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Chavda VP, Pandya R, Apostolopoulos V. DNA vaccines for SARS-CoV-2: toward third-generation vaccination era. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:1549-1560. [PMID: 34582298 PMCID: PMC8567274 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1987223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Coronavirus outbreak 2019 (COVID-19) has affected all the corners of the globe and created chaos to human life. In order to put some control on the pandemic, vaccines are urgently required that are safe, cost effective, easy to produce, and most importantly induce appropriate immune responses and protection against viral infection. DNA vaccines possess all these features and are promising candidates for providing protection against SARS-CoV-2.Area covered: Current understanding and advances in DNA vaccines toward COVID-19, especially those under various stages of clinical trials.Expert opinion: Through DNA vaccines, host cells are momentarily transformed into factories that produce proteins of the SARS-CoV-2. The host immune system detects these proteins to develop antibodies that neutralize and prevent the infection. This vaccine platform has additional benefits compared to traditional vaccination strategies like strong cellular immune response, higher safety margin, a simple production process as per cGMP norms, lack of any infectious agent, and a robust platform for large-scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek P Chavda
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, L M College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Radhika Pandya
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, L M College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Vasso Apostolopoulos
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Ceppi F, Beck-Popovic M, Bourquin JP, Renella R. Opportunities and challenges in the immunological therapy of pediatric malignancy: a concise snapshot. Eur J Pediatr 2017; 176:1163-1172. [PMID: 28803259 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-017-2982-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Over the last 50 years, collaborative clinical trials have reduced the number of children dying from pediatric cancer significantly. Unfortunately, certain tumor types have remained resistant to conventional surgical, radiotherapy and chemotherapy combinations, and relapsing and/or refractory disease remains associated with dismal outcomes. Recently, renewed attention has been given to the role for immunotherapies in pediatric oncology. In fact, these combine several attractive features, including (but possibly not limited to) the specificity for cancer cells, potentially in vivo persistence and longevity, and potency against refractory disease. In this narrative review designed for the academic pediatrician, we will concisely review the biological underpinnings behind the immunological therapy of pediatric neoplasms and illustrate the current humoral, cellular approaches, and novel drugs targeting the immune checkpoint, oncolytic viruses, and tumor vaccines. We will also comment on the future directions, challenges, and open questions faced by the field. What is Known: • Cancer immunotherapy drives immune cells and its humoral weaponry to eliminate tumor cells. • This occurs by recognizing antigens ideally expressed only on tumoral, but not normal/healthy, cells. What is New: • Clinical immunotherapy trials have shown responses in children with relapsing/refractory neoplasms. • Novel humoral/cellular immunotherapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic viruses, and tumor vaccines are currently being investigated in pediatric oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ceppi
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Research Laboratory & Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Department Woman-Mother-Child, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maja Beck-Popovic
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Research Laboratory & Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Department Woman-Mother-Child, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Pierre Bourquin
- Leukemia Research Program and Division of Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Raffaele Renella
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Research Laboratory & Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Department Woman-Mother-Child, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Yin X, Wang W, Zhu X, Wang Y, Wu S, Wang Z, Wang L, Du Z, Gao J, Yu J. Synergistic antitumor efficacy of combined DNA vaccines targeting tumor cells and angiogenesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 465:239-44. [PMID: 26253468 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
To further enhance the antitumor efficacy of DNA vaccine, we proposed a synergistic strategy that targeted tumor cells and angiogenesis simultaneously. In this study, a Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) replicon DNA vaccine expressing 1-4 domains of murine VEGFR2 and IL12 was constructed, and was named pSVK-VEGFR2-GFc-IL12 (CAVE). The expression of VEGFR2 antigen and IL12 adjuvant molecule in 293T cells in vitro were verified by western blot and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Then CAVE was co-immunized with CAVA, a SFV replicon DNA vaccine targeting survivin and β-hCG antigens constructed previously. The antitumor efficacy of our combined replicon vaccines was evaluated in mice model and the possible mechanism was further investigated. The combined vaccines could elicit efficient humoral and cellular immune responses against survivin, β-hCG and VEGFR2 simultaneously. Compared with CAVE or CAVA vaccine alone, the combined vaccines inhibited the tumor growth and improved the survival rate in B16 melanoma mice model more effectively. Furthermore, the intratumoral microvessel density was lowest in combined vaccines group than CAVE or CAVA alone group. Therefore, this synergistic strategy of DNA vaccines for tumor treatment results in an increased antitumor efficacy, and may be more suitable for translation to future research and clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotao Yin
- Department of Urology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing 100853, China; Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Tai Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Tai Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China; Department of Urology, No. 261 Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhu
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Tai Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Tai Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Shuai Wu
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Tai Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Zicheng Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Tai Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, No. 316 Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyan Du
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Tai Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jiangping Gao
- Department of Urology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
| | - Jiyun Yu
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Tai Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China.
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Optimization of a gene electrotransfer procedure for efficient intradermal immunization with an hTERT-based DNA vaccine in mice. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2014; 1:14045. [PMID: 26015983 PMCID: PMC4362362 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2014.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Revised: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
DNA vaccination consists in administering an antigen-encoding plasmid in order to trigger a specific immune response. This specific vaccine strategy is of particular interest to fight against various infectious diseases and cancer. Gene electrotransfer is the most efficient and safest non-viral gene transfer procedure and specific electrical parameters have been developed for several target tissues. Here, a gene electrotransfer protocol into the skin has been optimized in mice for efficient intradermal immunization against the well-known telomerase tumor antigen. First, the luciferase reporter gene was used to evaluate gene electrotransfer efficiency into the skin as a function of the electrical parameters and electrodes, either non-invasive or invasive. In a second time, these parameters were tested for their potency to generate specific cellular CD8 immune responses against telomerase epitopes. These CD8 T-cells were fully functional as they secreted IFNγ and were endowed with specific cytotoxic activity towards target cells. This simple and optimized procedure for efficient gene electrotransfer into the skin using the telomerase antigen is to be used in cancer patients for the phase 1 clinical evaluation of a therapeutic cancer DNA vaccine called INVAC-1.
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Calvet CY, André FM, Mir LM. Dual therapeutic benefit of electroporation-mediated DNA vaccination in vivo: Enhanced gene transfer and adjuvant activity. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:e28540. [PMID: 25050220 PMCID: PMC4077865 DOI: 10.4161/onci.28540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccination consists of administering an antigen-coding nucleotide sequence. In order to improve the efficacy of DNA vaccines, electroporation is one of the most commonly used methods to enhance DNA uptake. Here, we discuss additional immunological effects of electroporation that are key aspects for inducing immunity in response to DNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Y Calvet
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
| | - Franck M André
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
| | - Lluis M Mir
- Univ Paris-Sud; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; CNRS; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France ; Gustave Roussy; Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Thérapeutiques Anticancéreuses; UMR 8203; Villejuif, France
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Riccardo F, Bolli E, Macagno M, Arigoni M, Cavallo F, Quaglino E. Chimeric DNA Vaccines: An Effective Way to Overcome Immune Tolerance. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2014; 405:99-122. [PMID: 25294003 DOI: 10.1007/82_2014_426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The fact that cancer immunotherapy is considered to be a safe and successful weapon for use in combination with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy treatments means that it has recently been chosen as Breakthrough of the Year 2013 by Science editors. Anticancer vaccines have been extensively tested, in this field, both in preclinical cancer models and in the clinic. However, tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are often self-tolerated molecules and cancer patients suffer from strong immunosuppressive effects, meaning that the triggering of an effective anti-tumor immune response is difficult. One possible means to overcome immunological tolerance to self-TAAs is of course the use of vaccines that code for xenogeneic proteins. However, a low-affinity antibody response against the self-homologous protein expressed by cancer cells is generally induced by xenovaccination. This issue becomes extremely limiting when working with tumors in which the contribution of the humoral rather than the cellular immune response is required if tumor growth is to be hampered. A possible way to avoid this problem is to use hybrid vaccines which code for chimeric proteins that include both homologous and xenogeneic moieties. In fact, a superior protective anti-tumor immune response against ErbB2+ transplantable and autochthonous mammary tumors was observed over plasmids that coded for the fully rat or fully human proteins when hybrid plasmids that coded for chimeric rat/human ErbB2 protein were tested in ErbB2 transgenic mice. In principle, these findings may become the basis for a new rational means of designing effective vaccines against TAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Riccardo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bolli
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Macagno
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Maddalena Arigoni
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Federica Cavallo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Elena Quaglino
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy.
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Flingai S, Czerwonko M, Goodman J, Kudchodkar SB, Muthumani K, Weiner DB. Synthetic DNA vaccines: improved vaccine potency by electroporation and co-delivered genetic adjuvants. Front Immunol 2013; 4:354. [PMID: 24204366 PMCID: PMC3816528 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, DNA vaccines have undergone a number of technological advancements that have incited renewed interest and heightened promise in the field. Two such improvements are the use of genetically engineered cytokine adjuvants and plasmid delivery via in vivo electroporation (EP), the latter of which has been shown to increase antigen delivery by nearly 1000-fold compared to naked DNA plasmid delivery alone. Both strategies, either separately or in combination, have been shown to augment cellular and humoral immune responses in not only mice, but also in large animal models. These promising results, coupled with recent clinical trials that have shown enhanced immune responses in humans, highlight the bright prospects for DNA vaccines to address many human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seleeke Flingai
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, PA , USA
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Andries O, Filette MD, De Smedt SC, Demeester J, Poucke MV, Peelman L, Sanders NN. Innate immune response and programmed cell death following carrier-mediated delivery of unmodified mRNA to respiratory cells. J Control Release 2013; 167:157-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2013.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Revised: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Niccolai E, Prisco D, D'Elios MM, Amedei A. What is recent in pancreatic cancer immunotherapy? BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2012; 2013:492372. [PMID: 23509731 PMCID: PMC3591222 DOI: 10.1155/2013/492372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 07/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) represents an unresolved therapeutic challenge, due to the poor prognosis and the reduced response to currently available treatments. Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal type of digestive cancers, with a median survival of 4-6 months. Only a small proportion of PC patients is curative by surgical resection, whilst standard chemotherapy for patients in advanced disease generates only modest effects with considerable toxic damages. Thus, new therapeutic approaches, specially specific treatments such as immunotherapy, are needed. In this paper we analyze recent preclinical and clinical efforts towards immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer, including passive and active immunotherapy approaches, designed to target pancreatic-cancer-associated antigens and to elicit an antitumor response in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Niccolai
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence and Patologia Medica Unit Department of Biomedicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Domenico Prisco
- Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence and Patologia Medica Unit Department of Biomedicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Milco D'Elios
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence and Patologia Medica Unit Department of Biomedicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Center of Oncologic Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence and Patologia Medica Unit Department of Biomedicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Center of Oncologic Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Division of Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50134 Florence, Italy
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Current immunotherapeutic approaches in pancreatic cancer. Clin Dev Immunol 2011; 2011:267539. [PMID: 21922022 PMCID: PMC3172984 DOI: 10.1155/2011/267539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2011] [Accepted: 06/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive and notoriously difficult to treat. As the vast majority of patients are diagnosed at advanced stage of the disease, only a small population is curative by surgical resection. Although gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is typically offered as standard of care, most patients do not survive longer than 6 months. Thus, new therapeutic approaches are needed. Pancreatic cancer cells that develop gemcitabine resistance would still be suitable targets for immunotherapy. Therefore, one promising treatment approach may be immunotherapy that is designed to target pancreatic-cancer-associated antigens. In this paper, we detail recent work in immunotherapy and the advances in concept of combination therapy of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. We offer our perspective on how to increase the clinical efficacy of immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer.
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Abstract
The field of radiation oncology has evolved, especially in the past 20 years. Advances in technology, particularly in computing power, software, and imaging, have fueled contributions to cancer care. It is currently fashionable to say that many of these advances have only served to increase costs of care without clear evidence of benefit, and certainly, efforts to evaluate the value of radiation oncology treatments are needed. However, it is undeniable that the future of radiation oncology depends on discovering such advances and to demonstrate that these increase the therapeutic index of treatment. Across the global radiation oncology community, investigations are proceeding in which innovative means are being used to achieve this goal. We review some of these novel methods to improve the therapeutic index of radiation therapy.
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