Targeted delivery of tumor necrosis factor in combination with CCNU induces a T cell-dependent regression of glioblastoma

Tob negatively regulates NF-κB activation in breast cancer through its association with the TNF receptor complex

NF-κB mediates transcriptional regulation crucial to many biological functions, and elevated NF-κB activity leads to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, as well as cancer. Since highly aggressive breast cancers have few therapeutic molecular targets, clarification of key molecular mechanisms of NF-κB signaling would facilitate the development of more effective therapy. In this report, we show that Tob, a member of the Tob/BTG family of antiproliferative proteins, acts as a negative regulator of the NF-κB signal in breast cancer. Studies with 35 human breast cancer cell lines reveal that Tob expression is negatively correlated with NF-κB activity. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database of clinical samples reveals an inverse correlation between Tob expression and NF-κB activity. Tob knockdown in human breast cancer cells promoted overactivation of NF-κB upon TNF-α treatment, whereas overexpression of Tob inhibited TNF-α stimulation-dependent NF-κB activation. Mechanistically, Tob associates with the TNF receptor complex I and consequently inhibits RIPK1 polyubiquitylation, leading to possible prevention of overwhelming activation of NF-κB.

Exploring the role of LOX family in glioma progression and immune modulation

Background

Glioma is a major cause of mortality among central nervous system tumors, with a generally poor prognosis. The lysyl oxidase (LOX) family, a group of copper-dependent amine oxidases, has been implicated in the progression of various cancers, but its specific role in glioma and its relationship with immune infiltration remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to investigate the LOX family's expression, prognostic significance, and immune infiltration dynamics in glioma to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Methods

A comprehensive analysis was conducted using public databases to assess gene expression, mutation frequency, and immune infiltration patterns related to the LOX family in glioma. The results were validated through survival analysis and immunohistochemistry. Functional assays, including EdU, Transwell, and flow cytometry, were used to evaluate glioma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Co-culture experiments with immune cells, ELISA, and a glioma transplantation model were employed to study the immune-modulatory effects of the LOX family. Gene and protein expression levels were further analyzed using qRT-PCR and Western blotting.

Results

The LOX family was significantly upregulated in low-grade gliomas and strongly associated with poor clinical outcomes. Although mutation frequencies were low, the LOX family contributed to glioma progression through pathways involving metastasis, hypoxia response, angiogenesis, and immune cell infiltration. LOX expression correlated with increased infiltration of macrophages and eosinophils and decreased presence of Treg and CD8+ T cells. Knockdown of LOX genes impaired glioma cell functions, induced apoptosis, and altered immune cell behavior by reducing M2 macrophage polarization and enhancing CD8+ T cell activity.

Conclusions

The LOX family is overexpressed in glioma and is associated with poor prognosis and altered immune infiltration patterns. These findings highlight the LOX family as a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic target, particularly for enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy in glioma treatment.

Challenges and Emerging Strategies of Immunotherapy for Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is recognized as the most lethal primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system. Although traditional treatments can somewhat prolong patient survival, the overall prognosis remains grim. Immunotherapy has become an effective method for GBM treatment. Oncolytic virus, checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T cells and tumor vaccines have all been applied in this field. Moreover, the combining of immunotherapy with traditional radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or gene therapy can further improve the treatment outcome. This review systematically summarizes the features of GBM, the recent progress of immunotherapy in overcoming GBM.

CAR T cells, CAR NK cells, and CAR macrophages exhibit distinct traits in glioma models but are similarly enhanced when combined with cytokines

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is a promising immunotherapy against cancer. Although there is a growing interest in other cell types, a comparison of CAR immune effector cells in challenging solid tumor contexts is lacking. Here, we compare mouse and human NKG2D-CAR-expressing T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages against glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary brain tumor. In vitro we show that T cell cancer killing is CAR dependent, whereas intrinsic cytotoxicity overrules CAR dependence for NK cells, and CAR macrophages reduce glioma cells in co-culture assays. In orthotopic immunocompetent glioma mouse models, systemically administered CAR T cells demonstrate superior accumulation in the tumor, and each immune cell type induces distinct changes in the tumor microenvironment. An otherwise low therapeutic efficacy is significantly enhanced by co-expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in all CAR immune effector cells, underscoring the necessity for multifaceted cell engineering strategies to overcome the immunosuppressive solid tumor microenvironment.

Tripokin: A multi-specific immunocytokine for cancer immunotherapy

Antibodies that target the tumor microenvironment can be used to deliver pro-inflammatory payloads, such as cytokines. Cytokines are small proteins able to modulate the activity of the immune system, and antibody-cytokine fusion proteins have been tested in preclinical and clinical settings. In this study, we describe Tripokin, a novel multi-specific fusion protein that combines interleukin-2 and a single amino acid mutant of tumor necrosis factor. The two pro-inflammatory payloads were fused to the L19 antibody, a clinical-grade antibody against the extradomain B of fibronectin. The human payloads were used for clinical applications, while the corresponding murine cytokines were used for preclinical studies. The resulting fusion proteins were produced in mammalian cells and purified to homogeneity. The murine Tripokin product was well tolerated in tumor-bearing mice at three doses of 30 μg in a 2-day interval and promoted rapid tumor eradication in murine models, more efficiently than single-agent immunocytokines. Tripokin induced rapid tumor necrosis and stimulated a robust immune response, impacting innate and adaptive immune pathways. In addition, the combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors further boosted the therapeutic efficacy of our molecule. Tripokin represents a promising clinical candidate for the simultaneous delivery of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor to neoplastic sites.

A low level of tumor necrosis factor α in tumor microenvironment maintains the self-renewal of glioma stem cells by Vasorin-mediated glycolysis

BACKGROUND

Self-renewal of glioma stem cells (GSCs) is responsible for glioblastoma (GBM) therapy resistance and recurrence. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and TNF signaling pathway display an antitumor activity in preclinical models and in tumor patients. However, TNFα exhibits no significance for glioma clinical prognosis based on the Glioma Genome Atlas database. This study aimed to explore whether TNFα of tumor microenvironment maintains self-renewal of GSCs and promotes worse prognosis in glioma patients.

METHODS

Spatial transcriptomics, immunoblotting, sphere formation assay, extreme limiting dilution, and gene expression analysis were used to determine the role of TNFα on GSC's self-renewal. Mass spectrometry, RNA-sequencing detection, bioinformatic analyses, qRT-RNA, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, single-cell RNA sequencing, in vitro and in vivo models were used to uncover the mechanism of TNFα-induced GSC self-renewal.

RESULTS

A low level of TNFα displays a promoting effect on GSC self-renewal and worse glioma prognosis. Mechanistically, Vasorin (VASN) mediated TNFα-induced self-renewal by potentiating glycolysis. Lactate produced by glycolysis inhibits the TNFα secretion of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and maintains TNFα at a low level.

CONCLUSIONS

TNFα-induced GSC self-renewal mediated by VASN provides a possible explanation for the failures of endogenous TNFα effect on GBM. A combination of targeting VASN and TNFα antitumor effect may be an effective approach for treating GBM.

Current status of precision oncology in adult glioblastoma

The concept of precision oncology, the application of targeted drugs based on comprehensive molecular profiling, has revolutionized treatment strategies in oncology. This review summarizes the current status of precision oncology in glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults with a median survival below 2 years. Targeted treatments without prior target verification have consistently failed. Patients with BRAF V600E-mutated GBM benefit from BRAF/MEK-inhibition, whereas targeting EGFR alterations was unsuccessful due to poor tumor penetration, tumor cell heterogeneity, and pathway redundancies. Systematic screening for actionable molecular alterations resulted in low rates (< 10%) of targeted treatments. Efficacy was observed in one-third and currently appears to be limited to BRAF-, VEGFR-, and mTOR-directed treatments. Advancing precision oncology for GBM requires consideration of pathways instead of single alterations, new trial concepts enabling rapid and adaptive drug evaluation, a focus on drugs with sufficient bioavailability in the CNS, and the extension of target discovery and validation to the tumor microenvironment, tumor cell networks, and their interaction with immune cells and neurons.

Sentinels of neuroinflammation: the crucial role of myeloid cells in the pathogenesis of gliomas and neurodegenerative diseases

The inflammatory processes that drive pathologies of the central nervous system (CNS) are complex and involve significant contributions from the immune system, particularly myeloid cells. Understanding the shared and distinct pathways of myeloid cell regulation in different CNS diseases may offer critical insights into therapeutic development. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying myeloid cell dysfunction and neuroinflammation in two groups of neurological pathologies with significant social impact and a limited efficacy of their treatments: the most common primary brain tumors -gliomas-, and the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders -Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Despite their distinct clinical manifestations, these diseases share key pathological features, including chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation. The role of myeloid cells in neuroinflammation has garnered special interest in recent years in both groups, as evidenced by the growing focus on therapeutic research centred on myeloid cells. By examining the cellular and molecular dynamics that govern these conditions, we hope to identify common and unique therapeutic targets that can inform the development of more effective treatments. Recent advances in single-cell technologies have revolutionized our understanding of myeloid cell heterogeneity, revealing diverse phenotypes and molecular profiles across different disease stages and microenvironments. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of myeloid cell involvement in gliomas, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, with a focus on phenotypic acquisition, molecular alterations, and therapeutic strategies targeting myeloid cells. This integrated approach not only addresses the limitations of current treatments but also suggests new avenues for therapeutic intervention, aimed at modulating the immune landscape to improve patient outcomes.

Therapeutic approaches to modulate the immune microenvironment in gliomas

Immunomodulatory therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, have drastically changed outcomes for certain cancer types over the last decade. Gliomas are among the cancers that have seem limited benefit from these agents, with most trials yielding negative results. The unique composition of the glioma immune microenvironment is among the culprits for this lack of efficacy. In recent years, several efforts have been made to improve understanding of the glioma immune microenvironment, aiming to pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions. In this review, we discuss some of the main components of the glioma immune microenvironment, including macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, neutrophils and microglial cells, as well as lymphocytes. We then provide a comprehensive overview of novel immunomodulatory agents that are currently in clinical development, namely oncolytic viruses, vaccines, cell-based therapies such as CAR-T cells and CAR-NK cells as well as antibodies and peptides.

Transient MRI changes and neurological deterioration in glioblastoma upon SARS-CoV-2 infection

PURPOSE

Little is known about the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on glioblastoma (GBM) growth, metabolism, and prognosis. Immunological changes within GBM tissue are potentially symptomatic, underlining the urgent need for a better understanding of this phenomenon. To date, the complex underlying biology has not been fully elucidated. A decisive role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the components of the immune system acting within it is assumed.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and immune cell infiltration of TME was performed on the tumor tissue of one patient. This patient developed hemiparesis 14 days after symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to tumor diagnosis. Subsequently and after biopsy, there was an unexpectedly good response to chemotherapy only. In looking for further evidence of the potential of SARS-CoV-2 to influence the course of GBM, two additional adult patients that had transient MRI changes and neurological deterioration following SARS-CoV-2 infection were evaluated.

RESULTS

In the patient for whom neurological deterioration in the course of SARS-CoV-2 led to GBM diagnosis, immunohistochemistry revealed virus-specific protein accumulation in the tumor cells, microglial activation, and the formation of T-cell nodules. In the other two patients, the findings were compatible with symptomatic pseudoprogression that occurred in a temporal relationship with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate a possible association between clinically relevant changes in GBM biology and SARS-CoV-2 infection, with histological confirmation of SARS-CoV-2-associated changes within the tumor tissue. The exact pathomechanism and underlying inflammatory pathways require further investigation.

Two decades of progress in glioma methylation research: the rise of temozolomide resistance and immunotherapy insights

Aims

This study aims to systematically analyze the global trends in glioma methylation research using bibliometric methodologies. We focus on identifying the scholarly trajectory and key research interests, and we utilize these insights to predict future research directions within the epigenetic context of glioma.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive literature search of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) to identify articles related to glioma methylation published from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2023. The analysis included full-text publications in the English language and excluded non-research publications. Analysis and visualization were performed using GraphPad Prism, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer software.

Results

The search identified 3,744 publications within the WoSCC database, including 3,124 original research articles and 620 review articles. The research output gradually increased from 2004 to 2007, followed by a significant increase after 2008, which peaked in 2022. A minor decline in publication output was noted during 2020-2021, potentially linked to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The United States and China were the leading contributors, collectively accounting for 57.85% of the total research output. The Helmholtz Association of Germany, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and the Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg were the most productive institutions. The Journal of Neuro-Oncology led in terms of publication volume, while Neuro-Oncology had the highest Impact Factor. The analysis of publishing authors revealed Michael Weller as the most prolific contributor. The co-citation network analysis identified David N. Louis's article as the most frequently cited. The keyword analysis revealed "temozolomide," "expression," "survival," and "DNA methylation" as the most prominent keywords, while "heterogeneity," "overall survival," and "tumor microenvironment" showed the strongest citation bursts.

Conclusions

The findings of this study illustrate the increasing scholarly interest in glioma methylation, with a notable increase in research output over the past two decades. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the research landscape, highlighting the importance of temozolomide, DNA methylation, and the tumor microenvironment in glioma research. Despite its limitations, this study offers valuable insights into the current research trends and potential future directions, particularly in the realm of immunotherapy and epigenetic editing techniques.

Tumor-Homing Antibody-Cytokine Fusions for Cancer Therapy

Recombinant cytokine products have emerged as a promising avenue in cancer therapy due to their capacity to modulate and enhance the immune response against tumors. However, their clinical application is significantly hindered by systemic toxicities already at low doses, thus preventing escalation to therapeutically active regimens. One promising approach to overcoming these limitations is using antibody-cytokine fusion proteins (also called immunocytokines). These biopharmaceuticals leverage the targeting specificity of antibodies to deliver cytokines directly to the tumor microenvironment, thereby reducing systemic exposure and enhancing the therapeutic index. This review comprehensively examines the development and potential of antibody-cytokine fusion proteins in cancer therapy. It explores the molecular characteristics that influence the performance of these fusion proteins, and it highlights key findings from preclinical and clinical studies, illustrating the potential of immunocytokines to improve treatment outcomes in cancer patients. Recent advancements in the field, such as novel engineering strategies and combination strategies to enhance the efficacy and safety of immunocytokines, are also discussed. These innovations offer new opportunities to optimize this class of biotherapeutics, making them a more viable and effective option for cancer treatment. As the field continues to evolve, understanding the critical factors that influence the performance of immunocytokines will be essential for successfully translating these therapies into clinical practice.

An IL-7 fusion protein targeting EDA fibronectin upregulates TCF1 on CD8+ T-cells, preferentially accumulates to neoplastic lesions, and boosts PD-1 blockade

BACKGROUND

Anti-PD-1 antibodies have revolutionized cancer immunotherapy due to their ability to induce long-lasting complete remissions in a proportion of patients. Current research efforts are attempting to identify biomarkers and suitable combination partners to predict or further improve the activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Antibody-cytokine fusions are a class of pharmaceuticals that showed the potential to boost the anticancer properties of other immunotherapies. Extradomain A-fibronectin (EDA-FN), which is expressed in most solid and hematological tumors but is virtually undetectable in healthy adult tissues, is an attractive target for the delivery of cytokine at the site of the disease.

METHODS

In this work, we describe the generation and characterization of a novel interleukin-7-based fusion protein targeting EDA-FN termed F8(scDb)-IL7. The product consists of the F8 antibody specific to the alternatively spliced EDA of FN in the single-chain diabody (scDb) format fused to human IL-7.

RESULTS

F8(scDb)-IL7 efficiently stimulates human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. Moreover, the product significantly increases the expression of T Cell Factor 1 (TCF-1) on CD8+T cells compared with an IL2-fusion protein. TCF-1 has emerged as a pivotal transcription factor that influences the durability and potency of immune responses against tumors. In preclinical cancer models, F8(scDb)-IL7 demonstrates potent single-agent activity and eradicates sarcoma lesions when combined with anti-PD-1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide the rationale to explore the combination of F8(scDb)-IL7 with anti-PD-1 antibodies for the treatment of patients with cancer.

Sequential Inhibition of PARP and BET as a Rational Therapeutic Strategy for Glioblastoma

PARP inhibitors (PARPi) hold substantial promise in treating glioblastoma (GBM). However, the adverse effects have restricted their broad application. Through unbiased transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing, it is discovered that the BET inhibitor (BETi) Birabresib profoundly alters the processes of DNA replication and cell cycle progression in GBM cells, beyond the previously reported impact of BET inhibition on homologous recombination repair. Through in vitro experiments using established GBM cell lines and patient-derived primary GBM cells, as well as in vivo orthotopic transplantation tumor experiments in zebrafish and nude mice, it is demonstrated that the concurrent administration of PARPi and BETi can synergistically inhibit GBM. Intriguingly, it is observed that DNA damage lingers after discontinuation of PARPi monotherapy, implying that sequential administration of PARPi followed by BETi can maintain antitumor efficacy while reducing toxicity. In GBM cells with elevated baseline replication stress, the sequential regimen exhibits comparable efficacy to concurrent treatment, protecting normal glial cells with lower baseline replication stress from DNA toxicity and subsequent death. This study provides compelling preclinical evidence supporting the development of innovative drug administration strategies focusing on PARPi for GBM therapy.

A novel strategy to generate immunocytokines with activity-on-demand using small molecule inhibitors

Cytokine-based therapeutics have been shown to mediate objective responses in certain tumor entities but suffer from insufficient selectivity, causing limiting toxicity which prevents dose escalation to therapeutically active regimens. The antibody-based delivery of cytokines significantly increases the therapeutic index of the corresponding payload but still suffers from side effects associated with peak concentrations of the product in blood upon intravenous administration. Here we devise a general strategy (named "Intra-Cork") to mask systemic cytokine activity without impacting anti-cancer efficacy. Our technology features the use of antibody-cytokine fusions, capable of selective localization at the neoplastic site, in combination with pathway-selective inhibitors of the cytokine signaling, which rapidly clear from the body. This strategy, exemplified with a tumor-targeted IL12 in combination with a JAK2 inhibitor, allowed to abrogate cytokine-driven toxicity without affecting therapeutic activity in a preclinical model of cancer. This approach is readily applicable in clinical practice.

Molecular mechanisms of tumour necrosis factor signalling via TNF receptor 1 and TNF receptor 2 in the tumour microenvironment

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a primary mediator of inflammatory processes by facilitating cell death, immune cell activation and triggering of inflammation. In the cancer context, research has revealed TNF as a multifaceted cytokine that can be both pro- or anti-tumorigenic depending on what context is observed. We explore the plethora of ways that TNF and its receptors manipulate the functional and phenotypic characteristics in the tumour microenvironment (TME) on both tumour cells and immune cells, promoting either tumour elimination or progression. Here, we discuss the latest cutting-edge TNF-focused biologics currently in clinical translation that modifies the TME to derive greater immune responses and therapeutic outcomes, and further give perspectives on the future of targeting TNF in the context of cancer by emerging technological approaches.

[Immunotherapy against gliomas]

BACKGROUND

Gliomas represent the most frequent malignant primary brain tumors in adults. Despite multimodal treatment concepts involving surgery, irradiation and chemotherapy, the prognosis remains poor and they are incurable. Recent insights into the interactions between the immune system and the central nervous system as well as breakthroughs in the results of other cancer types have led to the fact that various immunotherapeutic approaches against gliomas have also been investigated and in some cases specifically developed.

OBJECTIVE

This article provides an overview of the current status of different immunotherapeutic concepts against gliomas, highlighting the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges. Additionally, it provides an overview of currently ongoing immunotherapeutic clinical trials in Germany and neighboring countries.

RESULTS

Previous randomized studies on antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD1) immune checkpoint inhibition, viral treatment and peptide vaccination targeting the variant III of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII) in glioblastomas were negative with respect to survival benefits. Conversely, other immunotherapeutic approaches, such as multivalent or driver mutation-based vaccinations, cytokine-based therapy and cell therapy, demonstrated a robust scientific foundation, with at least early studies showing promising safety and pharmacodynamic effects on the tumors.

DISCUSSION

Currently, immunotherapies against gliomas should only be applied within the framework of well-designed clinical studies. There are still many knowledge gaps regarding the mechanisms of action and resistance of various immunotherapies. Accompanying translational research is essential to address these gaps and develop more effective therapies.

Time-resolved single-cell transcriptomics defines immune trajectories in glioblastoma

Deciphering the cell-state transitions underlying immune adaptation across time is fundamental for advancing biology. Empirical in vivo genomic technologies that capture cellular dynamics are currently lacking. We present Zman-seq, a single-cell technology recording transcriptomic dynamics across time by introducing time stamps into circulating immune cells, tracking them in tissues for days. Applying Zman-seq resolved cell-state and molecular trajectories of the dysfunctional immune microenvironment in glioblastoma. Within 24 hours of tumor infiltration, cytotoxic natural killer cells transitioned to a dysfunctional program regulated by TGFB1 signaling. Infiltrating monocytes differentiated into immunosuppressive macrophages, characterized by the upregulation of suppressive myeloid checkpoints Trem2, Il18bp, and Arg1, over 36 to 48 hours. Treatment with an antagonistic anti-TREM2 antibody reshaped the tumor microenvironment by redirecting the monocyte trajectory toward pro-inflammatory macrophages. Zman-seq is a broadly applicable technology, enabling empirical measurements of differentiation trajectories, which can enhance the development of more efficacious immunotherapies.

Protocol for the expansion of mouse immune effector cells for in vitro and in vivo studies

Reproducible and efficient expansion of different immune effector cells is required for pre-clinical studies investigating adoptive cell therapies against cancer. Here, we provide a protocol for the rapid expansion of mouse T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). We describe steps for αCD3/αCD8 plate coating, isolating splenocytes, and expanding T cells and NK cells. Further, we detail procedures for bone marrow isolation and BMDM differentiation.

Targeting casein kinase 1 for cancer therapy: current strategies and future perspectives

Casein Kinase 1 (CK1) is a family of serine/threonine protein kinases that play a crucial role in various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, survival, and metabolism. The dysregulation of CK1 expression has been implicated in the development and progression of several types of cancer, making it an attractive target for anticancer therapy. In this review, we provide an overview of the current strategies employed to target CK1 for cancer therapy and discuss the future perspectives in this field. We highlight the different approaches, including small molecule inhibitors, RNA interference, genome editing, and immunotherapies, which hold immense potential for targeted modulation of CK1 activity in cancer cells. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges associated with targeting CK1 and propose potential strategies to overcome these hurdles. Overall, targeting CK1 holds great promise as a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, and further research in this area is warranted.

Antibody-cytokine fusion breathes new life into glioblastoma therapy

An antibody-cytokine fusion molecule combined with chemotherapy induces tumor regression in mice and patients with recurrent glioblastoma by boosting antitumor immunity (Look et al.).