kageler L, Temesgen A, Lenehan P, Wang SJ, Bello E, Cardot-Ruffino V, Uribe GA, Yang A, Dougan M, Aguirre AJ, Raghavan S, Pelletier M, Cremasco V, Dougan SK. Transforming Growth Factor-β Blockade in Pancreatic Cancer Enhances Sensitivity to Combination Chemotherapy. Gastroenterology 2023; 165:874-890.e10. [PMID: 37263309 PMCID: PMC10526623 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Transforming growth factor-b (TGFb) plays pleiotropic roles in pancreatic cancer, including promoting metastasis, attenuating CD8 T-cell activation, and enhancing myofibroblast differentiation and deposition of extracellular matrix. However, single-agent TGFb inhibition has shown limited efficacy against pancreatic cancer in mice or humans. METHODS We evaluated the TGFβ-blocking antibody NIS793 in combination with gemcitabine/nanoparticle (albumin-bound)-paclitaxel or FOLFIRINOX (folinic acid [FOL], 5-fluorouracil [F], irinotecan [IRI] and oxaliplatin [OX]) in orthotopic pancreatic cancer models. Single-cell RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate changes in tumor cell state and the tumor microenvironment. RESULTS Blockade of TGFβ with chemotherapy reduced tumor burden in poorly immunogenic pancreatic cancer, without affecting the metastatic rate of cancer cells. Efficacy of combination therapy was not dependent on CD8 T cells, because response to TGFβ blockade was preserved in CD8-depleted or recombination activating gene 2 (RAG2-/-) mice. TGFβ blockade decreased total α-smooth muscle actin-positive fibroblasts but had minimal effect on fibroblast heterogeneity. Bulk RNA sequencing on tumor cells sorted ex vivo revealed that tumor cells treated with TGFβ blockade adopted a classical lineage consistent with enhanced chemosensitivity, and immunofluorescence for cleaved caspase 3 confirmed that TGFβ blockade increased chemotherapy-induced cell death in vivo. CONCLUSIONS TGFβ regulates pancreatic cancer cell plasticity between classical and basal cell states. TGFβ blockade in orthotropic models of pancreatic cancer enhances sensitivity to chemotherapy by promoting a classical malignant cell state. This study provides scientific rationale for evaluation of NIS793 with FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine/nanoparticle (albumin-bound) paclitaxel chemotherapy backbone in the clinical setting and supports the concept of manipulating cancer cell plasticity to increase the efficacy of combination therapy regimens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Qiang
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Megan T Hoffman
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lestat R Ali
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jaime I Castillo
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lauren Kageler
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ayantu Temesgen
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Patrick Lenehan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - S Jennifer Wang
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Elisa Bello
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Victoire Cardot-Ruffino
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Giselle A Uribe
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Annan Yang
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Dougan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew J Aguirre
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Srivatsan Raghavan
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marc Pelletier
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Viviana Cremasco
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Stephanie K Dougan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Walsh MJ, Ali LR, Lenehan P, Kureshi CT, Kureshi R, Dougan M, Knipe DM, Dougan SK. Blockade of innate inflammatory cytokines TNF α, IL-1 β, or IL-6 overcomes virotherapy-induced cancer equilibrium to promote tumor regression. IMMUNOTHERAPY ADVANCES 2023; 3:ltad011. [PMID: 37461742 PMCID: PMC10349916 DOI: 10.1093/immadv/ltad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapeutics can lead to immune equilibrium in which the immune response controls tumor cell expansion without fully eliminating the cancer. The factors involved in this equilibrium remain incompletely understood, especially those that would antagonize the anti-tumor immune response and lead to tumor outgrowth. We previously demonstrated that continuous treatment with a non-replicating herpes simplex virus 1 expressing interleukin (IL)-12 induces a state of cancer immune equilibrium highly dependent on interferon-γ. We profiled the IL-12 virotherapy-induced immune equilibrium in murine melanoma, identifying blockade of innate inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), IL-1β, or IL-6 as possible synergistic interventions. Antibody depletions of each of these cytokines enhanced survival in mice treated with IL-12 virotherapy and helped to overcome equilibrium in some tumors. Single-cell RNA-sequencing demonstrated that blockade of inflammatory cytokines resulted in downregulation of overlapping inflammatory pathways in macrophages, shifting immune equilibrium towards tumor clearance, and raising the possibility that TNFα blockade could synergize with existing cancer immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Walsh
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Program in Virology, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lestat R Ali
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick Lenehan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Courtney T Kureshi
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rakeeb Kureshi
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Dougan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David M Knipe
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie K Dougan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wang B, Han Y, Zhang Y, Zhao Q, Wang H, Wei J, Meng L, Xin Y, Jiang X. Overcoming acquired resistance to cancer immune checkpoint therapy: potential strategies based on molecular mechanisms. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:120. [PMID: 37386520 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01073-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 to boost tumor-specific T lymphocyte immunity have opened up new avenues for the treatment of various histological types of malignancies, with the possibility of durable responses and improved survival. However, the development of acquired resistance to ICI therapy over time after an initial response remains a major obstacle in cancer therapeutics. The potential mechanisms of acquired resistance to ICI therapy are still ambiguous. In this review, we focused on the current understanding of the mechanisms of acquired resistance to ICIs, including the lack of neoantigens and effective antigen presentation, mutations of IFN-γ/JAK signaling, and activation of alternate inhibitory immune checkpoints, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, epigenetic modification, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. Further, based on these mechanisms, potential therapeutic strategies to reverse the resistance to ICIs, which could provide clinical benefits to cancer patients, are also briefly discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yin Han
- Cancer Prevention and Treatment Institute of Chengdu, Department of Pathology, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yuyu Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Qin Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Cancer Prevention and Treatment Institute of Chengdu, Department of Pathology, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Huanhuan Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jinlong Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Lingbin Meng
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Ying Xin
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cardot-Ruffino V, Bollenrucher N, Delius L, Wang SJ, Brais LK, Remland J, Keheler CE, Sullivan KM, Abrams TA, Biller LH, Enzinger PC, McCleary NJ, Patel AK, Rubinson DA, Schlechter B, Slater S, Yurgelun MB, Cleary JM, Perez K, Dougan M, Ng K, Wolpin BM, Singh H, Dougan SK. G-CSF rescue of FOLFIRINOX-induced neutropenia leads to systemic immune suppression in mice and humans. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006589. [PMID: 37344102 PMCID: PMC10314699 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-006589] [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: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is routinely administered for prophylaxis or treatment of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Chronic myelopoiesis and granulopoiesis in patients with cancer has been shown to induce immature monocytes and neutrophils that contribute to both systemic and local immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. The effect of recombinant G-CSF (pegfilgrastim or filgrastim) on the production of myeloid-derived suppressive cells is unknown. Here we examined patients with pancreatic cancer, a disease known to induce myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and for which pegfilgrastim is routinely administered concurrently with FOLFIRINOX but not with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy regimens. METHODS Serial blood was collected from patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma newly starting on FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine/n(ab)paclitaxel combination chemotherapy regimens. Neutrophil and monocyte frequencies were determined by flow cytometry from whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cell fractions. Serum cytokines were evaluated pretreatment and on-treatment. Patient serum was used in vitro to differentiate healthy donor monocytes to MDSCs as measured by downregulation of major histocompatibility complex II (HLA-DR) and the ability to suppress T-cell proliferation in vitro. C57BL/6 female mice with pancreatic tumors were treated with FOLFIRINOX with or without recombinant G-CSF to directly assess the role of G-CSF on induction of immunosuppressive neutrophils. RESULTS Patients receiving FOLFIRINOX with pegfilgrastim had increased serum G-CSF that correlated with an induction of granulocytic MDSCs. This increase was not observed in patients receiving gemcitabine/n(ab)paclitaxel without pegfilgrastim. Interleukin-18 also significantly increased in serum on FOLFIRINOX treatment. Patient serum could induce MDSCs as determined by in vitro functional assays, and this suppressive effect increased with on-treatment serum. Induction of MDSCs in vitro could be recapitulated by addition of recombinant G-CSF to healthy serum, indicating that G-CSF is sufficient for MDSC differentiation. In mice, neutrophils isolated from spleen of G-CSF-treated mice were significantly more capable of suppressing T-cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS Pegfilgrastim use contributes to immune suppression in both humans and mice with pancreatic cancer. These results suggest that use of recombinant G-CSF as supportive care, while critically important for mitigating neutropenia, may complicate efforts to induce antitumor immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoire Cardot-Ruffino
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Naima Bollenrucher
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Luisa Delius
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - S Jennifer Wang
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lauren K Brais
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joshua Remland
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - C Elizabeth Keheler
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Keri M Sullivan
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas A Abrams
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Leah H Biller
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Peter C Enzinger
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nadine J McCleary
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anuj K Patel
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Douglas A Rubinson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Benjamin Schlechter
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Slater
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew B Yurgelun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James M Cleary
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kimberly Perez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael Dougan
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kimmie Ng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brian M Wolpin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Harshabad Singh
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephanie K Dougan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu SY, Mulugeta N, Dougan SK, Qiang L. In vitro flow cytometry assay to assess primary human and mouse macrophage phagocytosis of live cells. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102240. [PMID: 37074910 PMCID: PMC10148074 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Although tumor-associated macrophages are generally immunosuppressive, macrophages may also promote tumor clearance via phagocytosis of live tumor cells. Here, we present a protocol for assessing macrophage engulfment of tumor cells in vitro using flow cytometry. We describe steps for cell preparation, reseeding macrophages, and setting up phagocytosis. We then detail procedures for collecting samples, staining macrophages, and flow cytometry. The protocol is applicable to both mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Roehle et al. (2021).1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Naomi Mulugeta
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard College, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Stephanie K Dougan
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Li Qiang
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lee MS, Dennis C, Naqvi I, Dailey L, Lorzadeh A, Ye G, Zaytouni T, Adler A, Hitchcock DS, Lin L, Hoffman MT, Bhuiyan AM, Barth JL, Machacek ME, Mino-Kenudson M, Dougan SK, Jadhav U, Clish CB, Kalaany NY. Ornithine aminotransferase supports polyamine synthesis in pancreatic cancer. Nature 2023; 616:339-347. [PMID: 36991126 PMCID: PMC10929664 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05891-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
There is a need to develop effective therapies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), a highly lethal malignancy with increasing incidence1 and poor prognosis2. Although targeting tumour metabolism has been the focus of intense investigation for more than a decade, tumour metabolic plasticity and high risk of toxicity have limited this anticancer strategy3,4. Here we use genetic and pharmacological approaches in human and mouse in vitro and in vivo models to show that PDA has a distinct dependence on de novo ornithine synthesis from glutamine. We find that this process, which is mediated through ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), supports polyamine synthesis and is required for tumour growth. This directional OAT activity is usually largely restricted to infancy and contrasts with the reliance of most adult normal tissues and other cancer types on arginine-derived ornithine for polyamine synthesis5,6. This dependency associates with arginine depletion in the PDA tumour microenvironment and is driven by mutant KRAS. Activated KRAS induces the expression of OAT and polyamine synthesis enzymes, leading to alterations in the transcriptome and open chromatin landscape in PDA tumour cells. The distinct dependence of PDA, but not normal tissue, on OAT-mediated de novo ornithine synthesis provides an attractive therapeutic window for treating patients with pancreatic cancer with minimal toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min-Sik Lee
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Courtney Dennis
- Metabolomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Insia Naqvi
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lucas Dailey
- Metabolomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alireza Lorzadeh
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Broad-CIRM Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - George Ye
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Broad-CIRM Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tamara Zaytouni
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ashley Adler
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel S Hitchcock
- Metabolomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lin Lin
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan T Hoffman
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aladdin M Bhuiyan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jaimie L Barth
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Miranda E Machacek
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mari Mino-Kenudson
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie K Dougan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Unmesh Jadhav
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Broad-CIRM Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Clary B Clish
- Metabolomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nada Y Kalaany
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ventre KS, Roehle K, Bello E, Bhuiyan AM, Biary T, Crowley SJ, Bruck PT, Heckler M, Lenehan PJ, Ali LR, Stump CT, Lippert V, Clancy-Thompson E, Conce Alberto WD, Hoffman MT, Qiang L, Pelletier M, Akin JJ, Dougan M, Dougan SK. cIAP1/2 Antagonism Induces Antigen-Specific T Cell-Dependent Immunity. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:991-1003. [PMID: 36881882 PMCID: PMC10036868 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Checkpoint blockade immunotherapy has failed in pancreatic cancer and other poorly responsive tumor types in part due to inadequate T cell priming. Naive T cells can receive costimulation not only via CD28 but also through TNF superfamily receptors that signal via NF-κB. Antagonists of the ubiquitin ligases cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein (cIAP)1/2, also called second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC) mimetics, induce degradation of cIAP1/2 proteins, allowing for the accumulation of NIK and constitutive, ligand-independent activation of alternate NF-κB signaling that mimics costimulation in T cells. In tumor cells, cIAP1/2 antagonists can increase TNF production and TNF-mediated apoptosis; however, pancreatic cancer cells are resistant to cytokine-mediated apoptosis, even in the presence of cIAP1/2 antagonism. Dendritic cell activation is enhanced by cIAP1/2 antagonism in vitro, and intratumoral dendritic cells show higher expression of MHC class II in tumors from cIAP1/2 antagonism-treated mice. In this study, we use in vivo mouse models of syngeneic pancreatic cancer that generate endogenous T cell responses ranging from moderate to poor. Across multiple models, cIAP1/2 antagonism has pleiotropic beneficial effects on antitumor immunity, including direct effects on tumor-specific T cells leading to overall increased activation, increased control of tumor growth in vivo, synergy with multiple immunotherapy modalities, and immunologic memory. In contrast to checkpoint blockade, cIAP1/2 antagonism does not increase intratumoral T cell frequencies. Furthermore, we confirm our previous findings that even poorly immunogenic tumors with a paucity of T cells can experience T cell-dependent antitumor immunity, and we provide transcriptional clues into how these rare T cells coordinate downstream immune responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S. Ventre
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Kevin Roehle
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | - Elisa Bello
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Aladdin M. Bhuiyan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Tamara Biary
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Stephanie J. Crowley
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Patrick T. Bruck
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Max Heckler
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Patrick J. Lenehan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Lestat R. Ali
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Courtney T. Stump
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Victoria Lippert
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Eleanor Clancy-Thompson
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Winiffer D. Conce Alberto
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Megan T. Hoffman
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Li Qiang
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Marc Pelletier
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | - James J. Akin
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | - Michael Dougan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Stephanie K. Dougan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Walsh MJ, Stump CT, Kureshi R, Lenehan P, Ali LR, Dougan M, Knipe DM, Dougan SK. IFNγ is a central node of cancer immune equilibrium. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112219. [PMID: 36881506 PMCID: PMC10214249 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112219] [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: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors in immune equilibrium are held in balance between outgrowth and destruction by the immune system. The equilibrium phase defines the duration of clinical remission and stable disease, and escape from equilibrium remains a major clinical problem. Using a non-replicating HSV-1 vector expressing interleukin-12 (d106S-IL12), we developed a mouse model of therapy-induced immune equilibrium, a phenomenon previously seen only in humans. This immune equilibrium was centrally reliant on interferon-γ (IFNγ). CD8+ T cell direct recognition of MHC class I, perforin/granzyme-mediated cytotoxicity, and extrinsic death receptor signaling such as Fas/FasL were all individually dispensable for equilibrium. IFNγ was critically important and played redundant roles in host and tumor cells such that IFNγ sensing in either compartment was sufficient for immune equilibrium. We propose that these redundant mechanisms of action are integrated by IFNγ to protect from oncogenic or chronic viral threats and establish IFNγ as a central node in therapy-induced immune equilibrium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Walsh
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Program in Virology, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Courtney T Stump
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rakeeb Kureshi
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick Lenehan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lestat R Ali
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Dougan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David M Knipe
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Stephanie K Dougan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ferris RL, Harrington K, Schoenfeld JD, Tahara M, Esdar C, Salmio S, Schroeder A, Bourhis J. Inhibiting the inhibitors: Development of the IAP inhibitor xevinapant for the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 113:102492. [PMID: 36640618 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Standard of care for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN) is surgery followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or definitive CRT. However, approximately 50 % of patients with LA SCCHN develop disease recurrence or metastasis within 2 years of completing treatment, and the outcome for these patients is poor. Despite this, the current treatment landscape for LA SCCHN has remained relatively unchanged for more than 2 decades, and novel treatment options are urgently required. One of the key causes of disease recurrence is treatment resistance, which commonly occurs due to cancer cells' ability to evade apoptosis. Evasion of apoptosis has been in part attributed to the overexpression of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). IAPs, including X-linked IAP (XIAP) and cellular IAP 1 and 2 (cIAP1/2), are a class of proteins that regulate apoptosis induced by intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. IAPs have been shown to be overexpressed in SCCHN, are associated with poor clinical outcomes, and are, therefore, a rational therapeutic target. To date, several IAP inhibitors have been investigated; however, only xevinapant, a potent, oral, small-molecule IAP inhibitor, has shown clinical proof of concept when combined with CRT. Specifically, xevinapant demonstrated superior efficacy in combination with CRT vs placebo + CRT in a randomized, double-blind, phase 2 trial in patients with unresected LA SCCHN. Here, we describe the current treatment landscape in LA SCCHN and provide the rationale for targeting IAPs and the clinical data reported for xevinapant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Ferris
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | | | | | - Makoto Tahara
- National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
| | | | | | | | - Jean Bourhis
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lugani S, Halabi EA, Oh J, Kohler R, Peterson H, Breakefield XO, Chiocca EAA, Miller MA, Garris C, Weissleder R. Dual Immunostimulatory Pathway Agonism through a Synthetic Nanocarrier Triggers Robust Anti-Tumor Immunity in Murine Glioblastoma. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2208782. [PMID: 36427266 PMCID: PMC10197197 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Myeloid cells are abundant, create a highly immunosuppressive environment in glioblastoma (GBM), and thus contribute to poor immunotherapy responses. Based on the hypothesis that small molecules can be used to stimulate myeloid cells to elicit anti-tumor effector functions, a synthetic nanoparticle approach is developed to deliver dual NF-kB pathway-inducing agents into these cells via systemic administration. Synthetic, cyclodextrin-adjuvant nanoconstructs (CANDI) with high affinity for tumor-associated myeloid cells are dually loaded with a TLR7 and 8 (Toll-like receptor, 7 and 8) agonist (R848) and a cIAP (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein) inhibitor (LCL-161) to dually activate these myeloid cells. Here CANDI is shown to: i) readily enter the GBM tumor microenvironment (TME) and accumulate at high concentrations, ii) is taken up by tumor-associated myeloid cells, iii) potently synergize payloads compared to monotherapy, iv) activate myeloid cells, v) fosters a "hot" TME with high levels of T effector cells, and vi) controls the growth of murine GBM as mono- and combination therapies with anti-PD1. Multi-pathway targeted myeloid stimulation via the CANDI platform can efficiently drive anti-tumor immunity in GBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lugani
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206, Boston, MA 02114
- Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 672, 69120 Heidelberg
| | - Elias A. Halabi
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Juhyun Oh
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Rainer Kohler
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Hannah Peterson
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Xandra O. Breakefield
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - E. Antonio A. Chiocca
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Miles A. Miller
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Christopher Garris
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Ralph Weissleder
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206, Boston, MA 02114
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Yang X, Zhang Y, Xue Z, Hu Y, Zhou W, Xue Z, Liu X, Liu G, Li W, Liu X, Li X, Han M, Wang J. TRIM56 promotes malignant progression of glioblastoma by stabilizing cIAP1 protein. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:336. [PMID: 36471347 PMCID: PMC9724401 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02534-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tripartite motif (TRIM) family of proteins plays a key role in the developmental growth and therapeutic resistance of many tumors. However, the regulatory mechanisms and biological functions of TRIM proteins in human glioblastoma (GBM) are not yet fully understood. In this study, we focused on TRIM56, which emerged as the most differentially expressed TRIM family member with increased expression in GBM. METHODS Western blot, real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence (IF) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to study the expression levels of TRIM56 and cIAP1 in GBM cell lines. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) was used to explore the specific binding between target proteins and TRIM56. A xenograft animal model was used to verify the tumor promoting effect of TRIM56 on glioma in vivo. RESULTS We observed elevated expression of TRIM56 in malignant gliomas and revealed that TRIM56 promoted glioma progression in vitro and in a GBM xenograft model in nude mice. Analysis of the Human Ubiquitin Array and co-IPs showed that cIAP1 is a protein downstream of TRIM56. TRIM56 deubiquitinated cIAP1, mainly through the zinc finger domain (amino acids 21-205) of TRIM56, thereby reducing the degradation of cIAP1 and thus increasing its expression. TRIM56 also showed prognostic significance in overall survival of glioma patients. CONCLUSIONS TRIM56-regulated post-translational modifications may contribute to glioma development through stabilization of cIAP1. Furthermore, TRIM56 may serve as a novel prognostic indicator and therapeutic molecular target for GBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Zhiwei Xue
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Yaotian Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Wenjing Zhou
- grid.460018.b0000 0004 1769 9639Department of Blood Transfusion, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Zhiyi Xue
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Xuemeng Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Guowei Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Wenjie Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Xiaofei Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Xingang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Mingzhi Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China ,grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Medical Integration and Practice Center, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong People’s Republic of China ,Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250012 China ,Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012 China ,grid.7914.b0000 0004 1936 7443Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies Vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Yuan M, Liu L, Wang C, Zhang Y, Zhang J. The Complement System: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Liver Cancer. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12101532. [PMID: 36294966 PMCID: PMC9604633 DOI: 10.3390/life12101532] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the fourth most fatal cancer in the world. Immunotherapy has already achieved modest results in the treatment of liver cancer. Meanwhile, the novel and optimal combinatorial strategies need further research. The complement system, which consists of mediators, receptors, cofactors and regulators, acts as the connection between innate and adaptive immunity. Recent studies demonstrate that complement system can influence tumor progression by regulating the tumor microenvironment, tumor cells, and cancer stem cells in liver cancer. Our review concentrates on the potential role of the complement system in cancer treatment, which is a promising strategy for killing tumor cells by the activation of complement components. Conclusions: Our review demonstrates that complement components and regulators might function as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for liver cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Yuan
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Li Liu
- Medical Integration and Practice Center, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Chenlin Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Medical Integration and Practice Center, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jiandong Zhang
- Medical Integration and Practice Center, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hosein AN, Dougan SK, Aguirre AJ, Maitra A. Translational advances in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma therapy. NATURE CANCER 2022; 3:272-286. [PMID: 35352061 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-022-00349-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer that is most frequently detected at advanced stages, limiting treatment options to systemic chemotherapy with modest clinical responses. Here, we review recent advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy for treating subtypes of PDAC with diverse molecular alterations. We focus on the current preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the potential of these approaches and the promise of combinatorial regimens to improve the lives of patients with PDAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdel Nasser Hosein
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Sheikh Ahmed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Advocate Aurora Health, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Sheboygan, WI, USA.
| | - Stephanie K Dougan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Andrew J Aguirre
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Sheikh Ahmed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wen S, Peng W, Chen Y, Du X, Xia J, Shen B, Zhou G. Four differentially expressed genes can predict prognosis and microenvironment immune infiltration in lung cancer: a study based on data from the GEO. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:193. [PMID: 35184748 PMCID: PMC8859904 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09296-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lung cancer is among the major diseases threatening human health. Although the immune response plays an important role in tumor development, its exact mechanisms are unclear. Materials and methods Here, we used CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE algorithms to determine the proportion of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) as well as the number of immune and mesenchymal components from the data of 474 lung cancer patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. And we used data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) for validation. Results We observed that immune, stromal, and assessment scores were only somewhat related to survival with no statistically significant differences. Further investigations revealed these scores to be associated with different pathology types. GO and KEGG analyses of differentially expressed genes revealed that they were strongly associated with immunity in lung cancer. In order to determine whether the signaling pathways identified by GO and KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analyses were up- or down-regulated, we performed a gene set enrichment analysis using the entire matrix of differentially expressed genes. We found that signaling pathways involved in hallmark allograft rejection, hallmark apical junction, hallmark interferon gamma response, the hallmark P53 pathway, and the hallmark TNF-α signaling via NF-ĸB were up-regulated in the high-ESTIMATE-score group. CIBERSORT analysis for the proportion of TICs revealed that different immune cells were positively correlated with the ESTIMATE score. Cox regression analysis of the differentially expressed genes revealed that CPA3, C15orf48, FCGR1B, and GNG4 were associated with patient prognosis. A prognostic model was constructed wherein patients with high-risk scores had a worse prognosis (p < 0.001 using the log-rank test). The Area Under Curve (AUC)value for the risk model in predicting the survival was 0.666. The validation set C index was 0.631 (95% CI: 0.580–0.652). The AUC for the risk formula in the validation set was 0.560 that confirmed predictivity of the signature. Conclusion We found that immune-related gene expression models could predict patient prognosis. Moreover, high- and low-ESTIMATE-score groups had different types of immune cell infiltration. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09296-8.
Collapse
|
23
|
Reis-Sobreiro M, Teixeira da Mota A, Jardim C, Serre K. Bringing Macrophages to the Frontline against Cancer: Current Immunotherapies Targeting Macrophages. Cells 2021; 10:2364. [PMID: 34572013 PMCID: PMC8464913 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are found in all tissues and display outstanding functional diversity. From embryo to birth and throughout adult life, they play critical roles in development, homeostasis, tissue repair, immunity, and, importantly, in the control of cancer growth. In this review, we will briefly detail the multi-functional, protumoral, and antitumoral roles of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Our objective is to focus on the ever-growing therapeutic opportunities, with promising preclinical and clinical results developed in recent years, to modulate the contribution of macrophages in oncologic diseases. While the majority of cancer immunotherapies target T cells, we believe that macrophages have a promising therapeutic potential as tumoricidal effectors and in mobilizing their surroundings towards antitumor immunity to efficiently limit cancer progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Karine Serre
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.R.-S.); (A.T.d.M.); (C.J.)
| |
Collapse
|